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Loss of Cx43 in Murine Sertoli Cells Leads to Altered Prepubertal Sertoli Cell Maturation and Impairment of the Mitosis-Meiosis Switch. Cells 2020; 9:cells9030676. [PMID: 32164318 PMCID: PMC7140672 DOI: 10.3390/cells9030676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Male factor infertility is a problem in today’s society but many underlying causes are still unknown. The generation of a conditional Sertoli cell (SC)-specific connexin 43 (Cx43) knockout mouse line (SCCx43KO) has provided a translational model. Expression of the gap junction protein Cx43 between adjacent SCs as well as between SCs and germ cells (GCs) is known to be essential for the initiation and maintenance of spermatogenesis in different species and men. Adult SCCx43KO males show altered spermatogenesis and are infertile. Thus, the present study aims to identify molecular mechanisms leading to testicular alterations in prepubertal SCCx43KO mice. Transcriptome analysis of 8-, 10- and 12-day-old mice was performed by next-generation sequencing (NGS). Additionally, candidate genes were examined by qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. NGS revealed many significantly differentially expressed genes in the SCCx43KO mice. For example, GC-specific genes were mostly downregulated and found to be involved in meiosis and spermatogonial differentiation (e.g., Dmrtb1, Sohlh1). In contrast, SC-specific genes implicated in SC maturation and proliferation were mostly upregulated (e.g., Amh, Fshr). In conclusion, Cx43 in SCs appears to be required for normal progression of the first wave of spermatogenesis, especially for the mitosis-meiosis switch, and also for the regulation of prepubertal SC maturation.
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Kui F, Ye H, Chen XL, Zhang J. Microarray meta-analysis identifies candidate genes for human spermatogenic arrest. Andrologia 2019; 51:e13301. [PMID: 31037746 DOI: 10.1111/and.13301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Revised: 03/28/2019] [Accepted: 03/29/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Male infertility affects approximately half of couples who have difficulty becoming pregnant, and its prevalence is continuously rising. Many studies have been performed using animal testes to reveal the mechanisms of male infertility, but few studies have investigated human testes due to various limitations. The aim of this study was to investigate the gene expression profile of impaired human testes through a meta-analysis of microarray data sets, which was accomplished by using 178 human testis samples and 7 microarray data sets. Impaired testes were categorised into four pathological phenotypes or the normal phenotype based on their Johnsen score. Then, a meta-analysis was performed to screen out the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in each phenotype. The DEGs were used in a subsequent bioinformatics analysis. Our results identified several novel hub genes and pathways and suggested that G1 mitotic cell cycle arrest was a remarkable feature in pre-meiotic arrest. Furthermore, fifteen p53-interacting proteins, such as ABL1 and HDAC2, whose roles in spermatogenesis have not been well characterised, were selected from the DEGs through a strict screening procedure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Kui
- Clinical Laboratory, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Clinical Laboratory, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hui Ye
- Clinical Laboratory, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xi-Ling Chen
- Clinical Laboratory, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- Clinical Laboratory, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
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von Kopylow K, Schulze W, Salzbrunn A, Schaks M, Schäfer E, Roth B, Schlatt S, Spiess AN. Dynamics, ultrastructure and gene expression of human in vitro organized testis cells from testicular sperm extraction biopsies. Mol Hum Reprod 2019; 24:123-134. [PMID: 29304256 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gax070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2017] [Accepted: 12/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Is it possible to induce in vitro reorganization of primary human testis cells from testicular sperm extraction (TESE) biopsies, maintain their long-term cultivation in a 2D system and identify cellular compositions? SUMMARY ANSWER In vitro reorganization of primary human testis cells from TESE biopsies and their long-term cultivation on uncoated cell culture dishes is feasible and the cellular compositions can be uncovered through gene expression and microscopic analyses. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY It has been shown in the rodent model that mixtures of testicular cell types are able to reassemble into clusters when cultivated on different kinds of surfaces or three-dimensional matrices. Two recent publications demonstrated the ability of primary human testicular cells to assemble into testicular organoids and their cultivation for a period of 3-4 weeks. STUDY DESIGN SIZE, DURATION Primary human testis cells from TESE biopsies from 16 patients were reorganized in vitro and the clusters were cultivated long term on uncoated cell culture dishes, providing a solid ground for in vitro spermatogenesis. Gene expression analysis as well as fluorescence/transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were employed to uncover the cellular composition of the clusters. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Testis biopsies from adult, normogonadotropic patients displaying full spermatogenesis (n = 11), hypospermatogenesis (n = 2), predominantly full spermatogenesis with some hypospermatogenic tubules (n = 1), meiotic arrest (n = 1) or mixed atrophy (n = 1) were enzymatically digested and dispersed cells were cultivated on 96-well plates or chamber dishes as aggregate-free cell suspensions. Time-lapse imaging of cluster formation was performed over a period of 48 h. For receptor tyrosine kinase inhibition of cluster formation, cells were treated twice with K252a within 2-3 days. Immunofluorescence staining and confocal microscopy was carried out on clusters after 1-3 weeks of cultivation to identify the presence of Sertoli cells (SC) (SOX9), peritubular myoid cells (SMA), Leydig cells (LC) (STAR), undifferentiated spermatogonia (FGFR3), differentiating spermatogonia/spermatocytes (DDX4) and postmeiotic germ cells (PRM1). Single clusters from four patients and a pool of eight larger clusters from another patient were manually picked and subjected to quantitative real-time PCR to evaluate the presence of SC (SOX9, AR), LC (INSL3, STAR, HSD3B1), peritubular myoid cells (ACTA2), fibroblasts (FSP1), endothelial cells (CD34), macrophages (CD68), undifferentiated spermatogonia (FGFR3), differentiating spermatogonia/spermatocytes (DDX4) and postmeiotic germ cells (PRM1). Finally, an ultrastructural investigation was conducted based on TEM of clusters from six different patients, among them 3-month cultivated large clusters from two patients. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Quantitative PCR-based analysis of single-picked testicular cell clusters identified SC, peritubular myoid cells, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, macrophages, spermatids and LC after 1, 2 or 3 weeks or 3 months of cultivation. Immunofluorescence positivity for SC and peritubular myoid cells corroborated the presence of these two kinds of testis niche cells. In addition, round as well as elongated spermatids were frequently encountered in 1 and 2 weeks old clusters. Transmission electron microscopical classification confirmed all these cell types together with a few spermatogonia. Macrophages were found to be of the proinflammatory M1 subtype, as revealed by CD68+/CD163-/IL6+ expression. Time-lapse imaging uncovered the specific dynamics of cluster fusion and enlargement, which could be prevented by addition of protein kinase inhibitor K252a. LARGE SCALE DATA N/A. LIMITATIONS REASON FOR CAUTION Cell composition of the clusters varied based on the spermatogenic state of the TESE patient. Although spermatids could be observed with all applied methods, spermatogonia were only detected by TEM in single cases. Hence, a direct maintenance of these germ cell types by our system in its current state cannot be postulated. Moreover, putative dedifferentiation and malignant degeneration of cells in long-term cluster cultivation needs to be investigated in the future. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS This work demonstrates that the reorganization of testicular cells can be achieved with TESE biopsies obtained from men enroled in a standard clinical assisted reproduction program. The formed clusters can be cultivated for at least 3 months and are composed, to a large extent, of the most important somatic cell types that are essential to support spermatogenesis. These findings may provide the cellular basis for advances in human in vitro spermatogenesis and/or the possibility for propagation of spermatogonia within a natural stem cell niche-like environment. STUDY FUNDING AND COMPETING INTERESTS The project was funded by a DFG grant to K.v.K. (KO 4769/2-1). The authors declare they have no conflicts of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathrein von Kopylow
- Department of Andrology, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Schulze
- MVZ Fertility Center Hamburg GmbH, Amedes Group, Speersort 4, 20095 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Andrea Salzbrunn
- Department of Andrology, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Matthias Schaks
- Department of Andrology, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Elke Schäfer
- Institute of Neuroanatomy, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Beate Roth
- Department of Andrology, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Schlatt
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, University Hospital of Münster, Albert-Schweitzer Campus 1, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Andrej-Nikolai Spiess
- Department of Andrology, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
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Migliaccio M, Ricci G, Suglia A, Manfrevola F, Mackie K, Fasano S, Pierantoni R, Chioccarelli T, Cobellis G. Analysis of Endocannabinoid System in Rat Testis During the First Spermatogenetic Wave. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2018; 9:269. [PMID: 29896156 PMCID: PMC5986923 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2018.00269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2018] [Accepted: 05/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Endocannabinoids are lipid mediators, enzymatically synthesized and hydrolyzed, that bind cannabinoid receptors. Together with their receptors and metabolic enzymes, they form the "endocannabinoid system" (ECS). Anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) are the main endocannabinoids studied in testis. In this study, using the first wave of spermatogenesis as an in vivo model to verify the progressive appearance of germ cells in seminiferous tubules [i.e., spermatogonia, spermatocytes, and spermatids], we analyzed the expression of the main enzymes and receptors of ECS in rat testis. In particular, the expression profile of the main enzymes metabolizing AEA and 2-AG as well as the expression of cannabinoid receptors, such as CB1 and CB2, and specific markers of mitotic, meiotic, and post-meiotic germ cell appearance or activities have been analyzed by RT-PCR and appropriately correlated. Our aim was to envisage a relationship between expression of ECS components and temporal profile of germ cell appearance or activity as well as among ECS components. Results show that expression of ECS components is related to germ cell progression. In particular, CB2 and 2-AG appear to be related to mitotic/meiotic stages, while CB1 and AEA appear to be related to spermatogonia stem cells activity and spermatids appearance, respectively. Our data also suggest that a functional interaction among ECS components occurs in the testis. Indeed, in vitro-incubated testis show that AEA-CB2 activity affects negatively monoacylglycerol-lipase levels via upregulation of CB1 suggesting a CB1/CB2-mediated relationship between AEA and 2-AG. Finally, we provide the first evidence that CB1 is present in fetal gonocytes, during mitotic arrest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Migliaccio
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sez. Bottazzi, Università degli Studi della Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
| | - Giulia Ricci
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Laboratorio di Istologia ed Embriologia, Università degli Studi della Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
| | - Antonio Suglia
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sez. Bottazzi, Università degli Studi della Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
| | - Francesco Manfrevola
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sez. Bottazzi, Università degli Studi della Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
| | - Ken Mackie
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, United States
| | - Silvia Fasano
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sez. Bottazzi, Università degli Studi della Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
| | - Riccardo Pierantoni
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sez. Bottazzi, Università degli Studi della Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
| | - Teresa Chioccarelli
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sez. Bottazzi, Università degli Studi della Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
| | - Gilda Cobellis
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sez. Bottazzi, Università degli Studi della Campania “L. Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
- *Correspondence: Gilda Cobellis,
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Noveski P, Popovska-Jankovic K, Kubelka-Sabit K, Filipovski V, Lazarevski S, Plaseski T, Plaseska-Karanfilska D. MicroRNA expression profiles in testicular biopsies of patients with impaired spermatogenesis. Andrology 2016; 4:1020-1027. [DOI: 10.1111/andr.12246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2015] [Revised: 06/02/2016] [Accepted: 06/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- P. Noveski
- Research Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology ‘Georgi D. Efremov’; Macedonian Academy of Science and Arts; Skopje Republic of Macedonia
| | - K. Popovska-Jankovic
- Research Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology ‘Georgi D. Efremov’; Macedonian Academy of Science and Arts; Skopje Republic of Macedonia
| | - K. Kubelka-Sabit
- Clinical Hospital ‘Acibadem Sistina’; Skopje Republic of Macedonia
| | - V. Filipovski
- Clinical Hospital ‘Acibadem Sistina’; Skopje Republic of Macedonia
| | - S. Lazarevski
- Clinical Hospital ‘Acibadem Sistina’; Skopje Republic of Macedonia
| | - T. Plaseski
- Faculty of Medicine; Clinic of Endocrinology and Metabolic Disorders; Skopje Republic of Macedonia
| | - D. Plaseska-Karanfilska
- Research Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology ‘Georgi D. Efremov’; Macedonian Academy of Science and Arts; Skopje Republic of Macedonia
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Cappallo-Obermann H, Spiess AN. Comment on “Absence of sperm RNA elements correlates with idiopathic male infertility”. Sci Transl Med 2016; 8:353tc1. [DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aaf2396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2016] [Accepted: 05/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrej-Nikolai Spiess
- Department of Andrology, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
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Comments on Li et al. Effects of in Utero Exposure to Dicyclohexyl Phthalate on Rat Fetal Leydig Cells. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2016, 13, 246. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2016; 13:ijerph13060532. [PMID: 27231928 PMCID: PMC4923989 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph13060532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2016] [Revised: 03/03/2016] [Accepted: 05/23/2016] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Profiling the expression levels of genes or proteins in tissues comprising two or more cell types is commonplace in biological sciences. Such analyses present particular challenges, however, for example a potential shift in cellular composition, or ‘cellularity’, between specimens. That is, does an observed change in expression level represent what occurs within individual cells, or does it represent a shift in the ratio of different cell types within the tissue? This commentary attempts to highlight the importance of considering cellularity when interpreting quantitative expression data, using the mammalian testis and a recent study on the effects of phthalate exposure on testis function as an example.
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Xu W, Guo G, Li J, Ding Z, Sheng J, Li J, Tan W. Activation of Bcl-2-Caspase-9 Apoptosis Pathway in the Testis of Asthmatic Mice. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0149353. [PMID: 26938720 PMCID: PMC4777281 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0149353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2015] [Accepted: 01/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Apoptosis plays a critical role in controlling the proliferation and differentiation of germ cells during spermatogenesis. Dysregulation of the fine-tuned balance may lead to the onset of testicular diseases. In this study, we investigated the activation status of apoptosis pathways in the testicular tissues under the background of an asthmatic mouse model. METHODS Ten BALB/c mice were divided into two groups: the acute asthma group and the control group. In the acute asthma group, ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized mice were challenged with aerosolized OVA for 7 days, while the control group was treated with physiological saline. After that, both epididymis and testis were collected to determine the sperm count and motility. Apoptosis in the testis was evaluated by DNA ladder, immunochemistry and further by PCR array of apoptosis-related genes. Finally, the cleavage of caspase-3 and poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) was determined by western blot and the enzymatic activities of caspase-9 and 3/7 were assessed using Caspase-Glo kits. RESULTS Compared with control mice, significant decreases in the body weight, testis weight, sperm count and motility were seen in the experimental group. DNA ladder and immunochemistry showed significant increase in apoptotic index of the asthmatic testis, whereas a decrease in mRNA expression of Bcl-2 and increases in Bax, BNIP3, caspase-9, and AIF were observed in the asthma group. Furthermore, protein levels of AIF were significantly upregulated, while the translational expression of Bcl-2 was downregulated markedly. Consistently, caspase-9 activity in the testis of asthma mice was significantly higher than that of the control group. CONCLUSION Collectively, these results showed that Bcl-2-caspase-9 apoptosis pathway was clearly activated in the testis of asthmatic mice with the increased expression of apoptosis-related genes and proteins. To our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating that asthma could lead to the activation of the mitochondrial apoptosis signaling pathway in the mouse testis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyuan Xu
- Postgraduate Department of Internal Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, China
| | - Guifang Guo
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Weifang People's Hospital, Weifang, Shandong, China
| | - Junjuan Li
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Weifang People's Hospital, Weifang, Shandong, China
| | - Zhaolei Ding
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Weifang People's Hospital, Weifang, Shandong, China
| | - Jianhui Sheng
- Postgraduate Department of Internal Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, China
| | - Juan Li
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Weifang People's Hospital, Weifang, Shandong, China
| | - Wei Tan
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Weifang People's Hospital, Weifang, Shandong, China
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Huang HH, Hassinen A, Sundaram S, Spiess AN, Kellokumpu S, Stanley P. GnT1IP-L specifically inhibits MGAT1 in the Golgi via its luminal domain. eLife 2015; 4. [PMID: 26371870 PMCID: PMC4572887 DOI: 10.7554/elife.08916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2015] [Accepted: 08/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Mouse GnT1IP-L, and membrane-bound GnT1IP-S (MGAT4D) expressed in cultured cells
inhibit MGAT1, the N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase that initiates the synthesis of
hybrid and complex N-glycans. However, it is not known where in the secretory pathway
GnT1IP-L inhibits MGAT1, nor whether GnT1IP-L inhibits other N-glycan branching
N-acetylglucosaminyltransferases of the medial Golgi. We show here that the luminal
domain of GnT1IP-L contains its inhibitory activity. Retention of GnT1IP-L in the
endoplasmic reticulum (ER) via the N-terminal region of human invariant chain p33,
with or without C-terminal KDEL, markedly reduced inhibitory activity. Dynamic
fluorescent resonance energy transfer (FRET) and bimolecular fluorescence
complementation (BiFC) assays revealed homomeric interactions for GnT1IP-L in the ER,
and heteromeric interactions with MGAT1 in the Golgi. GnT1IP-L did not generate a
FRET signal with MGAT2, MGAT3, MGAT4B or MGAT5 medial Golgi GlcNAc-tranferases.
GnT1IP/Mgat4d transcripts are expressed predominantly in
spermatocytes and spermatids in mouse, and are reduced in men with impaired
spermatogenesis. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.08916.001 Proteins are made up of chains of amino acids that fold into three-dimensional shapes
and many are assembled in a cell compartment known as the endoplasmic reticulum. From
here, these new proteins move to another compartment called the Golgi, where they may
be further modified before they are transported to their final destination in the
cell. One way that proteins may be modified is known as glycosylation, in which sugar
molecules are attached to specific amino acids. Some sugar molecules can act as
labels that ensure the new proteins are transported to the correct destination in the
cell. For proteins that are delivered to the surface of the cell, the sugar molecules
can also play important roles in communication with other cells. A simple sugar molecule, or a complex arrangement of many sugar molecules, may be
attached to an amino acid by glycosylation. An enzyme called MGAT1 controls the
synthesis of sugars called complex N-glycans in the Golgi. In 2010, researchers
reported that a glycoprotein called GnT1IP-L binds to MGAT1 and inhibits its
activity, thereby blocking the production of complex N-glycans. GnT1IP-L was found in
the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi, but it was not clear how it inhibits MGAT1. Huang et al.—including some of the researchers from the 2010 study—have
now investigated the activity of GnT1IP-L in cells grown in the laboratory using
several biochemical techniques. The experiments show that GnT1IP-L only binds to
MGAT1 when both proteins are in the Golgi. There are three sections (or
‘domains’) in GnT1IP-L, but Huang et al. found that only the domain
that is on the inside of the Golgi is involved in this interaction. Previous work indicated that GnT1IP-L may be involved in the formation of sperm in
mice. Huang et al. have now analyzed previously published data on samples of testis
tissue from human patients and found that the gene that encodes GnT1IP-L is present
in very low amounts in patients whose sperm do not develop properly. Huang et al.'s findings suggest that GnT1IP-L may inhibit MGAT1 to control the
glycosylation of proteins in the Golgi of developing sperm. The next step is to test
this hypothesis by generating mutant mice that lack GnT1IP-L, or to make GnT1P-L in
other cells in which it is not normally made, to find out if this affects the
production of sperm. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.08916.002
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Affiliation(s)
- Hung-Hsiang Huang
- Department of Cell Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, United States
| | - Antti Hassinen
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Subha Sundaram
- Department of Cell Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, United States
| | | | - Sakari Kellokumpu
- Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Pamela Stanley
- Department of Cell Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, United States
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Integrated miRNA and mRNA expression profiling to identify mRNA targets of dysregulated miRNAs in non-obstructive azoospermia. Sci Rep 2015; 5:7922. [PMID: 25628250 PMCID: PMC4310093 DOI: 10.1038/srep07922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2014] [Accepted: 12/10/2014] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to identify mRNA targets of dysregulated miRNAs through the integrated analysis of miRNA and mRNA expression profiling in men with normal versus impaired spermatogenesis. The expression of mRNAs and miRNAs in testicular tissues obtained from males with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA, n = 4) or obstructive azoospermia (OA, n = 3) with normal spermatogenesis was analyzed using microarray technology. Some of the most interesting results were validated by real time PCR using samples from the same cohort. Ninety-three miRNAs and 4172 mRNAs were differentially expressed in the NOA and normozoospermic OA patients. In addition to confirming that significantly dysregulated genes and miRNAs play pivotal roles in NOA, promising correlation signatures of these miRNA/mRNA pairs were discovered in this study. The functional classification of the miRNA/mRNA pairs revealed that differentially expressed genes were most frequently associated with spermatogenesis, the cell meiosis, the cell cycle, and the development of secondary male sexual characteristics. This is the first systematic profiling of both mRNA and miRNA in testicular tissues of patients with NOA and OA. Our results indicate that the phenotypic status of NOA is characterized by the dysfunction of normal spermatogenesis when compared with OA or normozoospermic males.
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