Chromosome X-encoded cancer/testis antigens show distinctive expression patterns in developing gonads and in testicular seminoma Journal Article

  

Authors:	Chen, Y.; Chiu, R.; Lee, P.; Beneck, D.; Jin, B.; Old, L. J.
Article Title:	Chromosome X-encoded cancer/testis antigens show distinctive expression patterns in developing gonads and in testicular seminoma
Abstract:	Background: Cancer/testis (CT) antigens are cancer antigens normally expressed in adult testicular germ cells. The expression of chromosome X-encoded CT antigens (CT-X antigens) in human fetal gonads and in testicular seminomas was examined.Methods: The expression of 10 CT-X antigens (MAGEA, NY-ESO-1, GAGE, CT7/MAGEC1, CT10/MAGEC2, CT45, SAGE1, SSX2, NXF2 and SPANX) was studied immunohistochemically.Results: In adult human testis, SPANX is expressed in late spermatids and spermatozoa, whereas all other CT-X antigens are predominantly expressed in spermatogonia or primary spermatocytes. All CT-X antigens except SPANX are expressed in human fetal germ cells. CT-X-positive germ cells appear as early as 13 weeks after gestation, increase with age and reach a plateau at around 22 weeks. In the fetal ovary, CT-X-positive oogonia are most abundant at around 24 weeks and sharply decrease subsequently. CT-X antigens are almost exclusively expressed in OCT3/4-negative gonocytes and their expression appears to coincide with the loss of pluripotency. Spermatocytic seminoma, a neoplasm derived from adult pre-meiotic germ cells, showed uniform expression of all CT-X antigens except SPANX. In contrast, most seminomas (>80) express CT7, CT45, GAGE and CT10 but express MAGEA, NXF2 and NY-ESO-1 at lower frequency, and very rarely express SSX2 and SAGE1. Conclusions: Most CT-X antigens are expressed in human fetal germ cells after they have lost stem cell characteristics, with predominant expression in pre-meiotic germ cells. Spermatocytic seminomas showed expression of all CT-X antigens except SPANX, whereas classical seminomas only express some CT-X antigens, reflecting their different origins from adult versus fetal germ cells. © 2011 The Author. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. All rights reserved.
Keywords:	immunohistochemistry; human cell; antigen expression; oocyte; spermatocyte; tumor antigen; ovary; gestational age; cancer testis antigen; x chromosome; gonad development; germ cell tumor; octamer transcription factor 4; seminoma; spermatozoon; cancer vaccine target; spermatogonium; spermatid
Journal Title:	Human Reproduction
Volume:	26
Issue:	12
ISSN:	0268-1161
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Date Published:	2011-12-01
Start Page:	3232
End Page:	3243
Language:	English
DOI:	10.1093/humrep/der330
PROVIDER:	scopus
PUBMED:	22016418
DOI/URL:	http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-81055132877&partnerID=40&md5=060563a154e32d511909c1cf1a7224fd
Notes:	--- - "Export Date: 9 December 2011" - "CODEN: HUREE" - "Source: Scopus"

https://synapse.mskcc.org/synapse/works/has_related_data_chk/15733