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[Expression of ZEB1 in the prepuce of hypospadias children and its implication]
Insights
Zinc finger E-box binding homebox 1 (ZEB1) expression is elevated in hypospadias patients. Higher ZEB1 levels correlate with increased hypospadias severity, suggesting a role in its development.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Developmental Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Hypospadias is a common congenital condition affecting the male urethra.
- The molecular mechanisms underlying hypospadias development are not fully understood.
- Zinc finger E-box binding homebox 1 (ZEB1) is a transcription factor implicated in developmental processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression levels of ZEB1 in the prepuce of children with hypospadias.
- To determine the correlation between ZEB1 expression and the severity of hypospadias.
Main Methods:
- Preputial tissue samples were obtained from 37 hypospadias patients (classified as severe or mild-moderate) and 11 age-matched controls.
- ZEB1 protein expression was assessed using immunohistochemistry.
- ZEB1 mRNA expression was quantified via RT-PCR.
Main Results:
- ZEB1 protein expression was significantly higher in both mild-moderate (75%) and severe (100%) hypospadias cases compared to controls (9.1%).
- ZEB1 mRNA levels, measured by integrated density value (IDV), were significantly elevated in severe hypospadias (1.55 ± 0.29) compared to controls (0.67 ± 0.21) and mild-moderate cases (0.81 ± 0.24).
- A positive correlation was observed between ZEB1 expression and hypospadias severity.
Conclusions:
- ZEB1 expression is significantly upregulated in the prepuce of children with hypospadias.
- The degree of ZEB1 overexpression correlates positively with the severity of hypospadias.
- These findings suggest that ZEB1 overexpression may play a role in the pathogenesis of hypospadias.
Objective:
To investigate the expression of zinc finger E-box binding homebox 1 (ZEB1) in the prepuce of hypospadias children and its relationship to the incidence of hypospadias.
Methods:
Prepuce tissues were collected from 37 children aged 6-15 months undergoing hypospadias repair and 11 age-matched controls receiving circumcision. Based on the position of the urethral meatus, the hypospadias cases were classified as severe (n = 13) and mild-moderate (n = 24). The mRNA and protein expressions of ZEB1 were determined by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR.
Results:
The expression of the ZEB1 protein was remarkably higher in the severe (100% [13/13]) and mild-moderate hypospadias patients (75.0% [18/24]) than in the controls (9.1% [1/11]), with statistically significant differences between any two groups (P < 0.05). RT-PCR showed the integrated density value (IDV) of the ZEB1 mRNA expression to be (0.67 ± 0.21), (0.81 ± 0.24), and (1.55 ± 0.29) in the control, mild-moderate, and severe hypospadias patients, respectively, significantly higher in the severe hypospadias than in the control and mild-moderate hypospadias groups (P < 0.05), but with no significant difference between the latter two (P = 0.64).
Conclusion:
The expression of ZEB1 is significantly increased in hypospadias patients, and its upregulation is positively correlated with the severity of hypospadias, which suggests that the overexpression of ZEB1 may contribute to the development of hypospadias.
