title: Localization of a specific germ cell marker, DAZL1, in testicular germ cell neoplasias.
abstract: DAZ-like 1( DAZL1) is a germ cell-specific protein expressed in both male and female gonads. The DAZL1 gene, which maps to chromosome 3 in humans, is an autosomal homologue to the Deleted in AZoospermia ( DAZ) gene(s) located on the Y chromosome. We studied the expression of DAZL1 by means of immunohistochemistry in order to determine its distribution among testicular germ cell neoplasias and among the intratubular lesions in their vicinity. Our results demonstrated that expression of DAZL1 protein was consistently observed in scattered cells in all intratubular germ cell neoplasias (IGCN) of the unclassified type, as well as in some of the intratubular seminomas. Foci of DAZL1 immunopositive cells were detected in pure seminomas, while single immunopositive cells were dispersed in the seminomatous component of mixed germ cell neoplasias. All the nonseminomatous components were negative for DAZL1 expression. These findings demonstrate an antigenic heterogeneity of seminoma cells. The localization of a specific germ cell protein, DAZL1, in the putative ontogenic progenitor, IGCN, and in their putative derivative, seminoma, provides further support for the hypothesis that IGCN is the precursor of germ cell neoplasias.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, 6 Weizman Street, Tel-Aviv 64239, Israel.
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lifschitz-Mercer
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.forename: Josephine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Issakov
authors.forename: Leonor
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Leider-Trejo
authors.forename: Letizia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schreiber
authors.forename: Faina
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Misonzhnik
authors.forename: Avi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eisenthal
authors.forename: Batia Bar-Shira
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Maymon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018236:Carcinoma, Embryonal / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008875:Middle Aged; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D011817:Rabbits; D018239:Seminoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C101358:DAZL protein, human; D005819:Genetic Markers; D011506:Proteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins