Molecular Human Reproduction, Vol. 5, No. 2, 104-108,
February 1999
© 1999 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
Expression of relaxin-like factor is down-regulated in human testicular Leydig cell neoplasia
1 Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Martin Luther University Halle–Wittenberg, Grosse Steinstr. 52, D-06097 Halle (Saale), 2 Institute for Hormone and Fertility Research, University of Hamburg, Grandweg 64, D-22529 Hamburg and 3 Department of Urology, Westfaelische–Wilhelms University of Muenster, Albert Schweizer Str. 33, D-48149 Muenster, Germany
In addition to their role in steroidogenesis in the male, testicular Leydig cells constitutively express large amounts of the peptide relaxin-like factor (RLF), also known as Ley-IL. The Leydig cell-derived RLF belongs to the insulin-like superfamily, which also includes relaxin, insulin and the insulin-like growth factors, and within the testis is a specific marker of Leydig cells. Little information is available either on the regulation of gene expression or on the function of this Leydig cell-derived peptide. In the present study we have investigated the expression pattern of human RLF in patients with rare Leydig cell hyperplasia and adenoma. The expression of both mRNA and protein appear to be decreased in hyperplastic Leydig cells, whereas in the Leydig cell adenomas studied, large central areas of the adenoma were devoid of RLF mRNA and protein. Only Leydig cells located at the periphery of the adenoma displayed expression of RLF, with full agreement between in-situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. It thus appears that the expression of the RLF gene and its products are down-regulated in Leydig cell hyperplasia and adenoma, consistent with a concomitant dedifferentiation of these cells.
adenoma/human testis/hyperplasia/Leydig cell/relaxin-like factor
4 To whom correspondence should be addressed
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