Expression profiles of PIWIL2 short isoforms differ in testicular germ cell tumors of various differentiation subtypes.
PIWI family proteins have recently emerged as essential contributors in numerous biological processes including germ cell development, stem cell maintenance and epigenetic reprogramming. Expression of some of the family members has been shown to be elevated in tumors. In particular, PIWIL2 has been probed as a potential neoplasia biomarker in many cancers in humans. Previously, PIWIL2 was shown to be expressed in most tumours as a set of its shorter isoforms. In this work, we demonstrated the presence of its 60 kDa (PL2L60A) and 80 kDa (PL2L80A) isoforms in testicular cancer cell lines. We also ascertained the transcriptional boundaries of mRNAs and alternative promoter regions for these PIWIL2 isoforms. Further, we probed a range of testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT) samples and found PIWIL2 to be predominantly expressed as PL2L60A in most of them. Importantly, the levels of both PL2L60A mRNA and protein products were found to vary depending on the differentiation subtype of TGCTs, i.e., PL2L60A expression is significantly higher in undifferentiated seminomas and appears to be substantially decreased in mixed and nonseminomatous TGCTs. The higher level of PL2L60A expression in undifferentiated TGCTs was further validated in the model system of retinoic acid induced differentiation in NT2/D1 cell line. Therefore, both PL2L60A mRNA and protein abundance could serve as an additional marker distinguishing between seminomas and nonseminomatous tumors with different prognosis and therapy approaches.
Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
Ildar V
IV
Gainetdinov
Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
Yulia V
YV
Skvortsova
Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
Elena A
EA
Stukacheva
Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
Oksana S
OS
Bychenko
Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
Sofia A
SA
Kondratieva
Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
Marina V
MV
Zinovieva
Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
Tatyana L
TL
Azhikina
D060565:Argonaute Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009373:Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D026723:Polyadenylation; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D022821:RNA Splice Sites; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013736:Testicular Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D059467:Transcriptome; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology
D060565:Argonaute Proteins; C486868:PIWIL2 protein, human; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D022821:RNA Splice Sites; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014212:Tretinoin