Expression of stem cell markers: OCT4, KIT, ITGA6, and ITGB1 in the male germinal epithelium

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2013

Authors

Sa, R (Author) ICBAS; Miranda, C (Author) Other; carvalho, f (Author) FMUP; barros, a (Author) FMUP; sousa, m (Author) ICBAS

Journal

Title: Systems biology in reproductive medicine

Vol. 59

Pages: 233-243

ISSN: 1939-6368

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 19 Citations

Scopus - 22 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-006-71E

DOI: 10.3109/19396368.2013.804964

Abstract (EN): Efforts have been made for the isolation and characterization of human stem spermatogonia (SG) which would be of major interest for fertility preservation in oncologic patients. We evaluated the expression of mammalian SG stem cell markers, KIT, OCT4, integrin alpha 6 (ITGA6), and integrin beta 1 (ITGB1) as possible indicators for the isolation of those cells in humans. Two different types of SG were individually isolated by micromanipulation from testicular biopsies of men with conserved spermatogenesis. Expression of mRNA showed the absence of KIT and ITGB1 markers in SG. By immunocytochemistry (IC), protein expression for KIT and integrins revealed two types of SG populations, negative (type-1) and positive (type-2). By immunohistochemistry (IH), protein expression for KIT and ITGB1 also revealed two kinds of SG populations, negative (SG A-dark) and positive (SG A-pale). Results suggest that in humans it may be possible to obtain pure populations of stem SG by using negative KIT(-)/ITGB1((-)) sorting.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 11