1
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Bai Y, Song Y, Li M, Ou J, Hu H, Xu N, Cao M, Wang S, Chen L, Cheng G, Li Z, Liu G, Wang J, Zhang W, Yang C. Dissection of molecular mechanisms of liver injury induced by microcystin-leucine arginine via single-cell RNA-sequencing. J Environ Sci (China) 2024; 145:164-179. [PMID: 38844317 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2023.08.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
The occurrence of poisoning incidents caused by cyanobacterial blooms has aroused wide public concern. Microcystin-leucine arginine (MC-LR) is a well-established toxin produced by cyanobacterial blooms, which is widely distributed in eutrophic waters. MC-LR is not only hazardous to the water environment but also exerts multiple toxic effects including liver toxicity in both humans and animals. However, the underlying mechanisms of MC-LR-induced liver toxicity are unclear. Herein, we used advanced single-cell RNA sequencing technology to characterize MC-LR-induced liver injury in mice. We established the first single-cell atlas of mouse livers in response to MC-LR. Our results showed that the differentially expressed genes and pathways in diverse cell types of liver tissues of mice treated with MC-LR are highly heterogeneous. Deep analysis showed that MC-LR induced an increase in a subpopulation of hepatocytes that highly express Gstm3, which potentially contributed to hepatocyte apoptosis in response to MC-LR. Moreover, MC-LR increased the proportion and multiple subtypes of Kupffer cells with M1 phenotypes and highly expressed proinflammatory genes. Furthermore, the MC-LR increased several subtypes of CD8+ T cells with highly expressed multiple cytokines and chemokines. Overall, apart from directly inducing hepatocytes apoptosis, MC-LR activated proinflammatory Kupffer cell and CD8+ T cells, and their interaction may constitute a hostile microenvironment that contributes to liver injury. Our findings not only present novel insight into underlying molecular mechanisms but also provide a valuable resource and foundation for additional discovery of MC-LR-induced liver toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunmeng Bai
- Dongguan Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Postdoctoral Innovation Practice Base of Southern Medical University, Dongguan 523125, China; Division of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University, The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen 518020, China
| | - Yali Song
- Dongguan Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Postdoctoral Innovation Practice Base of Southern Medical University, Dongguan 523125, China
| | - Miaoran Li
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Jinhuan Ou
- Division of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University, The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen 518020, China
| | - Hong Hu
- Division of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University, The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen 518020, China
| | - Nan Xu
- Division of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University, The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen 518020, China
| | - Min Cao
- Division of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University, The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen 518020, China
| | - Siyu Wang
- Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Lin Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, Artemisinin Research Center, and Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Guangqing Cheng
- State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, Artemisinin Research Center, and Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Zhijie Li
- Division of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University, The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen 518020, China
| | - Gang Liu
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
| | - Jigang Wang
- Dongguan Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Postdoctoral Innovation Practice Base of Southern Medical University, Dongguan 523125, China; Division of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University, The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen 518020, China; State Key Laboratory for Quality Ensurance and Sustainable Use of Dao-di Herbs, Artemisinin Research Center, and Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
| | - Wei Zhang
- Division of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University, The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen 518020, China.
| | - Chuanbin Yang
- Division of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Shenzhen People's Hospital (The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University, The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology), Shenzhen 518020, China.
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2
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Jin C, Yan K, Wang M, Song W, Wang B, Men Y, Niu J, He Y, Zhang Q, Qi J. Dissecting the dynamic cellular transcriptional atlas of adult teleost testis development throughout the annual reproductive cycle. Development 2024; 151:dev202296. [PMID: 38477640 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Teleost testis development during the annual cycle involves dramatic changes in cellular compositions and molecular events. In this study, the testicular cells derived from adult black rockfish at distinct stages - regressed, regenerating and differentiating - were meticulously dissected via single-cell transcriptome sequencing. A continuous developmental trajectory of spermatogenic cells, from spermatogonia to spermatids, was delineated, elucidating the molecular events involved in spermatogenesis. Subsequently, the dynamic regulation of gene expression associated with spermatogonia proliferation and differentiation was observed across spermatogonia subgroups and developmental stages. A bioenergetic transition from glycolysis to mitochondrial respiration of spermatogonia during the annual developmental cycle was demonstrated, and a deeper level of heterogeneity and molecular characteristics was revealed by re-clustering analysis. Additionally, the developmental trajectory of Sertoli cells was delineated, alongside the divergence of Leydig cells and macrophages. Moreover, the interaction network between testicular micro-environment somatic cells and spermatogenic cells was established. Overall, our study provides detailed information on both germ and somatic cells within teleost testes during the annual reproductive cycle, which lays the foundation for spermatogenesis regulation and germplasm preservation of endangered species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaofan Jin
- MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266000, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Aquatic Germplasm of Hainan Province, Sanya Oceanographic Institution, Ocean University of China, Sanya, 572000, China
| | - Kai Yan
- MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266000, China
| | - Mengya Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266000, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Aquatic Germplasm of Hainan Province, Sanya Oceanographic Institution, Ocean University of China, Sanya, 572000, China
| | - Weihao Song
- MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266000, China
| | - Bo Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266000, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Aquatic Germplasm of Hainan Province, Sanya Oceanographic Institution, Ocean University of China, Sanya, 572000, China
| | - Yu Men
- MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266000, China
| | - Jingjing Niu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266000, China
| | - Yan He
- MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266000, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Aquatic Germplasm of Hainan Province, Sanya Oceanographic Institution, Ocean University of China, Sanya, 572000, China
| | - Quanqi Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266000, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Aquatic Germplasm of Hainan Province, Sanya Oceanographic Institution, Ocean University of China, Sanya, 572000, China
| | - Jie Qi
- MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266000, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Aquatic Germplasm of Hainan Province, Sanya Oceanographic Institution, Ocean University of China, Sanya, 572000, China
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AbuMadighem A, Cohen O, Huleihel M. Elucidating the Transcriptional States of Spermatogenesis-Joint Analysis of Germline and Supporting Cell, Mice and Human, Normal and Perturbed, Bulk and Single-Cell RNA-Seq. Biomolecules 2024; 14:840. [PMID: 39062554 PMCID: PMC11274546 DOI: 10.3390/biom14070840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2024] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
In studying the molecular underpinning of spermatogenesis, we expect to understand the fundamental biological processes better and potentially identify genes that may lead to novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies toward precision medicine in male infertility. In this review, we emphasized our perspective that the path forward necessitates integrative studies that rely on complementary approaches and types of data. To comprehensively analyze spermatogenesis, this review proposes four axes of integration. First, spanning the analysis of spermatogenesis in the healthy state alongside pathologies. Second, the experimental analysis of model systems (in which we can deploy treatments and perturbations) alongside human data. Third, the phenotype is measured alongside its underlying molecular profiles using known markers augmented with unbiased profiles. Finally, the testicular cells are studied as ecosystems, analyzing the germ cells alongside the states observed in the supporting somatic cells. Recently, the study of spermatogenesis has been advancing using single-cell RNA sequencing, where scientists have uncovered the unique stages of germ cell development in mice, revealing new regulators of spermatogenesis and previously unknown cell subtypes in the testis. An in-depth analysis of meiotic and postmeiotic stages led to the discovery of marker genes for spermatogonia, Sertoli and Leydig cells and further elucidated all the other germline and somatic cells in the testis microenvironment in normal and pathogenic conditions. The outcome of an integrative analysis of spermatogenesis using advanced molecular profiling technologies such as scRNA-seq has already propelled our biological understanding, with additional studies expected to have clinical implications for the study of male fertility. By uncovering new genes and pathways involved in abnormal spermatogenesis, we may gain insights into subfertility or sterility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali AbuMadighem
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8410501, Israel;
- The Center of Advanced Research and Education in Reproduction (CARER), Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8410501, Israel
| | - Ofir Cohen
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8410501, Israel;
| | - Mahmoud Huleihel
- The Shraga Segal Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8410501, Israel;
- The Center of Advanced Research and Education in Reproduction (CARER), Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8410501, Israel
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Tirumalasetty MB, Bhattacharya I, Mohiuddin MS, Baki VB, Choubey M. Understanding testicular single cell transcriptional atlas: from developmental complications to male infertility. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2024; 15:1394812. [PMID: 39055054 PMCID: PMC11269108 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1394812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Spermatogenesis is a multi-step biological process where mitotically active diploid (2n) spermatogonia differentiate into haploid (n) spermatozoa via regulated meiotic programming. The alarming rise in male infertility has become a global concern during the past decade thereby demanding an extensive profiling of testicular gene expression. Advancements in Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) technologies have revolutionized our empathy towards complex biological events including spermatogenesis. However, despite multiple attempts made in the past to reveal the testicular transcriptional signature(s) either with bulk tissues or at the single-cell, level, comprehensive reviews on testicular transcriptomics and associated disorders are limited. Notably, technologies explicating the genome-wide gene expression patterns during various stages of spermatogenic progression provide the dynamic molecular landscape of testicular transcription. Our review discusses the advantages of single-cell RNA-sequencing (Sc-RNA-seq) over bulk RNA-seq concerning testicular tissues. Additionally, we highlight the cellular heterogeneity, spatial transcriptomics, dynamic gene expression and cell-to-cell interactions with distinct cell populations within the testes including germ cells (Gc), Sertoli cells (Sc), Peritubular cells (PTc), Leydig cells (Lc), etc. Furthermore, we provide a summary of key finding of single-cell transcriptomic studies that have shed light on developmental mechanisms implicated in testicular disorders and male infertility. These insights emphasize the pivotal roles of Sc-RNA-seq in advancing our knowledge regarding testicular transcriptional landscape and may serve as a potential resource to formulate future clinical interventions for male reproductive health.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Indrashis Bhattacharya
- Department of Zoology, School of Biological Sciences, Central University of Kerala, Kasargod, Kerala, India
| | - Mohammad Sarif Mohiuddin
- Department of Foundations of Medicine, NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine, Mineola, NY, United States
| | - Vijaya Bhaskar Baki
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, United States
| | - Mayank Choubey
- Department of Foundations of Medicine, NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine, Mineola, NY, United States
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5
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Mikami N, Nguyen CLK, Osawa Y, Kato K, Ishida M, Tanimoto Y, Morimoto K, Murata K, Kang W, Sugiyama F, Ema M, Takahashi S, Mizuno S. Deletion of Exoc7, but not Exoc3, in male germ cells causes severe spermatogenesis failure with spermatocyte aggregation in mice. Exp Anim 2024; 73:286-292. [PMID: 38325858 PMCID: PMC11254494 DOI: 10.1538/expanim.23-0171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Vesicular trafficking is essential for the transport of intracellularly produced functional molecules to the plasma membrane and extracellular space. The exocyst complex, composed of eight different proteins, is an important functional machinery for "tethering" in vesicular trafficking. Functional studies have been conducted in laboratory mice to identify the mechanisms by which the deletion of each exocyst factor affect various biological phenomena. Interestingly, each exocyst factor-deficient mutant exhibits a different phenotype. This discrepancy may be due to the function of the exocyst factor beyond its role as a component of the exocyst complex. Male germline-specific conditional knockout (cKO) mice of the Exoc1 gene, which encodes one of the exocyst factors EXOC1 (SEC3), exhibit severe spermatogenesis defects; however, whether this abnormality also occurs in mutants lacking other exocyst factors remains unknown. In this study, we found that exocyst factor EXOC3 (SEC6) was not required for spermatogenesis, but depletion of EXOC7 (EXO70) led to severe spermatogenesis defects. In addition to being a component of the exocyst complex, EXOC1 has other functions. Notably, male germ cell-specific Exoc7 cKO and Exoc1 cKO mice exhibited phenotypic similarities, suggesting the importance of the exocyst complex for spermatogenesis. The results of this study will contribute to further understanding of spermatogenesis from the aspect of vesicular trafficking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natsuki Mikami
- Program in Human Biology, School of Integrative and Global Majors, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
| | - Chi Lieu Kim Nguyen
- Program in Human Biology, School of Integrative and Global Majors, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
| | - Yuki Osawa
- Master's Program in Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
| | - Kanako Kato
- Laboratory Animal Resource Center and Trans-Border Medical Research Center, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
| | - Miyuki Ishida
- Laboratory Animal Resource Center and Trans-Border Medical Research Center, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
| | - Yoko Tanimoto
- Laboratory Animal Resource Center and Trans-Border Medical Research Center, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
| | - Kento Morimoto
- Doctoral Program in Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
- Research Fellow of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Kojimachi Business Center Building, 5-3-1 Kojimachi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-0083, Japan
| | - Kazuya Murata
- Laboratory Animal Resource Center and Trans-Border Medical Research Center, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
| | - Woojin Kang
- Laboratory Animal Resource Center and Trans-Border Medical Research Center, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
| | - Fumihiro Sugiyama
- Laboratory Animal Resource Center and Trans-Border Medical Research Center, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
| | - Masatsugu Ema
- Department of Stem Cells and Human Disease Models, Research Center for Animal Life Science, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta, Tsukinowa-cho, Otsu, Shiga 520-2192, Japan
| | - Satoru Takahashi
- Laboratory Animal Resource Center and Trans-Border Medical Research Center, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
| | - Seiya Mizuno
- Laboratory Animal Resource Center and Trans-Border Medical Research Center, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan
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Mielnicka M, Tabaro F, Sureka R, Acurzio B, Paoletti R, Scavizzi F, Raspa M, Crevenna AH, Lapouge K, Remans K, Boulard M. Trim66's paternal deficiency causes intrauterine overgrowth. Life Sci Alliance 2024; 7:e202302512. [PMID: 38719749 PMCID: PMC11077763 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202302512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The tripartite motif-containing protein 66 (TRIM66, also known as TIF1-delta) is a PHD-Bromo-containing protein primarily expressed in post-meiotic male germ cells known as spermatids. Biophysical assays showed that the TRIM66 PHD-Bromodomain binds to H3 N-terminus only when lysine 4 is unmethylated. We addressed TRIM66's role in reproduction by loss-of-function genetics in the mouse. Males homozygous for Trim66-null mutations produced functional spermatozoa. Round spermatids lacking TRIM66 up-regulated a network of genes involved in histone acetylation and H3K4 methylation. Profiling of H3K4me3 patterns in the sperm produced by the Trim66-null mutant showed minor alterations below statistical significance. Unexpectedly, Trim66-null males, but not females, sired pups overweight at birth, hence revealing that Trim66 mutations cause a paternal effect phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Mielnicka
- https://ror.org/01yr73893 Epigenetics and Neurobiology Unit, EMBL Rome, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Monterotondo, Italy
| | - Francesco Tabaro
- https://ror.org/01yr73893 Epigenetics and Neurobiology Unit, EMBL Rome, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Monterotondo, Italy
| | - Rahul Sureka
- https://ror.org/01yr73893 Epigenetics and Neurobiology Unit, EMBL Rome, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Monterotondo, Italy
| | - Basilia Acurzio
- https://ror.org/01yr73893 Epigenetics and Neurobiology Unit, EMBL Rome, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Monterotondo, Italy
| | | | - Ferdinando Scavizzi
- National Research Council (IBBC), CNR-Campus International Development (EMMA-INFRAFRONTIER-IMPC), Monterotondo, Italy
| | - Marcello Raspa
- National Research Council (IBBC), CNR-Campus International Development (EMMA-INFRAFRONTIER-IMPC), Monterotondo, Italy
| | - Alvaro H Crevenna
- https://ror.org/01yr73893 Epigenetics and Neurobiology Unit, EMBL Rome, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Monterotondo, Italy
| | - Karine Lapouge
- https://ror.org/01yr73893 European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Protein Expression and Purification Core Facility, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kim Remans
- https://ror.org/01yr73893 European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Protein Expression and Purification Core Facility, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Matthieu Boulard
- https://ror.org/01yr73893 Epigenetics and Neurobiology Unit, EMBL Rome, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Monterotondo, Italy
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7
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Wang Z, Wu D, Xu X, Yu G, Li N, Wang X, Li JL, Dean J. DIS3 ribonuclease is essential for spermatogenesis and male fertility in mice. Development 2024; 151:dev202579. [PMID: 38953252 PMCID: PMC11266750 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024]
Abstract
Spermatogonial stem cell (SSC) self-renewal and differentiation provide foundational support for long-term, steady-state spermatogenesis in mammals. Here, we have investigated the essential role of RNA exosome associated DIS3 ribonuclease in maintaining spermatogonial homeostasis and facilitating germ cell differentiation. We have established male germ-cell Dis3 conditional knockout (cKO) mice in which the first and subsequent waves of spermatogenesis are disrupted. This leads to a Sertoli cell-only phenotype and sterility in adult male mice. Bulk RNA-seq documents that Dis3 deficiency partially abolishes RNA degradation and causes significant increases in the abundance of transcripts. This also includes pervasively transcribed PROMoter uPstream Transcripts (PROMPTs), which accumulate robustly in Dis3 cKO testes. In addition, scRNA-seq analysis indicates that Dis3 deficiency in spermatogonia significantly disrupts RNA metabolism and gene expression, and impairs early germline cell development. Overall, we document that exosome-associated DIS3 ribonuclease plays crucial roles in maintaining early male germ cell lineage in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengpin Wang
- Laboratory of Cellular and Developmental Biology, NIDDK, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Di Wu
- Laboratory of Cellular and Developmental Biology, NIDDK, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Xiaojiang Xu
- Integrative Bioinformatics Support Group, NIEHS, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Guoyun Yu
- Laboratory of Cellular and Developmental Biology, NIDDK, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Nana Li
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Xiao Wang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Jian-Liang Li
- Integrative Bioinformatics Support Group, NIEHS, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Jurrien Dean
- Laboratory of Cellular and Developmental Biology, NIDDK, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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8
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Ma Y, Zhou X. Accurate and efficient integrative reference-informed spatial domain detection for spatial transcriptomics. Nat Methods 2024; 21:1231-1244. [PMID: 38844627 DOI: 10.1038/s41592-024-02284-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
Spatially resolved transcriptomics (SRT) studies are becoming increasingly common and large, offering unprecedented opportunities in mapping complex tissue structures and functions. Here we present integrative and reference-informed tissue segmentation (IRIS), a computational method designed to characterize tissue spatial organization in SRT studies through accurately and efficiently detecting spatial domains. IRIS uniquely leverages single-cell RNA sequencing data for reference-informed detection of biologically interpretable spatial domains, integrating multiple SRT slices while explicitly considering correlations both within and across slices. We demonstrate the advantages of IRIS through in-depth analysis of six SRT datasets encompassing diverse technologies, tissues, species and resolutions. In these applications, IRIS achieves substantial accuracy gains (39-1,083%) and speed improvements (4.6-666.0) in moderate-sized datasets, while representing the only method applicable for large datasets including Stereo-seq and 10x Xenium. As a result, IRIS reveals intricate brain structures, uncovers tumor microenvironment heterogeneity and detects structural changes in diabetes-affected testis, all with exceptional speed and accuracy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Ma
- Department of Biostatistics, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
- Center for Computational Molecular Biology, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Xiang Zhou
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Center for Statistical Genetics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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9
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Lin H, Hu H, Feng Z, Xu F, Lyu J, Li X, Liu L, Yang G, Shuai J. SCTC: inference of developmental potential from single-cell transcriptional complexity. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:6114-6128. [PMID: 38709881 PMCID: PMC11194082 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Inferring the developmental potential of single cells from scRNA-Seq data and reconstructing the pseudo-temporal path of cell development are fundamental but challenging tasks in single-cell analysis. Although single-cell transcriptional diversity (SCTD) measured by the number of expressed genes per cell has been widely used as a hallmark of developmental potential, it may lead to incorrect estimation of differentiation states in some cases where gene expression does not decrease monotonously during the development process. In this study, we propose a novel metric called single-cell transcriptional complexity (SCTC), which draws on insights from the economic complexity theory and takes into account the sophisticated structure information of scRNA-Seq count matrix. We show that SCTC characterizes developmental potential more accurately than SCTD, especially in the early stages of development where cells typically have lower diversity but higher complexity than those in the later stages. Based on the SCTC, we provide an unsupervised method for accurate, robust, and transferable inference of single-cell pseudotime. Our findings suggest that the complexity emerging from the interplay between cells and genes determines the developmental potential, providing new insights into the understanding of biological development from the perspective of complexity theory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai Lin
- Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Biophysics, Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325001, China
- Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health), Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325001, China
| | - Huan Hu
- Institute of Applied Genomics, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
| | - Zhen Feng
- First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, China
| | - Fei Xu
- Department of Physics, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, Anhui 241002, China
| | - Jie Lyu
- Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Biophysics, Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325001, China
- Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health), Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325001, China
| | - Xiang Li
- Department of Physics, College of Physical Science and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Liyu Liu
- Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Biophysics, Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325001, China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Soft Condensed Matter Physics and Smart Materials, College of Physics, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China
| | - Gen Yang
- Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Biophysics, Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325001, China
- State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Physics and Technology, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Jianwei Shuai
- Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Biophysics, Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325001, China
- Oujiang Laboratory (Zhejiang Lab for Regenerative Medicine, Vision and Brain Health), Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325001, China
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10
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Li K, Li M, Luo Y, Zou D, Li Y, Mang X, Zhang Z, Li P, Lu Y, Miao S, Song W. Adeno-associated-virus-mediated delivery of CRISPR-CasRx induces efficient RNA knockdown in the mouse testis. Theranostics 2024; 14:3827-3842. [PMID: 38994027 PMCID: PMC11234267 DOI: 10.7150/thno.95633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Rationale: In male mammals, many developmental-stage-specific RNA transcripts (both coding and noncoding) are preferentially or exclusively expressed in the testis, where they play important roles in spermatogenesis and male fertility. However, a reliable platform for efficiently depleting various types of RNA transcripts to study their biological functions during spermatogenesis in vivo has not been developed. Methods: We used an adeno-associated virus serotype nine (AAV9)-mediated CRISPR-CasRx system to knock down the expression of exogenous and endogenous RNA transcripts in the testis. Virus particles were injected into the seminiferous tubules via the efferent duct. Using an autophagy inhibitor, 3-methyladenine (3-MA), we optimized the AAV9 transduction efficiency in germ cells in vivo. Results: AAV9-mediated delivery of CRISPR-CasRx effectively and specifically induces RNA transcripts (both coding and noncoding) knockdown in the testis in vivo. In addition, we showed that the co-microinjection of AAV9 and 3-MA into the seminiferous tubules enabled long-term transgene expression in the testis. Finally, we found that a promoter of Sycp1 gene induced CRISPR-CasRx-mediated RNA transcript knockdown in a germ-cell-type-specific manner. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate the efficacy and versatility of the AAV9-mediated CRISPR-CasRx system as a flexible knockdown platform for studying gene function during spermatogenesis in vivo. This approach may advance the development of RNA-targeting therapies for conditions affecting reproductive health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China
| | - Mengzhen Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China
| | - Yanyun Luo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China
| | - Dingfeng Zou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China
| | - Yahui Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China
| | - Xinyu Mang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China
| | - Zexuan Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China
| | - Pengyu Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China
| | - Yan Lu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China
| | - Shiying Miao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China
| | - Wei Song
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China
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11
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Wang Y, Chembazhi UV, Yee D, Chen S, Ji J, Wang Y, Nguyen KL, Lin P, Ratti A, Hess R, Qiao H, Ko C, Yang J, Kalsotra A, Mei W. PTBP1 mediates Sertoli cell actin cytoskeleton organization by regulating alternative splicing of actin regulators. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.12.598725. [PMID: 38915624 PMCID: PMC11195235 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.12.598725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
Spermatogenesis is a biological process within the testis that produces haploid spermatozoa for the continuity of species. Sertoli cells are somatic cells in the seminiferous epithelium that orchestrate spermatogenesis. Cyclic reorganization of Sertoli cell actin cytoskeleton is vital for spermatogenesis, but the underlying mechanism remains largely unclear. Here, we report that RNA-binding protein PTBP1 controls Sertoli cell actin cytoskeleton reorganization by programming alternative splicing of actin cytoskeleton regulators. This splicing control enables ectoplasmic specializations, the actin-based adhesion junctions, to maintain the blood-testis barrier and support spermatid transport and transformation. Particularly, we show that PTBP1 promotes actin bundle formation by repressing the inclusion of exon 14 of Tnik, a kinase present at the ectoplasmic specialization. Our results thus reveal a novel mechanism wherein Sertoli cell actin cytoskeleton dynamics is controlled post-transcriptionally by utilizing functionally distinct isoforms of actin regulatory proteins, and PTBP1 is a critical regulatory factor in generating such isoforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuexi Wang
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- These authors contributed equally to the work
| | - Ullas Valiya Chembazhi
- Department of Biochemistry, The School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- Current address: Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- These authors contributed equally to the work
| | - Danielle Yee
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- Current address: University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sijie Chen
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Jie Ji
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- Current address: Department of Integrative Biology & Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Yujie Wang
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- Current address: College of Arts and Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Ka Lam Nguyen
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - PoChing Lin
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Antonia Ratti
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, Universita degli studi di Milano, Via Fratelli Cervi 93, 20090, Segrate, Milan, Italy
| | - Rex Hess
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Huanyu Qiao
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - CheMyong Ko
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Jing Yang
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Auinash Kalsotra
- Department of Biochemistry, The School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- Division of Nutrition Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Wenyan Mei
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- Cancer Center at Illinois, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- Division of Nutrition Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
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12
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Tian P, Yang Z, Qu C, Qi X, Zhu L, Hao G, Zhang Y. Exploration of tissue fixation methods suitable for digital pathological studies of the testis. Eur J Med Res 2024; 29:319. [PMID: 38858777 PMCID: PMC11163764 DOI: 10.1186/s40001-024-01921-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The way of testicular tissue fixation directly affects the correlation and structural integrity between connective tissue and seminiferous tubules, which is essential for the study of male reproductive development. This study aimed to find the optimal fixative and fixation time to produce high-quality testicular histopathological sections, and provided a suitable foundation for in-depth study of male reproductive development with digital pathology technology. METHODS Testes were removed from both sides of 25 male C57BL/6 mice. Samples were fixed in three different fixatives, 10% neutral buffered formalin (10% NBF), modified Davidson's fluid (mDF), and Bouin's Fluid (BF), for 8, 12, and 24 h, respectively. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, periodic acid Schiff-hematoxylin (PAS-h) staining, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were used to evaluate the testicle morphology, staging of mouse seminiferous tubules, and protein preservation. Aperio ScanScope CS2 panoramic scanning was used to perform quantitative analyses. RESULTS H&E staining showed 10% NBF resulted in an approximately 15-17% reduction in the thickness of seminiferous epithelium. BF and mDF provided excellent results when staining acrosomes with PAS-h. IHC staining of synaptonemal complexes 3 (Sycp3) was superior in mDF compared to BF-fixed samples. Fixation in mDF and BF improved testis tissue morphology compared to 10% NBF. CONCLUSIONS Quantitative analysis showed that BF exhibited a very low IHC staining efficiency and revealed that mouse testes fixed for 12 h with mDF, exhibited morphological details, excellent efficiency of PAS-h staining for seminiferous tubule staging, and IHC results. In addition, the morphological damage of testis was prolonged with the duration of fixation time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengxiang Tian
- Department of Urology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, 215 Heping W Rd, Shijiazhuang, 050000, China
| | - Zhan Yang
- Department of Urology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, 215 Heping W Rd, Shijiazhuang, 050000, China
| | - Changbao Qu
- Department of Urology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, 215 Heping W Rd, Shijiazhuang, 050000, China
| | - Xin Qi
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Hebei Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Collaborative Innovation Center of Forensic Medical Molecular Identification, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China
| | - Linlin Zhu
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Hebei Key Laboratory of Forensic Medicine, Collaborative Innovation Center of Forensic Medical Molecular Identification, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, 050017, China
| | - Guimin Hao
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, 215 Heping W Rd, Shijiazhuang, 050000, China.
| | - Yong Zhang
- Department of Urology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, 215 Heping W Rd, Shijiazhuang, 050000, China.
- Department of Urology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100021, China.
- Department of Urology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Hebei Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Langfang, 065001, Hebei, China.
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13
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Hatai D, Levenson MT, Rehan VK, Allard P. Inter- and trans-generational impacts of environmental exposures on the germline resolved at the single-cell level. CURRENT OPINION IN TOXICOLOGY 2024; 38:100465. [PMID: 38586548 PMCID: PMC10993723 DOI: 10.1016/j.cotox.2024.100465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Reproduction is a remarkably intricate process involving the interaction of multiple cell types and organ systems unfolding over long periods of time and that culminates with the production of gametes. The initiation of germ cell development takes place during embryogenesis but only completes decades later in humans. The complexity inherent to reproduction and its study has long hampered our ability to decipher how environmental agents disrupt this process. Single-cell approaches provide an opportunity for a deeper understanding of the action of toxicants on germline function and analyze how the response to their exposure is differentially distributed across tissues and cell types. In addition to single-cell RNA sequencing, other single-cell or nucleus level approaches such as ATAC-sequencing and multi-omics have expanded the strategies that can be implemented in reproductive toxicological studies to include epigenomic and the nuclear transcriptomic data. Here we will discuss the current state of single-cell technologies and how they can best be utilized to advance reproductive toxicological studies. We will then discuss case studies in two model organisms (Caenorhabditis elegans and mouse) studying different environmental exposures (alcohol and e-cigarettes respectively) to highlight the value of single-cell and single-nucleus approaches for reproductive biology and reproductive toxicology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dylan Hatai
- UCLA Molecular Toxicology Interdepartmental Program, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Max T. Levenson
- UCLA Molecular Toxicology Interdepartmental Program, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Virender K. Rehan
- UCLA Molecular Toxicology Interdepartmental Program, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Patrick Allard
- UCLA Molecular Toxicology Interdepartmental Program, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Institute for Society and Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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14
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Tomar A, Gomez-Velazquez M, Gerlini R, Comas-Armangué G, Makharadze L, Kolbe T, Boersma A, Dahlhoff M, Burgstaller JP, Lassi M, Darr J, Toppari J, Virtanen H, Kühnapfel A, Scholz M, Landgraf K, Kiess W, Vogel M, Gailus-Durner V, Fuchs H, Marschall S, Hrabě de Angelis M, Kotaja N, Körner A, Teperino R. Epigenetic inheritance of diet-induced and sperm-borne mitochondrial RNAs. Nature 2024; 630:720-727. [PMID: 38839949 PMCID: PMC11186758 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07472-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Spermatozoa harbour a complex and environment-sensitive pool of small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs)1, which influences offspring development and adult phenotypes1-7. Whether spermatozoa in the epididymis are directly susceptible to environmental cues is not fully understood8. Here we used two distinct paradigms of preconception acute high-fat diet to dissect epididymal versus testicular contributions to the sperm sncRNA pool and offspring health. We show that epididymal spermatozoa, but not developing germ cells, are sensitive to the environment and identify mitochondrial tRNAs (mt-tRNAs) and their fragments (mt-tsRNAs) as sperm-borne factors. In humans, mt-tsRNAs in spermatozoa correlate with body mass index, and paternal overweight at conception doubles offspring obesity risk and compromises metabolic health. Sperm sncRNA sequencing of mice mutant for genes involved in mitochondrial function, and metabolic phenotyping of their wild-type offspring, suggest that the upregulation of mt-tsRNAs is downstream of mitochondrial dysfunction. Single-embryo transcriptomics of genetically hybrid two-cell embryos demonstrated sperm-to-oocyte transfer of mt-tRNAs at fertilization and suggested their involvement in the control of early-embryo transcription. Our study supports the importance of paternal health at conception for offspring metabolism, shows that mt-tRNAs are diet-induced and sperm-borne and demonstrates, in a physiological setting, father-to-offspring transfer of sperm mitochondrial RNAs at fertilization.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Female
- Humans
- Male
- Mice
- Body Mass Index
- Diet, High-Fat/adverse effects
- Embryo, Mammalian/cytology
- Embryo, Mammalian/embryology
- Embryo, Mammalian/metabolism
- Epididymis/cytology
- Epigenesis, Genetic/genetics
- Fertilization/genetics
- Gene Expression Profiling
- Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mitochondria/genetics
- Mitochondria/metabolism
- Mitochondria/pathology
- Obesity/genetics
- Obesity/metabolism
- Obesity/etiology
- Oocytes/metabolism
- Overweight/genetics
- Overweight/metabolism
- Paternal Inheritance/genetics
- RNA, Mitochondrial/genetics
- RNA, Mitochondrial/metabolism
- RNA, Small Untranslated/genetics
- RNA, Small Untranslated/metabolism
- RNA, Transfer/genetics
- RNA, Transfer/metabolism
- Spermatozoa/metabolism
- Testis/cytology
- Transcription, Genetic
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Affiliation(s)
- A Tomar
- Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - M Gomez-Velazquez
- Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - R Gerlini
- Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - G Comas-Armangué
- Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - L Makharadze
- Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - T Kolbe
- Unit of in vivo and in vitro Models, Center for Biological Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- IFA-Tulln, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - A Boersma
- Unit of in vivo and in vitro Models, Center for Biological Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - M Dahlhoff
- Unit of in vivo and in vitro Models, Center for Biological Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - J P Burgstaller
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Department of Biological Sciences and Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Group Molecular Reproduction, IFA-Tulln, Tulln, Austria
| | - M Lassi
- Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - J Darr
- Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - J Toppari
- Institute of Biomedicine, Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology Unit, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Center for Population Health Research, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - H Virtanen
- Institute of Biomedicine, Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology Unit, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
- Center for Population Health Research, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland
| | - A Kühnapfel
- University of Leipzig, Medical Faculty, Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics and Epidemiology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - M Scholz
- University of Leipzig, Medical Faculty, Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics and Epidemiology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - K Landgraf
- Center for Pediatric Research Leipzig (CPL), Hospital for Children & Adolescents, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - W Kiess
- Center for Pediatric Research Leipzig (CPL), Hospital for Children & Adolescents, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- LIFE Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - M Vogel
- Center for Pediatric Research Leipzig (CPL), Hospital for Children & Adolescents, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- LIFE Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - V Gailus-Durner
- Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
- German Mouse Clinic, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - H Fuchs
- Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
- German Mouse Clinic, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - S Marschall
- Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
- German Mouse Clinic, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - M Hrabě de Angelis
- Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
- German Mouse Clinic, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
- Chair of Experimental Genetics, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technische Universität München, Freising, Germany
| | - N Kotaja
- Institute of Biomedicine, Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology Unit, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - A Körner
- Center for Pediatric Research Leipzig (CPL), Hospital for Children & Adolescents, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- LIFE Leipzig Research Center for Civilization Diseases, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Helmholtz Institute for Metabolic Obesity and Vascular Research (HI-MAG), Helmholtz Zentrum München at the University of Leipzig and University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - R Teperino
- Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany.
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany.
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15
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An K, Yao B, Tan Y, Kang Y, Wang Z, Su J. Spermatocytes are the terminals of germ cell differentiation in plateau zokor (Eospalax baileyi) during the non-breeding season. Integr Zool 2024. [PMID: 38816925 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Plateau zokor (Eospalax baileyi) is a subterranean rodent and seasonal breeder. During the non-breeding season, the testicles regress, leading to the arrest of spermatogenesis and loss of fertility. The identification of the specific germ cell type at which spermatogenesis is arrested, as well as potential regulatory factors during the non-breeding season, is important for understanding seasonal spermatogenesis in subterranean species. This study analyzed genes in spermatocytes of plateau zokor by referring to single-cell RNA results in mice. We discovered that spermatogenesis is arrested at the spermatocyte during the non-breeding season, which was corroborated via immunofluorescence staining results. The analysis of gene expression during different stages of meiotic prophase I has revealed that germ cell development may be arrested, starting from zygonema, during the non-breeding season. Meanwhile, we discovered that the apoptosis genes were up-regulated, leading to apoptosis in spermatocytes. To confirm that the germ cell differentiation was blocked during the non-breeding season due to a decrease in the androgen level, we used androgen receptor antagonist (flutamide) to intervene in the breeding season and found that the inner diameter of the seminiferous tubules was significantly reduced, spermatogenesis was arrested, and spermatocytes underwent apoptosis. This study revealed that spermatocytes are the terminal of germ cell differentiation in plateau zokor during the non-breeding season and that the arrest of differentiation is attributed to a decline in androgen levels. Our results complement the theoretical basis of seasonal reproduction in plateau zokor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kang An
- College of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem (Ministry of Education), Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
- Gansu Agricultural University-Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Baohui Yao
- College of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem (Ministry of Education), Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
- Gansu Agricultural University-Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yuchen Tan
- College of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem (Ministry of Education), Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
- Gansu Agricultural University-Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yukun Kang
- College of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem (Ministry of Education), Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
- Gansu Agricultural University-Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Zhicheng Wang
- College of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem (Ministry of Education), Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
- Gansu Agricultural University-Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Junhu Su
- College of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem (Ministry of Education), Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
- Gansu Agricultural University-Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
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16
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Zhang H, Li M, Hu CJ, Stenmark KR. Fibroblasts in Pulmonary Hypertension: Roles and Molecular Mechanisms. Cells 2024; 13:914. [PMID: 38891046 PMCID: PMC11171669 DOI: 10.3390/cells13110914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Fibroblasts, among the most prevalent and widely distributed cell types in the human body, play a crucial role in defining tissue structure. They do this by depositing and remodeling extracellular matrixes and organizing functional tissue networks, which are essential for tissue homeostasis and various human diseases. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a devastating syndrome with high mortality, characterized by remodeling of the pulmonary vasculature and significant cellular and structural changes within the intima, media, and adventitia layers. Most research on PH has focused on alterations in the intima (endothelial cells) and media (smooth muscle cells). However, research over the past decade has provided strong evidence of the critical role played by pulmonary artery adventitial fibroblasts in PH. These fibroblasts exhibit the earliest, most dramatic, and most sustained proliferative, apoptosis-resistant, and inflammatory responses to vascular stress. This review examines the aberrant phenotypes of PH fibroblasts and their role in the pathogenesis of PH, discusses potential molecular signaling pathways underlying these activated phenotypes, and highlights areas of research that merit further study to identify promising targets for the prevention and treatment of PH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Zhang
- Cardiovascular Pulmonary Research Laboratories, Departments of Pediatrics and Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Min Li
- Cardiovascular Pulmonary Research Laboratories, Departments of Pediatrics and Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Cheng-Jun Hu
- Cardiovascular Pulmonary Research Laboratories, Departments of Pediatrics and Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- Department of Craniofacial Biology, University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Kurt R. Stenmark
- Cardiovascular Pulmonary Research Laboratories, Departments of Pediatrics and Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
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17
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An J, Wang J, Kong S, Song S, Chen W, Yuan P, He Q, Chen Y, Li Y, Yang Y, Wang W, Li R, Yan L, Yan Z, Qiao J. GametesOmics: A Comprehensive Multi-omics Database for Exploring the Gametogenesis in Humans and Mice. GENOMICS, PROTEOMICS & BIOINFORMATICS 2024; 22:qzad004. [PMID: 38862425 DOI: 10.1093/gpbjnl/qzad004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
Gametogenesis plays an important role in the reproduction and evolution of species. The transcriptomic and epigenetic alterations in this process can influence the reproductive capacity, fertilization, and embryonic development. The rapidly increasing single-cell studies have provided valuable multi-omics resources. However, data from different layers and sequencing platforms have not been uniformed and integrated, which greatly limits their use for exploring the molecular mechanisms that underlie oogenesis and spermatogenesis. Here, we develop GametesOmics, a comprehensive database that integrates the data of gene expression, DNA methylation, and chromatin accessibility during oogenesis and spermatogenesis in humans and mice. GametesOmics provides a user-friendly website and various tools, including Search and Advanced Search for querying the expression and epigenetic modification(s) of each gene; Tools with Differentially expressed gene (DEG) analysis for identifying DEGs, Correlation analysis for demonstrating the genetic and epigenetic changes, Visualization for displaying single-cell clusters and screening marker genes as well as master transcription factors (TFs), and MethylView for studying the genomic distribution of epigenetic modifications. GametesOmics also provides Genome Browser and Ortholog for tracking and comparing gene expression, DNA methylation, and chromatin accessibility between humans and mice. GametesOmics offers a comprehensive resource for biologists and clinicians to decipher the cell fate transition in germ cell development, and can be accessed at http://gametesomics.cn/.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianting An
- State Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
- Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing 100191, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Jing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
- Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Siming Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
- Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing 100191, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Shi Song
- State Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
- Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Wei Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
- Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Peng Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
- Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Qilong He
- State Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
- Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yidong Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
- Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Ye Li
- State Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
- Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yi Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
- Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Wei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
- Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing 100191, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Rong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
- Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Liying Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
- Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Zhiqiang Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
- Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Jie Qiao
- State Key Laboratory of Female Fertility Promotion, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
- Key Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing 100191, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, Beijing 100191, China
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18
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Zhao X, Jin T, Ji X, Zhang Q, Zhang X, Wu Z, Li Z, Yang H. Wdr17 Regulates Cell Proliferation, Cell Cycle Progression and Apoptosis in Mouse Spermatocyte Cell Line. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1418. [PMID: 38791636 PMCID: PMC11117263 DOI: 10.3390/ani14101418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
We identified Wdr17 as a highly expressed gene in pachytene spermatocytes by transcriptomic analysis of mouse testis. Germ cell-deficient infertile mouse models had significantly reduced Wdr17 expression. We performed gene interference and overexpression in the mouse spermatocyte cell line GC-2spd(ts) and investigated how Wdr17 affects spermatocyte growth and development. Our results showed that Wdr17 suppression significantly decreased cell growth rate and increased cell apoptosis in GC-2spd(ts) cells. Wdr17 suppression also arrested the cell cycle at the G1 phase. On the contrary, Wdr17 overexpression significantly promoted cell proliferation and inhibited cell apoptosis in GC-2spd(ts) cells. More cells were enriched at the S stage with a concomitant reduction of cells at the G1 stage. Wdr17 promotes mouse spermatocyte proliferation by advancing cell cycle progression and inhibiting cell apoptosis, indicating its potential role in regulating spermatogenesis in the mouse.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Zicong Li
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (X.Z.); (T.J.); (X.J.); (Q.Z.); (X.Z.); (Z.W.)
| | - Huaqiang Yang
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (X.Z.); (T.J.); (X.J.); (Q.Z.); (X.Z.); (Z.W.)
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19
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Dali O, Muriel-Muriel JA, Vargas-Baco A, Tevosian S, Zubcevic J, Smagulova F, Hayward LF. Prenatal nicotine exposure leads to epigenetic alterations in peripheral nervous system signaling genes in the testis of the rat. Epigenetics Chromatin 2024; 17:14. [PMID: 38715099 PMCID: PMC11075221 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-024-00539-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal nicotine exposure (PNE) has been documented to cause numerous deleterious effects on fetal development. However, the epigenetic changes promoted by nicotine exposure on germ cells are still not well understood. OBJECTIVES In this study, we focused on elucidating the impact of prenatal nicotine exposure on regulatory epigenetic mechanisms important for germ cell development. METHODS Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to nicotine during pregnancy and male progeny was analyzed at 11 weeks of age. Testis morphology was analyzed using frozen testis sections and expression of germ cell markers was examined by RT-qPCR; histone modifications were assessed by Western Blot (WB). DNA methylation analysis was performed by methylation-specific PCR of bisulfite converted DNA. Genome-wide DNA methylation was analyzed using Methylated DNA immunoprecipitation (MeDIP)-seq. We also carried out transcriptomics analysis of pituitary glands by RNA-seq. RESULTS We show that gestational exposure to nicotine reduces germ cell numbers, perturbs meiosis, affects the expression of germ line reprogramming responsive genes, and impacts the DNA methylation of nervous system genes in the testis. PNE also causes perturbation of gene expression in the pituitary gland of the brain. CONCLUSIONS Our data demonstrate that PNE leads to perturbation of male spermatogenesis, and the observed effects are associated with changes of peripheral nervous system signaling pathways. Alterations in the expression of genes associated with diverse biological activities such as cell migration, cell adhesion and GABA signaling in the pituitary gland underscore the complexity of the effects of nicotine exposure during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ouzna Dali
- EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de recherche en sante, environnement et travail)-UMR_S 1085, Univ. Rennes, 35000, Rennes, France
| | - Jose Antonio Muriel-Muriel
- EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de recherche en sante, environnement et travail)-UMR_S 1085, Univ. Rennes, 35000, Rennes, France
| | - Ana Vargas-Baco
- EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de recherche en sante, environnement et travail)-UMR_S 1085, Univ. Rennes, 35000, Rennes, France
| | - Sergei Tevosian
- Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida, 1333 Center Drive, Box 100144, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Jasenka Zubcevic
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Fatima Smagulova
- EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de recherche en sante, environnement et travail)-UMR_S 1085, Univ. Rennes, 35000, Rennes, France.
| | - Linda F Hayward
- Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida, 1333 Center Drive, Box 100144, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
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20
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Mitchell T, Lin J, Hicks S, James J, Rangan P, Forni P. Loss of function of male-specific lethal 3 (Msl3) does not affect spermatogenesis in rodents. Dev Dyn 2024; 253:453-466. [PMID: 37847071 PMCID: PMC11021377 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Male-specific lethal 3 (Msl3) is a member of the chromatin-associated male-specific lethal MSL complex, which is responsible for the transcriptional upregulation of genes on the X chromosome in males of Drosophila. Although the dosage complex operates differently in mammals, the Msl3 gene is conserved from flies to humans. Msl3 is required for meiotic entry during Drosophila oogenesis. Recent reports indicate that also in primates, Msl3 is expressed in undifferentiated germline cells before meiotic entry. However, if Msl3 plays a role in the meiotic entry of mammals has yet to be explored. RESULTS To understand, if Msl3a plays a role in the meiotic entry of mammals, we used mouse spermatogenesis as a study model. Analyses of single-cell RNA-seq data revealed that, in mice, Msl3 is mostly expressed in meiotic cells. To test the role of Msl3 in meiosis, we used a male germline-specific Stra8-iCre driver and a newly generated Msl3flox conditional knock-out mouse line. Msl3 conditional loss-of-function in spermatogonia did not cause spermatogenesis defects or changes in the expression of genes related to meiosis. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that, in mice, Msl3 exhibits delayed expression compared to Drosophila and primates, and loss-of-function mutations disrupting the chromodomain of Msl3 alone do not impede meiotic entry in rodents.
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Affiliation(s)
- T.A. Mitchell
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA
- The Center for Neuroscience Research, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - J.M. Lin
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA
- The Center for Neuroscience Research, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - S.M. Hicks
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - J.R. James
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA
| | - P. Rangan
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Department of Cell, Developmental, and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1 Gustave L. Levy Place, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - P.E. Forni
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA
- The RNA Institute, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA
- The Center for Neuroscience Research, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222, USA
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21
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Yang L, Liao J, Huang H, Lee TL, Qi H. Stage-specific regulation of undifferentiated spermatogonia by AKT1S1-mediated AKT-mTORC1 signaling during mouse spermatogenesis. Dev Biol 2024; 509:11-27. [PMID: 38311163 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2024.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Undifferentiated spermatogonia are composed of a heterogeneous cell population including spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). Molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of various spermatogonial cohorts during their self-renewal and differentiation are largely unclear. Here we show that AKT1S1, an AKT substrate and inhibitor of mTORC1, regulates the homeostasis of undifferentiated spermatogonia. Although deletion of Akt1s1 in mouse appears not grossly affecting steady-state spermatogenesis and male mice are fertile, the subset of differentiation-primed OCT4+ spermatogonia decreased significantly, whereas self-renewing GFRα1+ and proliferating PLZF+ spermatogonia were sustained. Both neonatal prospermatogonia and the first wave spermatogenesis were greatly reduced in Akt1s1-/- mice. Further analyses suggest that OCT4+ spermatogonia in Akt1s1-/- mice possess altered PI3K/AKT-mTORC1 signaling, gene expression and carbohydrate metabolism, leading to their functionally compromised developmental potential. Collectively, these results revealed an important role of AKT1S1 in mediating the stage-specific signals that regulate the self-renewal and differentiation of spermatogonia during mouse spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lele Yang
- Center for Cell Lineage and Development, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China; GIBH-HKU Guangdong-Hong Kong Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China; GIBH-CUHK Joint Research Laboratory on Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Jinyue Liao
- GIBH-CUHK Joint Research Laboratory on Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China; School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Hongying Huang
- The Experimental Animal Center, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Tin Lap Lee
- GIBH-CUHK Joint Research Laboratory on Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China; School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Huayu Qi
- Center for Cell Lineage and Development, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China; GIBH-HKU Guangdong-Hong Kong Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China; GIBH-CUHK Joint Research Laboratory on Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China.
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22
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Yoshimura S, Shimada R, Kikuchi K, Kawagoe S, Abe H, Iisaka S, Fujimura S, Yasunaga KI, Usuki S, Tani N, Ohba T, Kondoh E, Saio T, Araki K, Ishiguro KI. Atypical heat shock transcription factor HSF5 is critical for male meiotic prophase under non-stress conditions. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3330. [PMID: 38684656 PMCID: PMC11059408 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47601-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Meiotic prophase progression is differently regulated in males and females. In males, pachytene transition during meiotic prophase is accompanied by robust alteration in gene expression. However, how gene expression is regulated differently to ensure meiotic prophase completion in males remains elusive. Herein, we identify HSF5 as a male germ cell-specific heat shock transcription factor (HSF) for meiotic prophase progression. Genetic analyzes and single-cell RNA-sequencing demonstrate that HSF5 is essential for progression beyond the pachytene stage under non-stress conditions rather than heat stress. Chromatin binding analysis in vivo and DNA-binding assays in vitro suggest that HSF5 binds to promoters in a subset of genes associated with chromatin organization. HSF5 recognizes a DNA motif different from typical heat shock elements recognized by other canonical HSFs. This study suggests that HSF5 is an atypical HSF that is required for the gene expression program for pachytene transition during meiotic prophase in males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saori Yoshimura
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics (IMEG), Kumamoto University, Honjo 2-2-1, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 860-0811, Japan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan
| | - Ryuki Shimada
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics (IMEG), Kumamoto University, Honjo 2-2-1, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 860-0811, Japan
| | - Koji Kikuchi
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics (IMEG), Kumamoto University, Honjo 2-2-1, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 860-0811, Japan
| | - Soichiro Kawagoe
- Division of Molecular Life Science, Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima, 770-8503, Japan
| | - Hironori Abe
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics (IMEG), Kumamoto University, Honjo 2-2-1, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 860-0811, Japan
| | - Sakie Iisaka
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics (IMEG), Kumamoto University, Honjo 2-2-1, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 860-0811, Japan
| | - Sayoko Fujimura
- Liaison Laboratory Research Promotion Center, IMEG, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 860-0811, Japan
| | - Kei-Ichiro Yasunaga
- Liaison Laboratory Research Promotion Center, IMEG, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 860-0811, Japan
| | - Shingo Usuki
- Liaison Laboratory Research Promotion Center, IMEG, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 860-0811, Japan
| | - Naoki Tani
- Liaison Laboratory Research Promotion Center, IMEG, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 860-0811, Japan
| | - Takashi Ohba
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan
| | - Eiji Kondoh
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan
| | - Tomohide Saio
- Division of Molecular Life Science, Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima, 770-8503, Japan
| | - Kimi Araki
- Institute of Resource Development and Analysis, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 860-0811, Japan
- Center for Metabolic Regulation of Healthy Aging, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan
| | - Kei-Ichiro Ishiguro
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics (IMEG), Kumamoto University, Honjo 2-2-1, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 860-0811, Japan.
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23
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Bush SJ, Nikola R, Han S, Suzuki S, Yoshida S, Simons BD, Goriely A. Adult Human, but Not Rodent, Spermatogonial Stem Cells Retain States with a Foetal-like Signature. Cells 2024; 13:742. [PMID: 38727278 PMCID: PMC11083513 DOI: 10.3390/cells13090742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Spermatogenesis involves a complex process of cellular differentiation maintained by spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). Being critical to male reproduction, it is generally assumed that spermatogenesis starts and ends in equivalent transcriptional states in related species. Based on single-cell gene expression profiling, it has been proposed that undifferentiated human spermatogonia can be subclassified into four heterogenous subtypes, termed states 0, 0A, 0B, and 1. To increase the resolution of the undifferentiated compartment and trace the origin of the spermatogenic trajectory, we re-analysed the single-cell (sc) RNA-sequencing libraries of 34 post-pubescent human testes to generate an integrated atlas of germ cell differentiation. We then used this atlas to perform comparative analyses of the putative SSC transcriptome both across human development (using 28 foetal and pre-pubertal scRNA-seq libraries) and across species (including data from sheep, pig, buffalo, rhesus and cynomolgus macaque, rat, and mouse). Alongside its detailed characterisation, we show that the transcriptional heterogeneity of the undifferentiated spermatogonial cell compartment varies not only between species but across development. Our findings associate 'state 0B' with a suppressive transcriptomic programme that, in adult humans, acts to functionally oppose proliferation and maintain cells in a ready-to-react state. Consistent with this conclusion, we show that human foetal germ cells-which are mitotically arrested-can be characterised solely as state 0B. While germ cells with a state 0B signature are also present in foetal mice (and are likely conserved at this stage throughout mammals), they are not maintained into adulthood. We conjecture that in rodents, the foetal-like state 0B differentiates at birth into the renewing SSC population, whereas in humans it is maintained as a reserve population, supporting testicular homeostasis over a longer reproductive lifespan while reducing mutagenic load. Together, these results suggest that SSCs adopt differing evolutionary strategies across species to ensure fertility and genome integrity over vastly differing life histories and reproductive timeframes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen J. Bush
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Rafail Nikola
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Seungmin Han
- Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK
| | - Shinnosuke Suzuki
- Division of Germ Cell Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, 5-1 Higashiyama, Myodaiji, Okazaki 444-8787, Japan
- Graduate Institute for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI, 5-1 Higashiyama, Myodaiji, Okazaki 444-8787, Japan
| | - Shosei Yoshida
- Division of Germ Cell Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, 5-1 Higashiyama, Myodaiji, Okazaki 444-8787, Japan
- Graduate Institute for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI, 5-1 Higashiyama, Myodaiji, Okazaki 444-8787, Japan
| | - Benjamin D. Simons
- Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK
- Wellcome—MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0AW, UK
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, Centre for Mathematical Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0WA, UK
| | - Anne Goriely
- MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford OX3 7JX, UK
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24
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Wen Y, Zhou S, Gui Y, Li Z, Yin L, Xu W, Feng S, Ma X, Gan S, Xiong M, Dong J, Cheng K, Wang X, Yuan S. hnRNPU is required for spermatogonial stem cell pool establishment in mice. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114113. [PMID: 38625792 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The continuous regeneration of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) underpins spermatogenesis and lifelong male fertility, but the developmental origins of the SSC pool remain unclear. Here, we document that hnRNPU is essential for establishing the SSC pool. In male mice, conditional loss of hnRNPU in prospermatogonia (ProSG) arrests spermatogenesis and results in sterility. hnRNPU-deficient ProSG fails to differentiate and migrate to the basement membrane to establish SSC pool in infancy. Moreover, hnRNPU deletion leads to the accumulation of ProSG and disrupts the process of T1-ProSG to T2-ProSG transition. Single-cell transcriptional analyses reveal that germ cells are in a mitotically quiescent state and lose their unique identity upon hnRNPU depletion. We further show that hnRNPU could bind to Vrk1, Slx4, and Dazl transcripts that have been identified to suffer aberrant alternative splicing in hnRNPU-deficient testes. These observations offer important insights into SSC pool establishment and may have translational implications for male fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujiao Wen
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Shumin Zhou
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Yiqian Gui
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Zeqing Li
- School of Nuclear Technology and Chemistry & Biology, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning 437100, China
| | - Lisha Yin
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Wenchao Xu
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Shenglei Feng
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Laboratory of Animal Center, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Xixiang Ma
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Laboratory of Animal Center, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Shiming Gan
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Mengneng Xiong
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Juan Dong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Keren Cheng
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu 322000, China
| | - Xiaoli Wang
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Shuiqiao Yuan
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Laboratory of Animal Center, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Shenzhen Huazhong University of Science and Technology Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China.
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25
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Liu Y, Du M, Li X, Zhang L, Zhao B, Wang N, Dugarjaviin M. Single-Cell Transcriptome Sequencing Reveals Molecular Expression Differences and Marker Genes in Testes during the Sexual Maturation of Mongolian Horses. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1258. [PMID: 38731262 PMCID: PMC11082968 DOI: 10.3390/ani14091258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate differences in testicular tissue morphology, gene expression, and marker genes between sexually immature (1-year-old) and sexually mature (10-year-old) Mongolian horses. The purposes of our research were to provide insights into the reproductive physiology of male Mongolian horses and to identify potential markers for sexual maturity. The methods we applied included the transcriptomic profiling of testicular cells using single-cell sequencing techniques. Our results revealed significant differences in tissue morphology and gene expression patterns between the two age groups. Specifically, 25 cell clusters and 10 cell types were identified, including spermatogonial and somatic cells. Differential gene expression analysis highlighted distinct patterns related to cellular infrastructure in sexually immature horses and spermatogenesis in sexually mature horses. Marker genes specific to each stage were also identified, including APOA1, AMH, TAC3, INHA, SPARC, and SOX9 for the sexually immature stage, and PRM1, PRM2, LOC100051500, PRSS37, HMGB4, and H1-9 for the sexually mature stage. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of testicular development and spermatogenesis in Mongolian horses and have potential applications in equine reproductive biology and breeding programs. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying sexual maturity in Mongolian horses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyi Liu
- Key Laboratory of Equus Germplasm Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hohhot 010018, China; (Y.L.); (M.D.); (X.L.); (L.Z.); (B.Z.); (N.W.)
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Equine Science Research and Technology Innovation, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China
- Equus Research Center, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China
| | - Ming Du
- Key Laboratory of Equus Germplasm Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hohhot 010018, China; (Y.L.); (M.D.); (X.L.); (L.Z.); (B.Z.); (N.W.)
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Equine Science Research and Technology Innovation, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China
- Equus Research Center, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China
| | - Xinyu Li
- Key Laboratory of Equus Germplasm Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hohhot 010018, China; (Y.L.); (M.D.); (X.L.); (L.Z.); (B.Z.); (N.W.)
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Equine Science Research and Technology Innovation, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China
- Equus Research Center, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Equus Germplasm Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hohhot 010018, China; (Y.L.); (M.D.); (X.L.); (L.Z.); (B.Z.); (N.W.)
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Equine Science Research and Technology Innovation, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China
- Equus Research Center, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China
| | - Bilig Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Equus Germplasm Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hohhot 010018, China; (Y.L.); (M.D.); (X.L.); (L.Z.); (B.Z.); (N.W.)
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Equine Science Research and Technology Innovation, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China
- Equus Research Center, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China
| | - Na Wang
- Key Laboratory of Equus Germplasm Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hohhot 010018, China; (Y.L.); (M.D.); (X.L.); (L.Z.); (B.Z.); (N.W.)
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Equine Science Research and Technology Innovation, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China
- Equus Research Center, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China
| | - Manglai Dugarjaviin
- Key Laboratory of Equus Germplasm Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Hohhot 010018, China; (Y.L.); (M.D.); (X.L.); (L.Z.); (B.Z.); (N.W.)
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Equine Science Research and Technology Innovation, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China
- Equus Research Center, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010018, China
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26
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Prasasya RD, Caldwell BA, Liu Z, Wu S, Leu NA, Fowler JM, Cincotta SA, Laird DJ, Kohli RM, Bartolomei MS. Iterative oxidation by TET1 is required for reprogramming of imprinting control regions and patterning of mouse sperm hypomethylated regions. Dev Cell 2024; 59:1010-1027.e8. [PMID: 38569549 PMCID: PMC11042979 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2024.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Ten-eleven translocation (TET) enzymes iteratively oxidize 5-methylcytosine (5mC) to generate 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), 5-formylcytosine, and 5-carboxylcytosine to facilitate active genome demethylation. Whether these bases are required to promote replication-coupled dilution or activate base excision repair during mammalian germline reprogramming remains unresolved due to the inability to decouple TET activities. Here, we generated two mouse lines expressing catalytically inactive TET1 (Tet1-HxD) and TET1 that stalls oxidation at 5hmC (Tet1-V). Tet1 knockout and catalytic mutant primordial germ cells (PGCs) fail to erase methylation at select imprinting control regions and promoters of meiosis-associated genes, validating the requirement for the iterative oxidation of 5mC for complete germline reprogramming. TET1V and TET1HxD rescue most hypermethylation of Tet1-/- sperm, suggesting the role of TET1 beyond its oxidative capability. We additionally identify a broader class of hypermethylated regions in Tet1 mutant mouse sperm that depend on TET oxidation for reprogramming. Our study demonstrates the link between TET1-mediated germline reprogramming and sperm methylome patterning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rexxi D Prasasya
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Blake A Caldwell
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Zhengfeng Liu
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Songze Wu
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - N Adrian Leu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Center for Animal Transgenesis and Germ Cell Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Johanna M Fowler
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Steven A Cincotta
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science, Center for Reproductive Sciences, Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 84143, USA
| | - Diana J Laird
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Science, Center for Reproductive Sciences, Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 84143, USA
| | - Rahul M Kohli
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Penn Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| | - Marisa S Bartolomei
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Penn Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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27
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Wei X, Wang X, Yang C, Gao Y, Zhang Y, Xiao Y, Ju Z, Jiang Q, Wang J, Liu W, Li Y, Gao Y, Huang J. CFAP58 is involved in the sperm head shaping and flagellogenesis of cattle and mice. Development 2024; 151:dev202608. [PMID: 38602507 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
CFAP58 is a testis-enriched gene that plays an important role in the sperm flagellogenesis of humans and mice. However, the effect of CFAP58 on bull semen quality and the underlying molecular mechanisms involved in spermatogenesis remain unknown. Here, we identified two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (rs110610797, A>G and rs133760846, G>T) and one indel (g.-1811_ g.-1810 ins147bp) in the promoter of CFAP58 that were significantly associated with semen quality of bulls, including sperm deformity rate and ejaculate volume. Moreover, by generating gene knockout mice, we found for the first time that the loss of Cfap58 not only causes severe defects in the sperm tail, but also affects the manchette structure, resulting in abnormal sperm head shaping. Cfap58 deficiency causes an increase in spermatozoa apoptosis. Further experiments confirmed that CFAP58 interacts with IFT88 and CCDC42. Moreover, it may be a transported cargo protein that plays a role in stabilizing other cargo proteins, such as CCDC42, in the intra-manchette transport/intra-flagellar transport pathway. Collectively, our findings reveal that CFAP58 is required for spermatogenesis and provide genetic markers for evaluating semen quality in cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaochao Wei
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics of MARA, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, P. R. China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Breeding, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, P. R. China
| | - Xiuge Wang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics of MARA, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, P. R. China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Breeding, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, P. R. China
| | - Chunhong Yang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics of MARA, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, P. R. China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Breeding, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, P. R. China
| | - Yaping Gao
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics of MARA, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, P. R. China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Breeding, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, P. R. China
| | - Yaran Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics of MARA, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, P. R. China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Breeding, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, P. R. China
| | - Yao Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics of MARA, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, P. R. China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Breeding, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, P. R. China
| | - Zhihua Ju
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics of MARA, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, P. R. China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Breeding, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, P. R. China
| | - Qiang Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics of MARA, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, P. R. China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Breeding, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, P. R. China
| | - Jinpeng Wang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics of MARA, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, P. R. China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Breeding, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, P. R. China
| | - Wenhao Liu
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics of MARA, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, P. R. China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Breeding, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, P. R. China
| | - Yanqin Li
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics of MARA, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, P. R. China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Breeding, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, P. R. China
| | - Yundong Gao
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics of MARA, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, P. R. China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Breeding, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, P. R. China
- Technical Innovation Center of Dairy Cattle Breeding Industry of Shandong Province, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, P. R. China
| | - Jinming Huang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics of MARA, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, P. R. China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Breeding, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, P. R. China
- Technical Innovation Center of Dairy Cattle Breeding Industry of Shandong Province, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, P. R. China
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28
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Zhou X, Fang K, Liu Y, Li W, Tan Y, Zhang J, Yu X, Wang G, Zhang Y, Shang Y, Zhang L, Chen CD, Wang S. ZFP541 and KCTD19 regulate chromatin organization and transcription programs for male meiotic progression. Cell Prolif 2024; 57:e13567. [PMID: 37921559 PMCID: PMC10984108 DOI: 10.1111/cpr.13567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The successful progression of meiosis prophase I requires integrating information from the structural and molecular levels. In this study, we show that ZFP541 and KCTD19 work in the same genetic pathway to regulate the progression of male meiosis and thus fertility. The Zfp541 and/or Kctd19 knockout male mice show various structural and recombination defects including detached chromosome ends, aberrant localization of chromosome axis components and recombination proteins, and globally altered histone modifications. Further analyses on RNA-seq, ChIP-seq, and ATAC-seq data provide molecular evidence for the above defects and reveal that ZFP541/KCTD19 activates the expression of many genes by repressing several major transcription repressors. More importantly, we reveal an unexpected role of ZFP541/KCTD19 in directly modulating chromatin organization. These results suggest that ZFP541/KCTD19 simultaneously regulates the transcription cascade and chromatin organization to ensure the coordinated progression of multiple events at chromosome structural and biochemical levels during meiosis prophase I.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Zhou
- Advanced Medical Research InstituteShandong UniversityJinanShandongChina
| | - Kailun Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell ScienceShanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
| | - Yanlei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Center for Reproductive MedicineShandong UniversityJinanShandongChina
| | - Weidong Li
- Advanced Medical Research InstituteShandong UniversityJinanShandongChina
| | - Yingjin Tan
- Advanced Medical Research InstituteShandong UniversityJinanShandongChina
| | - Jiaming Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Center for Reproductive MedicineShandong UniversityJinanShandongChina
| | - Xiaoxia Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Center for Reproductive MedicineShandong UniversityJinanShandongChina
| | - Guoqiang Wang
- Advanced Medical Research InstituteShandong UniversityJinanShandongChina
| | - Yanan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Center for Reproductive MedicineShandong UniversityJinanShandongChina
| | - Yongliang Shang
- Advanced Medical Research InstituteShandong UniversityJinanShandongChina
| | - Liangran Zhang
- Advanced Medical Research InstituteShandong UniversityJinanShandongChina
- Center for Cell Structure and Function, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Resistance Biology, College of Life SciencesShandong Normal UniversityJinanShandongChina
| | - Charlie Degui Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell ScienceShanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
| | - Shunxin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Center for Reproductive MedicineShandong UniversityJinanShandongChina
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, National Research Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology and Reproductive GeneticsShandong UniversityJinanShandongChina
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Reproductive HealthShandong Technology Innovation Center for Reproductive HealthJinanShandongChina
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29
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Murugesh V, Ritting M, Salem S, Aalam SMM, Garcia J, Chattha AJ, Zhao Y, Knapp DJHF, Kalthur G, Granberg CF, Kannan N. Puberty Blocker and Aging Impact on Testicular Cell States and Function. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.23.586441. [PMID: 38585884 PMCID: PMC10996503 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.23.586441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Spermatogonial stem cell (SSC) acquisition of meiotogenetic state during puberty to produce genetically diverse gametes is blocked by drugs collectively referred as 'puberty blocker' (PB). Investigating the impact of PB on juvenile SSC state and function is challenging due to limited tissue access and clinical data. Herein, we report largest clinically annotated juvenile testicular biorepository with all children with gender dysphoria on chronic PB treatment highlighting shift in pediatric patient demography in US. At the tissue level, we report mild-to-severe sex gland atrophy in PB treated children. We developed most extensive integrated single-cell RNA dataset to date (>100K single cells; 25 patients), merging both public and novel (52 month PB-treated) datasets, alongside innovative computational approach tailed for germ cells and evaluated the impact of PB and aging on SSC. We report novel constitutional ranges for each testicular cell type across the entire age spectrum, distinct effects of treatments on prepubertal vs adult SSC, presence of spermatogenic epithelial cells exhibiting post-meiotic-state, irrespective of age, puberty status, or PB treatment. Further, we defined distinct effects of PB and aging on testicular cell lineage composition, and SSC meiotogenetic state and function. Using single cell data from prepubertal and young adult, we were able to accurately predict sexual maturity based both on overall cell type proportions, as well as on gene expression patterns within each major cell type. Applying these models to a PB-treated patient that they appeared pre-pubertal across the entire tissue. This combined with the noted gland atrophy and abnormalities from the histology data raise a potential concern regarding the complete 'reversibility' and reproductive fitness of SSC. The biorepository, data, and research approach presented in this study provide unique opportunity to explore the impact of PB on testicular reproductive health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Varshini Murugesh
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Megan Ritting
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Salem Salem
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | | | - Joaquin Garcia
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Asma J Chattha
- Department of Pediatrics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Yulian Zhao
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - David JHF Knapp
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
- Institut de Recherche en Immunologie et Cancérologie, and Département de Pathologie et Biologie Cellulaire, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Senior authors
| | - Guruprasad Kalthur
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
- Division of Reproductive Biology, Department of Reproductive Science, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
- Senior authors
| | | | - Nagarajan Kannan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
- Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
- Center for Regenerative Biotherapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
- Senior authors
- Lead contact
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30
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Hu M, Yeh YH, Maezawa S, Nakagawa T, Yoshida S, Namekawa S. PRC1 directs PRC2-H3K27me3 deposition to shield adult spermatogonial stem cells from differentiation. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:2306-2322. [PMID: 38142439 PMCID: PMC10954450 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad1203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Spermatogonial stem cells functionality reside in the slow-cycling and heterogeneous undifferentiated spermatogonia cell population. This pool of cells supports lifelong fertility in adult males by balancing self-renewal and differentiation to produce haploid gametes. However, the molecular mechanisms underpinning long-term stemness of undifferentiated spermatogonia during adulthood remain unclear. Here, we discover that an epigenetic regulator, Polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1), shields adult undifferentiated spermatogonia from differentiation, maintains slow cycling, and directs commitment to differentiation during steady-state spermatogenesis in adults. We show that PRC2-mediated H3K27me3 is an epigenetic hallmark of adult undifferentiated spermatogonia. Indeed, spermatogonial differentiation is accompanied by a global loss of H3K27me3. Disruption of PRC1 impairs global H3K27me3 deposition, leading to precocious spermatogonial differentiation. Therefore, PRC1 directs PRC2-H3K27me3 deposition to maintain the self-renewing state of undifferentiated spermatogonia. Importantly, in contrast to its role in other tissue stem cells, PRC1 negatively regulates the cell cycle to maintain slow cycling of undifferentiated spermatogonia. Our findings have implications for how epigenetic regulators can be tuned to regulate the stem cell potential, cell cycle and differentiation to ensure lifelong fertility in adult males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengwen Hu
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Division of Developmental Biology, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Yu-Han Yeh
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Division of Developmental Biology, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - So Maezawa
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Division of Developmental Biology, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Applied Biological Science, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba 281-8510, Japan
| | - Toshinori Nakagawa
- Division of Germ Cell Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, 5-1 Higashiyama, Myodaiji, Okazaki 444-8787, Japan
- Course for Basic Biology, The Graduate Institute for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI, 5-1 Higashiyama, Myodaiji, Okazaki 444-8787, Japan
| | - Shosei Yoshida
- Division of Germ Cell Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, National Institutes of Natural Sciences, 5-1 Higashiyama, Myodaiji, Okazaki 444-8787, Japan
- Course for Basic Biology, The Graduate Institute for Advanced Studies, SOKENDAI, 5-1 Higashiyama, Myodaiji, Okazaki 444-8787, Japan
| | - Satoshi H Namekawa
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Division of Developmental Biology, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
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31
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Romeo-Cardeillac C, Trovero MF, Radío S, Smircich P, Rodríguez-Casuriaga R, Geisinger A, Sotelo-Silveira J. Uncovering a multitude of stage-specific splice variants and putative protein isoforms generated along mouse spermatogenesis. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:295. [PMID: 38509455 PMCID: PMC10953240 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10170-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mammalian testis is a highly complex and heterogeneous tissue. This complexity, which mostly derives from spermatogenic cells, is reflected at the transcriptional level, with the largest number of tissue-specific genes and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) compared to other tissues, and one of the highest rates of alternative splicing. Although it is known that adequate alternative-splicing patterns and stage-specific isoforms are critical for successful spermatogenesis, so far only a very limited number of reports have addressed a detailed study of alternative splicing and isoforms along the different spermatogenic stages. RESULTS In the present work, using highly purified stage-specific testicular cell populations, we detected 33,002 transcripts expressed throughout mouse spermatogenesis not annotated so far. These include both splice variants of already annotated genes, and of hitherto unannotated genes. Using conservative criteria, we uncovered 13,471 spermatogenic lncRNAs, which reflects the still incomplete annotation of lncRNAs. A distinctive feature of lncRNAs was their lower number of splice variants compared to protein-coding ones, adding to the conclusion that lncRNAs are, in general, less complex than mRNAs. Besides, we identified 2,794 unannotated transcripts with high coding potential (including some arising from yet unannotated genes), many of which encode unnoticed putative testis-specific proteins. Some of the most interesting coding splice variants were chosen, and validated through RT-PCR. Remarkably, the largest number of stage-specific unannotated transcripts are expressed during early meiotic prophase stages, whose study has been scarcely addressed in former transcriptomic analyses. CONCLUSIONS We detected a high number of yet unannotated genes and alternatively spliced transcripts along mouse spermatogenesis, hence showing that the transcriptomic diversity of the testis is considerably higher than previously reported. This is especially prominent for specific, underrepresented stages such as those of early meiotic prophase, and its unveiling may constitute a step towards the understanding of their key events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Romeo-Cardeillac
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Reproduction, Department of Molecular Biology, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable (IIBCE), 11,600, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Department of Genomics, IIBCE, 11,600, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - María Fernanda Trovero
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Reproduction, Department of Molecular Biology, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable (IIBCE), 11,600, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Santiago Radío
- Department of Genomics, IIBCE, 11,600, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Pablo Smircich
- Department of Genomics, IIBCE, 11,600, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Rosana Rodríguez-Casuriaga
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Reproduction, Department of Molecular Biology, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable (IIBCE), 11,600, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Adriana Geisinger
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Reproduction, Department of Molecular Biology, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable (IIBCE), 11,600, Montevideo, Uruguay.
- Biochemistry-Molecular Biology, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República (UdelaR), 11,400, Montevideo, Uruguay.
| | - José Sotelo-Silveira
- Department of Genomics, IIBCE, 11,600, Montevideo, Uruguay.
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Facultad de Ciencias, UdelaR, 11,400, Montevideo, Uruguay.
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Ni F, Wang F, Li J, Liu Y, Sun X, Chen J, Li J, Zhang Y, Jin J, Ye X, Tu M, Chen J, Chen C, Zhang D. BNC1 deficiency induces mitochondrial dysfunction-triggered spermatogonia apoptosis through the CREB/SIRT1/FOXO3 pathway: the therapeutic potential of nicotinamide riboside and metformin†. Biol Reprod 2024; 110:615-631. [PMID: 38079523 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioad168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Male infertility is a global health problem that disturbs numerous couples worldwide. Basonuclin 1 (BNC1) is a transcription factor mainly expressed in proliferative keratinocytes and germ cells. A frameshift mutation of BNC1 was identified in a large Chinese primary ovarian insufficiency pedigree. The expression of BNC1 was significantly decreased in the testis biopsies of infertile patients with nonobstructive azoospermia. Previous studies have revealed that mice with BNC1 deficiency are generally subfertile and undergo gradual spermatogenic failure. We observed that apoptosis of spermatogonia is tightly related to spermatogenic failure in mice with a Bnc1 truncation mutation. Such impairment is related to mitochondrial dysfunction causing lower mitochondrial membrane potential and higher reactive oxygen species. We showed that downregulation of CREB/SIRT1/FOXO3 signaling participates in the above impairment. Administration of nicotinamide riboside or metformin reversed mitochondrial dysfunction and inhibited apoptosis in Bnc1-knockdown spermatogonia by stimulating CREB/SIRT1/FOXO3 signaling. Dietary supplementation with nicotinamide riboside or metformin in mutated mice increased SIRT1 signaling, improved the architecture of spermatogenic tubules, inhibited apoptosis of the testis, and improved the fertility of mice with a Bnc1 truncation mutation. Our data establish that oral nicotinamide riboside or metformin can be useful for the treatment of spermatogenic failure induced by Bnc1 mutation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feida Ni
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Ministry of Education), Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Feixia Wang
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Ministry of Education), Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jingyi Li
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Ministry of Education), Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yifeng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Ministry of Education), Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiao Sun
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Ministry of Education), Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jianpeng Chen
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Ministry of Education), Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jiaqun Li
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Ministry of Education), Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yanye Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Ministry of Education), Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jiani Jin
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Ministry of Education), Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaohang Ye
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Ministry of Education), Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Mixue Tu
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Ministry of Education), Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jianhua Chen
- Department of Pathology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chuan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Ministry of Education), Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Dan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Ministry of Education), Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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Li R, Du Y, Li K, Xiong X, Zhang L, Guo C, Gao S, Yao Y, Xu Y, Yang J. Single-cell transcriptome profiling implicates the psychological stress-induced disruption of spermatogenesis. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2024; 35:102158. [PMID: 38439912 PMCID: PMC10910125 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2024.102158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
Male infertility has emerged as a global issue, partly attributed to psychological stress. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the adverse effects of psychological stress on male reproductive function remain elusive. We created a psychologically stressed model using terrified-sound and profiled the testes from stressed and control rats using single-cell RNA sequencing. Comparative and comprehensive transcriptome analyses of 11,744 testicular cells depicted the cellular landscape of spermatogenesis and revealed significant molecular alterations of spermatogenesis suffering from psychological stress. At the cellular level, stressed rats exhibited delayed spermatogenesis at the spermatogonia and pachytene phases, resulting in reduced sperm production. Additionally, psychological stress rewired cellular interactions among germ cells, negatively impacting reproductive development. Molecularly, we observed the down-regulation of anti-oxidation-related genes and up-regulation of genes promoting reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in the stress group. These alterations led to elevated ROS levels in testes, affecting the expression of key regulators such as ATF2 and STAR, which caused reproductive damage through apoptosis or inhibition of testosterone synthesis. Overall, our study aimed to uncover the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which psychological stress disrupts spermatogenesis, offering insights into the mechanisms of psychological stress-induced male infertility in other species and promises in potential therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rufeng Li
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an 710061, P.R. China
| | - Yuefeng Du
- Department of Urology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710061, P.R. China
| | - Kang Li
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an 710061, P.R. China
| | - Xiaofan Xiong
- Center for Tumor and Immunology, the Precision Medical Institute, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710004, P.R. China
| | - Lingyu Zhang
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an 710061, P.R. China
| | - Chen Guo
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an 710061, P.R. China
| | - Shanfeng Gao
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an 710061, P.R. China
| | - Yufei Yao
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an 710061, P.R. China
| | - Yungang Xu
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an 710061, P.R. China
| | - Juan Yang
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi’an 710061, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Genes Related to Diseases (Xi’an Jiaotong University), Ministry of Education of China, Xi’an 710061, P.R. China
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Garza S, Sottas C, Gukasyan HJ, Papadopoulos V. In vitro and in vivo studies on the effect of a mitochondrial fusion promoter on Leydig cell integrity and function. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2024; 6:1357857. [PMID: 38511146 PMCID: PMC10950900 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2024.1357857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: The interstitial testicular Leydig cells are responsible for the production of testosterone, which functionally deteriorate with normal aging. Decreased expression of mitochondrial steroidogenic interactome proteins and diminished mitochondrial function in aging Leydig cells suggest that mitochondrial dynamics play a role in maintaining adequate levels of testosterone. Optic atrophy 1 (OPA1) protein regulates mitochondrial dynamics and cristae formation in many cell types. Previous studies showed that increasing OPA1 expression in dysfunctional Leydig cells restored mitochondrial function and recovered androgen production to levels found in healthy Leydig cells. These findings suggested that mitochondrial dynamics may be a promising target to ameliorate diminished testosterone levels in aging males. Methods: We used twelve-month-old rats to explore the relationship between mitochondrial dynamics and Leydig cell function. Isolated Leydig cells from aged rats were treated ex vivo with the cell-permeable mitochondrial fusion promoter 4-Chloro-2-(1-(2-(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)hydrazono)ethyl) phenol (mitochondrial fusion promoter M1), which enhances mitochondrial tubular network formation. In parallel, rats were treated with 2 mg/kg/day M1 for 6 weeks before Leydig cells were isolated. Results: Ex vivo M1-treated cells showed enhanced mitochondrial tubular network formation by transmission electron microscopy, enhanced Leydig cell mitochondrial integrity, improved mitochondrial function, and higher testosterone biosynthesis compared to controls. However, in vivo treatment of aged rats with M1 not only failed to re-establish testosterone levels to that of young rats, it also led to further reduction of testosterone levels and increased apoptosis, suggesting M1 toxicity in the testis. The in vivo M1 toxicity seemed to be tissue-specific, however. Conclusion: Promoting mitochondrial fusion may be one approach to enhancing cell health and wellbeing with aging, but more investigations are warranted. Our findings suggest that fusion promoters could potentially enhance the productivity of aged Leydig cells when carefully regulated.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Vassilios Papadopoulos
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Alfred E. Mann School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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35
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Hoque M, Li FQ, Weber WD, Chen JJ, Kim EN, Kuo PL, Visconti PE, Takemaru KI. The Cby3/ciBAR1 complex positions the annulus along the sperm flagellum during spermiogenesis. J Cell Biol 2024; 223:e202307147. [PMID: 38197861 PMCID: PMC10783431 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202307147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Proper compartmentalization of the sperm flagellum is essential for fertility. The annulus is a septin-based ring that demarcates the midpiece (MP) and the principal piece (PP). It is assembled at the flagellar base, migrates caudally, and halts upon arriving at the PP. However, the mechanisms governing annulus positioning remain unknown. We report that a Chibby3 (Cby3)/Cby1-interacting BAR domain-containing 1 (ciBAR1) complex is required for this process. Ablation of either gene in mice results in male fertility defects, caused by kinked sperm flagella with the annulus mispositioned in the PP. Cby3 and ciBAR1 interact and colocalize to the annulus near the curved membrane invagination at the flagellar pocket. In the absence of Cby3, periannular membranes appear to be deformed, allowing the annulus to migrate over the fibrous sheath into the PP. Collectively, our results suggest that the Cby3/ciBAR1 complex regulates local membrane properties to position the annulus at the MP/PP junction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Hoque
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Feng-Qian Li
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - William David Weber
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Jun Jie Chen
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Eunice N. Kim
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Pao-Lin Kuo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Pablo E. Visconti
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Ken-Ichi Takemaru
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
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36
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Ferrer P, Upadhyay S, Cai JJ, Clement TM. Novel Nuclear Roles for Testis-Specific ACTL7A and ACTL7B Supported by In Vivo Characterizations and AI Facilitated In Silico Mechanistic Modeling with Implications for Epigenetic Regulation in Spermiogenesis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.29.582797. [PMID: 38464253 PMCID: PMC10925299 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.29.582797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
A mechanistic role for nuclear function of testis-specific actin related proteins (ARPs) is proposed here through contributions of ARP subunit swapping in canonical chromatin regulatory complexes. This is significant to our understanding of both mechanisms controlling regulation of spermiogenesis, and the expanding functional roles of the ARPs in cell biology. Among these roles, actins and ARPs are pivotal not only in cytoskeletal regulation, but also in intranuclear chromatin organization, influencing gene regulation and nucleosome remodeling. This study focuses on two testis-specific ARPs, ACTL7A and ACTL7B, exploring their intranuclear activities and broader implications utilizing combined in vivo, in vitro, and in silico approaches. ACTL7A and ACTL7B, previously associated with structural roles, are hypothesized here to serve in chromatin regulation during germline development. This study confirms the intranuclear presence of ACTL7B in spermatocytes and round spermatids, revealing a potential role in intranuclear processes, and identifies a putative nuclear localization sequence conserved across mammalian ACTL7B, indicating a potentially unique mode of nuclear transport which differs from conventional actin. Ablation of ACTL7B leads to varied transcriptional changes reported here. Additionally, in the absence of ACTL7A or ACTL7B there is a loss of intranuclear localization of HDAC1 and HDAC3, which are known regulators of epigenetic associated acetylation changes that in turn regulate gene expression. Thus, these HDACs are implicated as contributors to the aberrant gene expression observed in the KO mouse testis transcriptomic analysis. Furthermore, this study employed and confirmed the accuracy of in silico models to predict ARP interactions with Helicase-SANT-associated (HSA) domains, uncovering putative roles for testis-specific ARPs in nucleosome remodeling complexes. In these models, ACTL7A and ACTL7B were found capable of binding to INO80 and SWI/SNF nucleosome remodeler family members in a manner akin to nuclear actin and ACTL6A. These models thus implicate germline-specific ARP subunit swapping within chromatin regulatory complexes as a potential regulatory mechanism for chromatin and associated molecular machinery adaptations in nuclear reorganizations required during spermiogenesis. These results hold implications for male fertility and epigenetic programing in the male-germline that warrant significant future investigation. In summary, this study reveals that ACTL7A and ACTL7B play intranuclear gene regulation roles in male gametogenesis, adding to the multifaceted roles identified also spanning structural, acrosomal, and flagellar stability. ACTL7A and ACTL7B unique nuclear transport, impact on HDAC nuclear associations, impact on transcriptional processes, and proposed mechanism for involvement in nucleosome remodeling complexes supported by AI facilitated in silico modeling contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the indispensable functions of ARPs broadly in cell biology, and specifically in male fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Ferrer
- Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology Program, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843
| | - Srijana Upadhyay
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843
| | - James J Cai
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843
| | - Tracy M Clement
- Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology Program, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843
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37
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Panten J, Heinen T, Ernst C, Eling N, Wagner RE, Satorius M, Marioni JC, Stegle O, Odom DT. The dynamic genetic determinants of increased transcriptional divergence in spermatids. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1272. [PMID: 38341412 PMCID: PMC10858866 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45133-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Cis-genetic effects are key determinants of transcriptional divergence in discrete tissues and cell types. However, how cis- and trans-effects act across continuous trajectories of cellular differentiation in vivo is poorly understood. Here, we quantify allele-specific expression during spermatogenic differentiation at single-cell resolution in an F1 hybrid mouse system, allowing for the comprehensive characterisation of cis- and trans-genetic effects, including their dynamics across cellular differentiation. Collectively, almost half of the genes subject to genetic regulation show evidence for dynamic cis-effects that vary during differentiation. Our system also allows us to robustly identify dynamic trans-effects, which are less pervasive than cis-effects. In aggregate, genetic effects were strongest in round spermatids, which parallels their increased transcriptional divergence we identified between species. Our approach provides a comprehensive quantification of the variability of genetic effects in vivo, and demonstrates a widely applicable strategy to dissect the impact of regulatory variants on gene regulation in dynamic systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasper Panten
- Division of Regulatory Genomics and Cancer Evolution, German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Computational Genomics and Systems Genetics, German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, 69117, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tobias Heinen
- Division of Computational Genomics and Systems Genetics, German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Genome Biology Unit, 69117, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christina Ernst
- School of Life Sciences, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nils Eling
- University of Zurich, Department of Quantitative Biomedicine, Zurich, 8057, Switzerland
- ETH Zurich, Institute for Molecular Health Sciences, Zurich, 8093, Switzerland
| | - Rebecca E Wagner
- Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, 69117, Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Mechanisms Regulating Gene Expression, German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Maja Satorius
- Division of Regulatory Genomics and Cancer Evolution, German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - John C Marioni
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Oliver Stegle
- Division of Computational Genomics and Systems Genetics, German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Genome Biology Unit, 69117, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Duncan T Odom
- Division of Regulatory Genomics and Cancer Evolution, German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
- Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, 69117, Heidelberg, Germany.
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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Li S, Yan RG, Gao X, He Z, Wu SX, Wang YJ, Zhang YW, Tao HP, Zhang XN, Jia GX, Yang QE. Single-cell transcriptome analyses reveal critical regulators of spermatogonial stem cell fate transitions. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:138. [PMID: 38310206 PMCID: PMC10837949 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10072-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are the foundation cells for continual spermatogenesis and germline regeneration in mammals. SSC activities reside in the undifferentiated spermatogonial population, and currently, the molecular identities of SSCs and their committed progenitors remain unclear. RESULTS We performed single-cell transcriptome analysis on isolated undifferentiated spermatogonia from mice to decipher the molecular signatures of SSC fate transitions. Through comprehensive analysis, we delineated the developmental trajectory and identified candidate transcription factors (TFs) involved in the fate transitions of SSCs and their progenitors in distinct states. Specifically, we characterized the Asingle spermatogonial subtype marked by the expression of Eomes. Eomes+ cells contained enriched transplantable SSCs, and more than 90% of the cells remained in the quiescent state. Conditional deletion of Eomes in the germline did not impact steady-state spermatogenesis but enhanced SSC regeneration. Forced expression of Eomes in spermatogenic cells disrupted spermatogenesis mainly by affecting the cell cycle progression of undifferentiated spermatogonia. After injury, Eomes+ cells re-enter the cell cycle and divide to expand the SSC pool. Eomes+ cells consisted of 7 different subsets of cells at single-cell resolution, and genes enriched in glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and the PI3/Akt signaling pathway participated in the SSC regeneration process. CONCLUSIONS In this study, we explored the molecular characteristics and critical regulators of subpopulations of undifferentiated spermatogonia. The findings of the present study described a quiescent SSC subpopulation, Eomes+ spermatogonia, and provided a dynamic transcriptional map of SSC fate determination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Li
- Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qinghai, 810008, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
- Institute of Medical Technology, Luoyang Polytechnic, Luoyang, Henan, 471000, China
| | - Rong-Ge Yan
- Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qinghai, 810008, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xue Gao
- Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qinghai, 810008, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Zhen He
- Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qinghai, 810008, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Shi-Xin Wu
- Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qinghai, 810008, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yu-Jun Wang
- Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qinghai, 810008, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yi-Wen Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qinghai, 810008, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Hai-Ping Tao
- Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qinghai, 810008, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xiao-Na Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qinghai, 810008, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Gong-Xue Jia
- Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qinghai, 810008, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
- Qinghai Key Laboratory of Animal Ecological Genomics, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qinghai, 810001, China
| | - Qi-En Yang
- Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qinghai, 810008, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
- Qinghai Key Laboratory of Animal Ecological Genomics, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qinghai, 810001, China.
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Du X, Yang D, Yu X, Wei Y, Chen W, Zhai Y, Ma F, Zhang M, Wan S, Li Y, Yang X, Aierken A, Zhang N, Xu W, Meng Y, Li N, Liao M, Yuan X, Zhu H, Qu L, Zhou N, Bai X, Peng S, Yang F, Hua J. PLZF protein forms a complex with protein TET1 to target TCF7L2 in undifferentiated spermatogonia. Theriogenology 2024; 215:321-333. [PMID: 38128225 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2023.12.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
The transcription factor promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger (PLZF, also known as ZBTB16) is critical for the self-renewal of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). However, the function of PLZF in SSCs is not clear. Here, we found that PLZF acted as an epigenetic regulator of stem cell maintenance and self-renewal of germ cells. The PLZF protein interacts with the ten-eleven translocation 1 (TET1) protein and subsequently acts as a modulator to regulate the expression of self-renewal-related genes. Furthermore, Transcription Factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) is promoted by the coordination of PLZF and Tri-methylation of lysine 4 on histone H3 (H3K4me3). In addition, testicular single-cell sequencing indicated that TCF7L2 is commonly expressed in the PLZF cluster. We demonstrated that PLZF directly targets TCF7L2 and alters the landscape of histone methylation in the SSCs nucleus. Meanwhile, the RD domain and Zn finger domain of PLZF synergize with H3K4me3 and directly upregulate TCF7L2 expression at the transcriptional level. Additionally, we identified a new association between PLZF and the histone methyltransferase EZH2 at the genomic level. Our study identified a new association between PLZF and H3K4me3, established the novel PLZF&TET1-H3K4me3-TCF7L2 axis at the genomic level which regulates undifferentiated spermatogonia, and provided a platform for studying germ cell development in male domestic animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaomin Du
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi Centre of Stem Cells Engineering & Technology, Yangling, 712100, China; Shaanxi Provincial Engineering and Technology Research Center of Cashmere Goats, College of Life Sciences, Yulin University, Yulin, Shaanxi, 719000, China
| | - Donghui Yang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi Centre of Stem Cells Engineering & Technology, Yangling, 712100, China
| | - Xiuwei Yu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi Centre of Stem Cells Engineering & Technology, Yangling, 712100, China; Department of Histo-embryology, Genetics and Developmental Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Yudong Wei
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi Centre of Stem Cells Engineering & Technology, Yangling, 712100, China
| | - Wenbo Chen
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi Centre of Stem Cells Engineering & Technology, Yangling, 712100, China
| | - Yuanxin Zhai
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi Centre of Stem Cells Engineering & Technology, Yangling, 712100, China
| | - Fanglin Ma
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi Centre of Stem Cells Engineering & Technology, Yangling, 712100, China
| | - Mengfei Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi Centre of Stem Cells Engineering & Technology, Yangling, 712100, China
| | - Shicheng Wan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi Centre of Stem Cells Engineering & Technology, Yangling, 712100, China
| | - Yunxiang Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi Centre of Stem Cells Engineering & Technology, Yangling, 712100, China
| | - Xinchun Yang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi Centre of Stem Cells Engineering & Technology, Yangling, 712100, China
| | - Aili Aierken
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi Centre of Stem Cells Engineering & Technology, Yangling, 712100, China
| | - Ning Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Wenjing Xu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi Centre of Stem Cells Engineering & Technology, Yangling, 712100, China
| | - Yuan Meng
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi Centre of Stem Cells Engineering & Technology, Yangling, 712100, China
| | - Na Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi Centre of Stem Cells Engineering & Technology, Yangling, 712100, China
| | - Mingzhi Liao
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China
| | - Xiaole Yuan
- Shaanxi Provincial Engineering and Technology Research Center of Cashmere Goats, College of Life Sciences, Yulin University, Yulin, Shaanxi, 719000, China
| | - Haijing Zhu
- Shaanxi Provincial Engineering and Technology Research Center of Cashmere Goats, College of Life Sciences, Yulin University, Yulin, Shaanxi, 719000, China
| | - Lei Qu
- Shaanxi Provincial Engineering and Technology Research Center of Cashmere Goats, College of Life Sciences, Yulin University, Yulin, Shaanxi, 719000, China
| | - Na Zhou
- People's Hospital of Jingbian County, Ningxia Medical University, Yuling, Shaanxi, 718500, China
| | - Xue Bai
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Sha Peng
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi Centre of Stem Cells Engineering & Technology, Yangling, 712100, China.
| | - Fan Yang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi Centre of Stem Cells Engineering & Technology, Yangling, 712100, China.
| | - Jinlian Hua
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi Centre of Stem Cells Engineering & Technology, Yangling, 712100, China.
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40
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Ye F, Wang J, Li J, Mei Y, Guo G. Mapping Cell Atlases at the Single-Cell Level. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2305449. [PMID: 38145338 PMCID: PMC10885669 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202305449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
Recent advancements in single-cell technologies have led to rapid developments in the construction of cell atlases. These atlases have the potential to provide detailed information about every cell type in different organisms, enabling the characterization of cellular diversity at the single-cell level. Global efforts in developing comprehensive cell atlases have profound implications for both basic research and clinical applications. This review provides a broad overview of the cellular diversity and dynamics across various biological systems. In addition, the incorporation of machine learning techniques into cell atlas analyses opens up exciting prospects for the field of integrative biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Ye
- Bone Marrow Transplantation Center of the First Affiliated Hospital, and Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative MedicineZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouZhejiang310000China
- Liangzhu LaboratoryZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang311121China
| | - Jingjing Wang
- Bone Marrow Transplantation Center of the First Affiliated Hospital, and Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative MedicineZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouZhejiang310000China
- Liangzhu LaboratoryZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang311121China
| | - Jiaqi Li
- Bone Marrow Transplantation Center of the First Affiliated Hospital, and Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative MedicineZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouZhejiang310000China
| | - Yuqing Mei
- Bone Marrow Transplantation Center of the First Affiliated Hospital, and Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative MedicineZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouZhejiang310000China
| | - Guoji Guo
- Bone Marrow Transplantation Center of the First Affiliated Hospital, and Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative MedicineZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouZhejiang310000China
- Liangzhu LaboratoryZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang311121China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Lab for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative MedicineDr. Li Dak Sum & Yip Yio Chin Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative MedicineHangzhouZhejiang310058China
- Institute of HematologyZhejiang UniversityHangzhouZhejiang310000China
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41
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Ma C, Huang J, Jiang Y, Liu L, Wang N, Huang S, Li H, Zhang X, Wen S, Wang B, Yang S. Gasdermin D in macrophages drives orchitis by regulating inflammation and antigen presentation processes. EMBO Mol Med 2024; 16:361-385. [PMID: 38177538 PMCID: PMC10897472 DOI: 10.1038/s44321-023-00016-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Inflammation in the testes induced by infection and autoimmunity contributes significantly to male infertility, a public health issue. Current therapies using antibiotics and broad-spectrum anti-inflammatory drugs are ineffective against non-bacterial orchitis and induce side effects. This highlights the need to explore the pathogenesis of orchitis and develop alternative therapeutic strategies. In this study, we demonstrated that Gasdermin D (GSDMD) was activated in the testes during uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC)-induced acute orchitis, and that GSDMD in macrophages induced inflammation and affected spermatogenesis during acute and chronic orchitis. In testicular macrophages, GSDMD promoted inflammation and antigen presentation, thereby enhancing the T-cell response after orchitis. Furthermore, the pharmacological inhibition of GSDMD alleviated the symptoms of UPEC-induced acute orchitis. Collectively, these findings provide the first demonstration of GSDMD's role in driving orchitis and suggest that GSDMD may be a potential therapeutic target for treating orchitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunmei Ma
- Department of Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Personalized Cancer Medicine,National Vaccine Innovation Platform, The Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, China
| | - Jiajia Huang
- Department of Pharmacology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Avenue, 210023, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuying Jiang
- Department of Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Personalized Cancer Medicine,National Vaccine Innovation Platform, The Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, China
| | - Lu Liu
- Department of Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Personalized Cancer Medicine,National Vaccine Innovation Platform, The Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, China
| | - Na Wang
- Department of Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Personalized Cancer Medicine,National Vaccine Innovation Platform, The Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, China
| | - Shaoqiong Huang
- Department of Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Personalized Cancer Medicine,National Vaccine Innovation Platform, The Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, China
| | - Honghui Li
- Department of Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Personalized Cancer Medicine,National Vaccine Innovation Platform, The Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiangyu Zhang
- Department of Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Personalized Cancer Medicine,National Vaccine Innovation Platform, The Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, China
| | - Shuang Wen
- Department of Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Personalized Cancer Medicine,National Vaccine Innovation Platform, The Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, China
| | - Bingwei Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, 138 Xianlin Avenue, 210023, Nanjing, China.
| | - Shuo Yang
- Department of Immunology, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Personalized Cancer Medicine,National Vaccine Innovation Platform, The Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi People's Hospital, Wuxi Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, 211166, Nanjing, China.
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42
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Dali O, D'Cruz S, Legoff L, Diba Lahmidi M, Heitz C, Merret PE, Kernanec PY, Pakdel F, Smagulova F. Transgenerational epigenetic effects imposed by neonicotinoid thiacloprid exposure. Life Sci Alliance 2024; 7:e202302237. [PMID: 37973188 PMCID: PMC10654101 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202302237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Neonicotinoids are a widely used class of insecticides that are being applied in agricultural fields. We examined the capacity of a neonicotinoid, thiacloprid (thia), to induce transgenerational effects in male mice. Pregnant outbred Swiss female mice were exposed to thia at embryonic days E6.5-E15.5 using different doses. Testis sections were used for morphology analysis, ELISAs for testosterone level analysis, RT-qPCR and RNA-seq for gene expression analysis, MEDIP-seq and MEDIP-qPCR techniques for DNA methylation analysis, and Western blot for a protein analysis. The number of meiotic double-strand breaks and the number of incomplete synapsed chromosomes were higher in the thia 6-treated group of F3 males. Genome-wide analysis of DNA methylation in spermatozoa revealed that differentially methylated regions were found in all three generations at the promoters of germ cell reprogramming responsive genes and many superenhancers that are normally active in embryonic stem cells, testis, and brain. DNA methylation changes induced by thia exposure during embryonic period are preserved through several generations at important master regulator regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ouzna Dali
- University Rennes, EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail) - UMR_S 1085, Rennes, France
| | - Shereen D'Cruz
- University Rennes, EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail) - UMR_S 1085, Rennes, France
| | - Louis Legoff
- University Rennes, EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail) - UMR_S 1085, Rennes, France
| | - Mariam Diba Lahmidi
- University Rennes, EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail) - UMR_S 1085, Rennes, France
| | - Celine Heitz
- University Rennes, EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail) - UMR_S 1085, Rennes, France
| | - Pierre-Etienne Merret
- University Rennes, EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail) - UMR_S 1085, Rennes, France
| | - Pierre-Yves Kernanec
- University Rennes, EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail) - UMR_S 1085, Rennes, France
| | - Farzad Pakdel
- University Rennes, EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail) - UMR_S 1085, Rennes, France
| | - Fatima Smagulova
- University Rennes, EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail) - UMR_S 1085, Rennes, France
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43
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Kaye EG, Basavaraju K, Nelson GM, Zomer HD, Roy D, Joseph II, Rajabi-Toustani R, Qiao H, Adelman K, Reddi PP. RNA polymerase II pausing is essential during spermatogenesis for appropriate gene expression and completion of meiosis. Nat Commun 2024; 15:848. [PMID: 38287033 PMCID: PMC10824759 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45177-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Male germ cell development requires precise regulation of gene activity in a cell-type and stage-specific manner, with perturbations in gene expression during spermatogenesis associated with infertility. Here, we use steady-state, nascent and single-cell RNA sequencing strategies to comprehensively characterize gene expression across male germ cell populations, to dissect the mechanisms of gene control and provide new insights towards therapy. We discover a requirement for pausing of RNA Polymerase II (Pol II) at the earliest stages of sperm differentiation to establish the landscape of gene activity across development. Accordingly, genetic knockout of the Pol II pause-inducing factor NELF in immature germ cells blocks differentiation to spermatids. Further, we uncover unanticipated roles for Pol II pausing in the regulation of meiosis during spermatogenesis, with the presence of paused Pol II associated with double-strand break (DSB) formation, and disruption of meiotic gene expression and DSB repair in germ cells lacking NELF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily G Kaye
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Kavyashree Basavaraju
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61802, USA
| | - Geoffrey M Nelson
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Helena D Zomer
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61802, USA
| | - Debarun Roy
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61802, USA
| | - Irene Infancy Joseph
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61802, USA
| | - Reza Rajabi-Toustani
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61802, USA
| | - Huanyu Qiao
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61802, USA
| | - Karen Adelman
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| | - Prabhakara P Reddi
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61802, USA.
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Khanal S, Jaiswal A, Chowdanayaka R, Puente N, Turner K, Assefa KY, Nawras M, Back ED, Royfman A, Burkett JP, Cheong SH, Fisher HS, Sindhwani P, Gray J, Ramachandra NB, Avidor-Reiss T. The evolution of centriole degradation in mouse sperm. Nat Commun 2024; 15:117. [PMID: 38168044 PMCID: PMC10761967 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44411-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Centrioles are subcellular organelles found at the cilia base with an evolutionarily conserved structure and a shock absorber-like function. In sperm, centrioles are found at the flagellum base and are essential for embryo development in basal animals. Yet, sperm centrioles have evolved diverse forms, sometimes acting like a transmission system, as in cattle, and sometimes becoming dispensable, as in house mice. How the essential sperm centriole evolved to become dispensable in some organisms is unclear. Here, we test the hypothesis that this transition occurred through a cascade of evolutionary changes to the proteins, structure, and function of sperm centrioles and was possibly driven by sperm competition. We found that the final steps in this cascade are associated with a change in the primary structure of the centriolar inner scaffold protein FAM161A in rodents. This information provides the first insight into the molecular mechanisms and adaptive evolution underlying a major evolutionary transition within the internal structure of the mammalian sperm neck.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sushil Khanal
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Ankit Jaiswal
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Rajanikanth Chowdanayaka
- Department of Studies in Genetics and Genomics, University of Mysore, Manasagangotri, Mysuru, India
| | - Nahshon Puente
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Katerina Turner
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | | | - Mohamad Nawras
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Ezekiel David Back
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Abigail Royfman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - James P Burkett
- Department of Neurosciences, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Soon Hon Cheong
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Heidi S Fisher
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland College Park, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Puneet Sindhwani
- Department of Urology, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - John Gray
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | | | - Tomer Avidor-Reiss
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA.
- Department of Urology, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA.
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Chen J, Lin X, Bhattacharya S, Wiesehöfer C, Wennemuth G, Müller K, Montag D. Neuroplastin Expression in Male Mice Is Essential for Fertility, Mating, and Adult Testosterone Levels. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:177. [PMID: 38203350 PMCID: PMC10779036 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Male reproduction depends on hormonally driven behaviors and numerous genes for testis development and spermatogenesis. Neuroplastin-deficient (Nptn-/-) male mice cannot sire offspring. By immunohistochemistry, we characterized neuroplastin expression in the testis. Breeding, mating behavior, hormonal regulation, testicular development, and spermatogenesis were analyzed in cell-type specific neuroplastin mutant mice. Leydig, Sertoli, peritubular myoid, and germ cells express Np, but spermatogenesis and sperm number are not affected in Nptn-/- males. Neuroplastin lack from CNS neurons or restricted to spermatogonia or Sertoli cells permitted reproduction. Normal luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) blood levels in Nptn-/- males support undisturbed hormonal regulation in the brain. However, Nptn-/- males lack mounting behavior accompanied by low testosterone blood levels. Testosterone rise from juvenile to adult blood levels is absent in Nptn-/- males. LH-receptor stimulation raising intracellular Ca2+ in Leydig cells triggers testosterone production. Reduced Plasma Membrane Ca2+ ATPase 1 (PMCA1) in Nptn-/- Leydig cells suggests that Nptn-/- Leydig cells produce sufficient testosterone for testis and sperm development, but a lack of PMCA-Np complexes prevents the increase from reaching adult blood levels. Behavioral immaturity with low testosterone blood levels underlies infertility of Nptn-/- males, revealing that Np is essential for reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juanjuan Chen
- Neurogenetics, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Brenneckestr. 6, D-39118 Magdeburg, Germany; (J.C.); (X.L.); (S.B.)
| | - Xiao Lin
- Neurogenetics, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Brenneckestr. 6, D-39118 Magdeburg, Germany; (J.C.); (X.L.); (S.B.)
| | - Soumee Bhattacharya
- Neurogenetics, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Brenneckestr. 6, D-39118 Magdeburg, Germany; (J.C.); (X.L.); (S.B.)
| | - Caroline Wiesehöfer
- Department of Anatomy, University Hospital, University Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, D-45147 Essen, Germany; (C.W.); (G.W.)
| | - Gunther Wennemuth
- Department of Anatomy, University Hospital, University Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstr. 55, D-45147 Essen, Germany; (C.W.); (G.W.)
| | - Karin Müller
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research IZW, Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, D-10315 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Dirk Montag
- Neurogenetics, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Brenneckestr. 6, D-39118 Magdeburg, Germany; (J.C.); (X.L.); (S.B.)
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Säflund M, Özata DM. The MYBL1/TCFL5 transcription network: two collaborative factors with central role in male meiosis. Biochem Soc Trans 2023; 51:2163-2172. [PMID: 38015556 PMCID: PMC10754281 DOI: 10.1042/bst20231007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Male gametogenesis, spermatogenesis, is a stepwise developmental process to generate mature sperm. The most intricate process of spermatogenesis is meiosis during which two successive cell divisions ensue with dramatic cellular and molecular changes to produce haploid cells. After entry into meiosis, several forms of regulatory events control the orderly progression of meiosis and the timely entry into post-meiotic sperm differentiation. Among other mechanisms, changes to gene expression are controlled by key transcription factors. In this review, we will discuss the gene regulatory mechanisms underlying meiotic entry, meiotic progression, and post-meiotic differentiation with a particular emphasis on the MYBL1/TCFL5 regulatory architecture and how this architecture involves in various forms of transcription network motifs to regulate gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Säflund
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, S-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Deniz M. Özata
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University, S-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
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He J, Yan A, Chen B, Huang J, Kee K. 3D genome remodeling and homologous pairing during meiotic prophase of mouse oogenesis and spermatogenesis. Dev Cell 2023; 58:3009-3027.e6. [PMID: 37963468 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2023.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
During meiosis, the chromatin and transcriptome undergo prominent switches. Although recent studies have explored the genome reorganization during spermatogenesis, the chromatin remodeling in oogenesis and characteristics of homologous pairing remain largely elusive. We comprehensively compared chromatin structures and transcriptomes at successive substages of meiotic prophase in both female and male mice using low-input high-through chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C) and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). Compartments and topologically associating domains (TADs) gradually disappeared and slowly recovered in both sexes. We found that homologs adopted different sex-conserved pairing strategies prior to and after the leptotene-to-zygotene transition, changing from long interspersed nuclear element (LINE)-enriched compartments B to short interspersed nuclear element (SINE)-enriched compartments A. We complemented marker genes and predicted the sex-specific meiotic sterile genes for each substage. This study provides valuable insights into the similarities and distinctions between sexes in chromosome architecture, homologous pairing, and transcriptome during meiotic prophase of both oogenesis and spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing He
- The State Key Laboratory for Complex, Severe, and Rare Diseases, Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China; SXMU-Tsinghua Collaborative Innovation Center for Frontier Medicine, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - An Yan
- The State Key Laboratory for Complex, Severe, and Rare Diseases, Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China; SXMU-Tsinghua Collaborative Innovation Center for Frontier Medicine, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Bo Chen
- The State Key Laboratory for Complex, Severe, and Rare Diseases, Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China; SXMU-Tsinghua Collaborative Innovation Center for Frontier Medicine, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiahui Huang
- The State Key Laboratory for Complex, Severe, and Rare Diseases, Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China; SXMU-Tsinghua Collaborative Innovation Center for Frontier Medicine, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Kehkooi Kee
- The State Key Laboratory for Complex, Severe, and Rare Diseases, Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China; SXMU-Tsinghua Collaborative Innovation Center for Frontier Medicine, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
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48
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Ogawa Y, Lu Y, Kiyozumi D, Chang HY, Ikawa M. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing reveals seven testis-enriched transmembrane glycoproteins dispensable for male fertility in mice. Andrology 2023:10.1111/andr.13564. [PMID: 38084666 PMCID: PMC11166886 DOI: 10.1111/andr.13564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mammalian fertilization is mediated by multiple sperm acrosomal proteins, many of which are testis-enriched transmembrane glycoproteins expressed during spermiogenesis (e.g., Izumo sperm-egg fusion 1, Sperm acrosome associated 6, and Transmembrane protein 95). METHODS We hypothesized that proteins with these features might have a role in sperm-egg interaction and thus carried out an in-silico screen based on multiple public databases. We generated knockout mouse lines lacking seven candidate proteins by the CRISPR/Cas9 system and conducted detailed analyses on the fecundity of the knockout males, as well as their testis appearance and weight, testis and epididymis histology, and sperm motility and morphology. RESULTS Through the in-silico screen, we identified 4932438H23Rik, A disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain-containing protein 29, SAYSvFN domain-containing protein 1, Sel-1 suppressor of lin-12-like 2 (C. elegans), Testis-expressed protein 2, Transmembrane and immunoglobulin domain-containing 3, and Zinc and ring finger 4. Phenotypic analyses unveiled that the knockout males showed normal testis gross appearance, normal testis and epididymis histology, and normal sperm morphology and motility. Fertility tests further indicated that the knockout male mice could sire pups with normal litter sizes when paired with wild-type females. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION These findings suggest that these seven proteins are individually dispensable for male reproduction and fertilization. Future studies are warranted to devise advanced in-silico screening approaches that permit effective identification of gamete fusion-required sperm proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yo Ogawa
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Yonggang Lu
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Premium Research Institute for Human Metaverse Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Daiji Kiyozumi
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi 464-0805, Japan
| | - Hsin-Yi Chang
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Masahito Ikawa
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
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Zhao YD, Yang CX, Du ZQ. Integrated single cell transcriptome sequencing analysis reveals species-specific genes and molecular pathways for pig spermiogenesis. Reprod Domest Anim 2023; 58:1745-1755. [PMID: 37874861 DOI: 10.1111/rda.14493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
Mammalian spermatogenesis is a highly complicated and intricately organized process involving spermatogonia propagation (mitosis) and meiotic differentiation into mature sperm cells (spermiogenesis). In pigs, spermatogonia development and the role of somatic cells in spermatogenesis were previously investigated in detail. However, the characterization of key molecules fundamental to pig spermiogenesis remains less explored. Here we compared spermatogenesis between humans and pigs, focusing on spermiogenesis, by integrative testicular single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis. Human and pig testicular cells were clustered into 26 different groups, with cell-type-specific markers and signalling pathways. For spermiogenesis, pseudo-time analysis classified the lineage differentiation routes for round, elongated spermatids and spermatozoa. Moreover, markers and molecular pathways specific to each type of spermatids were examined for humans and pigs, respectively. Furthermore, high-dimensional weighted gene co-expression network analysis (hdWGCNA) identified gene modules specific for each type of human and pig spermatids. Hub genes (pig: SNRPD2.1 related to alternative splicing; human: CATSPERZ, Ca[2+] ion channel) potentially involved in spermiogenesis were also revealed. Taken together, our integrative analysis found that human and pig spermiogeneses involve specific genes and molecular pathways and provided resources and insights for further functional investigation on spermatid maturation and male reproductive ability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Dan Zhao
- College of Animal Science, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
| | - Cai-Xia Yang
- College of Animal Science, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
| | - Zhi-Qiang Du
- College of Animal Science, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
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50
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Yang D, Zhang M, Chen W, Lu Q, Wan S, Du X, Li Y, Li B, Wu W, Wang C, Li N, Peng S, Tang H, Hua J. UCHL1 maintains microenvironmental homeostasis in goat germline stem cells. FASEB J 2023; 37:e23306. [PMID: 37934018 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202301674rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) play a crucial role in mammalian spermatogenesis and maintain the stable inheritance of the germline in livestock. However, stress and bacterial or viral infections can disrupt immune homeostasis of the testes, thereby leading to spermatogenesis destruction and infertility, which severely affects the health and productivity of mammals. This study aimed to explore the effect of ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCHL1) knockdown (KD) in goat SSCs and mouse testes and investigate the potential anti-inflammatory function of UCHL1 in a poly(I:C)-induced inflammation model to maintain microenvironmental homeostasis. In vitro, the downregulation of UCHL1 (UCHL1 KD) in goat SSCs increased the expression levels of apoptosis and inflammatory factors and inhibited the self-renewal and proliferation of SSCs. In vivo, the structure of seminiferous tubules and spermatogenic cells was disrupted after UCHL1 KD, and the expression levels of apoptosis- and inflammation-related proteins were significantly upregulated. Furthermore, UCHL1 inhibited the TLR3/TBK1/IRF3 pathway to resist poly(I:C)-induced inflammation in SSCs by antagonizing HSPA8 and thus maintaining SSC autoimmune homeostasis. Most importantly, the results of this study showed that UCHL1 maintained immune homeostasis of SSCs and spermatogenesis. UCHL1 KD not only inhibited the self-renewal and proliferation of goat SSCs and spermatogenesis but was also involved in the inflammatory response of goat SSCs. Additionally, UCHL1 has an antiviral function in SSCs by antagonizing HSPA8, which provides an important basis for exploring the specific mechanisms of UCHL1 in goat spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donghui Yang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shaanxi Centre of Stem Cells Engineering & Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Mengfei Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shaanxi Centre of Stem Cells Engineering & Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Wenbo Chen
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shaanxi Centre of Stem Cells Engineering & Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Qizhong Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shicheng Wan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shaanxi Centre of Stem Cells Engineering & Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Xiaomin Du
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shaanxi Centre of Stem Cells Engineering & Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
- Shaanxi Provincial Engineering and Technology Research Center of Cashmere Goats, College of Life Sciences, Yulin University, Yulin, China
| | - Yunxiang Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shaanxi Centre of Stem Cells Engineering & Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Balun Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shaanxi Centre of Stem Cells Engineering & Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Wenping Wu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shaanxi Centre of Stem Cells Engineering & Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Congliang Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shaanxi Centre of Stem Cells Engineering & Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Na Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shaanxi Centre of Stem Cells Engineering & Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Sha Peng
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shaanxi Centre of Stem Cells Engineering & Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Haiyang Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jinlian Hua
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shaanxi Centre of Stem Cells Engineering & Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
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