Soluble P-Cadherin Found in Human Semen

Cadherins constitute a family of calcium‐dependent cell‐cell adhesion molecules. P (placental)‐cadherin is a 118‐kd protein expressed by basal cells in epithelial tissues. P‐cadherin also has been described as a soluble protein in certain biological fluids, including human serum and breast milk. Here, we report the presence of an 80‐kD fragment of P‐cadherin in human semen. No significant differences were found in semen samples from fertile and nonfertile patients. Our results add evidence to previous data indicating that soluble fragments of P‐cadherin have a widespread distribution in bodily fluids and suggest that soluble P‐cadherin might have functions other than basal epithelial cell‐cell adhesion.