Localization of a Brain Sulfotransferase, SULT4A1, in the Human and Rat Brain: An Immunohistochemical Study

• Published in: The journal of histochemistry and cytochemistry Vol. 51; no. 12; pp. 1655 - 1664
• Main Authors: Liyou, Nancy E, Buller, Kathryn M, Tresillian, Michael J, Elvin, Christopher M, Scott, Heather L, Dodd, Peter R, Tannenberg, Anthony E.G, McManus, Michael E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA Histochemical Soc 01.12.2003; SAGE Publications
• Subjects: Animals; Antibodies; Brain - anatomy & histology; Brain - metabolism; Escherichia coli - metabolism; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Rats; Recombinant Proteins - immunology; Recombinant Proteins - isolation & purification; Recombinant Proteins - metabolism; Sulfotransferases - metabolism; localization; rat brain; neuron; human brain; immunohistochemistry; sulfotransferase
• ISSN: 0022-1554; 1551-5044
• DOI: 10.1177/002215540305101209

Cytosolic sulfotransferases are believed to play a role in the neuromodulation of certain neurotransmitters and drugs. To date, four cytosolic sulfotransferases have been shown to be expressed in human brain. Recently, a novel human brain sulfotransferase has been identified and characterized, although its role and localization in the brain are unknown. Here we present the first immunohistochemical (IHC) localization of SULT4A1 in human brain using an affinity-purified polyclonal antibody raised against recombinant human SULT4A1. These results are supported and supplemented by the IHC localization of SULT4A1 in rat brain. In both human and rat brains, strong reactivity was found in several brain regions, including cerebral cortex, cerebellum, pituitary, and brainstem. Specific signal was entirely absent on sections for which preimmune serum from the corresponding animal, processed in the same way as the postimmune serum, was used in the primary screen. The findings from this study may assist in determining the physiological role of this SULT isoform.