Journal of Andrology
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Published-Ahead-of-Print January 24, 2008, DOI:10.2164/jandrol.107.003616

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Beta-Microseminoprotein in Serum Correlates with the Levels in Seminal Plasma of Young, Healthy Males

Camilla Valtonen-André , Charlotta Sävblom , Per Fernlund , Hans Lilja , Aleksander Giwercman , and Åke Lundwall *

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: ake.lundwall{at}med.lu.se.

Beta-microseminoprotein (MSP) is one of the most abundant proteins secreted by the prostate gland. Since MSP is also synthesized in non-reproductive organs, the establishment of a solid relationship between the levels of MSP in serum and semen is crucial for future studies connecting MSP with aging or diseases of the prostate gland. We developed a specific, competitive, europium based immunoassay to measure MSP in serum and seminal plasma. We also produced recombinant MSP in insect cells using baculo virus and purified it to homogeneity by a novel approach using ethanol extraction and gel-filtration. The median values of MSP in 205 young men were 12 µg/L (2.5th-97.5th percentile, 4.9-26 µg/L) in serum and 0.53 g/L (2.5th-97.5th percentile, 0.13-2.0 g/L) or 1.8 mg (2.5th-97.5th percentile, 0.32-6.6 mg) in seminal plasma. MSP in serum showed significant correlation to MSP in seminal plasma (r = 0.50, P < 0.001). Significant correlations were also found in seminal plasma between MSP and PSA (r = 0.65, P < 0.001), and between MSP and Zn2+ (r = 0.54, P < 0.001). The yield of recombinant MSP in culure medium was 35 mg/L or higher, and the recovery following ethanol extraction was 80-90%. In conclusion, MSP in serum reflects the prostate secretion of MSP, and correlations were also found in seminal plasma between MSP and PSA and Zn2+. This suggests that MSP in serum can be used as a marker of prostate secretion, despite the contribution from extra prostatic tissues.


Key words: Prostate • Semen • Expression • Immunoassay • Purification • Serum






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