Deregulation of EZH2 expression in human spermatogenic disorders and testicular germ cell tumors.
BACKGROUND
Enhancer of Zeste 2 (EZH2) is an epigenetic transcriptional repressor involved in cell cycle control and cell fate decisions. Since these processes play key roles during intact spermatogenesis, deregulation of EZH2 expression may contribute to the development and progression of benign and malignant testicular diseases. The objective of this study was to investigate the expression profile of EZH2 in testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT) and spermatogenic defects.


METHODS
Real-time RT-PCR was applied to quantify the m-RNA expression of EZH2 in 64 seminomas 36 non-seminomas, 4 carcinomas in situ (CIS), 40 samples harboring impaired spermatogenesis and 24 normal testicular reference biopsies.


RESULTS
EZH2 was expressed in 99% of TGCT samples and in all biopsies with intact spermatogenesis. Its expression levels were highest in normal testicular tissue, and continuously decreased with malignant transformation to CIS and further progression to invasive TGCT (P < 0.001). EZH2 tumor levels were not related to the histological TGCT subtype or clinical tumor stage. Comparison of distinct stages of spermatogenic failure revealed an inverse association of EZH2 levels to the severity of the spermatogenic defect (P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Our data strongly suggest that in TGCT EZH2 does not exert its often assumed oncogenic properties during malignant transformation and progression. High EZH2 levels in normal testicular tissue and the inverse association of its expression levels with the severity of spermatogenic failure point to its potential value as a molecular marker for spermatogenic defects and may indicate an important physiological role of EZH2 during intact spermatogenesis.
Hinz
Stefan
S
Department of Urology, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charité, Campus Mitte, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany. stefan.hinz@charite.de
Magheli
Ahmed
A
Weikert
Steffen
S
Schulze
Wolfgang
W
Krause
Hans
H
Schrader
Mark
M
Miller
Kurt
K
Kempkensteffen
Carsten
C
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D001706:Biopsy; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D000071221:Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D063151:Polycomb Repressive Complex 2; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018239:Seminoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C498409:EZH2 protein, human; D000071221:Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein; D063151:Polycomb Repressive Complex 2