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Liu J, Guo C, Fu J, Liu D, Liu G, Sun B, Deng M, Guo Y, Li Y. Identification and Functional Analysis of circRNAs during Goat Follicular Development. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7548. [PMID: 39062792 PMCID: PMC11277404 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25147548] [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: 05/07/2024] [Revised: 06/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Litter size is a crucial quantitative trait in animals, closely linked to follicular development. Circular RNA (circRNA), a type of single-stranded closed-loop endogenous RNA with stable expression, plays pivotal roles in various biological processes, yet its function in goat follicular development remains unclear. In this study, we collected large (follicle diameter > 3 mm) and small (1 mm < follicle diameter < 3 mm) follicles from black goats in the Chuanzhong region for circRNA sequencing, with the aim of elucidating the functional circRNAs that influence follicle development in goats. Differential analysis revealed that 17 circRNAs were upregulated in large follicles, and 28 circRNAs were upregulated in small follicles. Functional enrichment analysis revealed significant enrichment of pathways related to reproduction, including cellular response to follicle-stimulating hormone stimulus, the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, the MAPK signaling pathway, and the Notch signaling pathway. Based on the ceRNA mechanism, 45 differentially expressed circRNAs were found to target and bind a total of 418 miRNAs, and an intercalation network including miR-324-3p (circRNA2497, circRNA5650), miR-202-5p (circRNA3333, circRNA5501), and miR-493-3p (circRNA4995, circRNA5508) was constructed. In addition, conservation analysis revealed that 2,239 circRNAs were conserved between goats and humans. Prediction of translation potential revealed that 154 circRNAs may potentially utilize both N6-methyladenosine (m6A) and internal ribosome entry site (IRES) translation mechanisms. Furthermore, the differential expression and circularization cleavage sites of five circRNAs were validated through RT-qPCR and DNA sequencing. Our study constructed a circRNA map in goat follicle development, offering a theoretical foundation for enhancing goat reproductive performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Liu
- College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (J.L.); (C.G.); (B.S.); (M.D.); (Y.G.)
- National Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Livestock and Poultry, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Conghui Guo
- College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (J.L.); (C.G.); (B.S.); (M.D.); (Y.G.)
- National Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Livestock and Poultry, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Junjie Fu
- College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (J.L.); (C.G.); (B.S.); (M.D.); (Y.G.)
- National Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Livestock and Poultry, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Dewu Liu
- College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (J.L.); (C.G.); (B.S.); (M.D.); (Y.G.)
- National Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Livestock and Poultry, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Guangbin Liu
- College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (J.L.); (C.G.); (B.S.); (M.D.); (Y.G.)
- National Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Livestock and Poultry, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Baoli Sun
- College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (J.L.); (C.G.); (B.S.); (M.D.); (Y.G.)
- National Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Livestock and Poultry, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Ming Deng
- College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (J.L.); (C.G.); (B.S.); (M.D.); (Y.G.)
- National Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Livestock and Poultry, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Yongqing Guo
- College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (J.L.); (C.G.); (B.S.); (M.D.); (Y.G.)
- National Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Livestock and Poultry, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Yaokun Li
- College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; (J.L.); (C.G.); (B.S.); (M.D.); (Y.G.)
- National Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Livestock and Poultry, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
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Gao Z, He W, Liu Y, Gao Y, Fan W, Luo Y, Shi X, Song S. Perinatal bisphenol S exposure exacerbates the oxidative burden and apoptosis in neonatal ovaries by suppressing the mTOR/autophagy axis. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 349:123939. [PMID: 38593938 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123939] [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: 02/03/2024] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Bisphenol S (BPS) is an emerging environmental endocrine disruptor capable of crossing the placental barrier, resulting in widespread exposure to pregnant women due to its extensive usage. However, the impact of perinatal maternal exposure to BPS on reproductive health in offspring and the underlying molecular mechanism remain underexplored. In this study, gestational ICR mice were provided with drinking water containing 3.33 mg/L BPS to mimic possible human exposure in some countries. Results demonstrated that BPS accelerated the breakdown of germ-cell cysts and the assembly of primordial follicles in neonates, leading to oocyte over-loss. Furthermore, the expression levels of folliculogenesis-related genes (Kit, Nobox, Gdf9, Sohlh2, Kitl, Bmp15, Lhx8, Figla, and Tgfb1) decreased, thus compromising oocyte quality and disrupting early folliculogenesis dynamics. BPS also disrupted other aspects of offspring reproduction, including advancing puberty onset, disrupting the estrus cycle, and impairing fertility. Further investigation found that BPS exposure inhibited the activities and expression levels of antioxidant-related enzymes in neonatal ovaries, leading to the substantial accumulation of MDA and ROS. The increased oxidative burden exacerbated the intracellular apoptotic signaling, manifested by increased expression levels of pro-apoptotic markers (Bax, Caspase 3, and Caspase 9) and decreased expression levels of anti-apoptotic marker (Bcl2). Concurrently, BPS inhibited autophagy by increasing p-mTOR/mTOR and decreasing p-ULK1/ULK1, subsequently down-regulating autophagy flux-related biomarkers (LC3b/LC3a and Beclin-1) and impeding the degradation of autophagy substrate p62. However, the imbalanced crosstalk between autophagy, apoptosis and oxidative stress homeostasis was restored after rapamycin treatment. Collectively, the findings demonstrated that BPS exposure induced reproductive disorders in offspring by perturbing the mTOR/autophagy axis, and such autophagic dysfunction exacerbated redox imbalance and promoted excessive apoptosis. These results provide novel mechanistic insights into the role of autophagy in mitigating BPS-induced intergenerational reproductive dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhangshan Gao
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Wanqiu He
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yapei Liu
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yixin Gao
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Wentao Fan
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yan Luo
- Administration for Market Regulation of Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Supervision for Edible Agricultural Products, Shenzhen Centre of Inspection and Testing for Agricultural Products, Shenzhen, 518000, China
| | - Xizhi Shi
- Key Laboratory of Aquacultural Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Suquan Song
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, Jiangsu Province, China.
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Chesnokov MS, Mamedova AR, Zhivotovsky B, Kopeina GS. A matter of new life and cell death: programmed cell death in the mammalian ovary. J Biomed Sci 2024; 31:31. [PMID: 38509545 PMCID: PMC10956231 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-024-01017-6] [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: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The mammalian ovary is a unique organ that displays a distinctive feature of cyclic changes throughout the entire reproductive period. The estrous/menstrual cycles are associated with drastic functional and morphological rearrangements of ovarian tissue, including follicular development and degeneration, and the formation and subsequent atrophy of the corpus luteum. The flawless execution of these reiterative processes is impossible without the involvement of programmed cell death (PCD). MAIN TEXT PCD is crucial for efficient and careful clearance of excessive, depleted, or obsolete ovarian structures for ovarian cycling. Moreover, PCD facilitates selection of high-quality oocytes and formation of the ovarian reserve during embryonic and juvenile development. Disruption of PCD regulation can heavily impact the ovarian functions and is associated with various pathologies, from a moderate decrease in fertility to severe hormonal disturbance, complete loss of reproductive function, and tumorigenesis. This comprehensive review aims to provide updated information on the role of PCD in various processes occurring in normal and pathologic ovaries. Three major events of PCD in the ovary-progenitor germ cell depletion, follicular atresia, and corpus luteum degradation-are described, alongside the detailed information on molecular regulation of these processes, highlighting the contribution of apoptosis, autophagy, necroptosis, and ferroptosis. Ultimately, the current knowledge of PCD aberrations associated with pathologies, such as polycystic ovarian syndrome, premature ovarian insufficiency, and tumors of ovarian origin, is outlined. CONCLUSION PCD is an essential element in ovarian development, functions and pathologies. A thorough understanding of molecular mechanisms regulating PCD events is required for future advances in the diagnosis and management of various disorders of the ovary and the female reproductive system in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikhail S Chesnokov
- Faculty of Medicine, MV Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas, Madrid, Spain
| | - Aygun R Mamedova
- Faculty of Medicine, MV Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Boris Zhivotovsky
- Faculty of Medicine, MV Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia.
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Gelina S Kopeina
- Faculty of Medicine, MV Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia.
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
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Zhang Y, Gao J, Cao L, Du J, Xu G, Xu P. Microcystin-LR-induced autophagy via miR-282-5p/PIK3R1 pathway in Eriocheir sinensis hepatopancreas. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 267:115661. [PMID: 37948941 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115661] [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: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 10/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
With the intensifying climate warming, blue-green algae blooms have become more frequent and severe, releasing environmental hazards such as microcystin that pose potential threats to human and animal health. Autophagy has been shown to play a crucial role in regulating immune responses induced by environmental hazards, enabling cells to adapt to stress and protect against damage. Although microcystin-LR (MC-LR) has been identified to affect autophagy in mammalian, its impact on aquatic animals has been poorly studied. To investigate the toxicological effects of MC-LR in aquatic ecosystems, we constructed a microRNA profile of acute MC-LR stress in the hepatopancreas of the Chinese mitten crab. Interestingly, we found the MC-LR exposure activated autophagy in the hepatopancreas based on the following evidence. Specifically, mRNA expression level of ATG7, Beclin1 and Gabarap was significantly up-regulated, autophagy regulatory pathways were significantly enriched, and numerous autolysosomes and autophagosomes were observed. Additionally, we found that miR-282-5p and its target gene PIK3R1 played important regulatory roles in autophagy by in vivo and in vitro experiments. Overexpression of miR-282-5p mimicked MC-LR-induced autophagy by inhibiting PIK3R1 expression, while miR-282-5p silencing inhibited autophagy by promoting PIK3R1 expression. Altogether, our findings suggest that MC-LR increases miR-282-5p, which then targets inhibition of PIK3R1 to stimulate autophagy. This study focused on the stress response regulatory mechanisms of juvenile crabs to toxic pollutants in water, offering a potential target for alleviating the toxicity of MC-LR. These findings lay a foundation for reducing the toxicity of MC-LR and environmental hazards in organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuning Zhang
- Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, Wuxi 214081, China
| | - Jiancao Gao
- Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, Wuxi 214081, China; Key Laboratory of Integrated Rice-Fish Farming Ecology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi, 214081, China
| | - Liping Cao
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Rice-Fish Farming Ecology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi, 214081, China
| | - Jinliang Du
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Rice-Fish Farming Ecology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi, 214081, China
| | - Gangchun Xu
- Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, Wuxi 214081, China; Key Laboratory of Integrated Rice-Fish Farming Ecology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi, 214081, China.
| | - Pao Xu
- Wuxi Fisheries College, Nanjing Agricultural University, Wuxi 214081, China; Key Laboratory of Integrated Rice-Fish Farming Ecology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Freshwater Fisheries Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi, 214081, China.
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Chen J, Pu L, Niu Y, Tian K, Jia X, Zhang L, Lu Y. Prolonged fasting induces significant germ cell loss in chickens after hatching. Poult Sci 2023; 102:102815. [PMID: 37356301 PMCID: PMC10404744 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2023.102815] [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: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Germ cell loss is a crucial biological event during germ cell development. The number of female germ cells determines the reproductive performance and egg production of hens. Various intrinsic and extrinsic factors affect germ cell loss, such as germ cell nest breakdown in early life and nutritional deficiencies during daily husbandry. Here, we examined the effect of fasting on the germ cell number of chicks. The results showed that 72 h fasting resulted in a higher germ cell loss than that by 24 h fasting in chicks. The RNA-seq analysis revealed that the genes of ribosome pathway were down-regulated and the biological processes of protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum were inhibited in starved chicks. Furthermore, in female chicks treated with 72 h fasting, the qPCR of ovaries showed down-regulation of ribosome-related genes, and transmission electron microscopy imaging of ovaries showed fewer ribosomes. The blood biochemical indices indicated that 72 h fasting reduced the liver functions and affected the glucose metabolism, lipid metabolites and ion metabolites. In summary, the present results concluded negative impacts on the germ cell pool by prolonged fasting in the early life of chicks and manifested that adequate management should be cared for fasted time for breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiawen Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding, Disease Control and Prevention, College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
| | - Liping Pu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding, Disease Control and Prevention, College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
| | - Yajing Niu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding, Disease Control and Prevention, College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
| | - Kui Tian
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding, Disease Control and Prevention, College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
| | - Xiaoxuan Jia
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding, Disease Control and Prevention, College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
| | - Lang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding, Disease Control and Prevention, College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China
| | - Yangqing Lu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-bioresources, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding, Disease Control and Prevention, College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, China.
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Zhang Y, Wan Y, Mu X, Gao R, Geng Y, Chen X, Li F, He J. Gestational dibutyl phthalate exposure impairs primordial folliculogenesis in mice through autophagy activation and NOTCH2 signal interruption. Food Chem Toxicol 2023:113861. [PMID: 37277016 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2023.113861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Female reproductive lifespan is largely determined by the size of the primordial follicle pool, which is established in early life. Dibutyl phthalate (DBP), a popular plasticiser, is a known environmental endocrine disruptor that poses a potential threat to reproductive health. However, DBP impact on early oogenesis has been rarely reported. In this study, maternal exposure to DBP in gestation disrupted germ-cell cyst breakdown and primordial follicle assembly in foetal ovary, impairing female fertility in adulthood. Subsequently, altered autophagic flux with autophagosome accumulation was observed in DBP-exposed ovaries carrying CAG-RFP-EGFP-LC3 reporter genes, whereas autophagy inhibition by 3-methyladenine attenuated the impact of DBP on primordial folliculogenesis. Moreover, DBP exposure reduced the expression of NOTCH2 intracellular domain (NICD2) and decreased interactions between NICD2 and Beclin-l. NICD2 was observed within the autophagosomes in DBP-exposed ovaries. Furthermore, NICD2 overexpression partially restored primordial folliculogenesis. Furthermore, melatonin significantly relieved oxidative stress, decreased autophagy, and restored NOTCH2 signalling, consequently reversing the effect on folliculogenesis. Therefore, this study demonstrated that gestational DBP exposure disrupts primordial folliculogenesis by inducing autophagy, which targets NOTCH2 signalling, and this impact has long-term consequences on fertility in adulthood, strengthening the potential contribution of environmental chemicals to the development of ovarian dysfunctional diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zhang
- Department of Health Toxicology, School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, PR China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction & Development, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, PR China
| | - Yiji Wan
- Department of Health Toxicology, School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, PR China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction & Development, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, PR China
| | - Xinyi Mu
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction & Development, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, PR China; School of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, PR China
| | - Rufei Gao
- Department of Health Toxicology, School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, PR China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction & Development, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, PR China
| | - Yanqing Geng
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction & Development, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, PR China; School of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, PR China
| | - Xuemei Chen
- Department of Health Toxicology, School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, PR China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction & Development, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, PR China
| | - Fangfang Li
- Department of Health Toxicology, School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, PR China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction & Development, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, PR China
| | - Junlin He
- Department of Health Toxicology, School of Public Health, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, PR China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction & Development, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, PR China.
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Role of autophagy in male and female fertility. CURRENT OPINION IN PHYSIOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cophys.2022.100611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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NFKB1 Gene Mutant Was Associated with Prognosis of Coronary Artery Disease and Exacerbated Endothelial Mitochondrial Fission and Dysfunction. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2022; 2022:9494926. [PMID: 36317060 PMCID: PMC9617727 DOI: 10.1155/2022/9494926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Endothelial apoptosis is the core pathological change in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, including coronary artery disease (CAD). Determining the molecular mechanisms underlying endothelial apoptosis is important. Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) is a crucial transcription factor for controlling apoptosis. Our previous study demonstrated that the -94 ATTG ins/del mutant in the promoter of NFKB1 gene (rs28362491) is a risk factor for CAD. In the present study, we found that NFKB1 rs28362491 polymorphism was positively associated with increased major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCEs) in CAD patients. After adjusting for confounding factors including age, smoking, hypertension, glucose, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, the mutant DD genotype was an independent predictor of MACCEs (OR = 2.578, 95%CI = 1.64–4.05, P = 0.003). The in vitro study showed that mutant human umbilical vein endothelial cells (DD-mutant HUVECs) were more susceptible to high-glucose/palmitate-induced apoptosis, which was accompanied by decreased p50 expression and increased expression of cleaved caspase-3, Cytochrome c, and phospho-p65 (P < 0.05). The mitochondrial membrane potential was significantly lower, while increasing levels of mtROS and more opening of the mPTP were observed in DD-mutant HUVECs (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the percentage of cells with fragmented or spherical mitochondria was significantly higher in DD-mutant HUVECs than in wild-type cells (genotype II HUVECs) (P < 0.05). In addition, after stimulation with high glucose/palmitate, the NFKB1 gene mutant significantly increased the expression of Drp1, which indicated that the NFKB1 gene mutant affected the expression of mitochondrial morphology-related proteins, leading to excessive mitochondrial fission. In conclusion, the mutant DD genotype of the NFKB1 gene was an independent predictor of worse long-term prognosis for CAD patients. DD-mutant HUVECs exhibited abnormal activation of the NF-κB pathway and increased Drp1 expression, which caused excessive mitochondrial fission and dysfunction, ultimately leading to increased apoptosis.
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Feng YQ, Wang JJ, Li MH, Tian Y, Zhao AH, Li L, De Felici M, Shen W. Impaired primordial follicle assembly in offspring ovaries from zearalenone-exposed mothers involves reduced mitochondrial activity and altered epigenetics in oocytes. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:258. [PMID: 35469021 PMCID: PMC11071983 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04288-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Previous works have shown that zearalenone (ZEA), as an estrogenic pollutant, has adverse effects on mammalian folliculogenesis. In the present study, we found that prolonged exposure of female mice to ZEA around the end of pregnancy caused severe impairment of primordial follicle formation in the ovaries of newborn mice and altered the expression of many genes in oocytes as revealed by single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). These changes were associated with morphological and molecular alterations of mitochondria, increased autophagic markers in oocytes, and epigenetic changes in the ovaries of newborn mice from ZEA-exposed mothers. The latter increased expression of HDAC2 deacetylases was leading to decreased levels of H3K9ac and H4K12ac. Most of these modifications were relieved when the expression of Hdac2 in newborn ovaries was reduced by RNA interference during in vitro culture in the presence of ZEA. Such changes were also alleviated in offspring ovaries from mothers treated with both ZEA and the coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), which is known to be able to restore mitochondrial activities. We concluded that impaired mitochondrial activities in oocytes caused by ZEA are at the origin of metabolic alterations that modify the expression of genes controlling autophagy and primordial follicle assembly through changes in epigenetic histones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Qin Feng
- College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, China
| | - Jun-Jie Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, China
| | - Ming-Hao Li
- College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, China
| | - Yu Tian
- College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, China
| | - Ai-Hong Zhao
- Qingdao Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Qingdao, 266100, China
| | - Lan Li
- College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, China
| | - Massimo De Felici
- Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - Wei Shen
- College of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, China.
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Zhou Z, Yin H, Suye S, Zhu F, Cai H, Fu C. The changes of DNA double-strand breaks and DNA repair during ovarian reserve formation in mice. Reprod Biol 2022; 22:100603. [PMID: 35026551 DOI: 10.1016/j.repbio.2022.100603] [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: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair is crucial to maintain genomic stability for sufficient ovarian reserve. It remains unknown the changes of DSBs formation and DNA repair in germ cells during ovarian reserve formation in FVB/N mice. We demonstrated germ cell numbers increased significantly (all P < 0.05) from E11.5 to E13.5 and decreased significantly (all P> 0.05) until P2. OCT4 and SOX2 analyses indicated pluripotency peaks at E13.5 then decreases significantly (all P 0.05) until P2. γH2AX analyses revealed DSB formation significantly (P < 0.05) increased from E13.5 until P2. RAD51 and DMC1 data revealed homologous recombination (HR) pathway repair of DSBs is persistent active during meiosis (E13.5- P2) (all P> 0.05). 53BP1 and KU70 data indicate the non-homologous end-joining pathway (NHEJ) remains active during meiosis. 53BP1 expression was highest at E13.5 (P < 0.05). KU70 expression was higher in germ cells from E15.5 to P2 (all < P 0.05). PH3 and KI67 analyses revealed germ cell proliferation was not significantly different (all P> 0.05) from E13.5 to P2. Caspase-3 and TUNEL analyses showed germ cells apoptosis was not significantly different (all P > 0.05) from E13.5 to P2. In conclusion, we found both germ cell number and pluripotency peak at E13.5 and decline during meiosis. We demonstrated HR and NHEJ continually repair DSBs during meiosis. RAD51 and DMC1 are continuously expressed during meiosis. 53BP1 is mainly expressed at E13.5. KU70 continually functions from E15.5 to P2. Proliferating and apoptotic cells were rarely detected during meiosis. Results provide a basis for further study of how DSBs and DNA repair affect germ cell development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhixian Zhou
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, China
| | - Huan Yin
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, China
| | - Suye Suye
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, China
| | - Fang Zhu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, China
| | - Haiyi Cai
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Chun Fu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, China.
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Pan B, Zhan X, Li J. MicroRNA-574 Impacts Granulosa Cell Estradiol Production via Targeting TIMP3 and ERK1/2 Signaling Pathway. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:852127. [PMID: 35813635 PMCID: PMC9261285 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.852127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Estradiol represents a key steroid ovarian hormone that not only plays a vital role in ovarian follicular development but also is associated with many other reproductive functions. Our primary study revealed that miR-574 expression decreased in porcine granulosa cells during development from small to large follicles, and the increase of ERK1/2 phosphorylation accompanies this change. Since it has been well established that the ERK1/2 activity is tightly associated with granulosa cell functions, including ovarian hormone production, we thus further investigate if the miRNA is involved in the regulation of estradiol production in granulosa cells. We found that overexpression of miR-574 decreased phosphorylated ERK1/2 without affecting the level of ERK1/2 protein, and on the other hand, the inhibition of miR-574 increased phosphorylated ERK1/2 level (P<0.05); meanwhile, overexpression of miR-574 increased estradiol production but knockdown of miR-574 decreased estradiol level in granulosa cells. To further identify the potential mechanism involved in the miR-574 regulatory effect, in silico screening was performed and revealed a potential binding site on the 3'UTR region of the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 3 (TIMP3). Our gain-, loss- of function experiments, and luciferase reporter assay confirmed that TIMP3 is indeed the target of miR-574 in granulosa cell. Furthermore, the siRNA TIMP3 knockdown resulted in decreased phosphorylated ERK1/2, and an increase in estradiol production. In contrast, the addition of recombinant TIMP3 increased phosphorylated ERK1/2 level and decreased estradiol production. In summary, our results suggest that the miR-574-TIMP3-pERK1/2 cascade may be one of the pathways by which microRNAs regulate granulosa cell estradiol production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Pan
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
- Cell and Developmental Biology Center, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Xiaoshu Zhan
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Julang Li
- Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
- *Correspondence: Julang Li,
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Bhardwaj JK, Paliwal A, Saraf P, Sachdeva SN. Role of autophagy in follicular development and maintenance of primordial follicular pool in the ovary. J Cell Physiol 2021; 237:1157-1170. [PMID: 34668576 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.30613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The reproductive life span of the organism mainly depends on follicular development that maintains the primordial follicle pool in the cohort of follicles within the ovary. The total count of primordial follicles decreases with age due to ovulation and follicular atresia. Follicular atresia, a process of ovarian follicles degradation, mainly occurs via apoptosis, but recent studies also favor autophagy existence. Autophagy is a cellular and energy homeostatic response that helps to maintain the number of healthy primordial follicles, germ cell survival, and removal of corpus luteum remnants. But the excessive autophagic cell death changes both the quality and quantity of oocytes that ultimately affect female reproductive health. Autophagy regulation occurs by various autophagy-regulated genes like BECN1 and LC3-II (autophagy marker genes). Their abnormal regulation or mutation highly influences follicular development by alteration of primordial follicles formation, the decline in oocytes count, and germ cell loss. Various classical signaling pathways such as PI3K/AKT/mTOR, MAPK/ERK1/2, AMPK, and IRE1 are involved in granulosa and oocytes autophagy, while mTOR signaling is the primary mechanism. Along with basal level autophagy, chemical/hormone/stress-mediated autophagy also affects follicular development and female reproduction. In this review, we have primarily focused on granulosa cell and oocytes' autophagy, mechanism, and the role of autophagy determining marker genes in follicular development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jitender K Bhardwaj
- Reproductive Physiology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, Haryana, India
| | - Aakansha Paliwal
- Reproductive Physiology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, Haryana, India
| | - Priyanka Saraf
- Reproductive Physiology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, Haryana, India
| | - Som N Sachdeva
- Department of Civil Engineering, National Institute of Technology and Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, Haryana, India
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PI3K/PTEN/AKT Signaling Pathways in Germ Cell Development and Their Involvement in Germ Cell Tumors and Ovarian Dysfunctions. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22189838. [PMID: 34575999 PMCID: PMC8467417 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22189838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Several studies indicate that the PI3K/PTEN/AKT signaling pathways are critical regulators of ovarian function including the formation of the germ cell precursors, termed primordial germ cells, and the follicular pool maintenance. This article reviews the current state of knowledge of the functional role of the PI3K/PTEN/AKT pathways during primordial germ cell development and the dynamics of the ovarian primordial follicle reserve and how dysregulation of these signaling pathways may contribute to the development of some types of germ cell tumors and ovarian dysfunctions.
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Khan HL, Bhatti S, Abbas S, Kaloglu C, Isa AM, Younas H, Ziders R, Khan YL, Hassan Z, Turhan BO, Yildiz A, Aydin HH, Kalyan EY. Extracellular microRNAs: key players to explore the outcomes of in vitro fertilization. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2021; 19:72. [PMID: 33992122 PMCID: PMC8122550 DOI: 10.1186/s12958-021-00754-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNA molecules that modulate post-transcriptional gene regulation. They are often used as promising non-invasive biomarkers for the early diagnosis of cancer. However, their roles in assisted reproduction are still unknown. METHODS This prospective study was designed to evaluate the expression profiles of seven extracellular miRNAs (miR-7-5p, miR-202-5p, miR-378-3p, miR-224, miR-320a, miR-212-3p, and miR-21-5p) in human follicular fluid (FF) to explore the outcomes of in vitro fertilization (IVF). Of 255 women, 145 were without polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and their ovarian assets were normal (NOR), while 110 were with normo-androgenic PCOS. RESULTS The combination of six FF miRNAs expression profile discriminated between PCOS and NOR women with a sensitivity of 79.2% and a specificity of 87.32% (AUC = 0.881 [0.61; 0.92], p = 0.001). MiR-202-5p significantly had a lower abundance level, and miR-378-3p had a high abundance level in pooled FF samples from patients treated with human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) than those treated with recombinant follicle-stimulating hormone (rFSH) (p < 0.001). Our results showed that miRNA-320a was significantly different in top-quality embryos versus non-top-quality embryos on day 3 in NOR patients with a sensitivity of 80% and specificity of 71%, (AUC = [0.753 (0.651; 0.855)], p = 0.001). For clinical pregnancy outcome prediction, FF miRNA-21 exhibited high sensitivity (74.8%) and specificity (83.7%) with the AUC value of 0.774 (0.682; 0.865). CONCLUSION Conclusively, our results provide evidence that miR-7-5p, miR-378-3p, miR-224, miR-212-3p were a differentially high expression in normo-androgenic PCOS patients than NOR patients. While miRNA-320a was significantly different in top-quality embryos versus non-top-quality embryos on day 3 (p = 0.001). The expression level of FF miR-212-3p was significantly related to the probability of embryos to develop into a high-quality blastocyst in patients with normal ovarian reserve.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haroon Latif Khan
- Lahore Institute of Fertility and Endocrinology, Hameed Latif Hospital, 14 Abu-Bakar Block New Garden Town, 54800, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Shahzad Bhatti
- Lahore Institute of Fertility and Endocrinology, Hameed Latif Hospital, 14 Abu-Bakar Block New Garden Town, 54800, Lahore, Pakistan.
- Department of Human Genetics and Molecular biology, University of Health Sciences, Lahore, 54600, Pakistan.
- Department of Medical Education, Rashid Latif Medical College, Lahore, Pakistan.
| | - Sana Abbas
- Lahore Institute of Fertility and Endocrinology, Hameed Latif Hospital, 14 Abu-Bakar Block New Garden Town, 54800, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Celal Kaloglu
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Cumhuriyet University Faculty of Medicine, 58140, Sivas, Turkey
| | - Ahmed M Isa
- Assisted Conception Unit, Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hooria Younas
- Department of Biochemistry, Kinnaird College Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Rachel Ziders
- Your Family Fertility, 1408 Sweet Home Road Suite 9, Amherst, NY 14228, USA
| | - Yousaf Latif Khan
- Lahore Institute of Fertility and Endocrinology, Hameed Latif Hospital, 14 Abu-Bakar Block New Garden Town, 54800, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Zahira Hassan
- Department of Cellular Pathology, Royal Free Hospital, London, NW3 2QG, UK
| | | | - Aysegul Yildiz
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, Mugla Sitki Kocman University, Kotekli, 48000, Mugla, Turkey
| | - Hikmet Hakan Aydin
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Ege University School of Medicine, Bornova, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Ender Yalcinkaya Kalyan
- Department of IVF unit, Private Adatip Hospital, Yenisehir mahallesi Kardelen sokak 2, Pendik, 34912, Istanbul, Turkey
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Yang C, Xu Y, Zhang W, Ma M, Wang S, Chai L, Guo H, Hu L. Salvianolate lyophilized injection regulates the autophagy-lysosomal pathway in cerebral ischaemia/reperfusion rats. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2021; 271:113898. [PMID: 33556476 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2021.113898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2020] [Revised: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Activation of autophagy has been implicated in cerebral ischiemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Salvianolate lyophilized injection (SLI) has been widely used in the clinical treatment of cerebrovascular disease in China. Whether SLI has any influence on the activation of autophagy in cerebral I/R injury remains elusive. AIM OF THE STUDY The aim of this study were to assess whether SLI attenuates I/R-induced brain injury and evaluate its associated mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS Focal cerebral ischaemia was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). SLI (21 mg/kg) was injected intravenously at the beginning of the reperfusion period and 24 and 48 h after ischaemia. The effects of SLI on brain injury were detected according to infarct volume, neurological score, brain oedema, and HE and TUNEL staining at 72 h post-MCAO. Western blotting was used to detect alterations in the autophagy-relevant proteins LC3, Beclin-1, mTOR, p62, Lamp-1, and CTSD in the ipsilateral cortex at 24 or 72 h post-MCAO. RESULTS We first demonstrated that SLI significantly alleviated the infarct volume, neurological deficits, and brain oedema, and reduced the number of TUNEL-positive cells in rats with cerebral I/R injury. Next, we found that SLI has a bidirectional regulatory effect on autophagy: early-stage (24 h) cerebral ischaemia promotes the activation of autophagy and developmental-stage (72 h) cerebral ischaemia has an inhibitory effect. SLI enhanced I/R-induced autophagy as evidenced by the increased expression level of the autophagy marker protein LC3Ⅱ, as well as the decreased expression of mTOR and the autophagy substrate protein p62, but there was no change in lysosomal activity at 24 h after I/R-induced injury. Moreover, SLI also inhibited excessive activation of autophagy at 72 h after I/R-induced injury, which manifested as downregulating LC3Ⅱ expression, upregulating mTOR and p62 expression, and inhibiting lysosomal activity. CONCLUSION SLI has a protective effect on cerebral ischaemia/reperfusion injury, which may be mediated by the autophagy-lysosome pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changshuo Yang
- Tianjin State Key Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Pharmacology, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, #10 Boyanghu Road, Jinghai District, Tianjin, 301617, China
| | - Yangyang Xu
- Tianjin State Key Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Pharmacology, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, #10 Boyanghu Road, Jinghai District, Tianjin, 301617, China
| | - Wenqi Zhang
- Tianjin State Key Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Pharmacology, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, #10 Boyanghu Road, Jinghai District, Tianjin, 301617, China; Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medical Formulae, Ministry of Education, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China
| | - Mengmeng Ma
- Beijing Northen Hospital of Weaponry Industry, #10 CheDaoGou, HaiDian District, Beijing, 100089, China
| | - Shaoxia Wang
- Tianjin State Key Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Pharmacology, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, #10 Boyanghu Road, Jinghai District, Tianjin, 301617, China
| | - Lijuan Chai
- Tianjin State Key Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Pharmacology, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, #10 Boyanghu Road, Jinghai District, Tianjin, 301617, China
| | - Hong Guo
- Tianjin State Key Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Pharmacology, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, #10 Boyanghu Road, Jinghai District, Tianjin, 301617, China; Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medical Formulae, Ministry of Education, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China.
| | - Limin Hu
- Tianjin State Key Laboratory of Modern Chinese Medicine, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Pharmacology, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, #10 Boyanghu Road, Jinghai District, Tianjin, 301617, China; Key Laboratory of Pharmacology of Traditional Chinese Medical Formulae, Ministry of Education, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, 301617, China.
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Abstract
Formation of primordial follicles occurs when germ cell nests break apart and individual oocytes become surrounded by pregranulosa cells. Why mammalian germ cells develop in germ cell nests is not fully understood but recent work has provided evidence that some oocytes serve as nurse cells supporting other oocytes in the cyst. Headway has also been made in understanding interactions that occur between cyst cells that must change as individual oocytes separate to associate with pregranulosa cells. As germ cell nests undergo breakdown some oocytes are lost by programmed cell death that has been attributed to apoptosis, but newer studies have implicated autophagy in counteracting apoptosis to promote cell survival and maintain the ovarian reserve. Work in the past few years has added to already known pathways regulating primordial follicle formation and has identified new players including signaling molecules, transcription factors and RNA binding proteins.
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