Ultrastructural localization of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) glycoproteins and epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) in normal and neoplastic sweat glands

Abstract

Glycoproteins of the carcinoembryonic antigen family (CEA) and epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) are established markers for glandular and mucosal tissues. However, their precise ultrastructural distribution in sweat glands has not been determined as yet. Therefore, normal human skin, 19 cases of various sweat gland neoplasms, Paget's disease, and cutaneous metastases of visceral carcinomas were stained with well-defined antibodies using a postembedding immunogold technique. In some cases, a new method of re-embedding paraffin material for immunoelectron microscopy was applied. In normal sweat glands, immunoreactivity of the endoplasmic reticulum and vesicles indicated biosynthesis and processing of CEA and EMA. Along the luminal surfaces both CEA and EMA represented an integral part of microvilli. However, a differential expression of CEA and EMA was demonstrated in apocrine epithelia, mucous cells of eccrine glands, and sweat ducts. In fetal glands, CEA was associated with formation of secretory and ductal lumina. The overall cellular distribution of CEA and EMA was highly preserved in benign sweat gland neoplasms whereas malignant neoplasms were characterized by loss of protein targeting and cellular polarity. In conclusion, these immunoelectron microscopical findings suggest a role of CEA and EMA for cell differentiation and secretory mechanisms of sweat gland epithelia.

Antigen expression of human eccrine sweat glands

“…CEA, a glycoprotein containing approximately 50% carbohydrate with an approximate molecular weight of 200 kDa, was originally found in fetal tissues and certain gastrointestinal tumors as an oncofetal antigen 8 . Later, it was found in various normal adult tissues, including gastrointestinal tract, prostate, cervix and sweat glands 9,10 . The CEA gene family belongs to the immunoglobulin superfamily.…”

“…8 Later, it was found in various normal adult tissues, including gastrointestinal tract, prostate, cervix and sweat glands. 9,10 The CEA gene family belongs to the immunoglobulin superfamily. We found that CEA antibody was unreactive except the sweat glands in the skin, which made it become a specific immunological marker of sweat glands.…”

An immunohistochemical study of the origin of the solid strand in syringoma, using carcinoembryonic antigen, epithelial membrane antigen, and cytokeratin 5

“…Carcinoembryonic antigen, a glycoprotein containing approximately 50% carbohydrate with an approximate molecular weight of 200 kDa, was originally found in fetal tissues and in certain gastrointestinal tumors as an oncofetal antigen 11–13 . Later, it was found in various normal adult tissues, including sweat glands 14 . Li et al.…”

“…[11][12][13] Later, it was found in various normal adult tissues, including sweat glands. 14 Li et al 13 found that the CEA antibody was unreactive, except in the sweat glands, which made it a specific immunological marker for them. CEA is present on the secretory lumen of secretory cells and on the luminal surface of ductal structures.…”

Carcinoembryonic Antigen Serum Levels in Nonmelanoma Skin Cancer

“…The CEA or CEA-like molecule is also present in certain healthy tissues, although the concentration in tumours was, on average, 60-fold higher than in the non-malignant tissues. In the skin, CEA has been accepted as a marker for sweat gland differentiation [ 23 ]. Since CEA is a stable molecule, has a fairly restricted expression in normal adult tissue and is expressed at high levels in positive tumours.…”