BACKGROUND: Expression of cancer/testis-associated proteins (CTAs) has traditionally been considered to be restricted to germ cells in normal tissues and to different types of malignancies. We have evaluated the potential role of CTAs in early human development. METHODS: Using immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR, we investigated the expression of CTAs in differentiated human embryonic stem cells (hESC) and in late embryos and early fetuses. RESULTS: We found that melanoma antigen A (MAGE-A) family members were expressed during differentiation of hESC to embryoid bodies and in teratomas, and overlapped with expression of the neuroectodermal markers beta-tubulin 3, Pax6 and nestin. A widespread expression of MAGE-A was also observed in neurons of the early developing central nervous system and peripheral nerves. G antigen (GAGE) expression was present in the early ectoderm of embryos, including cells of the ectodermal ring and apical epidermal ridge. Neuroectodermal cells in the floor plate and adjacent processes and endfeet of radial glial cells also expressed GAGE. In addition, GAGE family members were expressed in the peripheral adrenal cortex of 6-9-week-old embryos and fetuses, which specifically correlated with massive cellular proliferation and establishment of the definitive and fetal zones. Overlapping expression of MAGE-A and GAGE proteins occurred in migrating primordial germ cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that CTAs, in addition to their role in germ cells, may be involved in early development of various types of somatic cells, and suggest that they are implicated in specific differentiation processes.
BACKGROUND: Expression of cancer/testis-associated proteins (CTAs) has traditionally been considered to be restricted to germ cells in normal tissues and to different types of malignancies. We have evaluated the potential role of CTAs in early human development. METHODS: Using immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR, we investigated the expression of CTAs in differentiated human embryonic stem cells (hESC) and in late embryos and early fetuses. RESULTS: We found that melanoma antigen A (MAGE-A) family members were expressed during differentiation of hESC to embryoid bodies and in teratomas, and overlapped with expression of the neuroectodermal markers beta-tubulin 3, Pax6 and nestin. A widespread expression of MAGE-A was also observed in neurons of the early developing central nervous system and peripheral nerves. G antigen (GAGE) expression was present in the early ectoderm of embryos, including cells of the ectodermal ring and apical epidermal ridge. Neuroectodermal cells in the floor plate and adjacent processes and endfeet of radial glial cells also expressed GAGE. In addition, GAGE family members were expressed in the peripheral adrenal cortex of 6-9-week-old embryos and fetuses, which specifically correlated with massive cellular proliferation and establishment of the definitive and fetal zones. Overlapping expression of MAGE-A and GAGE proteins occurred in migrating primordial germ cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that CTAs, in addition to their role in germ cells, may be involved in early development of various types of somatic cells, and suggest that they are implicated in specific differentiation processes.
Authors: Prakash Kulkarni; Takumi Shiraishi; Krithika Rajagopalan; Robert Kim; Steven M Mooney; Robert H Getzenberg Journal: Nat Rev Urol Date: 2012-06-19 Impact factor: 14.432
Authors: Judit Balog; Dan Miller; Elena Sanchez-Curtailles; Jose Carbo-Marques; Gregory Block; Marco Potman; Peter de Knijff; Richard J L F Lemmers; Stephen J Tapscott; Silvère M van der Maarel Journal: Eur J Hum Genet Date: 2011-08-03 Impact factor: 4.246
Authors: Rebecca R Florke Gee; Helen Chen; Anna K Lee; Christina A Daly; Benjamin A Wilander; Klementina Fon Tacer; Patrick Ryan Potts Journal: J Biol Chem Date: 2020-09-13 Impact factor: 5.157
Authors: Morten F Gjerstorff; Heike I Rösner; Christina B Pedersen; Katrine B V Greve; Steffen Schmidt; Katherine L Wilson; Jan Mollenhauer; Hüseyin Besir; Flemming M Poulsen; Niels Erik Møllegaard; Henrik J Ditzel Journal: PLoS One Date: 2012-09-20 Impact factor: 3.240