Sgpl1 deletion elevates S1P levels, contributing to NPR2 inactivity and p21 expression that block germ cell development

Comprehensive analysis of chromosomal breakpoints and candidate genes associated with male infertility: insights from cytogenetic studies and expression analyses

The study aimed to investigate prevalent chromosomal breakpoints identified in balanced structural chromosomal anomalies and to pinpoint potential candidate genes linked with male infertility. This was acchieved through a comprehensive approach combining RNA-seq and microarray data analysis, enabling precise identification of candidate genes. The Cytogenetics data from 2,500 infertile males referred to Royan Research Institute between 2009 and 2022 were analyzed, with 391 cases meeting the inclusion criteria of balanced chromosomal rearrangement. Of these, 193 cases exhibited normal variations and were excluded from the analysis. By examining the breakpoints, potential candidate genes were suggested. Among the remaining 198 cases, reciprocal translocations were the most frequent anomaly (129 cases), followed by Robertsonian translocations (43 cases), inversions (34 cases), and insertions (3 cases).Some patients had more than one chromosomal abnormality. Chromosomal anomalies were most frequently observed in chromosomes 13 (21.1%), 14 (20.1%), and 1 (16.3%) with 13q12, 14q12, and 1p36.3 being the most prevalent breakpoints, respectively. Chromosome 1 contributed the most to reciprocal translocations (20.2%) and inversions (17.6%), while chromosome 14 was the most involved in the Robertsonian translocations (82.2%). The findings suggested that breakpoints at 1p36.3 and 14q12 might be associated with pregestational infertility, whereas breakpoints at 13q12 could be linked to both gestational and pregestational infertility. Several candidate genes located on common breakpoints were proposed as potentially involved in male infertility. Bioinformatics analyses utilizing three databases were conducted to examine the expression patterns of 78 candidate genes implicated in various causes of infertility.‏ In azoospermic individuals, significant differential expression was observed in 19 genes: 15 were downregulated (TSSK2, SPINK2, TSSK4, CDY1, CFAP70, BPY2, BTG4, FKBP6, PPP2R1B, SPECC1L, CENPJ, ‏SKA3, FGF9, NODAL, CLOCK), while four genes were upregulated ‏(‏HSPB1, MIF, PRF1, ENTPD6). In the case of Asthenozoospermia, seven genes showed significant upregulation (PRF1, DDX21, KIT, SRD5A3, MTCH1, DDX50, NODAL). Though RNA-seq data for Teratozoospermia were unavailable, microarray data revealed differential expression insix genes: three downregulated (BUB1, KLK4, PIWIL2) and three upregulated (AURKC, NPM2, RANBP2). These findings enhance our understanding of the molecular basis of male infertility and could provide valuable insights for future diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.

Integrated cell metabolomics and network pharmacology approach deciphers the anti-testosterone deficiency mechanisms of Bushen Zhuanggu Tang

Testicular dysfunction is distinguished by a deficiency in testosterone levels, which can be attributed to the occurrence of oxidative stress injury in Leydig cells. The empirical prescription known as Bushen Zhuanggu Tang, developed by a highly experienced traditional Chinese medicine practitioner with six decades of clinical expertize, aligns with the traditional Chinese medicine principle of "kidney governing bone". Researchers have demonstrated that the administration of BSZGT can effectively enhance testosterone production. The objective of this study is to investigate the potential anti-testicular dysfunction effects of BSZGT and elucidate its underlying mechanism in an in vitro setting. Specifically, the impact of oxidative stress induced by H2O2 on the activity and testosterone levels of Leydig cells (TM3) was examined. Furthermore, the utilization of UPLC-QE-Qrbitrap-MS enabled the identification of the involvement of BSZGT in various metabolic pathways, including arginine biosynthesis, amino acyl-tRNA biosynthesis, Alanine, aspartate and glutamine metabolism, and Citrate Cycle, through the modulation of 25 distinct metabolites. Additionally, a network pharmacological analysis was conducted to investigate the pivotal protein targets associated with the therapeutic effects of BSZGT. The findings demonstrate the identification of six key proteins (CYP19A1, CYP1B1, ALOX5, ARG1, XDH, and MPO) that play a significant role in augmenting testicular function through their involvement in the ovarian steroid production pathway. In summary, our study presents a comprehensive research methodology that combines cell metabonomics and network pharmacology to enhance the discovery of new therapeutic agents for TD.

Regulation of Follicular Development in Chickens: WIF1 Modulates Granulosa Cell Proliferation and Progesterone Synthesis via Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway

Proliferation, apoptosis, and steroid hormone secretion by granulosa cells (GCs) and theca cells (TCs) are essential for maintaining the fate of chicken follicles. Our previous study showed that the Wnt inhibitor factor 1 (WIF1) plays a role in follicle selection. However, the significance of WIF1 in GC- and TC-associated follicular development was not explicitly investigated. This study found that WIF1 expression was strongly downregulated during follicle selection (p < 0.05) and was significantly higher in GCs than in TCs (p < 0.05). WIF1 inhibits proliferation and promotes apoptosis in GCs. Additionally, it promotes progesterone secretion in prehierarchal GCs (pre-GCs, 1.16 ± 0.05 ng/mg vs. 1.58 ng/mg ± 0.12, p < 0.05) and hierarchal GCs (hie-GCs, 395.00 ng/mg ± 34.73 vs. 527.77 ng/mg ± 27.19, p < 0.05) with the participation of the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). WIF1 affected canonical Wnt pathways and phosphorylated β-catenin expression in GCs. Furthermore, 604 upregulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 360 downregulated DEGs in WIF1-overexpressed GCs were found through RNA-seq analysis (criteria: |log2⁡(FoldChange)| > 1 and p_adj < 0.05). Cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction and the steroid hormone biosynthesis pathway were identified. In addition, the transcript of estrogen receptor 2 (ESR2) increased significantly (log2⁡(FoldChange) = 1.27, p_adj < 0.05). Furthermore, we found that WIF1 regulated progesterone synthesis by upregulating ESR2 expression in GCs. Additionally, WIF1 suppressed proliferation and promoted apoptosis in TCs. Taken together, these results reveal that WIF1 stimulates follicle development by promoting GC differentiation and progesterone synthesis, which provides an insight into the molecular mechanism of follicle selection and egg-laying performance in poultry.

Role of sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) in sepsis-associated intestinal injury

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a widespread lipid signaling molecule that binds to five sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors (S1PRs) to regulate downstream signaling pathways. Sepsis can cause intestinal injury and intestinal injury can aggravate sepsis. Thus, intestinal injury and sepsis are mutually interdependent. S1P is more abundant in intestinal tissues as compared to other tissues, exerts anti-inflammatory effects, promotes immune cell trafficking, and protects the intestinal barrier. Despite the clinical importance of S1P in inflammation, with a very well-defined mechanism in inflammatory bowel disease, their role in sepsis-induced intestinal injury has been relatively unexplored. In addition to regulating lymphocyte exit, the S1P-S1PR pathway has been implicated in the gut microbiota, intestinal epithelial cells (IECs), and immune cells in the lamina propria. This review mainly elaborates on the physiological role of S1P in sepsis, focusing on intestinal injury. We introduce the generation and metabolism of S1P, emphasize the maintenance of intestinal barrier homeostasis in sepsis, and the protective effect of S1P in the intestine. We also review the link between sepsis-induced intestinal injury and S1P-S1PRs signaling, as well as the underlying mechanisms of action. Finally, we discuss how S1PRs affect intestinal function and become targets for future drug development to improve the translational capacity of preclinical studies to the clinic.

Elevated sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase leads to increased metabolism and reduced survival in adrenocortical carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

Adrenocortical carcinomas (ACCs) are invasive tumours arising in the adrenal cortex, and steroidogenic tumours are associated with worse prognostic outcomes. Loss-of-function mutations in sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase (SGPL1) cause primary adrenal insufficiency and as a key degradative enzyme in the sphingolipid pathway, SGPL1 also influences the balance of pro-proliferative and pro-apoptotic sphingolipids. We, therefore, hypothesized increased SGPL1 may be linked to increased disease severity in ACC.

DESIGN

Analyse SGPL1 expression impact on patient survival and adrenal cancer cell phenotype. We analysed two ACC cohorts with survival and corresponding transcriptomic data, focusing on SGPL1 and sphingolipid pathway genes. In vitro, we generated SGPL1-knockout and overexpressing H295R adrenocortical cells to investigate the role of SGPL1 in cell signalling in ACCs.

RESULTS

We found increased expression of several sphingolipid pathway receptors and enzymes, most notably SGPL1 correlated with reduced patient survival in both cohorts. Overexpression of SGPL1 in the H295R cell line increased proliferation and migration while reducing apoptosis, while SGPL1 knockout had the opposite effect. RNA-seq revealed a global increase in the expression of genes in the electron transport chain in overexpressing cells, correlating with increased aerobic respiration and glycolysis. Furthermore, the opposite phenotype was seen in cells lacking SGPL1. We subsequently found the increased proliferation is linked to metabolic substrate availability and increased capacity to use different fuel sources, but particularly glucose, in overexpressing cells.

CONCLUSIONS

We, therefore, propose that SGPL1-overexpressing ACC tumours reduce patient survival by increasing fuel usage for anabolism and energy production to facilitate growth and invasion.

SphK-produced S1P in somatic cells is indispensable for LH-EGFR signaling-induced mouse oocyte maturation

Germ cell division and differentiation require intimate contact and interaction with the surrounding somatic cells. Luteinizing hormone (LH) triggers epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like growth factors to promote oocyte maturation and developmental competence by activating EGF receptor (EGFR) in somatic cells. Here, we showed that LH-EGFR signaling-activated sphingosine kinases (SphK) in somatic cells. The activation of EGFR by EGF increased S1P and calcium levels in cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs), and decreased the binding affinity of natriuretic peptide receptor 2 (NPR2) for natriuretic peptide type C (NPPC) to release the cGMP-mediated meiotic arrest. These functions of EGF were blocked by the SphK inhibitor SKI-II, which could be reversed by the addition of S1P. S1P also activated the Akt/mTOR cascade reaction in oocytes and promoted targeting protein for Xklp2 (TPX2) accumulation and oocyte developmental competence. Specifically depleting Sphk1/2 in somatic cells reduced S1P levels and impaired oocyte meiotic maturation and developmental competence, resulting in complete female infertility. Collectively, SphK-produced S1P in somatic cells serves as a functional transmitter of LH-EGFR signaling from somatic cells to oocytes: acting on somatic cells to induce oocyte meiotic maturation, and acting on oocytes to improve oocyte developmental competence.

A retrospective analysis of endocrine disease in sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase insufficiency: case series and literature review

Sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase (SGPL1) insufficiency syndrome (SPLIS) is an autosomal recessive multi-system disorder, which mainly incorporates steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome and primary adrenal insufficiency. Other variable endocrine manifestations are described. In this study, we aimed to comprehensively annotate the endocrinopathies associated with pathogenic SGPL1 variants and assess for genotype-phenotype correlations by retrospectively reviewing the reports of endocrine disease within our patient cohort and all published cases in the wider literature up to February 2022. Glucocorticoid insufficiency in early childhood is the most common endocrine manifestation affecting 64% of the 50 patients reported with SPLIS, and a third of these individuals have additional mineralocorticoid deficiency. While most individuals also have nephrotic syndrome, SGPL1 variants also account for isolated adrenal insufficiency at presentation. Primary gonadal insufficiency, manifesting with microphallus and cryptorchidism, is reported in less than one-third of affected boys, all with concomitant adrenal disease. Mild primary hypothyroidism affects approximately a third of patients. There is paucity of data on the impact of SGPL1 deficiency on growth, and pubertal development, limited by the early and high mortality rate (approximately 50%). There is no clear genotype-phenotype correlation overall in the syndrome, with variable disease penetrance within individual kindreds. However, with regards to endocrine phenotype, the most prevalent disease variant p.R222Q (affecting 22%) is most consistently associated with isolated glucocorticoid deficiency. To conclude, SPLIS is associated with significant multiple endocrine disorders. While endocrinopathy in the syndrome generally presents in infancy, late-onset disease also occurs. Screening for these is therefore warranted both at diagnosis and through follow-up.

Insights From Long-term Follow-up of a Girl With Adrenal Insufficiency and Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Lyase Deficiency

Introduction

Sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase (SGPL1) insufficiency syndrome (SPLIS) is a multisystemic disorder which, in the main, incorporates steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome and primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI).

Case Presentation

We present a young girl with a novel homozygous variant in SGPL1, p.D350G, with PAI in the absence of nephrotic syndrome. In the course of 15 years of follow-up she has further developed primary hypothyroidism and while she has progressed through puberty appropriately, ovarian calcifications were noted on imaging. The p.D350G variant results in reduced protein expression of SGPL1. We demonstrate that CRISPR engineered knockout of SGPL1 in human adrenocortical (H295R) cells abrogates cortisol production. Furthermore, while wild-type SGPL1 is able to rescue cortisol production in this in vitro model of adrenal disease, this is not observed with the p.D350G mutant.

Conclusion

SGPL1 deficiency should be considered in the differential diagnosis of PAI with close attention paid to evolving disease on follow-up.