GATA-4 is a highly conserved transcription factor that plays a critical role in regulating embryonic morphogenesis and cellular differentiation. Given the emerging role of GATA-4 in the development and function of murine gonads, we have now studied its role in human testis. We find that GATA-4 is expressed from early human fetal testicular development to adulthood. This transcription factor is ...

Sertoli cells are immune privileged cells, important for controlling the immune response to male germ cells as well as maintaining the tolerogenic environment in the testis. Additionally, ectopic Sertoli cells have been shown to survive and protect co-grafted cells when transplanted across immunological barriers. The survival of ectopic Sertoli cells has led to the idea that they could be used ...

malignant germ-cell tumors (mgct) are rare tumors of childhood accounting for less than 3% of pediatric malignancies. endodermal sinus tumor (est) forms the most common histologic subtype of mgct. the vagina is an extremely rare site for gcts. an 8-month-old female was admitted with a short history of vaginal bleeding, and a mass protruding from the vagina. she was pale and a mass was palpable ...

giant cell tumors (gct) are benign tumors with potential for aggressive behavior and capacity to metastasize. although rarely lethal, benign bone tumors may be associated with a substantial disturbance of the local bony architecture that can be particularly troublesome in peri-articular locations. its histogenesis remains unclear. it is characterized by a proliferation of mononuclear stromal ce...

One of the major proteins secreted by Sertoli cells (Band 3) has a molecular weight on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels which corresponds to rat serum transferrin. The preparation of Sertoli cell-secreted proteins contains an iron-binding protein with electrophoretic properties on native polyacrylamide gels similar to serum transferrin. Antibodies against Sertoli cell-secreted protein...