This work proposes a chemiluminescent quantitative method for galectin-3 (Gal3) detection in prostate tissues. Monoclonal antibody anti-Gal3 was conjugated to acridinium ester (AE) and the complex formed with Gal3 in the prostate tissue was chemiluminescently detected. The light emission (expressed in Relative Light Unit-RLU) showed mean values higher for benign prostatic hyperplasia than normal tissues and adenocarcinoma. These differences showed to be statistically significant (p < 0.001). There was a linear relationship between RLU and tissue area. Furthermore, these values were dramatically reduced when the tissue samples were previously incubated with non labeled anti-Gal3. Finally, the anti-Gal3-AE solution in buffer stored at 4°C and the treated samples showed to be stable during a year and at least 72 h, respectively. Gal3 content in prostate tissue was higher in benign prostatic hyperplasia than normal tissues and much lower in adenocarcinoma. This quantitative, specific and sensitive method based on labeling antibody to acridinium ester can be applied to detect antigen in tissue.
Keywords: Chemiluminescence; galectin-3; immunohistochemistry; prostate tissue.