Monoclonal antibodies against a soluble cytoplasmic antigen in human prostatic epithelial cells

Antibodies against a soluble cytoplasmic protein contained in prostate epithelial cells were developed using the hybridoma technique. This was done to provide markers for these cells that can be used to identify acinar cells in culture and to follow their development and/or differentiation over long periods of time. The antibodies do not recognize prostatic acid phosphatase nor the prostate antigen. They do recognize prostate acinar cells in formalin fixed tissue sections. The basal cells underlying the prostate epithelial acinar cells do not appear to contain the antigen. The antigen detected is believed to be a product of differentiated prostatic acinar cells.