Expression and subcellular localization of SF-1, SOX9, WT1, and AMH proteins during early human testicular development.
Many transcription factors have been identified and implicated in male sex determination pathway. Specifically involved in Sertoli cell differentiation and subsequent anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) secretion in eutherian mammals, they include steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1), SOX9 (SRY HMG box related gene 9), WT1 (Wilms' tumor 1), and GATA-4 (a zinc finger transcription factor). These factors have been described to execute their function in the male sex determination pathway by controlling AMH transcriptional expression. To understand the hierarchies of these factors and their involvement in the developing testis, for the first time we show the expression and subcellular localization of these factors by immunohistochemistry in the early human testis during embryogenesis compared with AMH expression. If these studies do not refute their possible synergistic interaction to control AMH expression in human embryo, they also reveal a new sexual dimorphism in SOX9 expression during the sex determination process. We show that SOX9 sex specifically shifts from the cytoplasmic to the nuclear compartment at the time of testis differentiation and AMH expression. Putative models for this subcellular distribution are discussed.
de Santa Barbara
P
P
Human Molecular Genetics Group, Institut de Génétique Humaine, Montpellier, France.
Moniot
B
B
Poulat
F
F
Berta
P
P
D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D051717:Fushi Tarazu Transcription Factors; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000032:analysis*; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D055758:SOX9 Transcription Factor; D054339:Steroidogenic Factor 1; D013347:Subcellular Fractions; D013735:Testicular Hormones / Q000032:analysis*; D013737:Testis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000196:embryology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis*; D025721:WT1 Proteins
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051717:Fushi Tarazu Transcription Factors; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C515057:NR5A1 protein, human; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D055758:SOX9 Transcription Factor; C527932:SOX9 protein, human; D054339:Steroidogenic Factor 1; D013735:Testicular Hormones; D014157:Transcription Factors; D025721:WT1 Proteins; D054304:Anti-Mullerian Hormone