Lymphocyte Antigen 6K (LY6K)

Ly-6K gene could be annotated as a novel member of the human Ly-6 family. Expression of the human Ly-6 genes E48, Ly-6K, PSCA, GML, RIG-E, G6C and Ly-6H was prescreened by qualitative RT-PCR and subsequently analyzed by quantitative RT-PCR in normal keratinocytes, HNSCC cell lines, normal mucosa, HNSCC tumors as well as normal peripheral blood and bone marrow cells. Expression of RIG-E was high in normal and malignant squamous cells and in peripheral blood and bone marrow cells, thus limiting its applicability as an HNSCC-associated marker. Besides the E48 gene, the Ly-6K gene also appeared to be selectively expressed in HNSCC and normal squamous cells. Expression of Ly-6K was shown in HNSCC cell lines, in which no E48 expression could be detected. These data justify further evaluation of Ly-6K as potential target antigen for the diagnosis and therapy of HNSCC.