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Placental alkaline phosphatase in nonmalignant human cervix
Summary
The placental alkaline phosphatase locus is expressed in nonmalignant endocervix and cervical mucus, challenging the belief that it only appears in malignancies. This finding has implications for understanding cancer development.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Gynecology
Background:
- Human alkaline phosphatases are determined by at least three genetic loci.
- The placental alkaline phosphatase locus is typically expressed only in placenta.
- Aberrant expression of this locus is observed in malignancies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression of alkaline phosphatase in nonmalignant gynecological tissues.
- To determine if the placental alkaline phosphatase locus is expressed outside of placental tissue in normal individuals.
Main Methods:
- Thermostability studies
- Enzyme inhibition assays
- Immunologic studies
- Analysis of alkaline phosphatases in endocervix, cervical mucus, and endometrium
Main Results:
- Approximately 18% of alkaline phosphatase activity in endocervix and cervical mucus is of the placental type.
- The quantity of placental-type alkaline phosphatase in these tissues is low (0.5% of placental levels).
- Endometrium exhibited only liver/bone/kidney type alkaline phosphatase activity.
Conclusions:
- The placental alkaline phosphatase locus is expressed in nonmalignant endocervix.
- This expression in normal tissues challenges the theory that malignancy-associated placental alkaline phosphatase is solely due to derepression of a fetal gene.