Up-regulation of cyclin-dependent kinase 4/cyclin D2 expression but down-regulation of cyclin-dependent kinase 2/cyclin E in testicular germ cell tumors.
Testicular germ cell tumors (GCT) characteristically display two chromosome 12 abnormalities: the isochromosome i(12p) and concomitant deletions of the long arm. Some genes important in the control of the G(1)-S cell cycle checkpoint G(1)-S, i.e., cyclin-dependent kinases 2 and 4, cyclin D2 are located on this chromosomal region. Therefore, testicular GCTs were analyzed as to the expression of CDK2, CDK4, CDK6, and the expression of their catalytic partners cyclins D1, D2 and E by semiquantitative reverse transcription-PCR. Cyclin D2, located on 12p, was overexpressed in 69% (31 of 45) of the tumors by a mean factor of 8, including all histological subtypes. In addition, the cyclin D2 partner CDK4 was increased in 41% (21 of 51) of all tumors by a factor of 6, most strongly in embryonal carcinomas. Sixty-four percent of the seminomas and 23% of the non-seminomas had decreased expression of CDK6 by a mean factor of 5 (P = 0.009). Statistical analysis using configural frequency analysis and regression analysis revealed that cyclin D2 and CDK4 expression were strongly correlated (r(2) = 0.682; P = 0.000052), whereas expression of CDK6 did not correlate with either of them (r(2) = 0.382; P = 0.00085). CDK2 and its catalytic partner cyclin E were down-regulated in 40% (19 of 47) and 42% (19 of 45) of the tumors, respectively, by a factor of 7 each. Western blots and immunohistochemical experiments confirmed cyclin D2 and CDK4 overrepresentation and reduced expression of cyclin E and CDK2 tumors in the few tumors under protein study. Despite its localization on 12q13, a hot spot for loss of heterozygosity in testicular GCTs (>40%), Southern blotting revealed no gross DNA alteration of the CDK2 gene. Because up-regulation of the cyclin D2/CDK4 complex and down-regulation of cyclin E/CDK2 complex were found in seminomas as well as in non-seminomas and in all tumor stages, these findings seem to be early events during tumorigenesis of testicular GCTS: Together with previous findings that retinoblastoma mRNA and protein expression is strongly decreased in these tumors, these data suggest an unusual deregulated G(1)-S checkpoint as a decisive event for germ cell tumors.
Schmidt
B A
BA
Department of Urology, Heinrich-Heine-University of Duesseldorf, Moorenstr. 5, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany. bschmidt@uni-duesseldorf.de
Rose
A
A
Steinhoff
C
C
Strohmeyer
T
T
Hartmann
M
M
Ackermann
R
R
D042846:CDC2-CDC28 Kinases; D019938:Cyclin D1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D056742:Cyclin D2; D019927:Cyclin E / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D051357:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2; D051358:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4; D051361:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 6; D018844:Cyclin-Dependent Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D016213:Cyclins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D015536:Down-Regulation; D016193:G1 Phase / Q000502:physiology; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D018237:Germinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D016160:Retinoblastoma Protein / Q000502:physiology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D016196:S Phase / Q000502:physiology; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015854:Up-Regulation
C080336:CCND2 protein, human; D056742:Cyclin D2; D019927:Cyclin E; D016213:Cyclins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016160:Retinoblastoma Protein; D019938:Cyclin D1; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D042846:CDC2-CDC28 Kinases; C495894:CDK2 protein, human; C495900:CDK4 protein, human; C495911:CDK6 protein, human; D051357:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2; D051358:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4; D051361:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 6; D018844:Cyclin-Dependent Kinases