'Snail factors in testicular germ cell tumours and their regulation by the BMP4 signalling pathway'

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Snail transcription factors mediate key cellular transitions in many developmental processes, including spermatogenesis, and their production can be regulated by TGF-β superfamily signalling. SNAI1 and SNAI2 support many cancers of epithelial origin. Their functional relevance and potential regulation by TGF-β superfamily ligands in germ cell neoplasia are unknown. METHODS: SNAI1, SNAI2 and importin 5 (IPO5; nuclear transporter that selectively mediates BMP signalling) cellular localisation was examined in fixed normal adult human and/or neoplastic testes using in situ hybridisation and/or immunohistochemistry. SNAI1 and SNAI2 functions were assessed using the well characterised ..