Abstract
BackgroundEstrogen signaling is mediated by estrogen receptor beta isoforms in normal and neoplastic human testes. Recently, a G-protein-coupled-receptor (GPER) has been suggested as being involved in rapid responses to estrogens in different normal and tumor cells.MethodsThis study investigated the GPER expression in paraffin-embedded samples from non neoplastic and neoplastic human testes (sex-cord stromal and germ cell tumors) by immunohistochemical and Western Blot analyses.ResultsIn control testes, a positive GPER immunoreactivity was detected in Leydig and in Sertoli cells while all germ cells were immunonegative. Furthermore, neoplastic cells of the Sertoli cell tumor, Leydig cell tumor, seminoma and embryonal carcinoma samples were all immunopositive. The immunoblots of testis extracts confirmed the results.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that GPER could mediate estrogen signaling in both normal and transformed somatic cells of human testis, but they reveal a differential expression of the novel estrogen receptor in non neoplastic and neoplastic germ cells.
Highlights
Estrogen signaling is mediated by estrogen receptor beta isoforms in normal and neoplastic human testes
In the basal compartment of seminiferous tubules, Sertoli cells were identified for their typical characteristics: large irregular nuclei with distinct nucleoli and extensive cytoplasmic processes extending from the basement membrane to the lumen of the tubule
In addition to morphological analysis, identification of Sertoli cells was supported by their dark nuclear staining of GATA-4, a Sertoli cell marker [27]
Summary
Estrogen signaling is mediated by estrogen receptor beta isoforms in normal and neoplastic human testes. A G-protein-coupled-receptor (GPER) has been suggested as being involved in rapid responses to estrogens in different normal and tumor cells. Estrogens exert their pleiotropic and tissue-specific effects on target cells through the differential expression of the classical estrogen receptors (ERs), ERa and ERb, which mediate both genomic and rapid signaling events [1,2]. GPER (GPR30)has been evidenced in neoplastic tissues from breast, endometrial and ovary cancers [12,13,14] as well as in breast [15,16,17], endometrial [18,19] ovarian [20] and thyroid carcinoma cells lines [21]. The association of the novel estrogen receptor with human cancer has only recently begun to be defined
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
