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PATZ1 gene has a critical role in the spermatogenesis and testicular tumours
Author(s) -
Fedele M,
Franco R,
Salvatore G,
Paronetto MP,
Barbagallo F,
Pero R,
Chiariotti L,
Sette C,
Tramontano D,
Chieffi G,
Fusco A,
Chieffi P
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the journal of pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.964
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1096-9896
pISSN - 0022-3417
DOI - 10.1002/path.2323
Subject(s) - biology , spermatogenesis , sertoli cell , gene , western blot , northern blot , immunohistochemistry , gene expression , genetics , cancer research , endocrinology , immunology
PATZ1 is a recently discovered zinc finger protein that, due to the presence of the POZ domain, acts as a transcriptional repressor affecting the basal activity of different promoters. To gain insights into its biological role, we generated mice lacking the PATZ1 gene. Male PATZ1 −/− mice were unfertile, suggesting a crucial role of this gene in spermatogenesis. Consistently, most of adult testes from these mice showed only few spermatocytes, associated with increased apoptosis, and complete absence of spermatids and spermatozoa, with the subsequent loss of tubular structure. The analysis of PATZ1 expression, by northern blot, western blot and immunohistochemistry, revealed its presence in Sertoli cells and, among the germ cells, exclusively in the spermatogonia. Since PATZ1 has been indicated as a potential tumour suppressor gene, we also looked at its expression in tumours deriving from testicular germ cells (TGCTs). Although expression of PATZ1 protein was increased in these tumours, it was delocalized in the cytoplasm, suggesting an impaired function. These results indicate that PATZ1 plays a crucial role in normal male gametogenesis and that its up‐regulation and mis‐localization could be associated to the development of TGCTs. Copyright © 2008 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.