P. Berger et al., EUTOPIC PRODUCTION OF HUMAN CHORIONIC-GONADOTROPIN-BETA (HCG-BETA) AND LUTEINIZING-HORMONE-BETA (HLH-BETA) IN THE HUMAN TESTIS, FEBS letters, 343(3), 1994, pp. 229-233
The classical pregnancy and tumor marker hCG has long been considered
to be only accidentally expressed ectopically, e.g. by tumors. The bio
logical functions of low levels of hCG beta, hCG alpha and holo-hCG in
the sera of nonpregnant healthy individuals remained unclear. Immunol
ogical analyses by out ultrasensitive time-resolved fluoroimmunoassays
revealed a concentration gradient from <5 pg hCG beta/ml in cubital v
ein serum versus up to 480 pg hCG beta/ml in the corresponding benign
testicular hydrocele fluids. Moreover, hCG beta and its cognate molecu
le luteinizing hormone beta(LH beta) were present in cytosolic extract
s of normal human testes. Both hCG beta and hLH beta are eutopically p
roduced as proven by RT-PCR and subsequent Southern and dot blot analy
ses. Thus, the view of a purely systemic hormonal function of hLH, and
of hCG during pregnancy need a reassessement as hCG beta are synthesi
zed in the human testis and autocrine/paracrine actions seen to be lik
ely.