Editing Prostate-specific antigen (section)

{{Short description|Mammalian protein found in humans}}
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'''Prostate-specific antigen''' ('''PSA'''), also known as '''gamma-seminoprotein''' or '''kallikrein-3''' ('''KLK3'''), P-30 antigen, is a [[glycoprotein]] [[enzyme]] encoded in humans by the ''KLK3'' [[gene]]. PSA is a member of the [[kallikrein]]-related [[protease|peptidase]] family and is secreted by the [[epithelium|epithelial cells]] of the [[prostate]] gland in men and the [[paraurethral glands]] in women.<ref name="Wimpissinger-2007">{{cite journal | vauthors = Wimpissinger F, Stifter K, Grin W, Stackl W | title = The female prostate revisited: perineal ultrasound and biochemical studies of female ejaculate | journal = The Journal of Sexual Medicine | volume = 4 | issue = 5 | pages = 1388–93; discussion 1393 | date = September 2007 | pmid = 17634056 | doi = 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2007.00542.x }}</ref>

PSA is produced for the [[ejaculate]], where it liquefies [[semen]] in the seminal coagulum and allows [[spermatozoon|sperm]] to swim freely.<ref name="Balk-2003">{{cite journal | vauthors = Balk SP, Ko YJ, Bubley GJ | title = Biology of prostate-specific antigen | journal = Journal of Clinical Oncology | volume = 21 | issue = 2 | pages = 383–391 | date = January 2003 | pmid = 12525533 | doi = 10.1200/JCO.2003.02.083 }}</ref> It is also believed to be instrumental in dissolving [[Cervix#Cervical mucus|cervical mucus]], allowing the entry of sperm into the [[uterus]].<ref>{{cite book | title=American Society of Andrology Handbook | chapter=Chapter 8: What is the prostate and what is its function? | chapter-url = https://andrologysociety.org/andrology-handbook/| isbn=978-1-891276-02-6 | editor = Hellstrom WJG | year=1999 | publisher = American Society of Andrology | location = San Francisco}}</ref>

PSA is present in small quantities in the [[Blood plasma|serum]] of men with healthy prostates, but is often elevated in the presence of [[prostate cancer]] or other prostate disorders.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Catalona WJ, Richie JP, Ahmann FR, Hudson MA, Scardino PT, Flanigan RC, DeKernion JB, Ratliff TL, Kavoussi LR, Dalkin BL, Waters WB, MacFarlane MT, Southwick PC | title = Comparison of digital rectal examination and serum prostate specific antigen in the early detection of prostate cancer: results of a multicenter clinical trial of 6,630 men | journal = The Journal of Urology | volume = 151 | issue = 5 | pages = 1283–1290 | date = May 1994 | pmid = 7512659 | doi = 10.1016/S0022-5347(17)35233-3 }}</ref> PSA is not uniquely an indicator of prostate cancer, but may also detect [[prostatitis]] or [[benign prostatic hyperplasia]].<ref name="Velonas-2013">{{cite journal | vauthors = Velonas VM, Woo HH, dos Remedios CG, Assinder SJ | title = Current status of biomarkers for prostate cancer | journal = International Journal of Molecular Sciences | volume = 14 | issue = 6 | pages = 11034–11060 | date = May 2013 | pmid = 23708103 | pmc = 3709717 | doi = 10.3390/ijms140611034 | doi-access = free }}</ref>