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Wang J, Wang Z, Tang Y, Zhao Y, Fang H, Zhang Y, Hou X, Tan H, Yu S, Zhang H, Fan H, Yang T, Zhang S. PFOS Exposure Promotes Hepatotoxicity in Quails by Exacerbating Oxidative Stress and Inflammation-Induced Apoptosis through Activating TLR4/MyD88/NF-κb Signaling. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:25370-25380. [PMID: 38882150 PMCID: PMC11170738 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c03767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
PFOS is a ubiquitous pollutant garnering considerable attention due to its deleterious effects on both human and animal health. Given the poultry industry's intimate link with human health, investigating PFOS's impact on quails is crucial. PFOS readily accumulates in the liver, causing hepatotoxicity, yet its molecular mechanisms remain elusive. In our study, we fed quail diets contaminated with varying PFOS concentrations (12.5, 25, and 50 mg/kg) and observed dose-dependent liver damage in quails. The results show that PFOS damages mitochondrial structure, increases ROS levels, and downregulates antioxidants to promote oxidative stress damage in hepatocytes. PFOS also upregulated pro-inflammatory molecules (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) while downregulating the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10, activating the TLR4//MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway, thereby potentiating liver inflammation. Then, oxidative stress and inflammation by PFOS induce apoptosis in quail hepatocytes through the mitochondrial pathway, with severity closely related to hepatotoxicity. In conclusion, PFOS induces mitochondrial apoptosis by exacerbating oxidative stress and inflammation by activating the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway, ultimately leading to hepatotoxicity in quails.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiucheng Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China
| | - Zanyu Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China
- Heilongjiang Provincial Agricultural Products and Veterinary Medicine Feed Technology Appraisal Station, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150008, China
| | - Yulin Tang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China
| | - Yuan Zhao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China
| | - Hao Fang
- College of Optoelectronic Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, Sichuan 400044, China
| | - Yuntong Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China
| | - Xiaoyu Hou
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China
| | - Haoyang Tan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China
| | - Shiming Yu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China
| | - Haiyang Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510642, China
| | - Honggang Fan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China
| | - Tianyuan Yang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China
| | - Shuai Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, China
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Hau RK, Wright SH, Cherrington NJ. In Vitro and In Vivo Models for Drug Transport Across the Blood-Testis Barrier. Drug Metab Dispos 2023; 51:1157-1168. [PMID: 37258305 PMCID: PMC10449102 DOI: 10.1124/dmd.123.001288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The blood-testis barrier (BTB) is a selectively permeable membrane barrier formed by adjacent Sertoli cells (SCs) in the seminiferous tubules of the testes that develops intercellular junctional complexes to protect developing germ cells from external pressures. However, due to this inherent defense mechanism, the seminiferous tubule lumen can act as a pharmacological sanctuary site for latent viruses (e.g., Ebola, Zika) and cancers (e.g., leukemia). Therefore, it is critical to identify and evaluate BTB carrier-mediated drug delivery pathways to successfully treat these viruses and cancers. Many drugs are unable to effectively cross cell membranes without assistance from carrier proteins like transporters because they are large, polar, and often carry a charge at physiologic pH. SCs express transporters that selectively permit endogenous compounds, such as carnitine or nucleosides, across the BTB to support normal physiologic activity, although reproductive toxicants can also use these pathways, thereby circumventing the BTB. Certain xenobiotics, including select cancer therapeutics, antivirals, contraceptives, and environmental toxicants, are known to accumulate within the male genital tract and cause testicular toxicity; however, the transport pathways by which these compounds circumvent the BTB are largely unknown. Consequently, there is a need to identify the clinically relevant BTB transport pathways in in vitro and in vivo BTB models that recapitulate human pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics for these xenobiotics. This review summarizes the various in vitro and in vivo models of the BTB reported in the literature and highlights the strengths and weaknesses of certain models for drug disposition studies. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Drug disposition to the testes is influenced by the physical, physiological, and immunological components of the blood-testis barrier (BTB). But many compounds are known to cross the BTB by transporters, resulting in pharmacological and/or toxicological effects in the testes. Therefore, models that assess drug transport across the human BTB must adequately account for these confounding factors. This review identifies and discusses the benefits and limitations of various in vitro and in vivo BTB models for preclinical drug disposition studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raymond K Hau
- College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, (R.K.H., N.J.C.) and College of Medicine, Department of Physiology, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (S.H.W.)
| | - Stephen H Wright
- College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, (R.K.H., N.J.C.) and College of Medicine, Department of Physiology, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (S.H.W.)
| | - Nathan J Cherrington
- College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, (R.K.H., N.J.C.) and College of Medicine, Department of Physiology, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona (S.H.W.)
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Shan L, Chai Y, Gao T, Li K, Yu J, Liang F, Ni Y, Sun P. Perfluorooctane sulfonate and perfluorooctanoic acid inhibit progesterone-responsive capacitation through cAMP/PKA signaling pathway and induce DNA damage in human sperm. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2023:104165. [PMID: 37245612 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2023.104165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) are two persistent organic pollutants harmful to human health. They induce negative effects on male reproduction by influencing male hormones, spermatogenesis, and sperm quality. However, their effects and mechanisms on human sperm capacitation and fertilization remain unclear. Here, human sperm were incubated with different concentrations of PFOS or PFOA with progesterone during capacitation. Both PFOS and PFOA inhibited human sperm hyperactivation, sperm acrosome reaction, and protein tyrosine phosphorylation levels. PFOS and PFOA decreased intracellular Ca2+ concentration in the presence of progestrone, and subsequently decreased cAMP level, and PKA activity. PFOS and PFOA increased reactive oxygen species production and sperm DNA fragmentation duing the only 3h capacitation incubation. Conclusively, PFOA and PFOS may inhibit human sperm capacitation via the Ca2+-mediated cAMP/PKA signaling pathway in the presence of progesterone, and induce sperm DNA damage through increased oxidative stress, which is not conducive to fertilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijun Shan
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yuhao Chai
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Tian Gao
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Kun Li
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Zhejiang Provincial Laboratory of Experimental Animal's & Nonclinical Laboratory Studies, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jianmin Yu
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Zhejiang Provincial Laboratory of Experimental Animal's & Nonclinical Laboratory Studies, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Fei Liang
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Zhejiang Provincial Laboratory of Experimental Animal's & Nonclinical Laboratory Studies, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ya Ni
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Zhejiang Provincial Laboratory of Experimental Animal's & Nonclinical Laboratory Studies, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Peibei Sun
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; Zhejiang Provincial Laboratory of Experimental Animal's & Nonclinical Laboratory Studies, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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Lu T, Mortimer M, Li F, Li Z, Chen L, Li M, Guo LH. Putative adverse outcome pathways of the male reproductive toxicity derived from toxicological studies of perfluoroalkyl acids. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 873:162439. [PMID: 36848992 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Adverse outcome pathway (AOP) as a conceptual framework is a powerful tool in the field of toxicology to connect seemingly discrete events at different levels of biological organizations into an organized pathway from molecular interactions to whole organism toxicity. Based on numerous toxicological studies, eight AOPs for reproductive toxicity have been endorsed by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Task Force on Hazard Assessment. We have conducted a literature survey on the mechanistic studies on male reproductive toxicity of perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), a class of global environmental contaminants with high persistence, bioaccumulation and toxicity. Using the AOP development strategy, five new AOPs for male reproductive toxicity were proposed here, namely (1) changes in membrane permeability leading to reduced sperm motility, (2) disruption of mitochondrial function leading to sperm apoptosis, (3) decreased gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) expression in hypothalamus leading to reduced testosterone production in male rats, (4) activation of the p38 signaling pathway leading to disruption of BTB in mice, (5) inhibition of p-FAK-Tyr407 activity leading to the destruction of BTB. The molecular initiating events in the proposed AOPs are different from those in the endorsed AOPs, which are either receptor activation or enzyme inhibition. Although some of the AOPs are still incomplete, they can serve as a building block upon which full AOPs can be developed and applied to not only PFAAs but also other chemical toxicants with male reproductive toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingyu Lu
- College of Life Science, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China; Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China.
| | - Monika Mortimer
- Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China; College of Quality and Safety Engineering, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China.
| | - Fangfang Li
- Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China; College of Quality and Safety Engineering, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China.
| | - Zhi Li
- College of Life Science, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China; Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China.
| | - Lu Chen
- College of Life Science, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China; Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China.
| | - Minjie Li
- College of Quality and Safety Engineering, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China.
| | - Liang-Hong Guo
- Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China; College of Quality and Safety Engineering, China Jiliang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310018, China.
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5
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Lucas JH, Wang Q, Rahman I. Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid Disrupts Protective Tight Junction Proteins via Protein Kinase D in Airway Epithelial Cells. Toxicol Sci 2022; 190:215-226. [PMID: 36106993 PMCID: PMC9960012 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfac096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) is a long chain per- and polyfluoroalklyl substance (PFAS) that has been used in aqueous film-forming foams. Emerging epidemiological evidence indicates that PFOS may be associated with chronic lung diseases such as asthma and analysis of human tissues demonstrates that the lungs carry a significant body burden of PFOS. Deficits in barrier function are a major risk factor for asthma. Thus, we hypothesized that PFOS exposure will lead to impaired epithelial barrier function through dysregulated tight junctions. Hence, we assessed the impact of PFOS on epithelial barrier integrity. Bronchial epithelial cells (16HBE) were grown on collagen-coated transwells and treated to 5-25 μM PFOS, and assessed for changes in barrier function and tight junction proteins. Rescue experiments were performed using the protein kinase D (PKD) inhibitor, CID755673. PFOS treatment reduced transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and increased 4 kDa FITC-dextran flux. Additionally, PFOS significantly decreased protein levels and the tight junction organization rate of occludin and zonula occludens 1. Increased phosphorylation (Ser744/Ser748) of PKD was observed 3 h following PFOS treatment. Pretreatment with the PKD inhibitor attenuated PFOS-mediated changes in TEER and FITC-dextran flux and restored occludin protein levels. In conclusion, PFOS causes loss of airway barrier integrity and the disruption of tight junctions in bronchial epithelial cells, which was partly attenuated through the inhibition of PKD. These findings demonstrate that PFOS is capable of disrupting airway barrier function, a potentially driving factor underlying associations between PFOS and respiratory diseases such as asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph H Lucas
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York 14642, USA
| | - Qixin Wang
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York 14642, USA
| | - Irfan Rahman
- Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York 14642, USA
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Yao M, Qu H, Han Y, Cheng CY, Xiao X. Kinesins in Mammalian Spermatogenesis and Germ Cell Transport. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:837542. [PMID: 35547823 PMCID: PMC9083010 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.837542] [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: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In mammalian testes, the apical cytoplasm of each Sertoli cell holds up to several dozens of germ cells, especially spermatids that are transported up and down the seminiferous epithelium. The blood-testis barrier (BTB) established by neighboring Sertoli cells in the basal compartment restructures on a regular basis to allow preleptotene/leptotene spermatocytes to pass through. The timely transfer of germ cells and other cellular organelles such as residual bodies, phagosomes, and lysosomes across the epithelium to facilitate spermatogenesis is important and requires the microtubule-based cytoskeleton in Sertoli cells. Kinesins, a superfamily of the microtubule-dependent motor proteins, are abundantly and preferentially expressed in the testis, but their functions are poorly understood. This review summarizes recent findings on kinesins in mammalian spermatogenesis, highlighting their potential role in germ cell traversing through the BTB and the remodeling of Sertoli cell-spermatid junctions to advance spermatid transport. The possibility of kinesins acting as a mediator and/or synchronizer for cell cycle progression, germ cell transit, and junctional rearrangement and turnover is also discussed. We mostly cover findings in rodents, but we also make special remarks regarding humans. We anticipate that this information will provide a framework for future research in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingxia Yao
- Center for Reproductive Health, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hangzhou Medical College (Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences), Hangzhou, China
| | - Haoyang Qu
- Center for Reproductive Health, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hangzhou Medical College (Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences), Hangzhou, China
| | - Yating Han
- Center for Reproductive Health, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hangzhou Medical College (Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences), Hangzhou, China
| | - C Yan Cheng
- Department of Urology and Andrology, Sir Run-Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiang Xiao
- Center for Reproductive Health, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hangzhou Medical College (Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences), Hangzhou, China.,Zhejiang Provincial Laboratory of Experimental Animal's & Nonclinical Laboratory Studies, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, China
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7
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Zhang Y, Wu X, Zhu K, Liu S, Yang Y, Yuan D, Wang T, He Y, Dun Y, Wu J, Zhang C, Zhao H. Icariin attenuates perfluorooctane sulfonate-induced testicular toxicity by alleviating Sertoli cell injury and downregulating the p38MAPK/MMP9 pathway. Food Funct 2022; 13:3674-3689. [PMID: 35262540 DOI: 10.1039/d1fo04135e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is widely recognized as causing Sertoli cell injury and testicular toxicity in males. Icariin is a flavonoid from Epimedium, which effectively improves spermatogenesis disturbance induced by several factors in clinic. However, it is unclear whether icariin improves PFOS-induced testicular toxicity. In vivo, fifty-two male mice were randomly separated into four groups: normal control group, model group, and low and high doses of icariin-treated groups, with 13 mice in each group. Except for the normal control group, the mice in the model group and icariin-treated groups were administered PFOS (10 mg kg-1) by gavage daily for 28 consecutive days, and concurrently treated with a diet containing different doses of icariin (0, 5 or 20 mg kg-1). In vitro, TM4 cells were treated with 150 μM PFOS to induce Sertoli cell injury, and were then utilized for icariin treatment. Our results demonstrated that icariin attenuated PFOS-induced testicular toxicity by increasing the testicular, epididymal and seminal vesicle weights, epididymal and seminal vesicle indices, sperm parameters, and seminiferous epithelium height. In addition, icariin improved the PFOS-induced blood-testis barrier (BTB) disruption by alleviating the Sertoli cell junctional injury, but without affecting Sertoli cell numbers in the testis of mice. Moreover, icariin increased the expression levels of tight junction proteins (ZO-1, Occludin and Claudin-11) and gap junction proteins (CX43 and p-CX43), and decreased the expression levels of p-p38MAPK and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) both in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, alleviation of the Sertoli cell injury by icariin exerted similar effects as SB203580 (an inhibitor of p38MAPK) in TM4 cells. This study revealed that icariin effectively reduces PFOS-induced testicular toxicity by alleviating the Sertoli cell injury and downregulating the p38MAPK/MMP9 pathway, indicating that icariin may be an attractive dietary supplement for the intervention of PFOS-induced testicular dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zhang
- Third-grade Pharmacological Laboratory on Traditional Chinese Medicine, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, 443002, China.
- Medical College, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, 443002, China
| | - Xiaoping Wu
- Third-grade Pharmacological Laboratory on Traditional Chinese Medicine, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, 443002, China.
- Medical College, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, 443002, China
| | - Kaili Zhu
- Third-grade Pharmacological Laboratory on Traditional Chinese Medicine, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, 443002, China.
| | - Shangyu Liu
- Third-grade Pharmacological Laboratory on Traditional Chinese Medicine, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, 443002, China.
| | - Yuan Yang
- Third-grade Pharmacological Laboratory on Traditional Chinese Medicine, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, 443002, China.
| | - Ding Yuan
- Third-grade Pharmacological Laboratory on Traditional Chinese Medicine, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, 443002, China.
| | - Ting Wang
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, Department of Pharmacy, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430081, China
| | - Yumin He
- Third-grade Pharmacological Laboratory on Traditional Chinese Medicine, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, 443002, China.
| | - Yaoyan Dun
- Third-grade Pharmacological Laboratory on Traditional Chinese Medicine, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, 443002, China.
| | - Jie Wu
- Material Analysis and Testing Center, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, 443002, China
| | - Changcheng Zhang
- Third-grade Pharmacological Laboratory on Traditional Chinese Medicine, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, 443002, China.
- Medical College, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, 443002, China
| | - Haixia Zhao
- Third-grade Pharmacological Laboratory on Traditional Chinese Medicine, State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, 443002, China.
- Medical College, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, 443002, China
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8
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Wang L, Bu T, Wu X, Gao S, Li X, De Jesus AB, Wong CKC, Chen H, Chung NPY, Sun F, Cheng CY. Cell-Cell Interaction-Mediated Signaling in the Testis Induces Reproductive Dysfunction—Lesson from the Toxicant/Pharmaceutical Models. Cells 2022; 11:cells11040591. [PMID: 35203242 PMCID: PMC8869896 DOI: 10.3390/cells11040591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Emerging evidence has shown that cell-cell interactions between testicular cells, in particular at the Sertoli cell-cell and Sertoli-germ cell interface, are crucial to support spermatogenesis. The unique ultrastructures that support cell-cell interactions in the testis are the basal ES (ectoplasmic specialization) and the apical ES. The basal ES is found between adjacent Sertoli cells near the basement membrane that also constitute the blood-testis barrier (BTB). The apical ES is restrictively expressed at the Sertoli-spermatid contact site in the apical (adluminal) compartment of the seminiferous epithelium. These ultrastructures are present in both rodent and human testes, but the majority of studies found in the literature were done in rodent testes. As such, our discussion herein, unless otherwise specified, is focused on studies in testes of adult rats. Studies have shown that the testicular cell-cell interactions crucial to support spermatogenesis are mediated through distinctive signaling proteins and pathways, most notably involving FAK, Akt1/2 and Cdc42 GTPase. Thus, manipulation of some of these signaling proteins, such as FAK, through the use of phosphomimetic mutants for overexpression in Sertoli cell epithelium in vitro or in the testis in vivo, making FAK either constitutively active or inactive, we can modify the outcome of spermatogenesis. For instance, using the toxicant-induced Sertoli cell or testis injury in rats as study models, we can either block or rescue toxicant-induced infertility through overexpression of p-FAK-Y397 or p-FAK-Y407 (and their mutants), including the use of specific activator(s) of the involved signaling proteins against pAkt1/2. These findings thus illustrate that a potential therapeutic approach can be developed to manage toxicant-induced male reproductive dysfunction. In this review, we critically evaluate these recent findings, highlighting the direction for future investigations by bringing the laboratory-based research through a translation path to clinical investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingling Wang
- Department of Urology and Andrology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310016, China; (L.W.); (T.B.); (X.W.); (S.G.)
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong 226001, China; (X.L.); (H.C.)
| | - Tiao Bu
- Department of Urology and Andrology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310016, China; (L.W.); (T.B.); (X.W.); (S.G.)
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong 226001, China; (X.L.); (H.C.)
| | - Xiaolong Wu
- Department of Urology and Andrology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310016, China; (L.W.); (T.B.); (X.W.); (S.G.)
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong 226001, China; (X.L.); (H.C.)
| | - Sheng Gao
- Department of Urology and Andrology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310016, China; (L.W.); (T.B.); (X.W.); (S.G.)
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong 226001, China; (X.L.); (H.C.)
| | - Xinyao Li
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong 226001, China; (X.L.); (H.C.)
| | | | - Chris K. C. Wong
- Department of Biology, Croucher Institute for Environmental Sciences, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China;
| | - Hao Chen
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong 226001, China; (X.L.); (H.C.)
| | - Nancy P. Y. Chung
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA;
| | - Fei Sun
- Department of Urology and Andrology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310016, China; (L.W.); (T.B.); (X.W.); (S.G.)
- Correspondence: (F.S.); (C.Y.C.)
| | - C. Yan Cheng
- Department of Urology and Andrology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310016, China; (L.W.); (T.B.); (X.W.); (S.G.)
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong 226001, China; (X.L.); (H.C.)
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Correspondence: (F.S.); (C.Y.C.)
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9
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Chen L, Qiao L, Guo Y, Huang Y, Luo W, Feng Y. Localization and regulatory function of Yin Yang 1 (YY1) in chicken testis. Mol Genet Genomics 2021; 297:113-123. [PMID: 34854981 DOI: 10.1007/s00438-021-01840-8] [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: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
In mammals, Yin Yang 1 (YY1), a pervasively expressed transcription factor related to many biological processes as an activator or inhibitor of the transcription of various genes, plays a critical role in the development of male gonads and spermatogenesis. Although the role of YY1 on the development of male gonads and spermatogenesis in mammals has been reported, its function on chicken testis are yet to be clarified. In this study, we used immunofluorescence analysis to investigate the location of YY1 in chicken testis. In embryo testis, YY1 was detected in spermatogonia and Sertoli cells, while in adult testis, YY1 was shown to be expressed in spermatogenic cells and Sertoli cells, but not in spermatozoa. Furthermore, we investigated the regulatory functions of YY1 in chicken testicular Sertoli cells by combining overexpression with RNA-sequencing. Overexpression of YY1 in Sertoli cells revealed a total of 2955 differentially expressed genes involved in various biological processes, such as male gonad development and seminiferous tubule development. Overexpression of YY1 also caused significant differences in the expression of the androgen receptor gene and the inhibin βA gene, two major genes involved in the regulation of spermatogonia in Sertoli cells. These observations indicate that YY1 may regulate the development and function of the gonads by affecting the secretion of cytokines and hormones in Sertoli cells to mediate the production and differentiation of spermatogonia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ligen Chen
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology and College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Lingyun Qiao
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology and College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Guo
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology and College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying Huang
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology and College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Luo
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology and College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanping Feng
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology and College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China.
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10
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Wu X, Gao S, Wang L, Bu T, Wu S, Zhou L, Shi J, Wu D, Sun F, Cheng CY. Role of laminin and collagen chains in human spermatogenesis - Insights from studies in rodents and scRNA-Seq transcriptome profiling. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2021; 121:125-132. [PMID: 34325997 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2021.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Studies have demonstrated that biologically active fragments are generated from the basement membrane and the Sertoli cell-spermatid adhesion site known as apical ectoplasmic specialization (apical ES, a testis-specific actin-based anchoring junction) in the rat testis. These bioactive fragments or peptides are produced locally across the seminiferous epithelium through proteolytic cleavage of constituent proteins at the basement membrane and the apical ES. Studies have shown that they are being used to modulate and coordinate cellular functions across the seminiferous epithelium during different stages of the epithelial cycle of spermatogenesis. In this review, we briefly summarize recent findings based on studies using rat testes as a study model regarding the role of these bioactive peptides that serve as a local regulatory network to support spermatogenesis. We also used scRNA-Seq transcriptome datasets in the public domain for OA (obstructive azoospermia) and NAO (non-obstructive azoospermia) human testes versus testes from normal men for analysis in this review. It was shown that there are differential expression of different collagen chains and laminin chains in these testes, suggesting the possibility of a similar local regulatory network in the human testis to support spermatogenesis, and the possible disruption of such network in men is associated with OA and/or NOA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolong Wu
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China; The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, 1230 York Ave, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Sheng Gao
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China
| | - Lingling Wang
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China; The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, 1230 York Ave, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Tiao Bu
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China
| | - Siwen Wu
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, 1230 York Ave, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Liwei Zhou
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China
| | - Jie Shi
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China
| | - Di Wu
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China
| | - Fei Sun
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China.
| | - C Yan Cheng
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, 1230 York Ave, New York, NY 10065, USA.
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11
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Li H, Liu S, Wu S, Li L, Ge R, Cheng CY. Bioactive fragments of laminin and collagen chains: lesson from the testis. Reproduction 2021; 159:R111-R123. [PMID: 31581125 DOI: 10.1530/rep-19-0288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Accepted: 10/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies have shown that the testis is producing several biologically active peptides, namely the F5- and the NC1-peptides from laminin-γ3 and collagen α3 (IV) chain, respectively, that promotes blood-testis barrier (BTB) remodeling and also elongated spermatid release at spermiation. Also the LG3/4/5 peptide from laminin-α2 chain promotes BTB integrity which is likely being used for the assembly of a 'new' BTB behind preleptotene spermatocytes under transport at the immunological barrier. These findings thus provide a new opportunity for investigators to better understand the biology of spermatogenesis. Herein, we briefly summarize the recent findings and provide a critical update. We also present a hypothetical model which could serve as the framework for studies in the years to come.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huitao Li
- The Second Affiliated Hospital & Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.,The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York, USA
| | - Shiwen Liu
- The Second Affiliated Hospital & Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.,The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York, USA
| | - Siwen Wu
- The Second Affiliated Hospital & Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.,The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York, USA
| | - Linxi Li
- The Second Affiliated Hospital & Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.,The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York, USA
| | - Renshan Ge
- The Second Affiliated Hospital & Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - C Yan Cheng
- The Second Affiliated Hospital & Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.,The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York, USA
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12
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Wang L, Yan M, Li H, Wu S, Ge R, Wong CKC, Silvestrini B, Sun F, Cheng CY. The Non-hormonal Male Contraceptive Adjudin Exerts its Effects via MAPs and Signaling Proteins mTORC1/rpS6 and FAK-Y407. Endocrinology 2021; 162:5936120. [PMID: 33094326 PMCID: PMC8244566 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqaa196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Adjudin, 1-(2,4-dichlorobenzyl)-1H-indazole-3-carbohydrazide (formerly called AF-2364), is a nonhormonal male contraceptive, since it effectively induces reversible male infertility without perturbing the serum concentrations of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), testosterone, and inhibin B based on studies in rats and rabbits. Adjudin was shown to exert its effects preferentially by perturbing the testis-specific actin-rich adherens junction (AJ) at the Sertoli-spermatid interface known as apical ectoplasmic specialization (apical ES), thereby effectively inducing spermatid exfoliation. Adjudin did not perturb germ cell development nor germ cell function. Also, it had no effects on Sertoli cell-cell AJ called basal ectoplasmic specialization (basal ES), which, together with tight junction constitute the blood-testis barrier (BTB), unless an acute dose of adjudin was used. Adjudin also did not perturb the population of spermatogonial stem cells nor Sertoli cells in the testis. However, the downstream signaling protein(s) utilized by adjudin to induce transient male infertility remains unexplored. Herein, using adult rats treated with adjudin and monitored changes in the phenotypes across the seminiferous epithelium between 6 and 96 h in parallel with the steady-state protein levels of an array of signaling and cytoskeletal regulatory proteins, recently shown to be involved in apical ES, basal ES and BTB function. It was shown that adjudin exerts its contraceptive effects through changes in microtubule associated proteins (MAPs) and signaling proteins mTORC1/rpS6 and p-FAK-Y407. These findings are important to not only study adjudin-mediated male infertility but also the biology of spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingling Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York
| | - Ming Yan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Huitao Li
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Siwen Wu
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Renshan Ge
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chris K C Wong
- Department of Biology, Croucher Institute for Environmental Sciences, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | | | - Fei Sun
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - C Yan Cheng
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
- Correspondence: C. Yan Cheng, PhD, Senior Scientist, The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, 1230 York Ave, New York, New York 10065. E-mail:
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13
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Testis Toxicants: Lesson from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1288:307-319. [PMID: 34453743 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-77779-1_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The testis is one of the organs in the mammalian body that is sensitive to toxicants. Accumulating evidence has shown that human exposure to toxic ingredients in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), such as triptolide, gossypol, cannabidol, piperine, α-solanine, matrine, aristolochic acid, and emodin, lead to testis injury and reproductive dysfunction. The most obvious phenotype is reduced sperm counts due to defects in spermatogenesis. Studies have also shown that Sertoli cells in the seminiferous tubule, the functional unit of the testis that supports spermatogenesis, are the cell type that is most sensitive to the disruptive effects of toxicants. Since Sertoli cells are the "mother cells" that nurture germ cell development, Sertoli cell injury thus leads to failure in germ cell development in the seminiferous epithelium. Mounting evidence has shown that the Sertoli cell cytoskeletons, mitochondria function, Leydig cells steroidogenesis pathways and sperm ion channels are some of the prime targets of toxicants from TCM. We carefully evaluate recent findings in this area of research herein, and to provide a summary of these findings, including some insightful information regarding the underlying molecular basis of toxicant-induced testis injury that impede spermatogenesis.
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14
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Gao S, Wu X, Wang L, Bu T, Perrotta A, Guaglianone G, Silvestrini B, Sun F, Cheng CY. Signaling Proteins That Regulate Spermatogenesis Are the Emerging Target of Toxicant-Induced Male Reproductive Dysfunction. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:800327. [PMID: 35002976 PMCID: PMC8739942 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.800327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
There is emerging evidence that environmental toxicants, in particular endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) such as cadmium and perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), induce Sertoli cell and testis injury, thereby perturbing spermatogenesis in humans, rodents and also widelife. Recent studies have shown that cadmium (e.g., cadmium chloride, CdCl2) and PFOS exert their disruptive effects through putative signaling proteins and signaling cascade similar to other pharmaceuticals, such as the non-hormonal male contraceptive drug adjudin. More important, these signaling proteins were also shown to be involved in modulating testis function based on studies in rodents. Collectively, these findings suggest that toxicants are using similar mechanisms that used to support spermatogenesis under physiological conditions to perturb Sertoli and testis function. These observations are physiologically significant, since a manipulation on the expression of these signaling proteins can possibly be used to manage the toxicant-induced male reproductive dysfunction. In this review, we highlight some of these findings and critically evaluate the possibility of using this approach to manage toxicant-induced defects in spermatrogenesis based on recent studies in animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng Gao
- Department of Urology and Andrology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong, China
| | - Xiaolong Wu
- Department of Urology and Andrology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong, China
| | - Lingling Wang
- Department of Urology and Andrology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong, China
| | - Tiao Bu
- Department of Urology and Andrology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong, China
| | - Adolfo Perrotta
- Department of Translational & Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Guaglianone
- Department of Hospital Pharmacy, “Azienda Sanitaria Locale (ASL) Roma 4”, Civitavecchia, Italy
| | - Bruno Silvestrini
- Institute of Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Fei Sun
- Department of Urology and Andrology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: C. Yan Cheng, ; Fei Sun,
| | - C. Yan Cheng
- Department of Urology and Andrology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong, China
- *Correspondence: C. Yan Cheng, ; Fei Sun,
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15
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Wang L, Yan M, Wong CKC, Ge R, Wu X, Sun F, Cheng CY. Microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs) in microtubule cytoskeletal dynamics and spermatogenesis. Histol Histopathol 2020; 36:249-265. [PMID: 33174615 DOI: 10.14670/hh-18-279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
The microtubule (MT) cytoskeleton in Sertoli cells, a crucial cellular structure in the seminiferous epithelium of adult mammalian testes that supports spermatogenesis, was studied morphologically decades ago. However, its biology, in particular the involving regulatory biomolecules and the underlying mechanism(s) in modulating MT dynamics, are only beginning to be revealed in recent years. This lack of studies in delineating the biology of MT cytoskeletal dynamics undermines other studies in the field, in particular the plausible therapeutic treatment and management of male infertility and fertility since studies have shown that the MT cytoskeleton is one of the prime targets of toxicants. Interestingly, much of the information regarding the function of actin-, MT- and intermediate filament-based cytoskeletons come from studies using toxicant models including some genetic models. During the past several years, there have been some advances in studying the biology of MT cytoskeleton in the testis, and many of these studies were based on the use of pharmaceutical/toxicant models. In this review, we summarize the results of these findings, illustrating the importance of toxicant/pharmaceutical models in unravelling the biology of MT dynamics, in particular the role of microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs), a family of regulatory proteins that modulate MT dynamics but also actin- and intermediate filament-based cytoskeletons. We also provide a timely hypothetical model which can serve as a guide to design functional experiments to study how the MT cytoskeleton is regulated during spermatogenesis through the use of toxicants and/or pharmaceutical agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingling Wang
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.,The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, NY, USA.,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ming Yan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chris K C Wong
- Department of Biology, Croucher Institute for Environmental Sciences, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Renshan Ge
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaolong Wu
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Fei Sun
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - C Yan Cheng
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, NY, USA.,The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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16
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Kim WJ, Kim BS, Kim HJ, Cho YD, Shin HL, Yoon HI, Lee YS, Baek JH, Woo KM, Ryoo HM. Intratesticular Peptidyl Prolyl Isomerase 1 Protein Delivery Using Cationic Lipid-Coated Fibroin Nanoparticle Complexes Rescues Male Infertility in Mice. ACS NANO 2020; 14:13217-13231. [PMID: 32969647 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.0c04936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Male infertility is a multifactorial condition. Unexplained male infertility is often caused by spermatogenesis dysfunction. Knockout of Pin1, an important regulator of cell proliferation and differentiation, produces male infertility phenotypes such as testicular immaturity and azoospermia with spermatogonia depletion and blood-testis barrier (BTB) dysfunction. Gene therapy has been clinically considered for the treatment of male infertility, but it is not preferred because of the risks of adverse effects in germ cells. Direct intracellular protein delivery using nanoparticles is considered an effective alternative to gene therapy; however, in vivo testicular protein delivery remains a pressing challenge. Here, we investigated the direct intracellular protein delivery strategy using a fibroin nanoparticle-encapsulated cationic lipid complex (Fibroplex) to restore intratesticular PIN1. Local intratesticular delivery of PIN1 via Fibroplex in Pin1 knockout testes produced fertile mice, achieving recovery from the infertile phenotypes. Mechanistically, PIN1-loaded Fibroplex was successfully delivered into testicular cells, including spermatogonial cells and Sertoli cells, and the sustained release of PIN1 restored the gene expression required for the proliferation of spermatogonial cells and BTB integrity in Pin1 knockout testes. Collectively, testicular PIN1 protein delivery using Fibroplex might be an effective strategy for treating male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Woo Jin Kim
- Department of Molecular Genetics, School of Dentistry and Dental Research Institute, BK21 Program, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Bong Soo Kim
- Department of Molecular Genetics, School of Dentistry and Dental Research Institute, BK21 Program, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Jung Kim
- Department of Molecular Genetics, School of Dentistry and Dental Research Institute, BK21 Program, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Dan Cho
- Department of Molecular Genetics, School of Dentistry and Dental Research Institute, BK21 Program, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye Lim Shin
- Department of Molecular Genetics, School of Dentistry and Dental Research Institute, BK21 Program, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Hee In Yoon
- Department of Molecular Genetics, School of Dentistry and Dental Research Institute, BK21 Program, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Yun Sil Lee
- Department of Molecular Genetics, School of Dentistry and Dental Research Institute, BK21 Program, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong-Hwa Baek
- Department of Molecular Genetics, School of Dentistry and Dental Research Institute, BK21 Program, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung Mi Woo
- Department of Molecular Genetics, School of Dentistry and Dental Research Institute, BK21 Program, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun-Mo Ryoo
- Department of Molecular Genetics, School of Dentistry and Dental Research Institute, BK21 Program, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
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17
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Li H, Liu S, Wu S, Ge R, Cheng CY. NC1-Peptide From Collagen α3 (IV) Chains in the Basement Membrane of Testes Regulates Spermatogenesis via p-FAK-Y407. Endocrinology 2020; 161:5881724. [PMID: 32761085 PMCID: PMC7478323 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqaa133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The blood-testis barrier (BTB) in the testis is an important ultrastructure to support spermatogenesis. This blood-tissue barrier undergoes remodeling at late stage VII to early stage IX of the epithelial cycle to support the transport of preleptotene spermatocytes across the BTB to prepare for meiosis I/II at the apical compartment through a mechanism that remains to be delineated. Studies have shown that NC1-peptide-derived collagen α3 (IV) chain in the basement membrane is a bioactive peptide that induces BTB remodeling. It also promotes the release of fully developed spermatids into the tubule lumen. Thus, this endogenously produced peptide coordinates these 2 cellular events across the seminiferous epithelium. Using an NC1-peptide complementary deoxyribonucleic acid (cDNA) construct to transfect adult rat testes for overexpression, NC1-peptide was found to effectively induce germ cell exfoliation and BTB remodeling, which was associated with a surge and activation of p-rpS6, the downstream signaling protein of mTORC1 and the concomitant downregulation of p-FAK-Y407 in the testis. In order to define the functional relationship between p-rpS6 and p-FAK-Y407 signaling to confer the ability of NC1-peptide to regulate testis function, a phosphomimetic (and thus constitutively active) mutant of p-FAK-Y407 (p-FAK-Y407E-MT) was used for its co-transfection, utilizing Sertoli cells cultured in vitro with a functional tight junction (TJ) barrier that mimicked the BTB in vivo. Overexpression of p-FAK-Y407E-MT blocked the effects of NC1-peptide to perturb Sertoli cell BTB function by promoting F-actin and microtubule cytoskeleton function, and downregulated the NC1-peptide-mediated induction of p-rpS6 activation. In brief, NC1-peptide is an important endogenously produced biomolecule that regulates BTB dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huitao Li
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- The Mary Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York
| | - Shiwen Liu
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- The Mary Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York
| | - Siwen Wu
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- The Mary Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York
| | - Renshan Ge
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - C Yan Cheng
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- The Mary Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York
- Correspondence: C. Yan Cheng, PhD, Senior Scientist, The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, 1230 York Ave, New York, New York 10065. E-mail:
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18
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Wang L, Yan M, Wu S, Mao B, Wong CKC, Ge R, Sun F, Cheng CY. Microtubule Cytoskeleton and Spermatogenesis-Lesson From Studies of Toxicant Models. Toxicol Sci 2020; 177:305-315. [PMID: 32647867 PMCID: PMC7548287 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfaa109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies have shown that mammalian testes, in particular the Sertoli cells, are highly susceptible to exposure of environmental toxicants, such as cadmium, perfluorooctanesulfonate, phthalates, 2,5-hexanedione and bisphenol A. However, important studies conducted by reproductive toxicologists and/or biologists in the past have been treated as toxicology reports per se. Yet, many of these studies provided important mechanistic insights on the toxicant-induced testis injury and reproductive dysfunction, relevant to the biology of the testis and spermatogenesis. Furthermore, recent studies have shown that findings obtained from toxicant models are exceedingly helpful tools to unravel the biology of testis function in particular spermatogenesis, including specific cellular events associated with spermatid transport to support spermiogenesis and spermiation. In this review, we critically evaluate some recent data, focusing primarily on the molecular structure and role of microtubules in cellular function, illustrating the importance of toxicant models to unravel the biology of microtubule cytoskeleton in supporting spermatogenesis, well beyond information on toxicology. These findings have opened up some potential areas of research which should be carefully evaluated in the years to come.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingling Wang
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York 10065
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China
| | - Ming Yan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China
| | - Siwen Wu
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York 10065
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China
| | - Baiping Mao
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York 10065
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China
| | - Chris K C Wong
- Department of Biology, Croucher Institute for Environmental Sciences, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Renshan Ge
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China
| | - Fei Sun
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China
| | - C Yan Cheng
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York 10065
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China
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Modulating the Blood–Testis Barrier Towards Increasing Drug Delivery. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2020; 41:690-700. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2020.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2020] [Revised: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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Wang L, Yan M, Wu S, Wu X, Bu T, Wong CK, Ge R, Sun F, Cheng CY. Actin binding proteins, actin cytoskeleton and spermatogenesis – Lesson from toxicant models. Reprod Toxicol 2020; 96:76-89. [DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2020.05.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Revised: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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Su W, Cheng CY. Cdc42 is involved in NC1 peptide-regulated BTB dynamics through actin and microtubule cytoskeletal reorganization. FASEB J 2019; 33:14461-14478. [PMID: 31682474 PMCID: PMC6894087 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201900991r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Noncollagenous domain 1 (NC1)-peptide is a biologically active peptide derived from the C-terminal region of collagen α3(IV) chain, a structural constituent protein at the basement membrane in the rat testis, likely via proteolytic cleavage of matrix metalloproteinase 9. Studies have shown that this NC1 peptide regulates testis function by inducing Sertoli cell blood-testis barrier (BTB) remodeling and is also capable of inducing elongate spermatid exfoliation through its disruptive effects on the organization of actin- and microtubule (MT)-based cytoskeletons at these cell adhesion sites. However, the underlying molecular mechanism remains unknown. NC1 peptide was found to exert its biologic effects through an activation of small GTPase cell division control protein 42 homolog (Cdc42) because cooverexpression of the dominant negative mutant of Cdc42 [namely, Cdc42-T17N (via a single mutation of amino acid residue 17 from the N terminus from Thr to Asn by site-directed mutagenesis, making it constitutively inactive)] and NC1 peptide was able to block the NC1 peptide-induced Sertoli cell tight junction-permeability barrier disruption. Their cooverexpression also blocked the NC1 peptide-induced misdistribution of BTB-associated proteins at the cell-cell interface and also disruptive cytoskeletal organization of F-actin and MTs through changes in spatial expression of the corresponding actin and MT regulatory proteins. Interestingly, NC1 peptide was also found to induce an up-regulation of phosphorylated (p)-ribosomal protein S6 (rpS6) (namely, p-rpS6-S235/S236) and a concomitant down-regulation of p-Akt1/2 (namely, p-Akt1-S473 and p-Akt2-S474), but these changes could not be blocked by overexpression of Cdc42-T17N. More importantly, NC1 peptide-induced Cdc42 activation was effectively blocked by treatment of Sertoli cell epithelium with a p-Akt1/2 activator SC79, which is also capable of blocking NC1 peptide-induced down-regulation of p-Akt1-S473 and p-Akt2/S474, but not p-rpS6-S235/S236 up-regulation. In summary, these findings illustrate that Cdc42 is working downstream of the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1/rpS6/Akt1/2 signaling pathway to support NC1 peptide-mediated effects on Sertoli cell function in the testis using the rat as an animal model.-Su, W., Cheng, C. Y. Cdc42 is involved in NC1 peptide-regulated BTB dynamics through actin and microtubule cytoskeletal reorganization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhui Su
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA
| | - C. Yan Cheng
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA
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Wu S, Yan M, Ge R, Cheng CY. Crosstalk between Sertoli and Germ Cells in Male Fertility. Trends Mol Med 2019; 26:215-231. [PMID: 31727542 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2019.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2019] [Revised: 08/16/2019] [Accepted: 09/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Spermatogenesis is supported by intricate crosstalk between Sertoli cells and germ cells including spermatogonia, spermatocytes, haploid spermatids, and spermatozoa, which takes place in the epithelium of seminiferous tubules. Sertoli cells, also known as 'mother' or 'nurse' cells, provide nutrients, paracrine factors, cytokines, and other biomolecules to support germ cell development. Sertoli cells facilitate the generation of several biologically active peptides, which include F5-, noncollagenous 1 (NC1)-, and laminin globular (LG)3/4/5-peptide, to modulate cellular events across the epithelium. Here, we critically evaluate the involvement of these peptides in facilitating crosstalk between Sertoli and germ cells to support spermatogenesis and thus fertility. Modulating or mimicking the activity of F5-, NC1-, and LG3/4/5-peptide could be used to enhance the transport across the blood-testis barrier (BTB) of contraceptive drugs or to treat male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siwen Wu
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China; The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Ming Yan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China
| | - Renshan Ge
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China
| | - C Yan Cheng
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China; The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA.
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Mao BP, Li L, Ge R, Li C, Wong CKC, Silvestrini B, Lian Q, Cheng CY. CAMSAP2 Is a Microtubule Minus-End Targeting Protein That Regulates BTB Dynamics Through Cytoskeletal Organization. Endocrinology 2019; 160:1448-1467. [PMID: 30994903 PMCID: PMC6530524 DOI: 10.1210/en.2018-01097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
During spermatogenesis, microtubule (MT) cytoskeleton in Sertoli cells confers blood-testis barrier (BTB) function, but the regulators and mechanisms that modulate MT dynamics remain unexplored. In this study, we examined the role of calmodulin-regulated spectrin-associated protein (CAMSAP)2 (a member of the CAMSAP/Patronin protein family), and a minus-end targeting protein (-TIP) that binds to the minus-end (i.e., slow-growing end) of polarized MTs involved in determining MT length, in Sertoli cell function. CAMSAP2 was found to localize at discrete sites across the Sertoli cell cytosol, different from end-binding protein 1 (a microtubule plus-end tracking protein that binds to the plus-end of MTs), and colocalized with MTs. CAMSAP2 displayed a stage-specific expression pattern, appearing as tracklike structures across the seminiferous epithelium in adult rat testes that lay perpendicular to the basement membrane. CAMSAP2 knockdown by RNA interference was found to promote Sertoli cell tight junction (TJ) barrier function, illustrating its role in inducing TJ remodeling under physiological conditions. To further examine the regulatory role of CAMSAP2 in BTB dynamics, we used a perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS)-induced Sertoli cell injury model for investigations. CAMSAP2 knockdown blocked PFOS-induced Sertoli cell injury by promoting proper distribution of BTB-associated proteins at the cell-cell interface. This effect was mediated by the ability of CAMSAP2 knockdown to block PFOS-induced disruptive organization of MTs, but also F-actin, across cell cytosol through changes in cellular distribution/localization of MT- and actin-regulatory proteins. In summary, CAMSAP2 is a regulator of MT and actin dynamics in Sertoli cells to support BTB dynamics and spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bai-ping Mao
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang, China
| | - Linxi Li
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang, China
| | - Renshan Ge
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chao Li
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chris K C Wong
- Department of Biology, Croucher Institute for Environmental Sciences, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | | | - Qingquan Lian
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang, China
| | - C Yan Cheng
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York
- Correspondence: C. Yan Cheng, PhD, The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, 1230 York Avenue, New York, New York 10065. E-mail:
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24
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Mao BP, Li L, Yan M, Lian Q, Ge R, Cheng CY. Environmental toxicants and cell polarity in the testis. Reprod Toxicol 2018; 81:253-258. [DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2018.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2018] [Revised: 08/17/2018] [Accepted: 08/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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25
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Mao B, Mruk D, Lian Q, Ge R, Li C, Silvestrini B, Cheng CY. Mechanistic Insights into PFOS-Mediated Sertoli Cell Injury. Trends Mol Med 2018; 24:781-793. [PMID: 30056046 PMCID: PMC6114095 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2018.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Revised: 07/03/2018] [Accepted: 07/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Studies have proven that per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are harmful to humans, most notably perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS). PFOS induces rapid disorganization of actin- and microtubule (MT)-based cytoskeletons in primary cultures of rodent and human Sertoli cells, perturbing Sertoli cell gap junction communication, thereby prohibiting Sertoli cells from maintaining cellular homeostasis in the seminiferous epithelium to support spermatogenesis. PFOS perturbs several signaling proteins/pathways, such as FAK and mTORC1/rpS6/Akt1/2. The use of either an activator of Akt1/2 or overexpression of a phosphomimetic (and constitutively active) mutant of FAK or connexin 43 has demonstrated that such treatment blocks PFOS-induced Sertoli cell injury by preventing actin- and MT-based cytoskeletal disorganization. These findings thus illustrate an approach to manage PFOS-induced reproductive dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baiping Mao
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, 1230 York Ave, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Dolores Mruk
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, 1230 York Ave, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Qingquan Lian
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Renshan Ge
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chao Li
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | | | - C Yan Cheng
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, 1230 York Ave, New York, NY 10065, USA.
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