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Wang X, Feng YQ, Li H, Xu Y, Yu J, Zhou M, Qiu F, Li N, Wang Z. Loss of DIS3L in the initial segment is dispensable for sperm maturation in the epididymis and male fertility. Reprod Biol 2024; 24:100914. [PMID: 38875746 DOI: 10.1016/j.repbio.2024.100914] [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: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 05/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
DIS3L, a catalytic exoribonuclease associated with the cytoplasmic exosome complex, degrades cytoplasmic RNAs and is implicated in cancers and certain other diseases in humans. Epididymis plays a pivotal role in the transport, maturation, and storage of sperm required for male fertility. However, it remains unclear whether DIS3L-mediated cytoplasmic RNA degradation plays a role in epididymis biology and functioning. Herein, we fabricated a Dis3l conditional knockout (Dis3l cKO) mouse line in which DIS3L was ablated from the principal cells of the initial segment (IS). Morphological analyses showed that spermatogenesis and IS differentiation occurred normally in Dis3l cKO mice. Additionally, the absence of DIS3L had no dramatic influence on the transcriptome of IS. Moreover, the sperm count, morphology, motility, and acrosome reaction frequency in Dis3l cKO mice were comparable to that of the control, indicating that the Dis3l cKO males had normal fertility. Collectively, our genetic model demonstrates that DIS3L inactivation in the IS is nonessential for sperm maturation and male fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Wang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, PR China
| | - Yan-Qin Feng
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, PR China
| | - Hong Li
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, PR China
| | - Yu Xu
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, PR China
| | - Junjie Yu
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, PR China
| | - Meiyang Zhou
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, PR China
| | - Fanyi Qiu
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, PR China
| | - Nana Li
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, PR China.
| | - Zhengpin Wang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, PR China.
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Dai P, Ma C, Jiang T, Shi J, Liu S, Zheng M, Zhou Y, Li X, Liu Y, Chen H. CD147 mediates S protein pseudovirus of SARS-CoV-2 infection and its induction of spermatogonia apoptosis. Endocrine 2024:10.1007/s12020-024-03891-4. [PMID: 38824220 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-024-03891-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
Male cases diagnosed COVID-19 with more complications and higher mortality compared with females, and the overall consequences of male sex hormones and semen parameters deterioration were observed in COVID-19 patients, whereas the involvement and mechanism for spermatogenic cell remains unclear. The study was aimed to investigate the infection mode of S protein (D614G) pseudovirus (pseu-S-D614G) to spermatogenic cells, as well as the influence on cell growth. Both mouse spermatogonia (GC-1 cell, immortalized spermatogonia) and spermatocyte (GC-2 cell, immortalized spermatocytes) were used to detect the infection of pseu-S-D614G of SARS-CoV-2, and further explored the effect of SARS-CoV-2-spike protein (S-protein) and SARS-CoV-2-spike protein (omicron) (O-protein) on GC-1 cell apoptosis and proliferation. The data showed that the pseu-S-D614G invaded into GC-1 cells through either human ACE2 (hACE2) or human CD147 (hCD147), whereas GC-2 cells were insensitive to viral infection. In addition, the apoptosis and proliferation suppression inflicted by S-protein and O-protein on GC-1 cells was through Bax-Caspase3 signaling rather than arresting cell cycle progression. These findings suggest that CD147, apart from ACE2, may be a potential receptor for SARS-CoV-2 infection in testicular tissues, and that the apoptotic effect was induced in spermatogonia cells by S-protein or O-protein, eventually resulted in the damage to male fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengyuan Dai
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, PR China
| | - Chaoye Ma
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, PR China
| | - Ting Jiang
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, PR China
| | - Jianwu Shi
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, PR China
| | - Sha Liu
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, PR China
| | - Meihua Zheng
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, PR China
| | - Yiwen Zhou
- Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Xiaofeng Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Lianhua Road No. 1120, Futian District, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, PR China
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR China.
| | - Hao Chen
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, PR China.
- Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, GMU-GIBH Joint school of Life Science, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
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Zhang G, Sun Y, Guan M, Liu M, Sun S. Single-cell and spatial transcriptomic investigation reveals the spatiotemporal specificity of the beta-defensin gene family during mouse sperm maturation. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:267. [PMID: 38745232 PMCID: PMC11092205 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-024-01637-3] [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: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Low sperm motility is a significant contributor to male infertility. beta-defensins have been implicated in host defence and the acquisition of sperm motility; however, the regulatory mechanisms governing their gene expression patterns and functions remain poorly understood. In this study, we performed single-cell RNA and spatial transcriptome sequencing to investigate the cellular composition of testicular and epididymal tissues and examined their gene expression characteristics. In the epididymis, we found that epididymal epithelial cells display a region specificity of gene expression in different epididymal segments, including the beta-defensin family genes. In particular, Defb15, Defb18, Defb20, Defb25 and Defb48 are specific to the caput; Defb22, Defb23 and Defb26 to the corpus; Defb2 and Defb9 to the cauda of the epididymis. To confirm this, we performed mRNA fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) targeting certain exon region of beta-defensin genes, and found some of their expression matched the sequencing results and displayed a close connection with epididimosome marker gene Cd63. In addition, we paid attention to the Sertoli cells and Leydig cells in the testis, along with fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells in the epididymis, by demonstrating their gene expression profile and spatial information. Our study provides a single-cell and spatial landscape for analysing the gene expression characteristics of testicular and epididymal environments and has important implications for the study of spermatogenesis and sperm maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yuanchao Sun
- Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
- Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Minkai Guan
- Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China
| | | | - Shiduo Sun
- Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
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4
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Dai P, Ding M, Yu J, Gao Y, Wang M, Ling J, Dong S, Zhang X, Zeng X, Sun X. The Male Reproductive Toxicity Caused by 2-Naphthylamine Was Related to Testicular Immunity Disorders. TOXICS 2024; 12:342. [PMID: 38787121 PMCID: PMC11126000 DOI: 10.3390/toxics12050342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2024] [Revised: 04/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
2-naphthylamine (NAP) was classified as a group I carcinogen associated with bladder cancer. The daily exposure is mostly from cigarette and E-cigarette smoke. NAP can lead to testicular atrophy and interstitial tissue hyperplasia; however, the outcomes of NAP treatment on spermatogenesis and the associated mechanisms have not been reported. The study aimed to investigate the effect of NAP on spermatogenesis and sperm physiologic functions after being persistently exposed to NAP at 5, 20, and 40 mg/kg for 35 days. We found that sperm motility, progressive motility, sperm average path velocity, and straight-line velocity declined remarkably in the NAP (40 mg/kg) treated group, and the sperm deformation rate rose upon NAP administration. The testis immunity- and lipid metabolism-associated processes were enriched from RNA-sequence profiling. Plvap, Ccr7, Foxn1, Trim29, Sirpb1c, Cfd, and Lpar4 involved in testis immunity and Pnliprp1 that inhibit triglyceride and cholesterol absorption were confirmed to rise dramatically in the NAP-exposed group. The increased total cholesterol and CD68 levels were observed in the testis from the NAP-exposed group. Gpx5, serving as an antioxidant in sperm plasma, and Semg1, which contributes to sperm progressive motility, were both down-regulated. We concluded that the short-term exposure to NAP caused reproductive toxicity, primarily due to the inflammatory abnormality in the testis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengyuan Dai
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China; (P.D.); (M.D.); (J.Y.); (M.W.); (J.L.); (S.D.); (X.Z.)
| | - Mengqian Ding
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China; (P.D.); (M.D.); (J.Y.); (M.W.); (J.L.); (S.D.); (X.Z.)
| | - Jingyan Yu
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China; (P.D.); (M.D.); (J.Y.); (M.W.); (J.L.); (S.D.); (X.Z.)
| | - Yuan Gao
- Experimental Animal Center, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China;
| | - Miaomiao Wang
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China; (P.D.); (M.D.); (J.Y.); (M.W.); (J.L.); (S.D.); (X.Z.)
| | - Jie Ling
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China; (P.D.); (M.D.); (J.Y.); (M.W.); (J.L.); (S.D.); (X.Z.)
| | - Shijue Dong
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China; (P.D.); (M.D.); (J.Y.); (M.W.); (J.L.); (S.D.); (X.Z.)
| | - Xiaoning Zhang
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China; (P.D.); (M.D.); (J.Y.); (M.W.); (J.L.); (S.D.); (X.Z.)
| | - Xuhui Zeng
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China; (P.D.); (M.D.); (J.Y.); (M.W.); (J.L.); (S.D.); (X.Z.)
| | - Xiaoli Sun
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
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Sun F, Desevin K, Fu Y, Parameswaran S, Mayall J, Rinaldi V, Krietenstein N, Manukyan A, Yin Q, Galan C, Yang CH, Shindyapina AV, Gladyshev VN, Garber M, Schjenken JE, Rando OJ. A single cell atlas of the mouse seminal vesicle. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.08.588538. [PMID: 38645090 PMCID: PMC11030459 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.08.588538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
During mammalian reproduction, sperm are delivered to the female reproductive tract bathed in a complex medium known as seminal fluid, which plays key roles in signaling to the female reproductive tract and in nourishing sperm for their onwards journey. Along with minor contributions from the prostate and the epididymis, the majority of seminal fluid is produced by a somewhat understudied organ known as the seminal vesicle. Here, we report the first single-cell RNA-seq atlas of the mouse seminal vesicle, generated using tissues obtained from 23 mice of varying ages, exposed to a range of dietary challenges. We define the transcriptome of the secretory cells in this tissue, identifying a relatively homogeneous population of the epithelial cells which are responsible for producing the majority of seminal fluid. We also define the immune cell populations - including large populations of macrophages, dendritic cells, T cells, and NKT cells - which have the potential to play roles in producing various immune mediators present in seminal plasma. Together, our data provide a resource for understanding the composition of an understudied reproductive tissue with potential implications for paternal control of offspring development and metabolism.
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Liu MM, Fan CQ, Zhang GL. A Single-Cell Landscape of Spermioteleosis in Mice and Pigs. Cells 2024; 13:563. [PMID: 38607002 PMCID: PMC11011153 DOI: 10.3390/cells13070563] [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] [Revised: 03/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Spermatozoa acquired motility and matured in epididymis after production in the testis. However, there is still limited understanding of the specific characteristics of sperm development across different species. In this study, we employed a comprehensive approach to analyze cell compositions in both testicular and epididymal tissues, providing valuable insights into the changes occurring during meiosis and spermiogenesis in mouse and pig models. Additionally, we identified distinct gene expression signatures associated with various spermatogenic cell types. (2) Methods: To investigate the differences in spermatogenesis between mice and pigs, we constructed a single-cell RNA dataset. (3) Results: Our findings revealed notable differences in testicular cell clusters between these two species. Furthermore, distinct gene expression patterns were observed among epithelial cells from different regions of the epididymis. Interestingly, regional gene expression patterns were also identified within principal cell clusters of the mouse epididymis. Moreover, through analysing differentially expressed genes related to the epididymis in both mouse and pig models, we successfully identified potential marker genes associated with sperm development and maturation for each species studied. (4) Conclusions: This research presented a comprehensive single-cell landscape analysis of both testicular and epididymal tissues, shedding light on the intricate processes involved in spermatogenesis and sperm maturation, specifically within mouse and pig models.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Guo-Liang Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China; (M.-M.L.); (C.-Q.F.)
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7
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Liu MM, Feng XL, Qi C, Zhang SE, Zhang GL. The significance of single-cell transcriptome analysis in epididymis research. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1357370. [PMID: 38577504 PMCID: PMC10991796 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1357370] [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: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
As a crucial component of the male reproductive system, the epididymis plays multiple roles, including sperm storage and secretion of nutritive fluids for sperm development and maturation. The acquisition of fertilization capacity by sperm occurs during their transport through the epididymis. Compared with the testis, little has been realized about the importance of the epididymis. However, with the development of molecular biology and single-cell sequencing technology, the importance of the epididymis for male fertility should be reconsidered. Recent studies have revealed that different regions of the epididymis exhibit distinct functions and cell type compositions, which are likely determined by variations in gene expression patterns. In this research, we primarily focused on elucidating the cellular composition and region-specific gene expression patterns within different segments of the epididymis and provided detailed insights into epididymal function in male fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng-Meng Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Xin-Lei Feng
- Animal Products Quality and Safety Center of Shandong Province, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Chao Qi
- Provincial Animal Husbandry Station of Shandong Province, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Shu-Er Zhang
- Provincial Animal Husbandry Station of Shandong Province, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Guo-Liang Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
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8
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Li Y, Li Q, Wu L, Wang H, Shi H, Yang C, Gu Y, Li J, Ji Z. SperMD: the expression atlas of sperm maturation. BMC Bioinformatics 2024; 25:29. [PMID: 38233783 PMCID: PMC10792849 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-024-05631-x] [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: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
The impairment of sperm maturation is one of the major pathogenic factors in male subfertility, a serious medical and social problem affecting millions of global couples. Regrettably, the existing research on sperm maturation is slow, limited, and fragmented, largely attributable to the lack of a global molecular view. To fill the data gap, we newly established a database, namely the Sperm Maturation Database (SperMD, http://bio-add.org/SperMD ). SperMD integrates heterogeneous multi-omics data (170 transcriptomes, 91 proteomes, and five human metabolomes) to illustrate the transcriptional, translational, and metabolic manifestations during the entire lifespan of sperm maturation. These data involve almost all crucial scenarios related to sperm maturation, including the tissue components of the epididymal microenvironment, cell constituents of tissues, different pathological states, and so on. To the best of our knowledge, SperMD could be one of the limited repositories that provide focused and comprehensive information on sperm maturation. Easy-to-use web services are also implemented to enhance the experience of data retrieval and molecular comparison between humans and mice. Furthermore, the manuscript illustrates an example application demonstrated to systematically characterize novel gene functions in sperm maturation. Nevertheless, SperMD undertakes the endeavor to integrate the islanding omics data, offering a panoramic molecular view of how the spermatozoa gain full reproductive abilities. It will serve as a valuable resource for the systematic exploration of sperm maturation and for prioritizing the biomarkers and targets for precise diagnosis and therapy of male subfertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Li
- School of Informatics, National Institute for Data Science in Health and Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Qianying Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Lvying Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Haiyan Wang
- Shandong Epihealth Biotech Ltd., Yantai, China
| | - Hui Shi
- College of Life Science, Yantai University, Yantai, China
| | - Chenhui Yang
- School of Informatics, National Institute for Data Science in Health and Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Yiqun Gu
- Institute of science and technology, National Health Commission, Beijing, China.
| | - Jianyuan Li
- Shandong Epihealth Biotech Ltd., Yantai, China.
- Institute of science and technology, National Health Commission, Beijing, China.
| | - Zhiliang Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
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9
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Cui H, Huang Q, Li J, Zhou P, Wang Z, Cai J, Feng C, Deng X, Gu H, He X, Tang J, Wang X, Zhao X, Yu J, Chen X. Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis to evaluate antimony exposure effects on cell-lineage communications within the Drosophila testicular niche. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 270:115948. [PMID: 38184976 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.115948] [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: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
The increasing production and prevalence of antimony (Sb)-related products raise concerns regarding its potential hazards to reproductive health. Upon environmental exposure, Sb reportedly induces testicular toxicity during spermatogenesis; moreover, it is known to affect various testicular cell populations, particularly germline stem cell populations. However, the cell-cell communication resulting from Sb exposure within the testicular niche remains poorly understood. To address this gap, herein we analyzed testicular single-cell RNA sequencing data from Sb-exposed Drosophila. Our findings revealed that the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and WNT signaling pathways were associated with the stem cell niche in Drosophila testes, which may disrupt the homeostasis of the testicular niche in Drosophila. Furthermore, we identified several ligand-receptor pairs, facilitating the elucidation of intercellular crosstalk involved in Sb-mediated reproductive toxicology. We employed scRNA-seq analysis and conducted functional verification to investigate the expression patterns of core downstream factors associated with EGFR and WNT signatures in the testes under the influence of Sb exposure. Altogether, our results shed light on the potential mechanisms of Sb exposure-mediated testicular cell-lineage communications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongliang Cui
- Department of Urology, Nantong Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Qiuru Huang
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Jiaxin Li
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Peiyao Zhou
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Toxicology, Nantong Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China
| | - Zihan Wang
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Jiaying Cai
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Chenrui Feng
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Xiaonan Deng
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Han Gu
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Xuxin He
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Juan Tang
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Toxicology, Nantong Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China
| | - Xiaoke Wang
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Toxicology, Nantong Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China
| | - Xinyuan Zhao
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Toxicology, Nantong Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong 226019, China.
| | - Jun Yu
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China.
| | - Xia Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nantong First People's Hospital, Affiliated Hospital 2 of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China.
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10
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Huang Q, Li J, Yu J. Distribution characteristics of mitochondria-rich segments in the epididymis. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL IMMUNOLOGY 2023; 12:72-73. [PMID: 37736076 PMCID: PMC10509488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
The epididymis is a highly specialized tissue that plays vital roles in sperm maturation and storage. The spatio-temporal repertoire of epididymal cells and their gene expression in the epididymis remain less characterized. With the help of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), Shi et al., reveal a spatio- and segment-specific distribution pattern of mitochondria that adds another layer of complexity to our understanding of the epididymis. They unexpectedly find a higher abundance of mitochondria and mitochondrial transcription in the corpus and cauda compared to the caput of epididymis, which are believed to be responsible for providing the energy necessary for sperm maturation and motility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuru Huang
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Jiaxin Li
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Jun Yu
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University Nantong 226001, Jiangsu, PR China
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11
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Zhu Q, Tan M, Wang C, Chen Y, Wang C, Zhang J, Gu Y, Guo Y, Han J, Li L, Jiang R, Fan X, Xie H, Wang L, Gu Z, Liu D, Shi J, Feng X. Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis of the temporomandibular joint condyle in 3 and 4-month-old human embryos. Cell Biosci 2023; 13:130. [PMID: 37468984 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-023-01069-5] [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: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a complex joint consisting of the condyle, the temporal articular surface, and the articular disc. Functions such as mastication, swallowing and articulation are accomplished by the movements of the TMJ. To date, the TMJ has been studied more extensively, but the types of TMJ cells, their differentiation, and their interrelationship during growth and development are still unclear and the study of the TMJ is limited. The aim of this study was to establish a molecular cellular atlas of the human embryonic temporomandibular joint condyle (TMJC) by single-cell RNA sequencing, which will contribute to understanding and solving clinical problems. RESULTS Human embryos at 3 and 4 months of age are an important stage of TMJC development. We performed a comprehensive transcriptome analysis of TMJC tissue from human embryos at 3 and 4 months of age using single-cell RNA sequencing. A total of 16,624 cells were captured and the gene expression profiles of 15 cell clusters in human embryonic TMJC were determined, including 14 known cell types and one previously unknown cell type, "transition state cells (TSCs)". Immunofluorescence assays confirmed that TSCs are not the same cell cluster as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Pseudotime trajectory and RNA velocity analysis revealed that MSCs transformed into TSCs, which further differentiated into osteoblasts, hypertrophic chondrocytes and tenocytes. In addition, chondrocytes (CYTL1high + THBS1high) from secondary cartilage were detected only in 4-month-old human embryonic TMJC. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides an atlas of differentiation stages of human embryonic TMJC tissue cells, which will contribute to an in-depth understanding of the pathophysiology of the TMJC tissue repair process and ultimately help to solve clinical problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianqi Zhu
- Department of Stomatology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Miaoying Tan
- Department of Stomatology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Chengniu Wang
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Yufei Chen
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Chenfei Wang
- Department of Stomatology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Junqi Zhang
- Department of Stomatology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Yijun Gu
- Department of Stomatology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Yuqi Guo
- Department of Stomatology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Jianpeng Han
- Department of Stomatology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Lei Li
- Department of Stomatology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Rongrong Jiang
- Department of Stomatology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Xudong Fan
- Department of Stomatology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Huimin Xie
- Department of Stomatology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Liang Wang
- Department of Stomatology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Zhifeng Gu
- Research Center of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.
| | - Dong Liu
- School of Life Science, Nantong Laboratory of Development and Diseases Second Affiliated Hospital Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, 226019, China.
| | - Jianwu Shi
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.
| | - Xingmei Feng
- Department of Stomatology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Medical School of, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.
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12
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Wang X, Gu X, Wang C, He Y, Liu D, Sun S, Li H. Loss of ndrg2 Function Is Involved in Notch Activation in Neuromast Hair Cell Regeneration in Zebrafish. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:3100-3112. [PMID: 36800156 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03262-6] [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: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
The regeneration of hair cells in zebrafish is a complex process involving the precise regulation of multiple signaling pathways, but this complicated regulatory network is not fully understood. Current research has primarily focused on finding molecules and pathways that can regulate hair cell regeneration and restore hair cell functions. Here, we show the role of N-Myc downstream regulated gene 2 (ndrg2) in zebrafish hair cell regeneration. We first found that ndrg2 was dynamically expressed in neuromasts of the developing zebrafish, and this expression was increased after neomycin-induced hair cell damage. Then, ndrg2 loss-of-function larvae showed reduced numbers of regenerated hair cells but increased numbers of supporting cells after neomycin exposure. By in situ hybridization, we further observed that ndrg2 loss of function resulted in the activation of Notch signaling and downregulation of atoh1a during hair cell regeneration in vivo. Additionally, blocking Notch signaling rescued the number of regenerated hair cells in ndrg2-deficient larvae. Together, this study provides evidence for the role of ndrg2 in regulating hair cell regeneration in zebrafish neuromasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Wang
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China
- Department of ENT Institute and Otorhinolaryngology, Eye & ENT Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, NHC Key Laboratory of Hearing Medicine Research, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, People's Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, People's Republic of China
- Nantong Laboratory of Development and Diseases, School of Life Sciences, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaodong Gu
- Department of ENT Institute and Otorhinolaryngology, Eye & ENT Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, NHC Key Laboratory of Hearing Medicine Research, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, People's Republic of China
| | - Cheng Wang
- Nantong Laboratory of Development and Diseases, School of Life Sciences, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, People's Republic of China
| | - Yingzi He
- Department of ENT Institute and Otorhinolaryngology, Eye & ENT Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, NHC Key Laboratory of Hearing Medicine Research, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, People's Republic of China
| | - Dong Liu
- Nantong Laboratory of Development and Diseases, School of Life Sciences, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, People's Republic of China.
| | - Shan Sun
- Department of ENT Institute and Otorhinolaryngology, Eye & ENT Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, NHC Key Laboratory of Hearing Medicine Research, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, People's Republic of China.
| | - Huawei Li
- Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.
- Department of ENT Institute and Otorhinolaryngology, Eye & ENT Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, NHC Key Laboratory of Hearing Medicine Research, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200031, People's Republic of China.
- The Institutes of Brain Science and the Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, People's Republic of China.
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13
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Wang X, Qiu F, Yu J, Zhou M, Zuo A, Xu X, Sun XY, Wang Z. Transcriptome profiling of the initial segment and proximal caput of mouse epididymis. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1190890. [PMID: 37324270 PMCID: PMC10266198 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1190890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The proximal region of the mouse epididymis plays a pivotal role in sperm transport, sperm maturation, and male fertility. Several studies have focused on segment-dependent gene expression of the mouse epididymis through high-throughput sequencing without the precision of the microdissection. Methods and results Herein, we isolated the initial segment (IS) and proximal caput (P-caput) by physical microdissection using an Lcn9-cre; Rosa26tdTomato mouse model. We defined the transcriptome changes of caput epididymis by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), which identified 1,961 genes that were abundantly expressed in the IS and 1,739 genes that were prominently expressed in the P-caput. In addition, we found that many differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were predominantly or uniquely expressed in the epididymis and region-specific genes were highly associated with transport, secretion, sperm motility, fertilization, and male fertility. Conclusion Thus, this study provides an RNA-seq resource to identify region-specific genes in the caput epididymis. The epididymal-selective/specific genes are potential targets for male contraception and may provide new insights into understanding segment-specific epididymal microenvironment-mediated sperm transport, maturation, and male fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Wang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Fanyi Qiu
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Junjie Yu
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Meiyang Zhou
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Anjian Zuo
- Department of Bioinformatics, Wanhui Biomedicine Co., LTD., Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaojiang Xu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Xiao-Yang Sun
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
| | - Zhengpin Wang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Cell and Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, Shandong University, Qingdao, China
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14
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Zhuang J, Li X, Yao J, Sun X, Liu J, Nie H, Hu Y, Tu X, Liu H, Qin W, Xie Y. Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals the local cell landscape in mouse epididymal initial segment during aging. Immun Ageing 2023; 20:21. [PMID: 37170325 PMCID: PMC10173474 DOI: 10.1186/s12979-023-00345-9] [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: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Morphological and functional alterations in aging reproductive organs result in decreased male fertility. The epididymis functions as the transition region for post-testicular sperm maturation. And we have previously demonstrated that the epididymal initial segment (IS), a region of the reproductive tract essential for sperm maturation and capacitation, undergoes considerable histological changes and chronic immune activation in mice during aging. However, the local aging-associated cellular and molecular changes in the aged epididymal IS are poorly understood. RESULTS We conducted single-cell RNA sequencing analysis on the epididymal IS of young (3-month-old) and old (21-month-old) mice. In total, 10,027 cells from the epididymal IS tissues of young and old mice were obtained and annotated. The cell composition, including the expansion of a principal cell subtype and Ms4a4bHiMs4a6bHi T cells, changed with age. Aged principal cells displayed multiple functional gene expression changes associated with acrosome reaction and sperm maturation, suggesting an asynchronous process of sperm activation and maturation during epididymal transit. Meanwhile, aging-related altered pathways in immune cells, especially the "cell chemotaxis" in Cx3cr1Hi epididymal dendritic cells (eDCs), were identified. The monocyte-specific expression of chemokine Ccl8 increased with age in eDCs. And the aged epididymal IS showed increased inflammatory cell infiltration and cytokine secretion. Furthermore, cell-cell communication analysis indicated that age increased inflammatory signaling in the epididymal IS. CONCLUSION Contrary to the general pattern of lower immune responses in the male proximal genital tract, we revealed an inflammaging status in mouse epididymal initial segment. These findings will allow future studies to enable the delay of male reproductive aging via immune regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jintao Zhuang
- Department of Urology and Andrology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Xiangping Li
- Department of Urology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Jiahui Yao
- Department of Urology and Andrology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Xiangzhou Sun
- Department of Urology and Andrology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Jiumin Liu
- Department of Urology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Hua Nie
- NHC Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Guangdong Provincial Reproductive Science Institute, Guangdong Provincial Fertility Hospital, Human Sperm Bank of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, 510600, China
| | - Yang Hu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Guangdong Provincial Reproductive Science Institute, Guangdong Provincial Fertility Hospital, Human Sperm Bank of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, 510600, China
| | - Xiangan Tu
- Department of Urology and Andrology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Huang Liu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Guangdong Provincial Reproductive Science Institute, Guangdong Provincial Fertility Hospital, Human Sperm Bank of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, 510600, China.
| | - Weibing Qin
- NHC Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Guangdong Provincial Reproductive Science Institute, Guangdong Provincial Fertility Hospital, Human Sperm Bank of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, 510600, China.
| | - Yun Xie
- Department of Urology and Andrology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
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15
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Yu J, Li Z, Fu Y, Sun F, Chen X, Huang Q, He L, Yu H, Ji L, Cheng X, Shi Y, Shen C, Zheng B, Sun F. Single-cell RNA-sequencing reveals the transcriptional landscape of ND-42 mediated spermatid elongation via mitochondrial derivative maintenance in Drosophila testes. Redox Biol 2023; 62:102671. [PMID: 36933391 PMCID: PMC10036812 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2023.102671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
During spermatogenesis, mitochondria extend along the whole length of spermatid tail and offer a structural platform for microtubule reorganization and synchronized spermatid individualization, that eventually helps to generate mature sperm in Drosophila. However, the regulatory mechanism of spermatid mitochondria during elongation remains largely unknown. Herein, we demonstrated that NADH dehydrogenase (ubiquinone) 42 kDa subunit (ND-42) was essential for male fertility and spermatid elongation in Drosophila. Moreover, ND-42 depletion led to mitochondrial disorders in Drosophila testes. Based on single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq), we identified 15 distinct cell clusters, including several unanticipated transitional subpopulations or differentiative stages for testicular germ cell complexity in Drosophila testes. Enrichments of the transcriptional regulatory network in the late-stage cell populations revealed key roles of ND-42 in mitochondria and its related biological processes during spermatid elongation. Notably, we demonstrated that ND-42 depletion led to maintenance defects of the major mitochondrial derivative and the minor mitochondrial derivative by affecting mitochondrial membrane potential and mitochondrial-encoded genes. Our study proposes a novel regulatory mechanism of ND-42 for spermatid mitochondrial derivative maintenance, contributing to a better understanding of spermatid elongation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Yu
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.
| | - Zhiran Li
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Yangbo Fu
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Feiteng Sun
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Xia Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Affiliated Hospital 2 of Nantong University and First People's Hospital of Nantong City, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226001, China
| | - Qiuru Huang
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Lei He
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Hao Yu
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Li Ji
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Xinmeng Cheng
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Yi Shi
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Cong Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Reproduction and Genetics, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, 215002, China
| | - Bo Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Reproduction and Genetics, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, 215002, China.
| | - Fei Sun
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.
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16
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Yu J, Fu Y, Li Z, Huang Q, Tang J, Sun C, Zhou P, He L, Sun F, Cheng X, Ji L, Yu H, Shi Y, Gu Z, Sun F, Zhao X. Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals cell landscape following antimony exposure during spermatogenesis in Drosophila testes. Cell Death Discov 2023; 9:86. [PMID: 36894529 PMCID: PMC9998446 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-023-01391-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimony (Sb), is thought to induce testicular toxicity, although this remains controversial. This study investigated the effects of Sb exposure during spermatogenesis in the Drosophila testis and the underlying transcriptional regulatory mechanism at single-cell resolution. Firstly, we found that flies exposed to Sb for 10 days led to dose-dependent reproductive toxicity during spermatogenesis. Protein expression and RNA levels were measured by immunofluorescence and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was performed to characterize testicular cell composition and identify the transcriptional regulatory network after Sb exposure in Drosophila testes. scRNA-seq analysis revealed that Sb exposure influenced various testicular cell populations, especially in GSCs_to_Early_Spermatogonia and Spermatids clusters. Importantly, carbon metabolism was involved in GSCs/early spermatogonia maintenance and positively related with SCP-Containing Proteins, S-LAPs, and Mst84D signatures. Moreover, Seminal Fluid Proteins, Mst57D, and Serpin signatures were highly positively correlated with spermatid maturation. Pseudotime trajectory analysis revealed three novel states for the complexity of germ cell differentiation, and many novel genes (e.g., Dup98B) were found to be expressed in state-biased manners during spermatogenesis. Collectively, this study indicates that Sb exposure negatively impacts GSC maintenance and spermatid elongation, damaging spermatogenesis homeostasis via multiple signatures in Drosophila testes and therefore supporting Sb-mediated testicular toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Yu
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Yangbo Fu
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Zhiran Li
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Qiuru Huang
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Juan Tang
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Toxicology, Nantong Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong, 226019, China
| | - Chi Sun
- Department of Geriatrics, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Peiyao Zhou
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Toxicology, Nantong Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong, 226019, China
| | - Lei He
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Feiteng Sun
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Xinmeng Cheng
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Li Ji
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Hao Yu
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Yi Shi
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Zhifeng Gu
- Department of Rheumatology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.
| | - Fei Sun
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.
| | - Xinyuan Zhao
- Department of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Toxicology, Nantong Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, School of Public Health, Nantong University, Nantong, 226019, China.
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17
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Transcriptomic profile comparison reveals conservation of ionocytes across multiple organs. Sci Rep 2023; 13:3516. [PMID: 36864051 PMCID: PMC9981729 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-30603-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Single-cell RNA sequencing has recently led to the identification of a flurry of rare, new cell types, such as the CFTR-high ionocytes in the airway epithelium. Ionocytes appear to be specifically responsible for fluid osmolarity and pH regulation. Similar cells exist in multiple other organs and have received various names, including intercalated cell in the kidney, mitochondria-rich cell in the inner ear, clear cell in the epididymis, and ionocyte in the salivary gland. Here, we compare the previously published transcriptomic profile of cells expressing FOXI1, the signature transcription factor expressed in airway ionocytes. Such FOXI1+ cells were found in datasets representing human and/or murine kidney, airway, epididymis, thymus, skin, inner ear, salivary gland, and prostate. This allowed us to assess the similarities between these cells and identify the core transcriptomic signature of this ionocyte 'family'. Our results demonstrate that, across all these organs, ionocytes maintain the expression of a characteristic set of genes, including FOXI1, KRT7, and ATP6V1B1. We conclude that the ionocyte signature defines a class of closely related cell types across multiple mammalian organs.
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18
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Zhao H, Yu Y, Mei C, Zhang T, Kang Y, Li N, Huang D. Effect of C-Type Natriuretic Peptide (CNP) on Spermatozoa Maturation in Adult Rat Epididymis. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2023; 45:1681-1692. [PMID: 36826053 PMCID: PMC9955803 DOI: 10.3390/cimb45020108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) is highly expressed in male reproductive tissues, such as the epididymis. The aim of this study is to explore the role of CNP in the maturation of rat epididymal spermatozoa. First, the expression levels of CNP and its specific natriuretic peptide receptor-B (NPR-B) were detected in various tissues of rats and epididymis at different stages after birth. Then a castrated rat model was established to analyze the relationship between testosterone and CNP/NPR-B expression in the epididymis. Finally, CNP and different inhibitors (NPR-B inhibitors, cGMP inhibitors) were used to incubate epididymal sperm in vitro to examine sperm mobility and expression of sperm maturation-related factors. The results showed CNP/NPR-B mRNAs were expressed in all tissues of rats, but were extremely highly expressed in male genital ducts (seminal vesicle, prostate and epididymis). The expression of CNP/NPR-B in epididymis was the highest at birth and the fifth week after birth. In the epididymis, CNP/NPR-B were highly expressed in the caput and located in the epididymal epithelial cells. After castration, the expression of CNP/NPR-B decreased sharply and was restored quickly after testosterone supplementation. In vitro, CNP could significantly promote the acquisition of epididymal sperm motility through the NPR-B/cGMP pathway and induce the expression of sperm maturation-related factors (such as Bin1b, Catsper 1, Dnah17, Fertilin). This study shows that CNP plays a role in epididymal sperm maturation. The mechanism of CNP is to promote the acquisition of epididymal sperm fluidity through the NPR-B/cGMP signaling pathway and also to regulate sperm maturation-related genes. Moreover, the expression of CNP/NPR-B was regulated by testosterone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hu Zhao
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; (H.Z.); (Y.Y.); (C.M.); (T.Z.); (Y.K.); (N.L.)
- Department of Human Anatomy, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Yuejin Yu
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; (H.Z.); (Y.Y.); (C.M.); (T.Z.); (Y.K.); (N.L.)
| | - Chunlei Mei
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; (H.Z.); (Y.Y.); (C.M.); (T.Z.); (Y.K.); (N.L.)
| | - Tianyu Zhang
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; (H.Z.); (Y.Y.); (C.M.); (T.Z.); (Y.K.); (N.L.)
| | - Yafei Kang
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; (H.Z.); (Y.Y.); (C.M.); (T.Z.); (Y.K.); (N.L.)
| | - Na Li
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; (H.Z.); (Y.Y.); (C.M.); (T.Z.); (Y.K.); (N.L.)
| | - Donghui Huang
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; (H.Z.); (Y.Y.); (C.M.); (T.Z.); (Y.K.); (N.L.)
- Shenzhen Huazhong University of Science and Technology Research Institute, Shenzhen 518063, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-188-7226-2607
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19
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Xie Y, Xu Z, Wu C, Zhou C, Zhang X, Gu T, Yang J, Yang H, Zheng E, Xu Z, Cai G, Li Z, Liu D, Wu Z, Hong L. Extracellular vesicle-encapsulated miR-21-5p in seminal plasma prevents sperm capacitation via Vinculin inhibition. Theriogenology 2022; 193:103-113. [PMID: 36156422 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2022.09.014] [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: 10/23/2021] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/10/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
To penetrate the zona pellucida before sperm-egg binding, sperm must undergo highly time-controlled capacitation and acrosome reaction in the female reproductive tract. Our previous study demonstrated that miR-21-5p is the most abundant miRNA in boar seminal plasma (SP)-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) and can target Vinculin (VCL) gene, which may participate in boar sperm capacitation. Thus, this study aims to explore the potential role of miR-21-5p from SP-derived EVs in preventing sperm capacitation and its underlying mechanism. We observed that sperm could incorporate miR-21-5p from SP-derived EVs. The roles of SP-derived EVs miR-21-5p in sperm capacitation were then determined using gain- and loss-of-function analyses. In addition, the expression levels of miR-21-5p, VCL, and VCL protein in liquid-preserved boar sperm following transfection were determined using RT-qPCR and Western blotting. Our results revealed that miR-21-5p overexpression inhibited sperm capacitation and acrosome reaction. Similarly, miR-21-5p expression was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in capacitated sperm than un-capacitated sperm. However, the protein level of VCL was also significantly lower (P < 0.05) in capacitated sperm than un-capacitated sperm. Furthermore, immunofluorescence analysis showed that VCL protein mainly located in sperm head and sperm capacitation was inhibited after treating with VCL protein inhibitor (Chrysin). In conclusion, our study provides reasonable evidence that miR-21-5p expression in SP-derived EVs could prevent sperm capacitation via VCL inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanshe Xie
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Lingnan Guangdong Laboratory of Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhiqian Xu
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Lingnan Guangdong Laboratory of Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
| | - Changhua Wu
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Lingnan Guangdong Laboratory of Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chen Zhou
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Lingnan Guangdong Laboratory of Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
| | | | - Ting Gu
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Lingnan Guangdong Laboratory of Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jie Yang
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Lingnan Guangdong Laboratory of Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huaqiang Yang
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Lingnan Guangdong Laboratory of Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
| | - Enqin Zheng
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Lingnan Guangdong Laboratory of Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zheng Xu
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Lingnan Guangdong Laboratory of Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
| | - Gengyuan Cai
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Lingnan Guangdong Laboratory of Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zicong Li
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Lingnan Guangdong Laboratory of Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China; State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Dewu Liu
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Lingnan Guangdong Laboratory of Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhenfang Wu
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Lingnan Guangdong Laboratory of Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China; State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
| | - Linjun Hong
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Lingnan Guangdong Laboratory of Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China.
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20
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Qian F, Wei G, Gao Y, Wang X, Gong J, Guo C, Wang X, Zhang X, Zhao J, Wang C, Xu M, Hu Y, Yin G, Kang J, Chai R, Xie G, Liu D. Single-cell RNA-sequencing of zebrafish hair cells reveals novel genes potentially involved in hearing loss. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:385. [PMID: 35753015 PMCID: PMC11072488 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04410-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Hair cells play key roles in hearing and balance, and hair cell loss would result in hearing loss or vestibular dysfunction. Cellular and molecular research in hair cell biology provides us a better understanding of hearing and deafness. Zebrafish, owing to their hair cell-enriched organs, have been widely applied in hair cell-related research worldwide. Similar to mammals, zebrafish have inner ear hair cells. In addition, they also have lateral line neuromast hair cells. These different types of hair cells vary in morphology and function. However, systematic analysis of their molecular characteristics remains lacking. In this study, we analyzed the GFP+ cells isolated from Tg(Brn3c:mGFP) larvae with GFP expression in all hair cells using single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq). Three subtypes of hair cells, namely macula hair cell (MHC), crista hair cell (CHC), and neuromast hair cell (NHC), were characterized and validated by whole-mount in situ hybridization analysis of marker genes. The hair cell scRNA-seq data revealed hair cell-specific genes, including hearing loss genes that have been identified in humans and novel genes potentially involved in hair cell formation and function. Two novel genes were discovered to specifically function in NHCs and MHCs, corresponding to their specific expression in NHCs and MHCs. This study allows us to understand the specific genes in hair cell subpopulations of zebrafish, which will shed light on the genetics of both human vestibular and cochlear hair cell function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuping Qian
- School of Life Sciences, Nantong Laboratory of Development and Diseases, Nantong University, Nantong, 226019, China
| | - Guanyun Wei
- School of Life Sciences, Nantong Laboratory of Development and Diseases, Nantong University, Nantong, 226019, China
| | - Yajing Gao
- Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, School of Life SciencesKey Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Nantong University, Nantong, 226019, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, School of Life SciencesKey Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Nantong University, Nantong, 226019, China
| | - Jie Gong
- School of Life Sciences, Nantong Laboratory of Development and Diseases, Nantong University, Nantong, 226019, China
| | - Chao Guo
- School of Life Sciences, Nantong Laboratory of Development and Diseases, Nantong University, Nantong, 226019, China
| | - Xiaoning Wang
- Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, School of Life SciencesKey Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Nantong University, Nantong, 226019, China
| | - Xu Zhang
- Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, School of Life SciencesKey Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Nantong University, Nantong, 226019, China
| | - Jinxiang Zhao
- Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, School of Life SciencesKey Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Nantong University, Nantong, 226019, China
| | - Cheng Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Nantong Laboratory of Development and Diseases, Nantong University, Nantong, 226019, China
| | - Mengting Xu
- Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, School of Life SciencesKey Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Nantong University, Nantong, 226019, China
| | - Yuebo Hu
- Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, School of Life SciencesKey Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Nantong University, Nantong, 226019, China
| | - Guoli Yin
- Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, School of Life SciencesKey Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Nantong University, Nantong, 226019, China
| | - Jiahui Kang
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Renjie Chai
- Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, School of Life SciencesKey Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Nantong University, Nantong, 226019, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Zhongda Hospital, Jiangsu Province High-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-Medical Research, School of Life Science and Technology, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, China.
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, 100864, China.
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Regeneration and Repair, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China.
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610072, China.
| | - Gangcai Xie
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.
| | - Dong Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Nantong Laboratory of Development and Diseases, Nantong University, Nantong, 226019, China.
- Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, School of Life SciencesKey Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Nantong University, Nantong, 226019, China.
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21
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Lendahl U, Muhl L, Betsholtz C. Identification, discrimination and heterogeneity of fibroblasts. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3409. [PMID: 35701396 PMCID: PMC9192344 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30633-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibroblasts, the principal cell type of connective tissue, secrete extracellular matrix components during tissue development, homeostasis, repair and disease. Despite this crucial role, the identification and distinction of fibroblasts from other cell types are challenging and laden with caveats. Rapid progress in single-cell transcriptomics now yields detailed molecular portraits of fibroblasts and other cell types in our bodies, which complement and enrich classical histological and immunological descriptions, improve cell class definitions and guide further studies on the functional heterogeneity of cell subtypes and states, origins and fates in physiological and pathological processes. In this review, we summarize and discuss recent advances in the understanding of fibroblast identification and heterogeneity and how they discriminate from other cell types. In this review, the authors look at how recent progress in single-cell transcriptomics complement and enrich the classical, largely morphological, portraits of fibroblasts. The detailed molecular information now available provides new insights into fibroblast identity, heterogeneity and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Urban Lendahl
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 77, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Neurobiology, Care sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, SE-14183, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Lars Muhl
- Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Blickagången 16, SE-141 57, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Christer Betsholtz
- Department of Medicine, Huddinge, Karolinska Institutet, Blickagången 16, SE-141 57, Huddinge, Sweden. .,Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, Dag Hammarskjölds väg 20, SE-751 85, Uppsala, Sweden.
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22
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Gong J, Wang P, Liu JC, Li J, Zeng QX, Yang C, Li Y, Yu D, Cao D, Duan YG. Integrative Analysis of Small RNA and mRNA Expression Profiles Identifies Signatures Associated With Chronic Epididymitis. Front Immunol 2022; 13:883803. [PMID: 35634321 PMCID: PMC9130659 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.883803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic epididymitis (CE) refers to a long-lasting inflammatory condition of the epididymis, which is considered the most common site of intrascrotal inflammation and an important aetiological factor of male infertility. Recent studies demonstrate that small RNAs secreted from epididymal epithelium modulate embryo development and offspring phenotypes via sperm transmission, and the resulting modifications may lead to transgenerational inheritance. However, to date, the genome-wide analysis of small RNA together with the transcriptomic expression profiles of human epididymis and CE is still lacking. In this study, we facilitated next-generation sequencing and bioinformatics to comprehensively analyze the small RNA and mRNA in an integrative way and identified signatures associated with CE. Both of the small RNA and mRNA expression data demonstrated relatively larger molecular differences among the segmental region of the epididymides, including caput, corpus, and cauda, than that of the inflammatory conditions. By comparing the inflamed caputs to the controls, a total of 1727 genes (1220 upregulated and 507 downregulated; 42 most significant genes, adjusted P <0.05) and 34 miRNAs (23 upregulated and 11 downregulated) were identified as differentially expressed. In silico functional enrichment analysis showed their roles in regulating different biological activities, including leukocyte chemotaxis, extracellular milieu reconstruction, ion channel and transporter-related processes, and nervous system development. Integrative analysis of miRNA and mRNA identified a regulatory network consisting of 22 miRNAs and 31 genes (miRNA-mRNA) which are strong candidates for CE. In addition, analysis about other species of small RNA, including (miRNA), piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA), tRNA-derived small RNA (tsRNA), Y RNA, and rsRNA identified the distinct expression pattern of tsRNA in CE. In summary, our study performed small RNA and miRNA profiling and integrative analysis in human CE. The findings will help to understand the role of miRNA-mRNA in the pathogenesis of CE and provide molecular candidates for the development of potential biomarkers for human CE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jialei Gong
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Fertility Regulation, Center of Assisted Reproduction and Embryology, The University of Hong Kong - Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China.,The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Peng Wang
- Department of Urology, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jin-Chuan Liu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Fertility Regulation, Center of Assisted Reproduction and Embryology, The University of Hong Kong - Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Jianlin Li
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Fertility Regulation, Center of Assisted Reproduction and Embryology, The University of Hong Kong - Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Qun-Xiong Zeng
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Fertility Regulation, Center of Assisted Reproduction and Embryology, The University of Hong Kong - Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Chen Yang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Fertility Regulation, Center of Assisted Reproduction and Embryology, The University of Hong Kong - Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yanfeng Li
- Department of Urology, Daping Hospital, Army Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Di Yu
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Dandan Cao
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Fertility Regulation, Center of Assisted Reproduction and Embryology, The University of Hong Kong - Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yong-Gang Duan
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Fertility Regulation, Center of Assisted Reproduction and Embryology, The University of Hong Kong - Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, China
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23
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Paranjapye A, Leir SH, Huang F, Kerschner JL, Harris A. Cell function and identity revealed by comparative scRNA-seq analysis in human nasal, bronchial and epididymis epithelia. Eur J Cell Biol 2022; 101:151231. [PMID: 35597096 PMCID: PMC9357053 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2022.151231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2021] [Revised: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
The evolutionary relationship of cells within tissues having a similar function but located in different anatomical sites is of considerable biological interest. The development of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) protocols has greatly enhanced opportunities to address this topic. Here we focus on cells in the epithelium which lines two regions of the human respiratory tract and the male genital ducts to delineate the shared, differentiated functions of the different cell populations. Transcriptomic data were used to assess the gene expression profiles of human bronchial, nasal, and epididymal epithelium (HBE, HNE, and HEE). Bulk RNA-seq showed many shared genes expressed in cells from the nasal and bronchial epithelium and highlighted their divergence from the epididymal epithelium. ScRNA-seq in HBE and HNE cells demonstrated overlapping gene expression patterns within basal and secretory cell populations. Moreover, the distribution of cell types was altered in HNE cells derived from donors with cystic fibrosis (CF) when compared to cells from healthy donors. Next, the HBE and HNE datasets were merged and confirmed intersection of cell type gene expression profiles from the two sites. However, secretory and ciliated cells were the most abundant types in the HBE samples, while more basal cells were seen in the HNE populations. We then merged single-cell data from the epididymis to determine if overlapping functions of these cells corresponded to those in the airway. Of note, only the pulmonary ionocytes/epididymis clear cells showed a strongly conserved identity, which was confirmed by imputation in bulk RNA-seq datasets from the same cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alekh Paranjapye
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, and Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Shih-Hsing Leir
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, and Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Felix Huang
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, and Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Jenny L Kerschner
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, and Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Ann Harris
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, and Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
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24
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Shi JW, Zhou YW, Chen YF, Ye M, Qiao F, Tian JW, Zhang MY, Lin HC, Xie GC, Fok KL, Jiang H, Liu Y, Chen H. Epididymis cell atlas in a patient with a sex development disorder and a novel NR5A1 gene mutation. Asian J Androl 2022; 25:103-112. [PMID: 35546286 PMCID: PMC9933965 DOI: 10.4103/aja202226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aims to characterize the cell atlas of the epididymis derived from a 46,XY disorders of sex development (DSD) patient with a novel heterozygous mutation of the nuclear receptor subfamily 5 group A member 1 (NR5A1) gene. Next-generation sequencing found a heterozygous c.124C>G mutation in NR5A1 that resulted in a p.Q42E missense mutation in the conserved DNA-binding domain of NR5A1. The patient demonstrated feminization of external genitalia and Tanner stage 1 breast development. The surgical procedure revealed a morphologically normal epididymis and vas deferens but a dysplastic testis. Microfluidic-based single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis found that the fibroblast cells were significantly increased (approximately 46.5%), whereas the number of main epididymal epithelial cells (approximately 9.2%), such as principal cells and basal cells, was dramatically decreased. Bioinformatics analysis of cell-cell communications and gene regulatory networks at the single-cell level inferred that epididymal epithelial cell loss and fibroblast occupation are associated with the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. The present study provides a cell atlas of the epididymis of a patient with 46,XY DSD and serves as an important resource for understanding the pathophysiology of DSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian-Wu Shi
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong 226000, China
| | - Yi-Wen Zhou
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, China
| | - Yu-Fei Chen
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong 226000, China
| | - Mei Ye
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong 226000, China
| | - Feng Qiao
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong 226000, China
| | - Jia-Wei Tian
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong 226000, China
| | - Meng-Ya Zhang
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong 226000, China
| | - Hao-Cheng Lin
- Department of Urology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Gang-Cai Xie
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong 226000, China
| | - Kin Lam Fok
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Hui Jiang
- Department of Urology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, China,
Correspondence: Dr. H Chen () or Dr. Y Liu ()
| | - Hao Chen
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong 226000, China,
Correspondence: Dr. H Chen () or Dr. Y Liu ()
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25
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Qian P, Kang J, Liu D, Xie G. Single Cell Transcriptome Sequencing of Zebrafish Testis Revealed Novel Spermatogenesis Marker Genes and Stronger Leydig-Germ Cell Paracrine Interactions. Front Genet 2022; 13:851719. [PMID: 35360857 PMCID: PMC8961980 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.851719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Spermatogenesis in testis is an important process for sexual reproduction, and worldwide about 10-15 percent of couples suffer from infertility. It is of importance to study spermatogenesis at single cell level in both of human and model organisms. Currently, single-cell RNA sequencing technologies (scRNA-seq) had been extensively applied to the study of cellular components and its gene regulations in the testes of different species, including human, monkey, mouse, and fly, but not in zebrafish. Zebrafish was a widely used model organism in biology and had been extensively used for the study of spermatogenesis in the previous studies. Therefore, it is also important to profile the transcriptome of zebrafish testis at single cell level. In this study, the transcriptomes of 14, 315 single cells from adult male zebrafish testes were profiled by scRNA-seq, and 10 cell populations were revealed, including Leydig cell, Sertoli cell, spermatogonia cell (SPG), spermatocyte, and spermatids. Notably, thousands of cell-type specific novel marker genes were identified, including sumo3b for SPG, krt18a.1 for Sertoli cells, larp1b and edrf1 for spermatids, which were also validated by RNA in situ hybridization experiments. Interestingly, through Ligand-Receptor (LR) analyses, zebrafish Leydig cells demonstrated stronger paracrine influence on germ cells than Sertoli cells. Overall, this study could be an important resource for the study of spermatogenesis in zebrafish and might also facilitate the study of the genes associated with human infertility through using zebrafish as a model organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peipei Qian
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Jiahui Kang
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Dong Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration of Jiangsu and Ministry of Education, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Gangcai Xie
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong, China
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26
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Huang Y, Li X, Sun X, Yao J, Gao F, Wang Z, Hu J, Wang Z, Ouyang B, Tu X, Zou X, Liu W, Lu M, Deng C, Yang Q, Xie Y. Anatomical Transcriptome Atlas of the Male Mouse Reproductive System During Aging. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 9:782824. [PMID: 35211476 PMCID: PMC8861499 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.782824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The elderly males undergo degenerative fertility and testicular endocrine function that jeopardize the reproductive health and well-being. However, the mechanisms underlying reproductive aging are unclear. Here, we tried to address this by investigating the phenotypes and transcriptomes of seven regions of the male mouse reproductive tract: the testis, efferent ductules, initial segment, caput, corpus and cauda epididymidis, and vas deferens, in adult (3 months) and aged (21 months) mice. Quantitative PCR, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescent staining, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were performed for the analysis of gene expression in mice, human tissues, and semen samples. Aged male mice showed both systematic and reproductive changes, and remarkable histological changes were detected in the testis and proximal epididymis. Transcriptomes of the male reproductive tract were mapped, and a series of region-specific genes were identified and validated in mouse and/or human tissues, including Protamine 1 (Prm2), ADAM metallopeptidase domain 28 (Adam28), Ribonuclease A family member 13 (Rnase13), WAP four-disulfide core domain 13 (Wfdc13), and Wfdc9. Meanwhile, age-related transcriptome changes of different regions of the male reproductive tract were characterized. Notably, increased immune response was functionally related to the male reproductive aging, especially the T cell activation. An immune response-associated factor, phospholipase A2 group IID (Pla2g2d), was identified as a potential biomarker for reproductive aging in mice. And the PLA2G2D level in human seminal plasma surged at approximately 35 years of age. Furthermore, we highlighted Protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type C (Ptprc), Lymphocyte protein tyrosine kinase (Lck), Microtubule associated protein tau (Mapt), and Interferon induced protein with tetratricopeptide repeats 3 (Ifit3) as critical molecules in the aging of initial segment, caput, caput, and cauda epididymidis, respectively. This study provides an RNA-seq resource for the male reproductive system during aging in mice, and is expected to improve our understanding of male reproductive aging and infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanping Huang
- Department of Urology and Andrology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Andrology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiangping Li
- Department of Urology and Andrology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiangzhou Sun
- Department of Urology and Andrology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiahui Yao
- Department of Urology and Andrology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fengxin Gao
- Guangzhou Epibiotek Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhenqing Wang
- Department of Urology and Andrology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiaying Hu
- Department of Ultrasonics, Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhu Wang
- Department of Ultrasonics, Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bin Ouyang
- Department of Andrology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiangan Tu
- Department of Urology and Andrology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xuenong Zou
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Department of Spinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Department of Urology and Andrology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Andrology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Mujun Lu
- Department of Urology and Andrology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Andrology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chunhua Deng
- Department of Urology and Andrology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiyun Yang
- Department of Urology and Andrology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yun Xie
- Department of Urology and Andrology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Department of Spinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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27
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Shum W, Zhang BL, Cao AS, Zhou X, Shi SM, Zhang ZY, Gu LY, Shi S. Calcium Homeostasis in the Epididymal Microenvironment: Is Extracellular Calcium a Cofactor for Matrix Gla Protein-Dependent Scavenging Regulated by Vitamins. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:827940. [PMID: 35252193 PMCID: PMC8893953 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.827940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In the male reproductive tract, the epididymis is an essential organ for sperm maturation, in which sperm cells acquire mobility and the ability to fertilize oocytes while being stored in a protective microenvironment. Epididymal function involves a specialized luminal microenvironment established by the epithelial cells of epididymal mucosa. Low-calcium concentration is a unique feature of this epididymal luminal microenvironment, its relevance and regulation are, however, incompletely understood. In the rat epididymis, the vitamin D-related calcium-dependent TRPV6-TMEM16A channel-coupler has been shown to be involved in fluid transport, and, in a spatially complementary manner, vitamin K2-related γ-glutamyl carboxylase (GGCX)-dependent carboxylation of matrix Gla protein (MGP) plays an essential role in promoting calcium-dependent protein aggregation. An SNP in the human GGCX gene has been associated with asthenozoospermia. In addition, bioinformatic analysis also suggests the involvement of a vitamin B6-axis in calcium-dependent MGP-mediated protein aggregation. These findings suggest that vitamins interact with calcium homeostasis in the epididymis to ensure proper sperm maturation and male fertility. This review article discusses the regulation mechanisms of calcium homeostasis in the epididymis, and the potential role of vitamin interactions on epididymal calcium homeostasis, especially the role of matrix calcium in the epididymal lumen as a cofactor for the carboxylated MGP-mediated scavenging function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Winnie Shum
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
- Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Winnie Shum,
| | - Bao Li Zhang
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
- Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- NHC Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation, Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Reproduction and Development Institution, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Albert Shang Cao
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xin Zhou
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Su Meng Shi
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ze Yang Zhang
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lou Yi Gu
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuo Shi
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
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28
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Heinen T, Xie C, Keshavarz M, Stappert D, Künzel S, Tautz D. Evolution of a New Testis-Specific Functional Promoter Within the Highly Conserved Map2k7 Gene of the Mouse. Front Genet 2022; 12:812139. [PMID: 35069705 PMCID: PMC8766832 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.812139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Map2k7 (synonym Mkk7) is a conserved regulatory kinase gene and a central component of the JNK signaling cascade with key functions during cellular differentiation. It shows complex transcription patterns, and different transcript isoforms are known in the mouse (Mus musculus). We have previously identified a newly evolved testis-specific transcript for the Map2k7 gene in the subspecies M. m. domesticus. Here, we identify the new promoter that drives this transcript and find that it codes for an open reading frame (ORF) of 50 amino acids. The new promoter was gained in the stem lineage of closely related mouse species but was secondarily lost in the subspecies M. m. musculus and M. m. castaneus. A single mutation can be correlated with its transcriptional activity in M. m. domesticus, and cell culture assays demonstrate the capability of this mutation to drive expression. A mouse knockout line in which the promoter region of the new transcript is deleted reveals a functional contribution of the newly evolved promoter to sperm motility and the spermatid transcriptome. Our data show that a new functional transcript (and possibly protein) can evolve within an otherwise highly conserved gene, supporting the notion of regulatory changes contributing to the emergence of evolutionary novelties.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chen Xie
- Max-Plank Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Plön, Germany
| | - Maryam Keshavarz
- Max-Plank Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Plön, Germany.,Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen e. V. (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Dominik Stappert
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen e. V. (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Sven Künzel
- Max-Plank Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Plön, Germany
| | - Diethard Tautz
- Max-Plank Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Plön, Germany
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29
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Chen H, Shi X, Li X, Diao R, Ma Q, Jin J, Qiu Z, Li C, Yu MK, Wang C, Li X, Li F, Chan DYL, Zhao AZ, Cai Z, Sun F, Fok KL. CD147 deficiency is associated with impairedsperm motility/acrosome reaction and offersa therapeutic target for asthenozoospermia. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2021; 26:1374-1386. [PMID: 34900396 PMCID: PMC8626663 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2021.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Patients with asthenozoospermia often present multiple defects in sperm functions apart from a decrease in sperm motility. However, the etiological factors underlying these multifaceted defects remain mostly unexplored, which may lead to unnecessary treatment and unsatisfactory assisted reproductive technologies (ART) outcome. Here, we show that the protein levels of CD147 were lowered in sperm obtained from asthenozoospermic infertile patients exhibiting defects in both sperm motility and the acrosome reaction. Whereas CD147 maintained sperm motility before capacitation, female tract-derived soluble CD147 interacted with sperm-bound CD147 to induce an acrosome reaction in capacitated sperm. Soluble CD147 treatment restored the acrosome reaction and improved the fertility of sperm from patients with asthenozoospermia. Mechanistically, CD147 promotes sperm motility and acrosome reaction (AR) by eliciting Ca2+ influx through soluble CD147 binding to sperm-bound CD147. Notably, the level of soluble CD147 in seminal plasma was positively correlated with the fertilization rate and pregnancy outcome in infertile couples undergoing in vitro fertilization. Our study has identified a marker for the diagnosis and a therapeutic target for the defective AR capability in asthenozoospermia and a candidate for the prediction of in vitro fertilization outcomes for male infertile patients that facilitates the development of precision medicine in ART.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Chen
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
- Epithelial Cell Biology Research Center, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Corresponding author: Hao Chen, Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China.
| | - Xiao Shi
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Xiaofeng Li
- Department of Clinical Medical Laboratory, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Male Reproductive Medicine and Genetics, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Ruiying Diao
- Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518035, China
| | - Qian Ma
- Department of Clinical Medical Laboratory, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Male Reproductive Medicine and Genetics, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Jing Jin
- Epithelial Cell Biology Research Center, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zhuolin Qiu
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Cailing Li
- Department of Clinical Medical Laboratory, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Male Reproductive Medicine and Genetics, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Mei Kuen Yu
- Epithelial Cell Biology Research Center, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chaoqun Wang
- Epithelial Cell Biology Research Center, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xianxin Li
- Department of Clinical Medical Laboratory, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Male Reproductive Medicine and Genetics, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen 518000, China
- Shenzhen Qianhai Taikang International Hospital, Shenzhen 518054, China
| | - Fanghong Li
- School of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - David Yiu Leung Chan
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Allan Zijian Zhao
- School of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zhiming Cai
- Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518035, China
- International Cancer Center, Shenzhen University General Hospital, Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Fei Sun
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
| | - Kin Lam Fok
- Epithelial Cell Biology Research Center, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Sichuan University—The Chinese University of Hong Kong Joint Laboratory for Reproductive Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- Corresponding author: Kin Lam Fok, Epithelial Cell Biology Research Center, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
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30
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Rowlison T, Comizzoli P. The Knowns and Unknowns about Epididymal Extracellular Vesicles in Different Animal Species. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2021; 6:e2101066. [PMID: 34816626 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202101066] [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: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Sperm maturation during epididymal transit is a long and complex process. Although the roles of epididymal extracellular vesicles (EVs) on sperm quality have been extensively studied in recent years, there are still a lot of unexplored areas and too few species that are studied. The objective of this review is to focus on the contribution of epididymal EVs through the apocrine secretion of key factors, including proteins and small RNAs. Furthermore, the authors explore the alterations in the content of these vesicles related to male fertility and the effects of environmental stressors, and how these factors vary across taxa. Last, potential applications are covered, and the next steps in that field of research are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tricia Rowlison
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, 3001 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20008, USA
| | - Pierre Comizzoli
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, 3001 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20008, USA
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