DOES RETINOIC ACID PAVE A WAY FROM TESTICULAR EMBRYONAL CARCINOMA TO NEURON

Introduction: One kind of testicular cancer which affects germ cells that eventually give rise to sperm is called testicular embryonal carcinoma. These cancer cells can self-renew and differentiate, and they encourage the growth of malignancies. An active byproduct of vitamin A (retinol), retinoic acid (RA), is crucial for both embryonic development and fundamental biological functions such cell division, proliferation, and death. It is frequently utilized as a differentiation inducer in vitro, particularly on cancer and stem cells. S100B protein plays an important role in events such as inflammation, cell growth, cell differentiation, cytoskeleton dynamics and cell movement. NF-κB (nuclear factor kappa B) is a protein complex that is an important transcription factor within the cell. Constantly active NF-κB increases cell proliferation in some cancers and inhibits the immune system's response to the tumor. The aim of the study is to demonstrate how the morphology and S100B and NF-κB expressions of testicular embryonal carcinoma cells change as a result of RA stimulation. Method: After RA was administered to the testicular embryonal carcinoma cells (CRL-2073) at the determined dose (10 μM), crystal violet and luxol fast blue stainings were performed for morphological examination. Then, using immunohistochemical technique, cellular expression and location of S100B and NF-κB in testicular embryonal carcinoma cells were examined. Results: When we stained CRL-2073 cells differentiated with RA with crystal violet, we observed morphological differences in the cell nucleus and cytoplasm, which is a visual indicator of differentiation. Luxol fast blue staining was observed in CRL-2073 cells that began neuronal differentiation with RA. The S100B protein was expressed in embryonal carcinoma cells and was associated with cell differentiation. NF-κB was active in maintaining proliferation and pluripotency in these cells; its activity decreased with differentiation. Conclusion: It is important to show histologically that CRL-2073 cells begin to differentiate with RA. In addition, determining the expression levels of S100B and NF-κB proteins, which are biomarkers for both tumor biology and differentiation processes, by immunostaining before and after RA is a potential treatment target. This information is an important step in understanding cancer biology.