TSGA10 is specifically expressed in astrocyte and over-expressed in brain tumors

ABSTRACT

In this study TSCA10 has been demonstrated as a testis-specific human gene that encodes a protein localized in sperm-tail and conserved in ciliary structure. Further investigations showed TSCA10 signalling and expression during embryogenesis, brain development and some malignancies including brain tumors. Given the role of this protein in neuronal development and in certain tumors, it could potentially serve as a diagnostic marker and therapeutic target in brain tumors. Therefore, using immunohistochemistry, we evaluated the localization of TSCA10 in different regions of brain, and its pattern/level of expression in tissue microarray [Cybrdi] containing human brain tumors and normal brain. In rat specimens, TSCA10 was mainly expressed in subventricular zone, hippocampus and granular layer of cerebellum of the brain. The antibody also stained the diverse and different types of human brain cancers. The TSCA10 was strongly over-expressed in glioblastoma and astrocytoma when compared to normal human brain. The expression of TSCA10 was also confirmed in astrocyte derived from a human astroctyoma cell line by immunocytochemistry. This study indicates that TSGAl0cxm be used as an immunohistochemical marker for human neuroglia and astrocyte cells and is over-expressed in brain tumors