Expression of a telomerase-associated gene in normal, atrophic, and tumorous testes

To evaluate the expression of telomerase transcriptional elements-interacting factor (TEIF) in human testis under different status and its relation with human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) expression.

Specific antisera against TEIF were generated by immunization of rabbits with purified recombinated partial TEIF. Samples were assigned to three groups according to their pathological types, including 16 normal testes, 8 atrophic testes, and 6 testicular seminomas. They were subjected to immunohistochemical staining of TEIF and hTERT. Results from both TEIF and hTERT were analyzed semi-quantitatively and compared.

The expressions of TEIF and hTERT were detected in all samples of normal, atrophic testes, and seminomas. No differences of TEIF expressions among these three groups were observed (P > 0.05). On the contrary, the expressions of hTERT were significantly lower in atrophic testes compared with those of normal testes and seminomas (both P < 0.05). Nevertheless, co-expressions of TEIF with hTERT were revealed to be in normal and malignant cases (P < 0.05) but not in atrophic testes, which generally presented TEIF expression. The cellular distributions of both proteins were similar and mainly in spermatocytes and some Sertoli cells, while were all negative in the interstitial cells and other stromal cells. Conclusions The uniform expressions of TEIF in all these specimens suggest that it may be a marker of testis and its related diseases. The strong expression of hTERT in normal testes and testicular seminomas comparing with the low expression in atrophic testes may suggest a role for telomerase in maintaining proliferation of germ cells.