The gene encoding vitamin K-dependent anticoagulant protein C is expressed in human male reproductive tissues.

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He X, Shen L, Bjartell A, Malm J, Lilja H, Dahlback B

The gene encoding vitamin K-dependent anticoagulant protein C is expressed in human male reproductive tissues.

J Histochem Cytochem. 1995 Jun;43(6):563-70.

PubMed ID

7769227 [ View in PubMed

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Abstract

Protein C is a vitamin K-dependent protein circulating in plasma as a zymogen to an anticoagulant serine protease. After its activation, protein C cleaves and inactivates coagulation factors Va and VIIIa. Human protein C is synthesized in liver and undergoes extensive post-translational modification during its synthesis. Recently, the protein C inhibitor was demonstrated to be synthesized in several organs of the human male reproductive tract. Moreover, vitamin K-dependent protein S, which functions as a co-factor to activated protein C, was found to be synthesized in the Leydig cells of human testis. The aim of this study was to elucidate whether the protein C gene is also expressed in the male reproductive system. Specific immunostaining of protein C was found in Leydig cells of human testis, in the excretory epithelium of epididymis, and in some epithelial glands of the prostate, whereas no immunostaining was detected in seminal vesicles. Northern blotting and non-radioactive in situ hybridization demonstrated protein C mRNA in Leydig cells, in the excretory epithelium of epididymis, and in some of the epithelial glands of the prostate. The mRNA was distributed perinuclearly and the localization was in accordance with the specific immunostaining for protein C. The epithelium of epididymis was also found to contain both protein S mRNA and immunoreactivity. The demonstration of both protein C and protein S immunoreactivities, as well as their mRNAs, in male reproductive tissues suggests as yet unknown local functions for these proteins.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drug Targets

Drug	Target	Kind	Organism	Pharmacological Action	Actions
Drotrecogin alfa	Plasma serine protease inhibitor	Protein	Humans	Unknown	Not Available	Details