AZFa protein DDX3Y is differentially expressed in human male germ cells during development and in testicular tumours: new evidence for phenotypic plasticity of germ cells

Abstract

The fetal germ cell DDX3Y expression suggests a role in early spermatogonial proliferation and implies that, in men with AZFa deletion, germ cell depletion may begin prenatally. The strong expression of DDX3Y in CIS cells, but not in gonocytes, indicates phenotypic plasticity of CIS cells and suggests partial maturation to spermatogonia, likely due to their postpubertal microenvironment.