Purification of human kallikrein 6 from biological fluids and identification of its complex with α1-antichymotrypsin

Background: Human kallikrein 6 (hK6) is significantly increased in serum in many patients with ovarian cancer and may have a role in amyloid precursor processing and Alzheimer disease. The forms of hK6 in biological fluids are poorly characterized. Methods: hK6 protein was immunoaffinity-purified and positively identified by Western blotting, N-terminal sequencing, and mass spectrometry. hK6 in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), milk, as cites, and serum was size-fractionated by chromatography and then measured by a highly sensitive and specific immunoassay. Hybrid assays were performed to detect the possible interactions between hK6 and proteinase inhibitors in CSF, milk, ascites fluid, and serum. Results: N-Terminal sequencing identified hK6 in the proform in both CSF and milk. hK6 exists in two forms in milk and ascites fluid: a free form with a molecular mass of similar to25 kDa and a higher molecular mass form. Hybrid sandwich assays (capture antibody for hK6 and detection antibody for inhibitors), utilizing a panel of 'known serine protease inhibitors, indicated that a,antichymotrypsin forms a complex with hK6 in milk and ascites fluid. Only the free form of hK6 was detected in CSF and serum. Conclusions: hK6 exists mainly as a proenzyme in milk and CSF. A fraction of this enzyme is partially complexed with alpha(1)-antichymotrypsin in milk and ascites fluid of ovarian cancer patients. (C) 2003 American Association for Clinical Chemistry.