BRCA1 and BRCA2 protein expressions in an ovotestis of a 46, XX true hermaphrodite

Hereditary predisposition to breast cancer can be attributed to germline mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 breast cancer susceptibility genes [1]. Germline mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are associated with the development of breast and ovarian cancers [2]. BRCA2 is associated the development of breast cancer in both women and men [3], and a moderate increased risk for the development of ovarian cancer.

Zabludoff et al [4] investigated the tissue distribution of Brca1 mRNA in adult mouse tissues and reported that Brca1 mRNA levels were most abundant in the testis and the ovary. They also found that high level Brca1 mRNA expression in the testis of mice was detected in meiotic cells and postmeiotic round spermatids and, in contrast, little or no Brca1 mRNA was expressed in premeiotic germ cells. A low level of Brca1 mRNA was also detected in Sertoli cells. Blackshear et al [5], on the contrary, demonstrated in the mouse that Brca1 and Brca2 mRNA are expressed in mitotic spermatogonia in addition to early meiotic prophase spermatocytes; Sertoli cells and Leydig interstitial cells were found consistently negative for Brca1 and Brca2 transcripts. In the normal mouse adult ovary, Brca1 and Brca2 transcripts were localized specifically to granulosa cells, thecal cells and oocytes of developing follicles as well as luteal cells of recently formed corpora lutea and surface epithelium.

Considering these results, we further investigated the presence of human BRCA1 and BRCA2 proteins in an ovotestis by immunochemical analysis with a different panel of antibodies against BRCA1 and BRCA2.

True hermaphroditism is a rare cause of atypical genitalia that presents significant diagnostic and management challenges. The patient (male, 6 months old, karyotype of 46, XX; analysis of a sex-determining region of the Y chromosome [SRY] was negative) had a testis on the left side and an ovotestis on the right side. Hematoxylin eosin saffron (HES) demonstrated male and female compartments of the ovotestis (Fig. 1a). This paper presents our laboratory findings concerning the BRCA1 and BRCA2 protein expression in this particular gonad.

All antibodies are described in Table 1.

The specificity of the polyclonal antibody against BRCA1 (K-18) has been demonstrated elsewhere for BRCA1 [6,7], ascertained by Western blotting, and the 220 kDa band corresponding to BRCA1 was detected in both HBL-100 and MCF-7 breast cell lines. Moreover, other major bands appeared around 100 kDa in the two cell lines, which may correspond to different variants to BRCA1 [7,8].

Chen et al [9] previously reported that the monoclonal antibodies anti-BRCA1 8F7 and 17F8 always exhibited a nuclear staining pattern in breast epithelial cells. Lee et al [10] had already reported that nuclear staining of the BRCA1 protein with 17F8 monoclonal antibody was also seen in tumor cells that were not of breast or ovarian origin. Wilson et al [11] also reported recently that 17F8 antibody detected BRCA1 nuclear and cytoplasmic stainings in breast specimens according to antibody concentration. We have also reported a nuclear staining pattern with different tissues, notably in child mammary gland [12] and in lung from a fetus at 19 weeks' gestation [13], with the 8F7 and 17F8 anti-BRCA1 monoclonal antibodies raised against a glutathione-S-transferase (GST)-BRCA1 fusion protein containing amino acids encoded by a 3' portion of BRCA1 exon 11 and by a 5' portion of BRCA1 exon 11, respectively. These antibodies seemed to remain more specific, and they exhibited nuclear staining.

We used anti-BRCA1 antibodies raised against amino acids 768-793 (66046N) and amino acids 1847-1863 (66056N). Characterization of these antibodies in MCF-7 human breast tumor cell lysates by Western blotting (data not shown) resulted in the detection of a 220 kDa band corresponding to BRCA1, and one other band around 100 kDa that may correspond to the BRCA1 protein missing exon 11. The 66036N antibodies elicited against amino acids 2-20 of human BRCA1 recognized a 220 kDa BRCA1 protein in HBL-100 breast cell lysates [14].

The antibody for BRCA2 (66066E) recognizes epitopes between amino acids 1323-1346 of human BRCA2. The antibody 66076E recognizes epitopes between amino acids 2586-2600. Antibodies were purchased from PharMingen (San Diego, CA, USA) and tested by Western blotting in HBL-100 human breast cells to ensure they recognized the 390 kDa BRCA2 protein. Both BRCA2 antibodies also cross-reacted with smaller proteins, which could be degradation products.

The 3E6 and 5F6 anti-BRCA2 monoclonal antibodies were generated using two bacterially expressed and purified GST-BRCA2 fusion proteins, containing amino acids 188-563 and 2336-2478 as antigens, respectively [15]. Using the 3E6 antibodies, we detected a protein of 390 kDa, in MCF-7 human tumor breast cell lysates, which corresponds to the predicted size of the 3418 amino acid BRCA2 sequence. We also detected, in CCL 221 colorectal adenocarcinoma cell lysates, a single band at 390 kDa using the 5F6 antibodies (data not shown).

As shown in Fig. 1 and Table 1 for the BRCA1 protein expression study with K-18 antibodies, only cytoplasmic stainings in male germ cells and in oocytes were obtained (Fig. 1b). Predominant nuclear stainings of Sertoli cells and oocytes were obtained with 8F7 antibodies (Fig. 1c), and cytoplasmic staining of oocytes was also exhibited. Staining patterns with 17F8 antibodies varied from exclusively nuclear staining in Sertoli cells (Fig. 1d) to exclusively cytoplasmic staining in oocytes (Fig. 1e). Exclusively cytoplasmic staining was seen in male and female germ cells with 66046N (Fig. 1f) and 66056N antibodies (data not shown). In contrast, cytoplasmic staining with 66036N antibodies (Fig. 1g) was exhibited in male and female germ cells, and low nuclear staining was found in Sertoli cells.

For BRCA2 protein expression in Sertoli cells and oocytes, exclusively cytoplasmic staining was seen with 66066E antibodies (Fig. 1h). Cytoplasmic staining (data not shown) was exhibited with 66076E antibodies in oocytes and in male germ cells. Cytoplasmic staining was obtained in male and female compartments with 3E6 antibodies (Fig. 1i). With 5F6 antibodies (data not shown), exclusively cytoplasmic staining was obtained for BRCA2 protein in the male compartment, and low intensive nuclear and cytoplasmic stainings were obtained in oocytes and follicles.

The differences of staining patterns for the same protein in the same tissue may be explained by the choice of the antibodies. The monoclonal antibodies raised against GST-BRCA1 or GST-BRCA2 fusion proteins seem more specific than antibodies raised against a 20 amino acid peptide.

In conclusion, we show using different antibodies that BRCA1 proteins, like BRCA2, are widely expressed in two varieties of non-embryogenic human tissues associated with the cell cycle. BRCA1 and BRCA2 proteins are expressed during growth and differentiation in the ovary. Moreover, they are expressed beyond the spermatogenesis. This is consistent with proposed functions for BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes.