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YKL-40 protein expression in normal adult human tissues – an immunohistochemical study

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An Erratum to this article was published on 10 July 2007

Abstract

YKL-40, a 40 kDa plasma protein, is secreted by macrophages, neutrophils, chondrocytes, vascular smooth muscle cells and cancer cells. High plasma YKL-40 is found in patients with inflammatory diseases and cancer, but it is not known how the protein is expressed in tissues. This immunohistochemical study was carried out with the purpose of mapping and grading cytoplasmic expression of YKL-40 in normal human tissue. Bovine serum albumin had to be used for pre-incubation in order to eliminate background staining of YKL-40. The majority of cells were stained, but the intensity varied, not just among different cell types but also within the same cell type. Cells known for exerting a high metabolic activity, i.e., high producing cells or cells with high turn-over, tended to show the most intense cytoplasmic staining, which was weak or lacking in cells with no or little activity. Many of these positive cells probably contribute to the YKL-40 found in plasma in healthy subjects in accordance with previous findings on their in vitro production of the protein. In conclusion, all cells with a functioning nucleus appeared to be capable of expressing YKL-40 in their cytoplasm, the intensity of which was dependent on cellular activity.

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Acknowledgements

We want to thank technologist Hanife Dzaferi, Drs. Anne Roslind and Eva Balslev, Herlev Hospital, University of Copenhagen and technologist Heidi Marie Paulsen, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, for technical support. We also want to thank Drs. Helle Broholm and Søren Daugaard, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, and Dr. Bente Pakkenberg, Bispebjerg Hospital, University of Copenhagen for supply of tissue sections from brain, cartilage and bone.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Bispebjerg Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Merete Ringsholt, Estrid V. S. Høgdall & Lise H. Christensen

  2. Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, University College Oeresund, Faelledvej 12, 2200, Copenhagen N, Denmark

    Merete Ringsholt

  3. Department of Virus, Hormones and Cancer, Danish Cancer Society, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Estrid V. S. Høgdall

  4. Department of Rheumatology, Herlev Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Julia S. Johansen

  5. Department of Biology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA

    Paul A. Price

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  1. Merete Ringsholt
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Correspondence to Merete Ringsholt.

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An erratum to this article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10735-007-9100-y

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Ringsholt, M., Høgdall, E.V.S., Johansen, J.S. et al. YKL-40 protein expression in normal adult human tissues – an immunohistochemical study. J Mol Hist 38, 33–43 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10735-006-9075-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10735-006-9075-0

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