Spermatogenesis associated retrogenes are expressed in the human ovary and ovarian cancers.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND: Ovarian cancer is the second most prevalent gynecologic cancer in women. However, it is by far the most lethal. This is generally attributed to the absence of easily detectable markers specific to ovarian cancers that can be used for early diagnosis and specific therapeutic targets. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Using end point PCR we have found that a family of retrogenes, previously thought to be expressed only in the male testis during spermatogenesis in man, are also expressed in normal ovarian tissue and a large percentage of ovarian cancers. In man there are at least eleven such autosomal retrogenes, which are intronless copies of genes on the X chromosome, essential for normal spermatogenesis and expressed specifically in the human testis. We tested for the expression of five of the known retrogenes, UTP14C, PGK2, RPL10L, RPL39L and UBL4B in normal human ovary and ovarian cancers. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: We propose that the activation of the testis specific retrogenes in the ovary and ovarian cancers is of biological significance in humans. Because these retrogenes are specifically expressed in the ovary and ovarian cancers in the female they may prove useful in developing new diagnostic and/or therapeutic targets for ovarian cancer.

Author information

Author/s: Rohozinski, Jan (J); Anderson, Matthew L (ML); Broaddus, Russell E (RE); Edwards, Creighton L (CL); Bishop, Colin E (CE);

Affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA. janr(-atsign-)bcm.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: PloS one (PLoS One), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-; vol 4 (issue 3) : pp e5064

Dates: Created 2009/03/31; Completed 2009/05/28; Revised 2009/06/16;

PMID: 19333399, status: MEDLINE (last retrieved date: 6/16/2009)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MeSH Headings (categories) shown below.

Chromosomes, Human, X
Female
Gene Expression
Humans
Isoenzymes - analysis
Male
Ovarian Neoplasms - diagnosis; genetics

Ovarian Neoplasms - diagnosis; genetics
Ovary - metabolism
Phosphoglycerate Kinase - analysis
Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nucleolar - analysis
Ribosomal Proteins - analysis
Spermatogenesis - genetics
Tumor Markers, Biological

Note: Bold headings indicate primary MeSH headings or qualifiers.

Associated Chemicals: Isoenzymes (0) ; RPL39L protein, human (0) ; Ribonucleoproteins, Small Nucleolar (0) ; Ribosomal Proteins (0) ; Tumor Markers, Biological (0) ; ribosomal protein L10 (0) ; Phosphoglycerate Kinase (EC 2.7.2.3) ; phosphoglycerate kinase, testis specific (EC 2.7.2.3)

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