RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Hu syndrome, a neurological disorder, is characterized by the remote effect of small cell lung cancer on the neural degeneration. The suspicious effectors for this disease are anti-Hu autoantibodies or Hu-related CD8+ T lymphocytes. Interestingly, the same effectors have been suggested to act against tumor growth and this phenomenon may represent natural tumor immunity. For these diagnostic and therapeutic reasons, the demand for antibodies against Hu protein is rapidly growing. METHODS: Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies were generated using recombinant HuR protein. Western blot analyses were performed to check the specificity of generated antibodies using various recombinant proteins and cell lysates. Extracellular stimuli for HuR expression had been searched and HuR-associated proteins were isolated from polysome lysates and then separated in a 2-dimensional gel. RESULTS: Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies against HuR protein were generated and these antibodies showed HuR specificity. Antibodies were also useful to detect and immunoprecipitate endogenous HuR protein in Jurkat and BJAB. This report also revealed that TNF-alphatreatment in BJAB up-regulated HuR expression. Lastly, protein profile in HuR-associated mRNA- protein complexes was mapped by 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis. CONCLUSION: This study reported that new antibodies against HuR protein were successfully generated. Currently, project to develop a diagnostic kit is in process. Also, this report showed that TNF-alphaup-regulated HuR expression in BJAB and protein profile associated with HuR protein was mapped.