Expression of an antigen associated with basal bodies of human ciliated epithelial cells

The process and regulation of ciliogenesis in human epithelia is little und erstood and many components of the cilium and associated structures have no t been characterised. We have identified a monoclonal antibody, LhS28, whic h recognises a 44,000-45,000 M-r protein specifically associated with human ciliated epithelial cells. Immunoperoxidase labelling of formalin-fixed pa raffin wax-embedded human tissues showed that LhS28 was expressed in the su b-apical zone of ciliated epithelial cells of the Fallopian tube and upper respiratory tract, but not ciliated ependyma, non-ciliated epithelia or tes tis containing developing spermatozoa. Immunoelectron microscopy demonstrat ed that the antigen recognised by LhS28 was associated with the basal body structure of the cilium and specifically with the 9+0 microtubule arrays. L hS28 should be a useful tool in the identification of ciliated cells in pat hological specimens and for investigating mechanisms of ciliogenesis.