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Beiraghdar M, Beiraghdar M, Khosravi S. The methylation status of GATA3 potentially predicts the outcomes of assisted reproductive technologies. HUM FERTIL 2023; 26:1279-1285. [PMID: 36625441 DOI: 10.1080/14647273.2023.2164871] [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: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Evaluation of methylation status of genes in sperm samples has been suggested for diagnosis of male infertility as well as prognosis of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) outcomes. In this study, we compared the methylation pattern of the GATA3 gene in infertile and fertile men as well as in infertile men with positive and negative ART outcome based on clinical pregnancy. Ejaculates were obtained from 42 infertile men with a negative ART outcome (group 1), 30 infertile men with a positive ART outcome (group 2), and 21 fertile men (control). Then, samples were subjected to genomic DNA isolation and subsequent TUNEL assay and methylation-specific PCR. The number of infertile men with at least one methylated allele of GATA3 was significantly higher compared to the control group (p = 0.022). Also, the number of patients with at least one methylated allele was significantly higher in group 1 compared to group 2 (p = 0.013). Moreover, the TUNEL assay revealed that the amount of sperm DNA fragmentation is higher in group 1 compared to group 2 (p = 0.008). The findings of our study demonstrated that the degree of GATA3 methylation can potentially differentiate between infertile and fertile men and more importantly can potentially predict the outcome of ART.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mina Beiraghdar
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Science, Islamic Azad University of Center Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mozhdeh Beiraghdar
- Department of pathology, specialist of anatomical and clinical pathology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Sharifeh Khosravi
- Department of Genetics and Molecular Biology, Isfahan University of Medical Science, Isfahan, Iran
- Genetic Lab in Majesty of Maryam Infertility Center, Martyr Beheshti Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Science, Isfahan, Iran
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Suen HC, Rao S, Luk ACS, Zhang R, Yang L, Qi H, So HC, Hobbs RM, Lee TL, Liao J. The single-cell chromatin accessibility landscape in mouse perinatal testis development. eLife 2023; 12:e75624. [PMID: 37096870 PMCID: PMC10174692 DOI: 10.7554/elife.75624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Spermatogenesis depends on an orchestrated series of developing events in germ cells and full maturation of the somatic microenvironment. To date, the majority of efforts to study cellular heterogeneity in testis has been focused on single-cell gene expression rather than the chromatin landscape shaping gene expression. To advance our understanding of the regulatory programs underlying testicular cell types, we analyzed single-cell chromatin accessibility profiles in more than 25,000 cells from mouse developing testis. We showed that single-cell sequencing assay for transposase-accessible chromatin (scATAC-Seq) allowed us to deconvolve distinct cell populations and identify cis-regulatory elements (CREs) underlying cell-type specification. We identified sets of transcription factors associated with cell type-specific accessibility, revealing novel regulators of cell fate specification and maintenance. Pseudotime reconstruction revealed detailed regulatory dynamics coordinating the sequential developmental progressions of germ cells and somatic cells. This high-resolution dataset also unveiled previously unreported subpopulations within both the Sertoli and Leydig cell groups. Further, we defined candidate target cell types and genes of several genome-wide association study (GWAS) signals, including those associated with testosterone levels and coronary artery disease. Collectively, our data provide a blueprint of the 'regulon' of the mouse male germline and supporting somatic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoi Ching Suen
- Developmental and Regenerative Biology Program, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, ShatinHong KongHong Kong
| | - Shitao Rao
- School of Medical Technology and Engineering, Fujian Medical UniversityFujianChina
- Cancer Biology and Experimental Therapeutics Program, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, ShatinHong KongChina
| | - Alfred Chun Shui Luk
- Developmental and Regenerative Biology Program, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, ShatinHong KongHong Kong
| | - Ruoyu Zhang
- Cancer Biology and Experimental Therapeutics Program, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, ShatinHong KongChina
| | - Lele Yang
- Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Bioland Laboratory, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and HealthGuangzhouChina
| | - Huayu Qi
- Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Bioland Laboratory, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and HealthGuangzhouChina
| | - Hon Cheong So
- Cancer Biology and Experimental Therapeutics Program, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, ShatinHong KongChina
| | - Robin M Hobbs
- Germline Stem Cell Biology Laboratory, Centre for Reproductive Health, Hudson Institute of Medical ResearchMelbourneAustralia
| | - Tin-lap Lee
- Developmental and Regenerative Biology Program, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, ShatinHong KongHong Kong
| | - Jinyue Liao
- Developmental and Regenerative Biology Program, School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, ShatinHong KongHong Kong
- Department of Chemical Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New TerritoriesHong KongChina
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Analysis of Chromatin Openness in Testicle Tissue of Yak and Cattle-Yak. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232415810. [PMID: 36555451 PMCID: PMC9785434 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232415810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Cattle-yak, a crossbreed of yak and cattle, which can exhibit obvious heterosis and can adapt to the harsh environmental conditions of the Qinghai Tibet Plateau (QTP). However, F1 cattle-yak were found to be sterile because they were unable to produce sperm, which adversely restricted the fixation of heterosis. Many prior attempts have been made to decipher the mechanism underlying the spermatogenesis stagnation of cattle-yak. However, the open chromatin region (OCR) map of yak and cattle-yak testes has not been generated yet. Here, we have analyzed the OCRs landscape of testicular tissues of cattle-yak and yaks by performing ATAC-seq technology. The OCRs of cattle-yak and yak testes displayed similar genome distribution and showed priority in intergenic regions, introns and promoters. The pathway enrichment analysis indicated that the differential OCRs-related genes were involved in spermatogenesis, involving the cell cycle, as well as Hippo, mTOR, MAPK, Notch, and Wnt signaling pathways. The integration of ATAC-seq and mRNA-seq indicated that the majority of the gene expression levels were positively correlated with chromatin openness. At the same time, we have identified a number of transcription factors (TFs) related to spermatogenesis and the differential expression of these TFs may contribute to the spermatogenesis stagnation of the cattle-yak. Overall, the findings of this study provide valuable information for advancing the research related to yak crossbreeding improvement and sperm production stagnation of cattle-yak.
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Bhardwaj A, Sohni A, Lou CH, De Gendt K, Zhang F, Kim E, Subbarayalu P, Chan W, Kerkhofs S, Claessens F, Kimmins S, Rao MK, Meistrich M, Wilkinson MF. Concordant Androgen-Regulated Expression of Divergent Rhox5 Promoters in Sertoli Cells. Endocrinology 2022; 163:6432187. [PMID: 34902009 PMCID: PMC8667857 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqab237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Concordant transcriptional regulation can generate multiple gene products that collaborate to achieve a common goal. Here we report a case of concordant transcriptional regulation that instead drives a single protein to be produced in the same cell type from divergent promoters. This gene product-the RHOX5 homeobox transcription factor-is translated from 2 different mRNAs with different 5' untranslated regions (UTRs) transcribed from alternative promoters. Despite the fact that these 2 promoters-the proximal promoter (Pp) and the distal promoter (Pd)-exhibit different patterns of tissue-specific activity, share no obvious sequence identity, and depend on distinct transcription factors for expression, they exhibit a remarkably similar expression pattern in the testes. In particular, both depend on androgen signaling for expression in the testes, where they are specifically expressed in Sertoli cells and have a similar stage-specific expression pattern during the seminiferous epithelial cycle. We report evidence for 3 mechanisms that collaborate to drive concordant Pp/Pd expression. First, both promoters have an intrinsic ability to respond to androgen receptor and androgen. Second, the Pp acts as an enhancer to promote androgen-dependent transcription from the Pd. Third, Pd transcription is positively autoregulated by the RHOX5 protein, which is first produced developmentally from the Pp. Together, our data support a model in which the Rhox5 homeobox gene evolved multiple mechanisms to activate both of its promoters in Sertoli cells to produce Rhox5 in an androgen-dependent manner during different phases of spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjana Bhardwaj
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Abhishek Sohni
- School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0695, USA
| | - Chih-Hong Lou
- School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0695, USA
| | - Karel De Gendt
- School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0695, USA
- KU Leuven, Campus Gasthuisberg, O/N1, BE-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Fanmao Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Eunah Kim
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Environmental Health and Safety, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Panneerdoss Subbarayalu
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, University of Texas HealthSan Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Waikin Chan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | | | - Frank Claessens
- KU Leuven, Campus Gasthuisberg, O/N1, BE-3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sarah Kimmins
- Department of Animal Sciences, McGill UniversityMontreal, Quebec H3A 0G4, Canada
| | - Manjeet K Rao
- Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, University of Texas HealthSan Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Marvin Meistrich
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Miles F Wilkinson
- School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0695, USA
- Institute of Genomic Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Correspondence: M. F. Wilkinson, PhD, University of California San Diego, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive # 0695, La Jolla, CA 92093-0695, USA. . Previous Affiliation: Miles F. Wilkinson’s previous affiliation is Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Viger RS, de Mattos K, Tremblay JJ. Insights Into the Roles of GATA Factors in Mammalian Testis Development and the Control of Fetal Testis Gene Expression. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:902198. [PMID: 35692407 PMCID: PMC9178088 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.902198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Defining how genes get turned on and off in a correct spatiotemporal manner is integral to our understanding of the development, differentiation, and function of different cell types in both health and disease. Testis development and subsequent male sex differentiation of the XY fetus are well-orchestrated processes that require an intricate network of cell-cell communication and hormonal signals that must be properly interpreted at the genomic level. Transcription factors are at the forefront for translating these signals into a coordinated genomic response. The GATA family of transcriptional regulators were first described as essential regulators of hematopoietic cell differentiation and heart morphogenesis but are now known to impact the development and function of a multitude of tissues and cell types. The mammalian testis is no exception where GATA factors play essential roles in directing the expression of genes crucial not only for testis differentiation but also testis function in the developing male fetus and later in adulthood. This minireview provides an overview of the current state of knowledge of GATA factors in the male gonad with a particular emphasis on their mechanisms of action in the control of testis development, gene expression in the fetal testis, testicular disease, and XY sex differentiation in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert S. Viger
- Centre de recherche en Reproduction, Développement et Santé Intergénérationnelle and Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Reproduction, Mother and Child Health, Centre de recherche du centre hospitalier universitaire de Québec—Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- *Correspondence: Robert S. Viger,
| | - Karine de Mattos
- Reproduction, Mother and Child Health, Centre de recherche du centre hospitalier universitaire de Québec—Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Jacques J. Tremblay
- Centre de recherche en Reproduction, Développement et Santé Intergénérationnelle and Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
- Reproduction, Mother and Child Health, Centre de recherche du centre hospitalier universitaire de Québec—Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
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Tajouri A, Kharrat M, Trabelsi M, M'rad R, Hiort O, Werner R. In vitro functional characterization of androgen receptor gene mutations at arginine p.856 of the ligand-binding-domain associated with androgen insensitivity syndrome. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2021; 208:105834. [PMID: 33548461 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2021.105834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Androgens are critical for male sex differentiation. Their actions are mediated by the androgen receptor (AR). Mutations disrupting AR function result in the androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS). In this study, we identified in a patient with complete AIS, a novel AR mutation p.R856L. To investigate the functional properties of p.R856L, we performed functional studies. In comparison, we have characterized two already described mutations: p.R856H and p.R856C. We used a model composed of two different promoters fused to a reporter gene, two cell lines, and showed that all mutations were able to transactivate the (ARE)2-TATA promoter expressed in CHO cells more highly. Moreover, we confirmed the pathogenicity of the p.R856L and p.R856C mutations, and their associations with complete AIS. In contrast, the p.R856H mutation, which is associated with a spectrum of AIS phenotypes, showed less severe transcriptional constraints. Altogether, our studies allowed us to better characterize arginine residue at p.R856 position.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asma Tajouri
- University of Tunis El Manar, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, LR99ES10 Human Genetics Laboratory, 1007, Tunis, Tunisia; Department of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Division of Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, University of Luebeck, 23562, Luebeck, Germany
| | - Maher Kharrat
- University of Tunis El Manar, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, LR99ES10 Human Genetics Laboratory, 1007, Tunis, Tunisia.
| | - Mediha Trabelsi
- University of Tunis El Manar, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, LR99ES10 Human Genetics Laboratory, 1007, Tunis, Tunisia; Department of Congenital and Hereditary Diseases, Charles Nicolle Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Ridha M'rad
- University of Tunis El Manar, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, LR99ES10 Human Genetics Laboratory, 1007, Tunis, Tunisia; Department of Congenital and Hereditary Diseases, Charles Nicolle Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Olaf Hiort
- Department of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Division of Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, University of Luebeck, 23562, Luebeck, Germany
| | - Ralf Werner
- Department of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Division of Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, University of Luebeck, 23562, Luebeck, Germany; Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Luebeck, 23562, Luebeck, Germany.
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Aldahl J, Mi J, Pineda A, Kim WK, Olson A, Hooker E, He Y, Yu EJ, Le V, Lee DH, Geradts J, Sun Z. Aberrant activation of hepatocyte growth factor/MET signaling promotes β-catenin-mediated prostatic tumorigenesis. J Biol Chem 2019; 295:631-644. [PMID: 31819003 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra119.011137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Revised: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Co-occurrence of aberrant hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/MET proto-oncogene receptor tyrosine kinase (MET) and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways has been observed in advanced and metastatic prostate cancers. This co-occurrence positively correlates with prostate cancer progression and castration-resistant prostate cancer development. However, the biological consequences of these abnormalities in these disease processes remain largely unknown. Here, we investigated the aberrant activation of HGF/MET and Wnt/β-catenin cascades in prostate tumorigenesis by using a newly generated mouse model in which both murine Met transgene and stabilized β-catenin are conditionally co-expressed in prostatic epithelial cells. These compound mice displayed accelerated prostate tumor formation and invasion compared with their littermates that expressed only stabilized β-catenin. RNA-Seq and quantitative RT-PCR analyses revealed increased expression of genes associated with tumor cell proliferation, progression, and metastasis. Moreover, Wnt signaling pathways were robustly enriched in prostate tumor samples from the compound mice. ChIP-qPCR experiments revealed increased β-catenin recruitment within the regulatory regions of the Myc gene in tumor cells of the compound mice. Interestingly, the occupancy of MET on the Myc promoter also appeared in the compound mouse tumor samples, implicating a novel role of MET in β-catenin-mediated transcription. Results from implanting prostate graft tissues derived from the compound mice and controls into HGF-transgenic mice further uncovered that HGF induces prostatic oncogenic transformation and cell growth. These results indicate a role of HGF/MET in β-catenin-mediated prostate cancer cell growth and progression and implicate a molecular mechanism whereby nuclear MET promotes aberrant Wnt/β-catenin signaling-mediated prostate tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Aldahl
- Department of Cancer Biology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, California 91010-3000
| | - Jiaqi Mi
- Department of Cancer Biology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, California 91010-3000
| | - Ariana Pineda
- Department of Cancer Biology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, California 91010-3000
| | - Won Kyung Kim
- Department of Cancer Biology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, California 91010-3000
| | - Adam Olson
- Department of Cancer Biology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, California 91010-3000
| | - Erika Hooker
- Department of Cancer Biology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, California 91010-3000
| | - Yongfeng He
- Department of Cancer Biology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, California 91010-3000
| | - Eun-Jeong Yu
- Department of Cancer Biology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, California 91010-3000
| | - Vien Le
- Department of Cancer Biology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, California 91010-3000
| | - Dong-Hoon Lee
- Department of Cancer Biology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, California 91010-3000
| | - Joseph Geradts
- Department of Population Sciences, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, California 91010-3000
| | - Zijie Sun
- Department of Cancer Biology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, California 91010-3000.
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Sujit KM, Sarkar S, Singh V, Pandey R, Agrawal NK, Trivedi S, Singh K, Gupta G, Rajender S. Genome-wide differential methylation analyses identifies methylation signatures of male infertility. Hum Reprod 2019; 33:2256-2267. [PMID: 30358834 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dey319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2018] [Accepted: 10/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Do methylation changes in sperm DNA correlate with infertility? STUDY ANSWER Loss of spermatogenesis and fertility was correlated with 1680 differentially-methylated CpGs (DMCs) across 1052 genes. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Methylation changes in a number of genes have been correlated with reduced sperm count and motility. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION This case-control study used spermatozoal DNA from 38 oligo-/oligoastheno-zoospermic infertile patients and 26 normozoospermic fertile men. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTINGS, METHODS Genome-wide methylation analysis was undertaken using 450 K BeadChip on spermatozoal DNA from six infertile and six fertile men to identify DMCs. This was followed by deep sequencing of spermatozoal DNA from 32 infertile patients and 20 fertile controls. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE A total of 1680 DMCs were identified, out of which 1436 were hypermethylated and 244 were hypomethylated. Classification of DMCs according to the genes identified BCAN, CTNNA3, DLGAP2, GATA3, MAGI2 and TP73 among imprinted genes, SPATA5, SPATA7, SPATA16 and SPATA22 among spermatogenesis-associated genes, KDM4C and JMJD1C, EZH2 and HDAC4 among genes which regulate methylation and gene expression, HLA-C, HLA-DRB6 and HLA-DQA1 among complementation and immune response genes, and CRISPLD1, LPHN3 and CPEB2 among other genes. Genes showing significant differential methylation in deep sequencing, i.e. HOXB1, GATA3, EBF3, BCAN and TCERG1L, are strong candidates for further investigations. The role of chance was ruled out by deep sequencing of select genes. LARGE-SCALE DATA N/A. LIMITATIONS, REASON FOR CAUTION Genome-wide analyses are fairly accurate, but may not be exactly validated in replication studies across all DMCs. We used the 't' test in the genome-wide methylation analysis, whereas other tests could provide a more robust and powerful analysis. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS DMCs can serve as markers for inclusion in infertility screening panels, particularly those in the genes showing differential methylation consistent with previous studies. The genes validated by deep sequencing are strong candidates for investigations of their roles in spermatogenesis. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) The study was funded by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Govt. of India with grant number BSC0101 awarded to Rajender Singh. None of the authors has any competing interest to declare.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Saumya Sarkar
- Division of Endocrinology, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India
| | - Vertika Singh
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Rajesh Pandey
- CSIR Ayurgenomics Unit-TRISUTRA, CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi, India.,Mammalian Genetics Unit, MRC Harwell Institute, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Neeraj Kumar Agrawal
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Sameer Trivedi
- Department of Urology, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Kiran Singh
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India
| | - Gopal Gupta
- Division of Endocrinology, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India
| | - Singh Rajender
- Division of Endocrinology, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India
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Bhardwaj A, Singh H, Trinidad CM, Albarracin CT, Hunt KK, Bedrosian I. The isomiR-140-3p-regulated mevalonic acid pathway as a potential target for prevention of triple negative breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res 2018; 20:150. [PMID: 30537987 PMCID: PMC6290546 DOI: 10.1186/s13058-018-1074-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2018] [Accepted: 11/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prevention of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is hampered by lack of knowledge about the drivers of tumorigenesis. METHODS To identify molecular markers and their downstream networks that can potentially be targeted for TNBC prevention, we analyzed small RNA and RNA sequencing of a cell line model that represent early stages of TNBC development. We have identified direct gene targets of isomiRNA-140-3p and by using cell-based and in vivo model systems we have demonstrated the utility of targeting downstream pathways for prevention of TNBC. RESULTS These analyses showed that 5'isomiRNA of miR-140-3p (miR-140-3p-1) and its novel direct gene targets, HMG-CoA reductase (HMGCR) and HMG-CoA synthase 1(HMGCS1), key enzymes in the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway, were deregulated in the normal-to-preneoplastic transition. Upregulation in the cholesterol pathway creates metabolic vulnerability that can be targeted. Consistent with this hypothesis, we found direct targeting of miR-140-3p-1 and its downstream pathway by fluvastatin to inhibit growth of these preneoplastic MCF10.AT1 cells. However, although, fluvastatin inhibited the growth of MCF10.AT1-derived xenografts, histological progression remained unchanged. The cholesterol pathway is highly regulated, and HMGCR enzymatic activity inhibition is known to trigger a feedback response leading to restoration of the pathway. Indeed, we found fluvastatin-induced HMGCR transcript levels to be directly correlated with the degree of histological progression of lesions, indicating that the extent of cholesterol pathway suppression directly correlates with abrogation of the tumorigenic process. To block the HMGCR feedback response to statins, we treated resistant preneoplastic cells with an activator of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a brake in the cholesterol feedback pathway. AMPK activation by aspirin and metformin effectively abrogated the statin-induced aberrant upregulation of HMGCR and sensitized these resistant cells to fluvastatin. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest the potential use of combined treatment with statin and aspirin for prevention of TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjana Bhardwaj
- Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
| | - Harpreet Singh
- Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | | | | | - Kelly K Hunt
- Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Isabelle Bedrosian
- Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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10
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Mi J, Hooker E, Balog S, Zeng H, Johnson DT, He Y, Yu EJ, Wu H, Le V, Lee DH, Aldahl J, Gonzalgo ML, Sun Z. Activation of hepatocyte growth factor/MET signaling initiates oncogenic transformation and enhances tumor aggressiveness in the murine prostate. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:20123-20136. [PMID: 30401749 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.005395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2018] [Revised: 11/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging evidence has shown that the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and its receptor, MET proto-oncogene, receptor tyrosine kinase (MET), promote cell proliferation, motility, morphogenesis, and angiogenesis. Whereas up-regulation of MET expression has been observed in aggressive and metastatic prostate cancer, a clear understanding of MET function in prostate tumorigenesis remains elusive. Here, we developed a conditional Met transgenic mouse strain, H11 Met/+ :PB-Cre4, to mimic human prostate cancer cells with increased MET expression in the prostatic luminal epithelium. We found that these mice develop prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia after HGF administration. To further assess the biological role of MET in prostate cancer progression, we bred H11 Met/+ /PtenLoxP/LoxP:PBCre4 compound mice, in which transgenic Met expression and deletion of the tumor suppressor gene Pten occurred simultaneously only in prostatic epithelial cells. These compound mice exhibited accelerated prostate tumor formation and invasion as well as increased metastasis compared with PtenLoxP/LoxP:PB-Cre4 mice. Moreover, prostatic sarcomatoid carcinomas and lesions resembling the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition developed in tumor lesions of the compound mice. RNA-Seq and qRT-PCR analyses revealed a robust enrichment of known tumor progression and metastasis-promoting genes in samples isolated from H11 Met/+ /PtenLoxP/LoxP:PB-Cre4 compound mice compared with those from PtenLoxP/LoxP:PB-Cre4 littermate controls. HGF-induced cell proliferation and migration also increased in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) from animals with both Met transgene expression and Pten deletion compared with Pten-null MEFs. The results from these newly developed mouse models indicate a role for MET in hastening tumorigenesis and metastasis when combined with the loss of tumor suppressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Mi
- From the Departments of Cancer Biology and Pathology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, California 91010
| | - Erika Hooker
- From the Departments of Cancer Biology and Pathology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, California 91010; the Department of Urology and Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305
| | - Steven Balog
- From the Departments of Cancer Biology and Pathology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, California 91010
| | - Hong Zeng
- the Transgenic, Knockout and Tumor Model Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, and
| | - Daniel T Johnson
- the Department of Urology and Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305
| | - Yongfeng He
- From the Departments of Cancer Biology and Pathology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, California 91010; the Department of Urology and Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305
| | - Eun-Jeong Yu
- From the Departments of Cancer Biology and Pathology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, California 91010; the Department of Urology and Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305
| | - Huiqing Wu
- Pathology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, California 91010
| | - Vien Le
- From the Departments of Cancer Biology and Pathology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, California 91010
| | - Dong-Hoon Lee
- From the Departments of Cancer Biology and Pathology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, California 91010
| | - Joseph Aldahl
- From the Departments of Cancer Biology and Pathology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, California 91010
| | - Mark L Gonzalgo
- the Department of Urology, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida 33136
| | - Zijie Sun
- From the Departments of Cancer Biology and Pathology, Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, California 91010; the Department of Urology and Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305.
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11
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Bhardwaj A, Singh H, Rajapakshe K, Tachibana K, Ganesan N, Pan Y, Gunaratne PH, Coarfa C, Bedrosian I. Regulation of miRNA-29c and its downstream pathways in preneoplastic progression of triple-negative breast cancer. Oncotarget 2017; 8:19645-19660. [PMID: 28160548 PMCID: PMC5386711 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.14902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2016] [Accepted: 01/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Little is understood about the early molecular drivers of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), making the identification of women at risk and development of targeted therapy for prevention significant challenges. By sequencing a TNBC cell line-based breast cancer progression model we have found that miRNA-29c is progressively lost during TNBC tumorigenesis. In support of the tumor suppressive role of miRNA 29c, we found that low levels predict poor overall patient survival and, conversely, that ectopic expression of miRNA-29c in preneoplastic cell models inhibits growth. miRNA-29c exerts its growth inhibitory effects through direct binding and regulation of TGFB-induced factor homeobox 2 (TGIF2), CAMP-responsive element binding protein 5 (CREB5), and V-Akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog 3 (AKT3). miRNA-29c regulation of these gene targets seems to be functionally relevant, as TGIF2, CREB5, and AKT3 were able to rescue the inhibition of cell proliferation and colony formation caused by ectopic expression of miRNA-29c in preneoplastic cells. AKT3 is an oncogene of known relevance in breast cancer, and as a proof of principle we show that inhibition of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) activity, a protein upstream of AKT3, suppressed proliferation in TNBC preneoplastic cells. We explored additional opportunities for prevention of TNBC by studying the regulation of miRNA-29c and identified DNA methylation to have a role in the inhibition of miRNA-29c during TNBC tumorigenesis. Consistent with these observations, we found 5 aza-cytadine to relieve the suppression of miRNA-29c. Together, these results demonstrate that miRNA-29c loss plays a key role in the early development of TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjana Bhardwaj
- Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Harpreet Singh
- Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kimal Rajapakshe
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kazunoshin Tachibana
- Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Nivetha Ganesan
- Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Yinghong Pan
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Preethi H Gunaratne
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Cristian Coarfa
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Isabelle Bedrosian
- Department of Breast Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
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12
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Geng Q, Ni LW, Ouyang B, Hu YH, Zhao Y, Guo J. Alanine and arginine rich domain containing protein, Aard, is directly regulated by androgen receptor in mouse Sertoli cells. Mol Med Rep 2016; 15:352-358. [PMID: 27959439 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2016.6028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2015] [Accepted: 09/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Alanine and arginine rich domain containing protein (Aard) is specifically expressed in Sertoli cells (SCs) of mouse testis and the expression increases in an age‑dependent manner. A number of previous studies have indicated that androgen and androgen receptor (AR) signaling pathways are particularly important for spermatogenesis in mouse SCs, however, the association between Aard and AR remain to be elucidated. The present study identified Aard as a gene that is directly regulated by AR in mouse SCs, which is important in spermatogenesis. The expression of AARD was significantly downregulated in the testes of Sertoli cell‑selective AR knockout mice compared with wild‑type mice as analyzed by western blotting and immunofluorescence analyses. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting indicated that AARD was predominantly expressed in adult mouse testis and its expression was increased in an age-dependent manner. In addition, AARD expression was upregulated by testosterone in primary SCs in vitro, which was confirmed by bioinformatics analysis and a dual‑luciferase reporter assay. Finally, chromatin immunoprecipitation and electrophoretic mobility shift assays indicated that the ligand‑bound AR activated Aard transcription via directly binding to the androgen‑responsive element of the Aard promoter. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first to document that Aard is directly regulated by AR in mouse Sertoli cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Geng
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300193, P.R. China
| | - Li-Wei Ni
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300193, P.R. China
| | - Bin Ouyang
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300193, P.R. China
| | - Yan-Hua Hu
- Union Stem Cell & Gene Engineering Co., Ltd, Tianjin 300384, P.R. China
| | - Yu Zhao
- Graduate School of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin 300193, P.R. China
| | - Jun Guo
- Department of Andrology, Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Science, Beijing 100091, P.R. China
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13
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Luo M, Li Y, Guo H, Lin S, Chen J, Ma Q, Gu Y, Jiang Z, Gui Y. Protein Arginine Methyltransferase 6 Involved in Germ Cell Viability during Spermatogenesis and Down-Regulated by the Androgen Receptor. Int J Mol Sci 2015; 16:29467-81. [PMID: 26690413 PMCID: PMC4691129 DOI: 10.3390/ijms161226186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2015] [Revised: 11/26/2015] [Accepted: 12/02/2015] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Androgens and the androgen receptor (AR) are of great importance to spermatogenesis and male fertility. AR knockout (ARKO) mice display a complete insensitivity to androgens and male infertility; however, the exact molecular mechanism for this effect remains unclear. In this study, we found that the expression levels of Prmt6 mRNA and protein were significantly up-regulated in the testes of ARKO mice compared to wild type (WT) mice. PRMT6 was principally localized to the nucleus of spermatogonia and spermatocytes by immunofluorescence staining. Furthermore, luciferase assay data showed that AR together with testosterone treatment suppressed Prmt6 transcription via binding to the androgen-responsive element (ARE) of the Prmt6 promoter. Moreover, knockdown of Prmt6 suppressed germ cells migration and promoted apoptosis. In addition, both of these cellular activities could not be enhanced by testosterone treatment. Taken together, these data indicate that PRMT6, which was down-regulated by AR and influenced cell migration and apoptosis of germ cells, could play a potentially important role in spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manling Luo
- Department of Physiology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China.
| | - Yuchi Li
- Department of Physiology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China.
- Guangdong and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Male Reproductive Medicine and Genetics, Institute of Urology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen PKU-HKUST Medical Center, Shenzhen 518036, China.
| | - Huan Guo
- Guangdong and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Male Reproductive Medicine and Genetics, Institute of Urology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen PKU-HKUST Medical Center, Shenzhen 518036, China.
- Department of Surgery, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510182, China.
| | - Shouren Lin
- Guangdong and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Male Reproductive Medicine and Genetics, Institute of Urology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen PKU-HKUST Medical Center, Shenzhen 518036, China.
| | - Jianbo Chen
- Guangdong and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Male Reproductive Medicine and Genetics, Institute of Urology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen PKU-HKUST Medical Center, Shenzhen 518036, China.
- Department of Surgery, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China.
| | - Qian Ma
- Guangdong and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Male Reproductive Medicine and Genetics, Institute of Urology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen PKU-HKUST Medical Center, Shenzhen 518036, China.
| | - Yanli Gu
- Guangdong and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Male Reproductive Medicine and Genetics, Institute of Urology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen PKU-HKUST Medical Center, Shenzhen 518036, China.
| | - Zhimao Jiang
- Guangdong and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Male Reproductive Medicine and Genetics, Institute of Urology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen PKU-HKUST Medical Center, Shenzhen 518036, China.
| | - Yaoting Gui
- Guangdong and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Male Reproductive Medicine and Genetics, Institute of Urology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen PKU-HKUST Medical Center, Shenzhen 518036, China.
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14
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Guo H, Li Y, Luo M, Lin S, Chen J, Ma Q, Gu Y, Jiang Z, Gui Y. Androgen receptor binding to an androgen-responsive element in the promoter of the Srsf4 gene inhibits its expression in mouse Sertoli cells. Mol Reprod Dev 2015; 82:976-85. [PMID: 26308373 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.22576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2015] [Accepted: 08/22/2015] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The serine/arginine-rich splicing actor 4 (SRSF4) is essential for pre-mRNA splicing and can influence alternative-splice-site choice. Little is known about the specific function of this gene in the reproductive system, although a recent study identified a SRSF4 polymorphism significantly associated with a decreased risk of non-obstructive azoospermia in Chinese men. We previously found that the expression of Srsf4 was up-regulated in the testes of Sertoli-cell-selective androgen receptor knockout (S-Ar(-/y)) mice compared to wild-type mice using digital gene expression analysis. In this study, we confirmed and extended the selective gene expression data: SRSF4 was mainly located in the nucleus of Sertoli cells, and Srsf4 expression in the Sertoli-cell-derived cell line TM4 is down-regulation by testosterone. Moreover, androgen receptor directly binds the androgen-responsive element of the Srsf4 promoter. Taken together, these results demonstrate that Srsf4 is a direct downstream target of the androgen receptor in mouse Sertoli cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Guo
- Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, P.R. China
- Guangdong and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Male Reproductive Medicine and Genetics, Institute of Urology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen PKU-HKUST Medical Center, Shenzhen, P.R. China
| | - Yuchi Li
- Guangdong and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Male Reproductive Medicine and Genetics, Institute of Urology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen PKU-HKUST Medical Center, Shenzhen, P.R. China
- Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, P.R. China
| | - Manling Luo
- Guangdong and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Male Reproductive Medicine and Genetics, Institute of Urology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen PKU-HKUST Medical Center, Shenzhen, P.R. China
- Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, P.R. China
| | - Shouren Lin
- Guangdong and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Male Reproductive Medicine and Genetics, Institute of Urology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen PKU-HKUST Medical Center, Shenzhen, P.R. China
| | - Jianbo Chen
- Guangdong and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Male Reproductive Medicine and Genetics, Institute of Urology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen PKU-HKUST Medical Center, Shenzhen, P.R. China
- Anhui Medical University, Hefei, P.R. China
| | - Qian Ma
- Guangdong and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Male Reproductive Medicine and Genetics, Institute of Urology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen PKU-HKUST Medical Center, Shenzhen, P.R. China
| | - Yanli Gu
- Guangdong and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Male Reproductive Medicine and Genetics, Institute of Urology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen PKU-HKUST Medical Center, Shenzhen, P.R. China
| | - Zhimao Jiang
- Guangdong and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Male Reproductive Medicine and Genetics, Institute of Urology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen PKU-HKUST Medical Center, Shenzhen, P.R. China
| | - Yaoting Gui
- Guangdong and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Male Reproductive Medicine and Genetics, Institute of Urology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen PKU-HKUST Medical Center, Shenzhen, P.R. China
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15
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Annexin A1 Preferentially Predicts Poor Prognosis of Basal-Like Breast Cancer Patients by Activating mTOR-S6 Signaling. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0127678. [PMID: 26000884 PMCID: PMC4441370 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0127678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2014] [Accepted: 04/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Annexin A1 (ANXA1) is an anti-inflammatory protein reported to play a role in cell proliferation and apoptosis, and to be deregulated in breast cancer. The exact role of annexin A1 in the biology of breast cancer remains unclear. We hypothesized that the annexin A1 plays an oncogenic role in basal subtype of breast cancer by modulating key growth pathway(s). Methods By mining the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-Breast Cancer dataset and manipulating annexin A1 levels in breast cancer cell lines, we studied the role of annexin A1 in breast cancer and underlying signaling pathways. Results Our in-silico analysis of TCGA-breast cancer dataset demonstrated that annexin A1 mRNA expression is higher in basal subtype compared to luminal and HER2 subtypes. Within the basal subtype, patients show significantly poorer overall survival associated with higher expression of annexin A1. In both TCGA patient samples and cell lines, annexin A1 levels were significantly higher in basal-like breast cancer than luminal and Her2/neu-positive breast cancer. Stable annexin A1 knockdown in TNBC cell lines suppressed the mTOR-S6 pathway likely through activation of AMPK but had no impact on the MAPK, c-Met, and EGFR pathways. In a cell migration assay, annexin A1-depleted TNBC cells showed delayed migration as compared to wild-type cells, which could be responsible for poor patient prognosis in basal like breast cancers that are known to express higher annexin A1. Conclusions Our data suggest that annexin A1 is prognostic only in patients with basal like breast cancer. This appears to be in part due to the role of annexin A1 in activating mTOR-pS6 pathway.
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16
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Song HW, Bettegowda A, Oliver D, Yan W, Phan MH, de Rooij DG, Corbett MA, Wilkinson MF. shRNA off-target effects in vivo: impaired endogenous siRNA expression and spermatogenic defects. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0118549. [PMID: 25790000 PMCID: PMC4366048 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0118549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2014] [Accepted: 01/20/2015] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) is widely used to determine the function of genes. We chose this approach to assess the collective function of the highly related reproductive homeobox 3 (Rhox3) gene paralogs. Using a Rhox3 short hairpin (sh) RNA with 100% complementarity to all 8 Rhox3 paralogs, expressed from a CRE-regulated transgene, we successfully knocked down Rhox3 expression in male germ cells in vivo. These Rhox3-shRNA transgenic mice had dramatic defects in spermatogenesis, primarily in spermatocytes and round spermatids. To determine whether this phenotype was caused by reduced Rhox3 expression, we generated mice expressing the Rhox3-shRNA but lacking the intended target of the shRNA—Rhox3. These double-mutant mice had a phenotype indistinguishable from Rhox3-shRNA-expressing mice that was different from mice lacking the Rhox3 paralogs, indicating that the Rhox3 shRNA disrupts spermatogenesis independently of Rhox3. Rhox3-shRNA transgenic mice displayed few alterations in the expression of protein-coding genes, but instead exhibited reduced levels of all endogenous siRNAs we tested. This supported a model in which the Rhox3 shRNA causes spermatogenic defects by sequestering one or more components of the endogenous small RNA biogenesis machinery. Our study serves as a warning for those using shRNA approaches to investigate gene functions in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye-Won Song
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Anilkumar Bettegowda
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Daniel Oliver
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno, Nevada, United States of America
| | - Wei Yan
- Department of Physiology and Cell Biology, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Reno, Nevada, United States of America
| | - Mimi H. Phan
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Dirk G. de Rooij
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Mark A. Corbett
- School of Pediatrics and Reproductive Health, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Miles F. Wilkinson
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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17
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Rao MK, Matsumoto Y, Richardson ME, Panneerdoss S, Bhardwaj A, Ward JM, Shanker S, Bettegowda A, Wilkinson MF. Hormone-induced and DNA demethylation-induced relief of a tissue-specific and developmentally regulated block in transcriptional elongation. J Biol Chem 2014; 289:35087-101. [PMID: 25331959 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.615435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Genome-wide studies have revealed that genes commonly have a high density of RNA polymerase II just downstream of the transcription start site. This has raised the possibility that genes are commonly regulated by transcriptional elongation, but this remains largely untested in vivo, particularly in vertebrates. Here, we show that the proximal promoter from the Rhox5 homeobox gene recruits polymerase II and begins elongating in all tissues and cell lines that we tested, but it only completes elongation in a tissue-specific and developmentally regulated manner. Relief of the elongation block is associated with recruitment of the elongation factor P-TEFb, the co-activator GRIP1, the chromatin remodeling factor BRG1, and specific histone modifications. We provide evidence that two mechanisms relieve the elongation block at the proximal promoter: demethylation and recruitment of androgen receptor. Together, our findings support a model in which promoter proximal pausing helps confer tissue-specific and developmental gene expression through a mechanism regulated by DNA demethylation-dependent nuclear hormone receptor recruitment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manjeet K Rao
- From the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, the Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, Department of Cellular and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas 78229
| | - Yuiko Matsumoto
- From the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Marcy E Richardson
- the Department of Reproductive Medicine, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California 92037, the Institute of Genomic Medicine, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, and
| | - Subbarayalu Panneerdoss
- the Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, Department of Cellular and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas 78229
| | - Anjana Bhardwaj
- From the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Jacqueline M Ward
- the Department of Reproductive Medicine, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California 92037, the Institute of Genomic Medicine, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, and
| | - Sreenath Shanker
- From the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Anilkumar Bettegowda
- From the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, the Department of Reproductive Medicine, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California 92037, the Institute of Genomic Medicine, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, and
| | - Miles F Wilkinson
- From the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, the Department of Reproductive Medicine, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California 92037, the Institute of Genomic Medicine, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093, and
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18
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Bell EL, Nagamori I, Williams EO, Del Rosario AM, Bryson BD, Watson N, White FM, Sassone-Corsi P, Guarente L. SirT1 is required in the male germ cell for differentiation and fecundity in mice. Development 2014; 141:3495-504. [PMID: 25142464 DOI: 10.1242/dev.110627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Sirtuins are NAD(+)-dependent deacylases that regulate numerous biological processes in response to the environment. SirT1 is the mammalian ortholog of yeast Sir2, and is involved in many metabolic pathways in somatic tissues. Whole body deletion of SirT1 alters reproductive function in oocytes and the testes, in part caused by defects in central neuro-endocrine control. To study the function of SirT1 specifically in the male germ line, we deleted this sirtuin in male germ cells and found that mutant mice had smaller testes, a delay in differentiation of pre-meiotic germ cells, decreased spermatozoa number, an increased proportion of abnormal spermatozoa and reduced fertility. At the molecular level, mutants do not have the characteristic increase in acetylation of histone H4 at residues K5, K8 and K12 during spermiogenesis and demonstrate corresponding defects in the histone to protamine transition. Our findings thus reveal a germ cell-autonomous role of SirT1 in spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric L Bell
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Biology, Glenn Laboratory for the Science of Aging, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Ippei Nagamori
- Center for Epigenetics and Metabolism, Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA Osaka University, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Eric O Williams
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Biology, Glenn Laboratory for the Science of Aging, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Amanda M Del Rosario
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Bryan D Bryson
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA Massachusettes Institute of Technology, Department of Biological Engineering, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Nicki Watson
- W. M. Keck Microscopy Facility Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Forest M White
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA Massachusettes Institute of Technology, Department of Biological Engineering, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Paolo Sassone-Corsi
- Center for Epigenetics and Metabolism, Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Leonard Guarente
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Biology, Glenn Laboratory for the Science of Aging, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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Naillat F, Veikkolainen V, Miinalainen I, Sipilä P, Poutanen M, Elenius K, Vainio SJ. ErbB4, a receptor tyrosine kinase, coordinates organization of the seminiferous tubules in the developing testis. Mol Endocrinol 2014; 28:1534-46. [PMID: 25058600 DOI: 10.1210/me.2013-1244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Although close to every fifth couple nowadays has difficulty conceiving, the molecular mechanisms behind the decline in human reproduction remain poorly understood. We report here that the receptor tyrosine kinase Erbb4 is a candidate causal gene, because it is expressed in a sexually dimorphic manner and is abundant in the developing and adult testes in the mouse. Sertoli cell-specific Erbb4-knockout mice have a compromised 3-dimensional organization of the testicular seminiferous tubules that affects their fertility. More specifically, adhesion defects are observed in the absence of Erbb4, which are characterized by changes in the expression of laminin-1, N-cadherin, claudin-3, and certain cell-cell junction components between the Sertoli and germ cells. Interestingly, Erbb4 knockout also had an effect on the Leydig cells, which suggests a paracrine influence of Sertoli cells expressing ErbB4. Many of the defects observed in Erbb4-knockout mice are rescued in targeted ERBB4 gain-of-function mice, pointing to a coordination role for ErbB4 in the developing testis. Thus, the ErbB4 receptor tyrosine kinase promotes seminiferous tubule development by controlling Sertoli cell and germ cell adhesion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florence Naillat
- Oulu Centre for Cell-Matrix Research (F.N., S.J.V.), Biocenter Oulu, Infotech Oulu, Laboratory of Developmental Biology, Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Oulu, FI-90220 Oulu, Finland; Department of Medical Biochemistry and Genetics (V.V., K.E.), and Medicity Research Laboratory, University of Turku, FI-20520 Turku, Finland; Electron Microscopy Unit (I.M.), FI-90220 Oulu, Finland; Laboratory Animal Center (P.S.), University of Helsinki, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland; Department of Physiology (M.P.), Turku University Hospital, FI-2001 4 Turku, Finland; and Department of Oncology (K.E.), Turku University Hospital, FI-20520 Turku, Finland
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20
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Tevosian SG. Transgenic mouse models in the study of reproduction: insights into GATA protein function. Reproduction 2014; 148:R1-R14. [DOI: 10.1530/rep-14-0086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
For the past 2 decades, transgenic technology in mice has allowed for an unprecedented insight into the transcriptional control of reproductive development and function. The key factor among the mouse genetic tools that made this rapid advance possible is a conditional transgenic approach, a particularly versatile method of creating gene deletions and substitutions in the mouse genome. A centerpiece of this strategy is an enzyme, Cre recombinase, which is expressed from defined DNA regulatory elements that are active in the tissue of choice. The regulatory DNA element (either genetically engineered or natural) assures Cre expression only in predetermined cell types, leading to the guided deletion of genetically modified (flanked by loxP or ‘floxed’ byloxP) gene loci. This review summarizes and compares the studies in which genes encoding GATA family transcription factors were targeted either globally or by Cre recombinases active in the somatic cells of ovaries and testes. The conditional gene loss experiments require detailed knowledge of the spatial and temporal expression of Cre activity, and the challenges in interpreting the outcomes are highlighted. These studies also expose the complexity of GATA-dependent regulation of gonadal gene expression and suggest that gene function is highly context dependent.
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21
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Padua MB, Fox SC, Jiang T, Morse DA, Tevosian SG. Simultaneous gene deletion of gata4 and gata6 leads to early disruption of follicular development and germ cell loss in the murine ovary. Biol Reprod 2014; 91:24. [PMID: 24899573 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.113.117002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Granulosa cell formation and subsequent follicular assembly are important for ovarian development and function. Two members of the GATA family of transcription factors, GATA4 and GATA6, are expressed in ovarian somatic cells early in development, and their importance in adult ovarian function has been recently highlighted. In this study, we demonstrated that the embryonic loss of Gata4 and Gata6 expression within the ovary results in a strong down-regulation of genes involved in the ovarian developmental pathway (Fst and Irx3) as well as diminished expression of the pregranulosa and granulosa cell markers SPRR2 and FOXL2, respectively. Postnatal ovaries deficient in both Gata genes show impaired somatic cell proliferation and arrested follicular development at the primordial stage, where oocytes are either enclosed by one layer of squamous granulosa cells or remain in germ cell nests/clusters. Furthermore, germ cell nests and primordial follicles are predominantly localized to the central region of the Sf1Cre; Gata4(flox/flox) Gata6(flox/flox) ovaries, where the boundary between the medulla and cortex is almost nonexistent. Lastly, most of the oocytes are lost early in development in conditional double mutant ovaries, which confirms the importance of normally differentiated granulosa cells as supporting cells for oocyte survival. Thus, both GATA4 and GATA6 proteins are fundamental regulators of granulosa cell differentiation and proliferation, and consequently of proper follicular assembly during normal ovarian development and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria B Padua
- Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Shawna C Fox
- Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Tianyu Jiang
- Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Deborah A Morse
- Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Sergei G Tevosian
- Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
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22
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Yang L, Wang Y, Zhang Q, Lai Y, Li C, Zhang Q, Huang W, Duan Y, Jiang Z, Li X, Cai Z, Mou L, Gui Y. Identification ofHsf1as a novel androgen receptor-regulated gene in mouse Sertoli cells. Mol Reprod Dev 2014; 81:514-23. [PMID: 24599545 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.22318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2013] [Accepted: 03/03/2014] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lihua Yang
- Guangdong and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Male Reproductive Medicine and Genetics; Institute of Urology; Peking University Shenzhen Hospital; Shenzhen PKU-HKUST Medical Center; Shenzhen China
- Department of Urological Surgery; Shenzhen Second People's Hospital; The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University; Shenzhen China
| | - Yadong Wang
- Guangdong and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Male Reproductive Medicine and Genetics; Institute of Urology; Peking University Shenzhen Hospital; Shenzhen PKU-HKUST Medical Center; Shenzhen China
- Zunyi Medical College Fifth Affiliated Hospital; Zhuhai China
| | - Qiang Zhang
- Guangdong and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Male Reproductive Medicine and Genetics; Institute of Urology; Peking University Shenzhen Hospital; Shenzhen PKU-HKUST Medical Center; Shenzhen China
| | - Yongqing Lai
- Guangdong and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Male Reproductive Medicine and Genetics; Institute of Urology; Peking University Shenzhen Hospital; Shenzhen PKU-HKUST Medical Center; Shenzhen China
| | - Cailing Li
- Guangdong and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Male Reproductive Medicine and Genetics; Institute of Urology; Peking University Shenzhen Hospital; Shenzhen PKU-HKUST Medical Center; Shenzhen China
| | - Qiaoxia Zhang
- Department of Urological Surgery; Shenzhen Second People's Hospital; The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University; Shenzhen China
| | - Weiren Huang
- Department of Urological Surgery; Shenzhen Second People's Hospital; The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University; Shenzhen China
| | - Yonggang Duan
- Department of Urological Surgery; Shenzhen Second People's Hospital; The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University; Shenzhen China
| | - Zhimao Jiang
- Guangdong and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Male Reproductive Medicine and Genetics; Institute of Urology; Peking University Shenzhen Hospital; Shenzhen PKU-HKUST Medical Center; Shenzhen China
| | - Xianxin Li
- Guangdong and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Male Reproductive Medicine and Genetics; Institute of Urology; Peking University Shenzhen Hospital; Shenzhen PKU-HKUST Medical Center; Shenzhen China
| | - Zhiming Cai
- Department of Urological Surgery; Shenzhen Second People's Hospital; The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University; Shenzhen China
| | - Lisha Mou
- Department of Urological Surgery; Shenzhen Second People's Hospital; The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University; Shenzhen China
| | - Yaoting Gui
- Guangdong and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Male Reproductive Medicine and Genetics; Institute of Urology; Peking University Shenzhen Hospital; Shenzhen PKU-HKUST Medical Center; Shenzhen China
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23
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Vija L, Boukari K, Loosfelt H, Meduri G, Viengchareun S, Binart N, Young J, Lombès M. Ligand-dependent stabilization of androgen receptor in a novel mouse ST38c Sertoli cell line. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2014; 384:32-42. [PMID: 24440575 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2014.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2013] [Revised: 01/06/2014] [Accepted: 01/07/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Mature Sertoli cells (SC) are critical mediators of androgen regulation of spermatogenesis, via the androgen receptor (AR) signaling. Available immortalized SC lines loose AR expression or androgen responsiveness, hampering the study of endogenous AR regulation in SC. We have established and characterized a novel clonal mouse immortalized SC line, ST38c. These cells express some SC specific genes (sox9, wt1, tjp1, clu, abp, inhbb), but not fshr, yet more importantly, maintain substantial expression of endogenous AR as determined by PCR, immunocytochemistry, testosterone binding assays and Western blots. Microarrays allowed identification of some (146) but not all (rhox5, spinlw1), androgen-dependent, SC expressed target genes. Quantitative Real-Time PCR validated regulation of five up-regulated and two down-regulated genes. We show that AR undergoes androgen-dependent transcriptional activation as well as agonist-dependent posttranslational stabilization in ST38c cells. This cell line constitutes a useful experimental tool for future investigations on the molecular and cellular mechanisms of androgen receptor signaling in SC function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lavinia Vija
- INSERM U693 and Univ Paris-Sud 11, Faculté de Médecine Paris-Sud, UMR-S693, Le Kremlin Bicêtre F-94276, France; «Carol Davila» University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Kahina Boukari
- INSERM U693 and Univ Paris-Sud 11, Faculté de Médecine Paris-Sud, UMR-S693, Le Kremlin Bicêtre F-94276, France
| | - Hugues Loosfelt
- INSERM U693 and Univ Paris-Sud 11, Faculté de Médecine Paris-Sud, UMR-S693, Le Kremlin Bicêtre F-94276, France
| | - Geri Meduri
- INSERM U693 and Univ Paris-Sud 11, Faculté de Médecine Paris-Sud, UMR-S693, Le Kremlin Bicêtre F-94276, France
| | - Say Viengchareun
- INSERM U693 and Univ Paris-Sud 11, Faculté de Médecine Paris-Sud, UMR-S693, Le Kremlin Bicêtre F-94276, France
| | - Nadine Binart
- INSERM U693 and Univ Paris-Sud 11, Faculté de Médecine Paris-Sud, UMR-S693, Le Kremlin Bicêtre F-94276, France; Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital de Bicêtre, Service d'Endocrinologie et Maladies de la Reproduction, Le Kremlin Bicêtre F-94275, France
| | - Jacques Young
- INSERM U693 and Univ Paris-Sud 11, Faculté de Médecine Paris-Sud, UMR-S693, Le Kremlin Bicêtre F-94276, France; Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital de Bicêtre, Service d'Endocrinologie et Maladies de la Reproduction, Le Kremlin Bicêtre F-94275, France
| | - Marc Lombès
- INSERM U693 and Univ Paris-Sud 11, Faculté de Médecine Paris-Sud, UMR-S693, Le Kremlin Bicêtre F-94276, France; Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital de Bicêtre, Service d'Endocrinologie et Maladies de la Reproduction, Le Kremlin Bicêtre F-94275, France.
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24
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MacLean JA, Hu Z, Welborn JP, Song HW, Rao MK, Wayne CM, Wilkinson MF. The RHOX homeodomain proteins regulate the expression of insulin and other metabolic regulators in the testis. J Biol Chem 2013; 288:34809-25. [PMID: 24121513 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.486340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Defects in cellular metabolism have been widely implicated in causing male infertility, but there has been little progress in understanding the underlying mechanism. Here we report that several key metabolism genes are regulated in the testis by Rhox5, the founding member of a large X-linked homeobox gene cluster. Among these Rhox5-regulated genes are insulin 2 (Ins2), resistin (Retn), and adiponectin (Adipoq), all of which encode secreted proteins that have profound and wide-ranging effects on cellular metabolism. The ability of Rhox5 to regulate their levels in the testis has the potential to dictate metabolism locally in this organ, given the existence of the blood-testes barrier. We demonstrate that Ins2 is a direct target of Rhox5 in Sertoli cells, and we show that this regulation is physiologically significant, because Rhox5-null mice fail to up-regulate Ins2 expression during the first wave of spermatogenesis and have insulin-signaling defects. We identify other Rhox family members that induce Ins2 transcription, define protein domains and homeodomain amino acid residues crucial for this property, and demonstrate that this regulation is conserved. Rhox5-null mice also exhibit altered expression of other metabolism genes, including those encoding the master transcriptional regulators of metabolism, PPARG and PPARGC1A, as well as SCD1, the rate-limiting enzyme for fatty acid metabolism. These results, coupled with the known roles of RHOX5 and its target metabolism genes in spermatogenesis in vivo, lead us to propose a model in which RHOX5 is a central transcription factor that promotes the survival of male germ cells via its effects on cellular metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- James A MacLean
- From the Department of Physiology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Carbondale, Illinois 62901
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25
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The transcription factor GATA4 is required for follicular development and normal ovarian function. Dev Biol 2013; 381:144-58. [PMID: 23769843 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2013.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2012] [Revised: 06/03/2013] [Accepted: 06/04/2013] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Sex determination in mammals requires interaction between the transcription factor GATA4 and its cofactor FOG2. We have recently described the function of both proteins in testis development beyond the sex determination stage; their roles in the postnatal ovary, however, remain to be defined. Here, we use gene targeting in mice to determine the requirement of GATA4 and FOG2 in ovarian development and folliculogenesis. The results from this study identify an essential role of the GATA4 protein in the ovarian morphogenetic program. We show that in contrast to the sex determination phase, which relies on the GATA4-FOG2 complex, the subsequent regulation of ovarian differentiation is dependent upon GATA4 but not FOG2. The loss of Gata4 expression within the ovary results in impaired granulosa cell proliferation and theca cell recruitment as well as fewer primordial follicles in the ovarian cortex, causing a failure in follicular development. Preantral follicular atresia is observed within the few follicles that develop despite Gata4 deficiency. The depletion of the follicular pool in GATA4 deficient ovary results in the formation of ovarian cysts and sterility.
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26
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Panneerdoss S, Chang YF, Buddavarapu KC, Chen HIH, Shetty G, Wang H, Chen Y, Kumar TR, Rao MK. Androgen-responsive microRNAs in mouse Sertoli cells. PLoS One 2012; 7:e41146. [PMID: 22911753 PMCID: PMC3401116 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0041146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2012] [Accepted: 06/18/2012] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Although decades of research have established that androgen is essential for spermatogenesis, androgen's mechanism of action remains elusive. This is in part because only a few androgen-responsive genes have been definitively identified in the testis. Here, we propose that microRNAs – small, non-coding RNAs – are one class of androgen-regulated trans-acting factors in the testis. Specifically, by using androgen suppression and androgen replacement in mice, we show that androgen regulates the expression of several microRNAs in Sertoli cells. Our results reveal that several of these microRNAs are preferentially expressed in the testis and regulate genes that are highly expressed in Sertoli cells. Because androgen receptor-mediated signaling is essential for the pre- and post-meiotic germ cell development, we propose that androgen controls these events by regulating Sertoli/germ cell-specific gene expression in a microRNA-dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subbarayalu Panneerdoss
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
| | - Yao-Fu Chang
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
| | - Kalyan C. Buddavarapu
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
| | - Hung-I Harry Chen
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
| | - Gunapala Shetty
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Huizhen Wang
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, United States of America
| | - Yidong Chen
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
| | - T. Rajendra Kumar
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, United States of America
| | - Manjeet K. Rao
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
- Department of Cellular and Structural Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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27
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Abarikwu SO, Pant AB, Farombi EO. The protective effects of quercetin on the cytotoxicity of atrazine on rat Sertoli-germ cell co-culture. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 35:590-600. [PMID: 22372587 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2605.2011.01239.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
To evaluate the direct effect of atrazine (ATZ) and the protective effect of quercetin (QT) on testicular cells, we used primary cultures of rat Sertoli-germ cells (SGCs). ATZ (232 μm) up-regulated the mRNA expression of GATA-4, androgen receptor (AR), androgen-binding protein (ABP), steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), cytochrome P450 side-chain cleavage enzyme (CYP11A1), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and NF-κappaB (NF-κB) and down-regulated the expression of stem cell factor (SCF) mRNA. There was no change on the mRNA expression of oestrogen receptor-alpha (ER-α). Simultaneous supplementation of QT in the culture normalizes the expression of these genes. The stimulatory action of follicle stimulating hormone (10 ng/mL) on ATZ-induced StAR and CYP11A1 mRNA levels were also prevented by QT. Furthermore, ATZ-stimulatory action on AR mRNA was opposed in a dose-dependent manner in the presence of increasing concentrations of QT (10-50 μm).The dislodgement of germ cells from the Sertoli cells monolayer and decrease in SGCs viability was prevented by QT. To show whether or not the disrupted interactions of Sertoli and germ cells impaired spermatogenesis, adult male rats exposed in vivo to ATZ (50 mg/kg b.wt) for 1 week had their daily spermatozoa production (DSP) per gram testis lowered by 30%. DSP was significantly increased in the QT(10 mg/kg) + ATZ-treated rats as compared with the ATZ-treated rats. Taken together, ATZ can alter SGCs expression of spermatogenesis- and steroiodogenesis-related genes resulting in a decrease in sperm production in the testis as well as cell viability. QT might block these molecular events-induced by ATZ thereby protecting testicular Sertoli-germ cells from ATZ-induced toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- S O Abarikwu
- Department of Chemical Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Redeemer's University, Redemption City, Ogun State, Nigeria.
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28
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Bhardwaj A, Song HW, Beildeck M, Kerkhofs S, Castoro R, Shanker S, De Gendt K, Suzuki K, Claessens F, Issa JP, Orgebin-Crist MC, Wilkinson MF. DNA demethylation-dependent AR recruitment and GATA factors drive Rhox5 homeobox gene transcription in the epididymis. Mol Endocrinol 2012; 26:538-49. [PMID: 22322598 DOI: 10.1210/me.2011-1059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammalian male fertility depends on the epididymis, a highly segmented organ that promotes sperm maturation and protects sperm from oxidative damage. Remarkably little is known about how gene expression is controlled in the epididymis. A candidate to regulate genes crucial for epididymal function is reproductive homeobox gene on X chromosome (RHOX)5, a homeobox transcription factor essential for optimal sperm motility that is expressed in the caput region of the epididymis. Here, we report the identification of factors that control Rhox5 gene expression in epididymal cells in a developmentally regulated and region-specific fashion. First, we identify GATA transcription factor-binding sites in the Rhox5 proximal promoter (Pp) necessary for Rhox5 expression in epididymal cells in vitro and in vivo. Adjacent to the GATA sites are androgen-response elements, which bind to the nuclear hormone receptor androgen receptor (AR), and are responsible for the AR-dependent expression of Rhox5 in epididymal cells. We provide evidence that AR is recruited to the Pp in a region-specific and developmentally regulated manner in the epididymis that is dictated not only by differential AR availability but differential methylation of the Pp. Site-specific methylation of the Pp cytosine and guanine separated by one phosphate, most of which overlap with androgen-response elements, inhibited both AR occupancy at the Pp and Pp-dependent transcription in caput epididymal cells. Together, our data support a model in which DNA methylation, AR, and GATA factors collaborate to dictate the unique developmental and region-specific expression pattern of the RHOX5 homeobox transcription factor in the caput epididymis, which in turn controls the expression of genes critical for promoting sperm motility and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjana Bhardwaj
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
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29
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Gautier A, Sohm F, Joly JS, Le Gac F, Lareyre JJ. The Proximal Promoter Region of the Zebrafish gsdf Gene Is Sufficient to Mimic the Spatio-Temporal Expression Pattern of the Endogenous Gene in Sertoli and Granulosa Cells1. Biol Reprod 2011; 85:1240-51. [DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.111.091892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
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30
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Huang L, Lou CH, Chan W, Shum EY, Shao A, Stone E, Karam R, Song HW, Wilkinson MF. RNA homeostasis governed by cell type-specific and branched feedback loops acting on NMD. Mol Cell 2011; 43:950-61. [PMID: 21925383 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2011.06.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2010] [Revised: 03/28/2011] [Accepted: 06/22/2011] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) is a conserved RNA decay pathway that degrades aberrant mRNAs and directly regulates many normal mRNAs. This dual role for NMD raises the possibility that its magnitude is buffered to prevent the potentially catastrophic alterations in gene expression that would otherwise occur if NMD were perturbed by environmental or genetic insults. In support of this, here we report the existence of a negative feedback regulatory network that directly acts on seven NMD factors. Feedback regulation is conferred by different branches of the NMD pathway in a cell type-specific and developmentally regulated manner. We identify feedback-regulated NMD factors that are rate limiting for NMD and demonstrate that reversal of feedback regulation in response to NMD perturbation is crucial for maintaining NMD. Together, our results suggest the existence of an intricate feedback network that maintains both RNA surveillance and the homeostasis of normal gene expression in mammalian cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lulu Huang
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
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31
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Zhang QX, Zhang XY, Zhang ZM, Lu W, Liu L, Li G, Cai ZM, Gui YT, Chang C. Identification of testosterone-/androgen receptor-regulated genes in mouse Sertoli cells. Asian J Androl 2011; 14:294-300. [PMID: 22002438 DOI: 10.1038/aja.2011.94] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Androgen and androgen receptor (AR) play important roles in male spermatogenesis and fertility, yet detailed androgen/AR signals in Sertoli cells remain unclear. To identify AR target genes in Sertoli cells, we analyzed the gene expression profiles of testis between mice lacking AR in Sertoli cells (S-AR(-/y)) and their littermate wild-type (WT) mice. Digital gene expression analysis identified 2276 genes downregulated and 2865 genes upregulated in the S-AR(-/y) mice testis compared to WT ones. To further nail down the difference within Sertoli cells, we first constructed Sertoli cell line TM4 with stably transfected AR (named as TM4/AR) and found androgens failed to transactivate AR in Sertoli TM4 and TM4/AR cells. Interestingly, additional transient transfection of AR-cDNA resulted in significant androgen responsiveness with TM4/AR cells showing 10 times more androgen sensitivity than TM4 cells. In the condition where maximal androgen response was demonstrated, we then analyzed gene expression and found the expression levels of 2313 genes were changed more than twofold by transient transfection of AR-cDNA in the presence of testosterone. Among these genes, 603 androgen-/AR-regulated genes, including 164 upregulated and 439 downregulated, were found in both S-AR(-/y) mice testis and TM4/AR cells. Using informatics analysis, the gene ontology was applied to analyze these androgen-/AR-regulated genes to predict the potential roles of androgen/AR in the process of spermatogenesis. Together, using gene analysis in both S-AR(-/y) mice testis and TM4/AR cells may help us to better understand the androgen/AR signals in Sertoli cells and their influences in spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiao-Xia Zhang
- The Guangdong and Shenzhen Key Lab of Male Reproductive Medicine and Genetics, Sex Hormone Research Center, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen PKU-HKUST Medical Center, Shenzhen 518036, China
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32
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De Gendt K, Denolet E, Willems A, Daniels VW, Clinckemalie L, Denayer S, Wilkinson MF, Claessens F, Swinnen JV, Verhoeven G. Expression of Tubb3, a beta-tubulin isotype, is regulated by androgens in mouse and rat Sertoli cells. Biol Reprod 2011; 85:934-45. [PMID: 21734264 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.110.090704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Our previous analysis of Sertoli cell androgen receptor (AR) knockout (SCARKO) mice revealed that several cytoskeletal components are a potential target of androgen action. Here, we found that one of these components, the beta-tubulin isotype Tubb3, is differentially regulated in testes from SCARKO mice (relative to littermate controls) from Postnatal Day 10 to adulthood. The Tubb3 gene is unique in this respect, as at Day 10, no other beta-tubulin genes are significantly regulated by AR. We further characterized androgen regulation of Tubb3 in vivo and in vitro and demonstrated that it is a conserved feature in both mice and rats. To investigate whether androgens directly regulate Tubb3 expression, we screened for androgen response elements (AREs) in the Tubb3 gene. In silico analysis revealed the presence of four ARE motifs in Tubb3 intron 1, two of which bind to AR in vitro. Mutation of one of these (ARE1) strongly reduced androgen-dependent reporter gene expression. These results, coupled with the finding that the AR binds to the Tubb3 ARE region in vivo, suggest that Tubb3 is a direct target of AR. Our data strengthen the contention that androgens exert their effects on spermatogenesis, in part, through modulation of the Sertoli cell cytoskeleton. Androgen regulation of beta-tubulin has also been described in neurons, fortifying the already known similarity in microtubule organization in Sertoli cell processes and neurons, the only other cell type in which Tubb3 is known to be expressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karel De Gendt
- Laboratory of Experimental Medicine and Endocrinology, Catholic University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Li Q, O'Malley ME, Bartlett DL, Guo ZS. Homeobox gene Rhox5 is regulated by epigenetic mechanisms in cancer and stem cells and promotes cancer growth. Mol Cancer 2011; 10:63. [PMID: 21609483 PMCID: PMC3125390 DOI: 10.1186/1476-4598-10-63] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2010] [Accepted: 05/24/2011] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Homeobox genes murine Rhox5 and human RHOXF1 are expressed in early embryonic stages and then mostly restricted to germline tissues in normal adult, yet they are aberrantly expressed in cancer cells in vitro and in vivo . Here we study the epigenetic regulation and potential functions of Rhox5 gene. Findings In Rhox5 -silenced or extremely low expresser cells, we observed low levels of active histone epigenetic marks (H3ac, H4ac and H3K4me2) and high levels of repressive mark H3K9me2 along with DNA hypermethylation in the promoter. In Rhox5 low expresser cells, we typically observed modest levels of both active and repressive histone marks along with moderate DNA methylation. In Rhox5 highly expressed CT26 cancer cells, we observed DNA hypomethylation along with high levels of both active and repressive histone marks. Epigenetic drugs (retinoic acid and MS-275) induced F9 cell differentiation with enhanced Rhox5 expression and dynamic changes of epigenetic marks. Finally, Rhox5 knockdown by small hairpin RNA (shRNA) in CT26 colon cancer decreased cell proliferation and migration in vitro and tumor growth in vivo . Conclusions Both DNA methylation and histone methylation/acetylation play key roles in modulating Rhox5 expression in various cell types. The stem cell-like "bivalent domain", an epigenetic feature originally identified in key differentiation genes within stem cells, exists in the Rhox5 gene promoter in not only embryonic stem cells but also cancer cells, cancer stem cells, and differentiated Sertoli cells. As Ras signaling-dependent Rhox5 expression promotes tumor growth, Rhox5 may be an ideal target for therapeutic intervention in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Li
- The University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA
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34
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Zhou W, Wang G, Small CL, Liu Z, Weng CC, Yang L, Griswold MD, Meistrich ML. Gene expression alterations by conditional knockout of androgen receptor in adult Sertoli cells of Utp14b jsd/jsd (jsd) mice. Biol Reprod 2011; 84:400-8. [PMID: 21312389 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.110.090530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Spermatogenesis is dependent primarily on testosterone action on the Sertoli cells, but the molecular mechanisms have not been identified. Attempts to identify testosterone-regulated target genes in Sertoli cells have used microarray analysis of gene expression in mice lacking the androgen receptor (AR) in Sertoli cells (SCARKO) and wild-type mice, but the analyses have been complicated both by alteration of germ cell composition of the testis when pubertal or adult mice were used and by differences in Sertoli-cell gene expression from the expression in adults when prepubertal mice were used. To overcome these limitations and identify AR-regulated genes in adult Sertoli cells, we compared gene expression in adult jsd (Utp14b jsd/jsd, juvenile spermatogonial depletion) mouse testes and with that in SCARKO-jsd mouse testes, since their cellular compositions are essentially identical, consisting of only type A spermatogonia and somatic cells. Microarray analysis identified 157 genes as downregulated and 197 genes as upregulated in the SCARKO-jsd mice compared to jsd mice. Some of the AR-regulated genes identified in the previous studies, including Rhox5, Drd4, and Fhod3, were also AR regulated in the jsd testes, but others, such as proteases and components of junctional complexes, were not AR regulated in our model. Surprisingly, a set of germ cell–specific genes preferentially expressed in differentiated spermatogonia and meiotic cells, including Meig1, Sycp3, and Ddx4, were all upregulated about 2-fold in SCARKO-jsd testes. AR-regulated genes in Sertoli cells must therefore be involved in the regulation of spermatogonial differentiation, although there was no significant differentiation to spermatocytes in SCARKO-jsd mice. Further gene ontogeny analysis revealed sets of genes whose changes in expression may be involved in the dislocation of Sertoli cell nuclei in SCARKO-jsd testes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zhou
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Unit 066, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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35
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Bagchi G, Zhang Y, Stanley KA, Waxman DJ. Complex modulation of androgen responsive gene expression by methoxyacetic acid. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2011; 9:42. [PMID: 21453523 PMCID: PMC3083340 DOI: 10.1186/1477-7827-9-42] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2011] [Accepted: 03/31/2011] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Optimal androgen signaling is critical for testicular development and spermatogenesis. Methoxyacetic acid (MAA), the primary active metabolite of the industrial chemical ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, disrupts spermatogenesis and causes testicular atrophy. Transcriptional trans-activation studies have indicated that MAA can enhance androgen receptor activity, however, whether MAA actually impacts the expression of androgen-responsive genes in vivo, and which genes might be affected is not known. METHODS A mouse TM3 Leydig cell line that stably expresses androgen receptor (TM3-AR) was prepared and analyzed by transcriptional profiling to identify target gene interactions between MAA and testosterone on a global scale. RESULTS MAA is shown to have widespread effects on androgen-responsive genes, affecting processes ranging from apoptosis to ion transport, cell adhesion, phosphorylation and transcription, with MAA able to enhance, as well as antagonize, androgenic responses. Moreover, testosterone is shown to exert both positive and negative effects on MAA gene responses. Motif analysis indicated that binding sites for FOX, HOX, LEF/TCF, STAT5 and MEF2 family transcription factors are among the most highly enriched in genes regulated by testosterone and MAA. Notably, 65 FOXO targets were repressed by testosterone or showed repression enhanced by MAA with testosterone; these include 16 genes associated with developmental processes, six of which are Hox genes. CONCLUSIONS These findings highlight the complex interactions between testosterone and MAA, and provide insight into the effects of MAA exposure on androgen-dependent processes in a Leydig cell model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gargi Bagchi
- Division of Cell and Molecular Biology, Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Yijing Zhang
- Division of Cell and Molecular Biology, Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Kerri A Stanley
- Division of Cell and Molecular Biology, Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - David J Waxman
- Division of Cell and Molecular Biology, Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
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36
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Bagheri-Fam S, Argentaro A, Svingen T, Combes AN, Sinclair AH, Koopman P, Harley VR. Defective survival of proliferating Sertoli cells and androgen receptor function in a mouse model of the ATR-X syndrome. Hum Mol Genet 2011; 20:2213-24. [PMID: 21427128 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddr109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
X-linked ATR-X (alpha thalassemia, mental retardation, X-linked) syndrome in males is characterized by mental retardation, facial dysmorphism, alpha thalassemia and urogenital abnormalities, including small testes. It is unclear how mutations in the chromatin-remodeling protein ATRX cause these highly specific clinical features, since ATRX is widely expressed during organ development. To investigate the mechanisms underlying the testicular defects observed in ATR-X syndrome, we generated ScAtrxKO (Sertoli cell Atrx knockout) mice with Atrx specifically inactivated in the supporting cell lineage (Sertoli cells) of the mouse testis. ScAtrxKO mice developed small testes and discontinuous tubules, due to prolonged G2/M phase and apoptosis of proliferating Sertoli cells during fetal life. Apoptosis might be a consequence of the cell cycle defect. We also found that the onset of spermatogenesis was delayed in postnatal mice, with a range of spermatogenesis defects evident in adult ScAtrxKO mice. ATRX and the androgen receptor (AR) physically interact in the testis and in the Sertoli cell line TM4 and co-operatively activate the promoter of Rhox5, an important direct AR target. We also demonstrate that ATRX directly binds to the Rhox5 promoter in TM4 cells. Finally, gene expression of Rhox5 and of another AR-dependent gene, Spinlw1, was reduced in ScAtrxKO testes. These data suggest that ATRX can directly enhance the expression of androgen-dependent genes through physical interaction with AR. Recruitment of ATRX by DNA sequence-specific transcription factors could be a general mechanism by which ATRX achieves tissue-specific transcriptional regulation which could explain the highly specific clinical features of ATR-X syndrome when ATRX is mutated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Bagheri-Fam
- Molecular Genetics and Development Division, Prince Henry’s Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
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37
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Ross AE, Marchionni L, Phillips TM, Miller RM, Hurley PJ, Simons BW, Salmasi AH, Schaeffer AJ, Gearhart JP, Schaeffer EM. Molecular effects of genistein on male urethral development. J Urol 2011; 185:1894-8. [PMID: 21421236 DOI: 10.1016/j.juro.2010.12.095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2010] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The increasing incidence of hypospadias is partly attributed to increased gestational exposure to endocrine disruptors. We investigated the effects of genistein, the primary phytoestrogen in soy, on the molecular program of male urethral development. MATERIALS AND METHODS Female mice were fed diets supplemented with genistein (500 mg/kg diet) or control diets before breeding and throughout gestation. Urethras from embryonic day 17.5 male fetuses were harvested, and RNA was prepared, amplified, labeled and hybridized on whole genome microarrays. Data were analyzed using packages from the R/Bioconductor project. Immunohistochemical analysis and immunoblotting were used to confirm the activity of MAPK and the presence of Ntrk1 and Ntrk2 during urethral development. RESULTS Gestational exposure to genistein altered the urethral expression of 277 genes (p <0.008). Among the most affected were hormonally regulated genes, including IGFBP-1, Kap and Rhox5. Differentially expressed genes were grouped into functional pathways of cell proliferation, adhesion, apoptosis and tube morphogenesis (p <0.0001), and were enriched for members of the MAPK (p <0.00001) and TGF-β (p <0.01) signaling cascades. Differentially expressed genes preferentially contained ELK1, Myc/Max, FOXO, HOX and ER control elements. The MAPK pathway was active, and its upstream genistein affected tyrosine kinase receptors Ntrk1 and Ntrk2 were present in the developing male urethra. CONCLUSIONS Gestational exposure to genistein contributes to hypospadias by altering pathways of tissue morphogenesis, cell proliferation and cell survival. In particular, genes in the MAPK and TGF-β signaling pathways and those controlled by FOXO, HOX and ER transcription factors are disrupted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley E Ross
- Department of Urology, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, USA
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38
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Conditional ablation of Gata4 and Fog2 genes in mice reveals their distinct roles in mammalian sexual differentiation. Dev Biol 2011; 353:229-41. [PMID: 21385577 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2011.02.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2010] [Revised: 02/26/2011] [Accepted: 02/28/2011] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Assembly of functioning testis and ovary requires a GATA4-FOG2 transcriptional complex. To define the separate roles for GATA4 and FOG2 proteins in sexual development of the testis we have ablated the corresponding genes in somatic gonadal cells. We have established that GATA4 is required for testis differentiation, for the expression of Dmrt1 gene, and for testis cord morphogenesis. While Sf1Cre-mediated excision of Gata4 permitted normal expression of most genes associated with embryonic testis development, gonadal loss of Fog2 resulted in an early partial block in male pathway and sex reversal. We have also determined that testis sexual differentiation is sensitive to the timing of GATA4 loss during embryogenesis. Our results now demonstrate that these two genes also have non-overlapping essential functions in testis development.
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Kyrönlahti A, Euler R, Bielinska M, Schoeller EL, Moley KH, Toppari J, Heikinheimo M, Wilson DB. GATA4 regulates Sertoli cell function and fertility in adult male mice. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2011; 333:85-95. [PMID: 21172404 PMCID: PMC3026658 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2010.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2010] [Revised: 11/10/2010] [Accepted: 12/13/2010] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Transcription factor GATA4 is expressed in Sertoli and Leydig cells and is required for proper development of the murine fetal testis. The role of GATA4 in adult testicular function, however, has remained unclear due to prenatal lethality of mice harboring homozygous mutations in Gata4. To characterize the function of GATA4 in the adult testis, we generated mice in which Gata4 was conditionally deleted in Sertoli cells using Cre-LoxP recombination with Amhr2-Cre. Conditional knockout (cKO) mice developed age-dependent testicular atrophy and loss of fertility, which coincided with decreases in the quantity and motility of sperm. Histological analysis demonstrated Sertoli cell vacuolation, impaired spermatogenesis, and increased permeability of the blood-testis barrier. RT-PCR analysis of cKO testes showed decreased expression of germ cell markers and increased expression of testicular injury markers. Our findings support the premise that GATA4 is a key transcriptional regulator of Sertoli cell function in adult mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antti Kyrönlahti
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63110
- Children s Hospital, Biomedicum Helsinki, University of Helsinki, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Rosemarie Euler
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63110
- Hochschule Mannheim - University of Applied Sciences, 68163 Mannheim, Germany
| | | | - Erica L. Schoeller
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Kelle H. Moley
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63110
- Department of Cell Biology & Physiology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Jorma Toppari
- Departments of Physiology and Pediatrics, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Markku Heikinheimo
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63110
- Children s Hospital, Biomedicum Helsinki, University of Helsinki, 00290 Helsinki, Finland
| | - David B. Wilson
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63110
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63110
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The rhox homeobox gene cluster is imprinted and selectively targeted for regulation by histone h1 and DNA methylation. Mol Cell Biol 2011; 31:1275-87. [PMID: 21245380 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.00734-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Histone H1 is an abundant and essential component of chromatin whose precise role in regulating gene expression is poorly understood. Here, we report that a major target of H1-mediated regulation in embryonic stem (ES) cells is the X-linked Rhox homeobox gene cluster. To address the underlying mechanism, we examined the founding member of the Rhox gene cluster-Rhox5-and found that its distal promoter (Pd) loses H1, undergoes demethylation, and is transcriptionally activated in response to loss of H1 genes in ES cells. Demethylation of the Pd is required for its transcriptional induction and we identified a single cytosine in the Pd that, when methylated, is sufficient to inhibit Pd transcription. Methylation of this single cytosine prevents the Pd from binding GA-binding protein (GABP), a transcription factor essential for Pd transcription. Thus, H1 silences Rhox5 transcription by promoting methylation of one of its promoters, a mechanism likely to extend to other H1-regulated Rhox genes, based on analysis of ES cells lacking DNA methyltransferases. The Rhox cluster genes targeted for H1-mediated transcriptional repression are also subject to another DNA methylation-regulated process: Xp imprinting. Remarkably, we found that only H1-regulated Rhox genes are imprinted, not those immune to H1-mediated repression. Together, our results indicate that the Rhox gene cluster is a major target of H1-mediated transcriptional repression in ES cells and that H1 is a candidate to have a role in Xp imprinting.
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41
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Bettegowda A, Wilkinson MF. Transcription and post-transcriptional regulation of spermatogenesis. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2010; 365:1637-51. [PMID: 20403875 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2009.0196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Spermatogenesis in mammals is achieved by multiple players that pursue a common goal of generating mature spermatozoa. The developmental processes acting on male germ cells that culminate in the production of the functional spermatozoa are regulated at both the transcription and post-transcriptional levels. This review addresses recent progress towards understanding such regulatory mechanisms and identifies future challenges to be addressed in this field. We focus on transcription factors, chromatin-associated factors and RNA-binding proteins necessary for spermatogenesis and/or sperm maturation. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that govern spermatogenesis has enormous implications for new contraceptive approaches and treatments for infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anilkumar Bettegowda
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, MC 0864, La Jolla, CA 92093-0864, USA
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42
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Figueira ACM, Polikarpov I, Veprintsev D, Santos GM. Dissecting the Relation between a nuclear receptor and GATA: binding affinity studies of thyroid hormone receptor and GATA2 on TSHβ promoter. PLoS One 2010; 5:e12628. [PMID: 20838640 PMCID: PMC2935386 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0012628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2010] [Accepted: 08/16/2010] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Much is known about how genes regulated by nuclear receptors (NRs) are switched on in the presence of a ligand. However, the molecular mechanism for gene down-regulation by liganded NRs remains a conundrum. The interaction between two zinc-finger transcription factors, Nuclear Receptor and GATA, was described almost a decade ago as a strategy adopted by the cell to up- or down-regulate gene expression. More recently, cell-based assays have shown that the Zn-finger region of GATA2 (GATA2-Zf) has an important role in down-regulation of the thyrotropin gene (TSHβ) by liganded thyroid hormone receptor (TR). Methodology/Principal Findings In an effort to better understand the mechanism that drives TSHβ down-regulation by a liganded TR and GATA2, we have carried out equilibrium binding assays using fluorescence anisotropy to study the interaction of recombinant TR and GATA2-Zf with regulatory elements present in the TSHβ promoter. Surprisingly, we observed that ligand (T3) weakens TR binding to a negative regulatory element (NRE) present in the TSHβ promoter. We also show that TR may interact with GATA2-Zf in the absence of ligand, but T3 is crucial for increasing the affinity of this complex for different GATA response elements (GATA-REs). Importantly, these results indicate that TR complex formation enhances DNA binding of the TR-GATA2 in a ligand-dependent manner. Conclusions Our findings extend previous results obtained in vivo, further improving our understanding of how liganded nuclear receptors down-regulate gene transcription, with the cooperative binding of transcription factors to DNA forming the core of this process.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Igor Polikarpov
- Instituto de Física de São Carlos, Universidade de São Paulo, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Dmitry Veprintsev
- Biomolecular Research Laboratory, Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen PSI, Switzerland
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43
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Zhou W, Wang G, Small CL, Liu Z, Weng CC, Yang L, Griswold MD, Meistrich ML. Gene expression alterations by conditional knockout of androgen receptor in adult sertoli cells of Utp14b(jsd/jsd) (jsd) mice. Biol Reprod 2010; 83:759-66. [PMID: 20650881 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.110.085472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Spermatogenesis is dependent primarily on testosterone action on the Sertoli cells, but the molecular mechanisms have not been identified. Attempts to identify testosterone-regulated target genes in Sertoli cells have used microarray analysis of gene expression in mice lacking the androgen receptor (AR) in Sertoli cells (SCARKO) and wild-type mice, but the analyses have been complicated both by alteration of germ cell composition of the testis when pubertal or adult mice were used and by differences in Sertoli-cell gene expression from the expression in adults when prepubertal mice were used. To overcome these limitations and identify AR-regulated genes in adult Sertoli cells, we compared gene expression in adult jsd (Utp14b(jsd/jsd), juvenile spermatogonial depletion) mouse testes and with that in SCARKO-jsd mouse testes, since their cellular compositions are essentially identical, consisting of only type A spermatogonia and somatic cells. Microarray analysis identified 157 genes as downregulated and 197 genes as upregulated in the SCARKO-jsd mice compared to jsd mice. Some of the AR-regulated genes identified in the previous studies, including Rhox5, Drd4, and Fhod3, were also AR regulated in the jsd testes, but others, such as proteases and components of junctional complexes, were not AR regulated in our model. Surprisingly, a set of germ cell-specific genes preferentially expressed in differentiated spermatogonia and meiotic cells, including Meig1, Sycp3, and Ddx4, were all upregulated about 2-fold in SCARKO-jsd testes. AR-regulated genes in Sertoli cells must therefore be involved in the regulation of spermatogonial differentiation, although there was no significant differentiation from spermatocytes in SCARKO-jsd mice. Further gene ontogeny analysis revealed sets of genes whose changes in expression may be involved in the dislocation of Sertoli cell nuclei in SCARKO-jsd testes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zhou
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
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44
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Abstract
Homeobox genes encode transcription factors that have crucial roles in embryogenesis. A recently discovered set of homeobox genes--the Rhox genes--are expressed during both embryogenesis and in adult reproductive tissues. The 33 known mouse Rhox genes are clustered together in a single region on the X chromosome, while likely descendents of the primodial Rhox cluster, Arx and Esx1, have moved to other positions on the X chromosome. Here, we summarize what is known about the regulation and function of Rhox cluster and Rhox-related genes during embryogenesis and gametogenesis. The founding member of the Rhox gene cluster--Rhox5 (previously known as Pem)--has been studied in the most depth and thus is the focus of this review. We also discuss the unusually rapid evolution of the Rhox gene cluster.
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Affiliation(s)
- James A MacLean
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA
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45
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Griffin DK, Ellis PJ, Dunmore B, Bauer J, Abel MH, Affara NA. Transcriptional profiling of luteinizing hormone receptor-deficient mice before and after testosterone treatment provides insight into the hormonal control of postnatal testicular development and Leydig cell differentiation. Biol Reprod 2010; 82:1139-50. [PMID: 20164437 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.109.082099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Luteinizing hormone (LH) is a key regulator of male fertility through its effects on testosterone secretion by Leydig cells. Transcriptional control of this is, however, currently poorly understood. Mice in which the LH receptor is knocked out (LuRKO) show reduced testicular size, reduced testosterone, elevated serum LH, and a spermatogenic arrest that can be rescued by the administration of testosterone. Using genome-wide transcription profiling of LuRKO and control testes during postnatal development and following testosterone treatment, we show that the transcriptional effects of LH insensitivity are biphasic, with an early testosterone-independent phase and a subsequent testosterone-dependent phase. Testosterone rescue re-enables the second, testosterone-dependent phase of the normal prepubertal transcription program and permits the continuation of spermatogenesis. Examination of the earliest responses to testosterone highlights six genes that respond rapidly in a dose-dependent fashion to the androgen and that are therefore candidate regulatory genes associated with the testosterone-driven progression of spermatogenesis. In addition, our transcriptional data suggest a model for the replacement of fetal-type Leydig cells by adult-type cells during testicular development in which a testosterone feedback switch is necessary for adult Leydig cell production. LH signaling affects the timing of the switch but is not a strict requirement for Leydig cell differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- D K Griffin
- Department of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, United Kingdom
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46
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Zhou P, Wu YG, Wei DL, Li Q, Wang G, Zhang J, Luo MJ, Tan JH. Mouse cumulus-denuded oocytes restore developmental capacity completely when matured with optimal supplementation of cysteamine, cystine, and cumulus cells. Biol Reprod 2010; 82:759-68. [PMID: 20075397 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.109.082206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Our objectives were to study how cysteamine, cystine, and cumulus cells (CCs), as well as oocytes interact to increase oocyte intracellular glutathione (GSH) and thereby to establish an efficient in vitro maturation system for cumulus-denuded oocytes (DOs). Using M16 that contained no thiol as maturation medium, we showed that when supplemented alone, neither cystine nor cysteamine promoted GSH synthesis of mouse DOs, but they did when used together. Although goat CCs required either cysteamine or cystine to promote GSH synthesis, mouse CCs required both. In the presence of cystine, goat CCs produced cysteine but mouse CCs did not. Cysteamine reduced cystine to cysteine in cell-free M16. When TCM-199 that contained 83 microM cystine was used as maturation medium, supplementation with cysteamine alone had no effect, but supplementation with 100 microM cysteamine and 200 microM cystine increased blastulation of DOs matured with CC coculture to a level as high as achieved in cumulus-surrounded oocytes (COCs). Similar numbers of young were produced after two-cell embryos from mouse COCs or CC-cocultured DOs matured with optimal thiol supplementation were transferred to pseudopregnant recipients. It is concluded that 1) mouse CCs can use neither cysteamine nor cystine to promote GSH synthesis, but goat CCs can use either one; 2) goat CCs promote mouse oocyte GSH synthesis by reducing cystine to cysteine, but how they use cysteamine requires further investigation; and 3) mouse DOs can use neither cystine nor cysteamine for GSH synthesis, but they restore developmental capacity completely when matured in the presence of optimum supplementation of cysteamine, cystine, and CCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Zhou
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai-an City, People's Republic of China
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Hu Z, Dandekar D, O'Shaughnessy PJ, De Gendt K, Verhoeven G, Wilkinson MF. Androgen-induced Rhox homeobox genes modulate the expression of AR-regulated genes. Mol Endocrinol 2009; 24:60-75. [PMID: 19901196 DOI: 10.1210/me.2009-0303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhox5, the founding member of the reproductive homeobox on the X chromosome (Rhox) gene cluster, encodes a homeodomain-containing transcription factor that is selectively expressed in Sertoli cells, where it promotes the survival of male germ cells. To identify Rhox5-regulated genes, we generated 15P-1 Sertoli cell clones expressing physiological levels of Rhox5 from a stably transfected expression vector. Microarray analysis identified many genes altered in expression in response to Rhox5, including those encoding proteins controlling cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, metabolism, and cell-cell interactions. Fifteen of these Rhox5-regulated genes were chosen for further analysis. Analysis of Rhox5-null male mice indicated that at least nine of these are Rhox5-regulated in the testes in vivo. Many of them have distinct postnatal expression patterns and are regulated by Rhox5 at different postnatal time points. Most of them are expressed in Sertoli cells, indicating that they are candidates to be directly regulated by Rhox5. Transfection analysis with expression vectors encoding different mouse and human Rhox family members revealed that the regulatory response of a subset of these Rhox5-regulated genes is both conserved and redundant. Given that Rhox5 depends on androgen receptor (AR) for expression in Sertoli cells, we examined whether some Rhox5-regulated genes are also regulated by AR. We provide several lines of evidence that this is the case, leading us to propose that RHOX5 serves as a key intermediate transcription factor that directs some of the actions of AR in the testes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiying Hu
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Texas M D Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
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Lim P, Robson M, Spaliviero J, McTavish KJ, Jimenez M, Zajac JD, Handelsman DJ, Allan CM. Sertoli cell androgen receptor DNA binding domain is essential for the completion of spermatogenesis. Endocrinology 2009; 150:4755-65. [PMID: 19574395 DOI: 10.1210/en.2009-0416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
We examined the biological importance of Sertoli cell androgen receptor (AR) genomic interaction, using a Cre-loxP approach to selectively disrupt the AR DNA-binding domain (AR-DBD). Sertoli cell (SC)-specific transgenic Abpa or AMH promoters targeted Cre-mediated inframe excision of mouse Ar exon-3, encoding the AR-DBD second zinc-finger (ZF2), generating SC-specific mutant AR(DeltaZF2) lines designated Abp.SCAR(DeltaZF2) and AMH.SCAR(DeltaZF2), respectively. Both SCAR(DeltaZF2) lines produced infertile males exhibiting spermatogenic arrest, despite normal SC numbers and immunolocalized SC nuclear AR. Adult homozygous TgCre((+/+)) SCAR(DeltaZF2) or double-TgCre((+/-)) Abp/AMH.SCAR(DeltaZF2) males displayed equivalent small testes 30% of normal size, representing maximal Cre-loxP-disruption of Sertoli AR function. Hemizygous TgCre((+/-)) vs. homozygous TgCre((+/+)) Abp.SCAR(DeltaZF2) testes were larger (47% normal size) with more postmeiotic development, indicating dose-dependent Cre-mediated disruption of SC-specific AR-DBD activity. SCAR(DeltaZF2) males exhibited adult Leydig cell hypertrophy but normal serum testosterone levels. Sertoli cell-specific Rhox5 and Spinlw1 transcription, regulated by divergent or classical androgen-response elements, respectively, were both decreased in postnatal SCAR(DeltaZF2) vs. control testes, demonstrating SC-specific AR-DBD function as early as postnatal d 5. However, Rhox5 expression declined dose-dependently, whereas Spinlw1 expression increased, in adult TgCre((+/-)) and TgCre((+/+)) SCAR(DeltaZF2) testes, revealing differential temporal control for distinct AR-regulated transcripts. Androgen-repressed Ngfr was not up-regulated in SCAR(DeltaZF2) testes, suggesting maintenance of a nonclassical mechanism independent of AR-DBD. Thus, our unique SCAR(DeltaZF2) paradigm provided dose-dependent Cre-mediated disruption of testicular development and gene expression revealing that the AR-DBD is essential for SC function and postmeiotic spermatogenesis. Nongenomic or AR-DBD-independent pathways appear secondary or play no major independent role in SC function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Lim
- Andrology Laboratory, ANZAC Research Institute, Concord Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales 2139, Australia
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Visone T, Charron M, Wright WW. Activation and repression domains within the promoter of the rat cathepsin L gene orchestrate sertoli cell-specific and stage-specific gene transcription in transgenic mice. Biol Reprod 2009; 81:571-9. [PMID: 19458314 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.109.075952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In murine testes, only Sertoli cells express the cathepsin L (Ctsl) gene, and this expression is restricted to stages V-VIII of the cycle. Our previous transgenic analysis of Tg (-2065/+977) demonstrated that this expression is regulated by a approximately 2-kb promoter. To begin to elucidate this regulation, we analyzed the in vivo expression of two new transgenes, Tg (-935/+977) and Tg (-451/+977). Tg (-935/+977) was expressed by Sertoli cells but, in contrast to Tg (-2065/+977), was expressed at all stages of the cycle, by spermatocytes, by the vascular endothelium, and by seven other organs. Tg (-451/+977) was not expressed by Sertoli cells but by spermatogenic cells and by the brain. Lack of expression of Tg (-451/+977) by Sertoli cells was not due to a lack of essential cis-acting elements. Transient transfection analysis of primary cultures of mature rat Sertoli cells demonstrated that in mature Sertoli cells, most of the activity of the Ctsl promoter is accounted for by one of two redundant upstream GC motifs and an Initiator that are within 100 bp of the transcription start site. We conclude that transcriptional repressors upstream from nucleotide -935 of the rat Ctsl gene restrict testicular expression of this gene to Sertoli cells at stages V-VIII. At these stages, transcriptional activators located between nucleotides -935 and -452 promote access of the transcriptional machinery to the two GC boxes and to the Initiator. Thus, upstream repressors and activators as well as cis-acting elements near the transcription start site control stage-specific Ctsl transcription by Sertoli cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Visone
- Division of Reproductive Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, USA
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Willems A, De Gendt K, Allemeersch J, Smith LB, Welsh M, Swinnen JV, Verhoeven G. Early effects of Sertoli cell-selective androgen receptor ablation on testicular gene expression. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2009; 33:507-17. [PMID: 19392831 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2605.2009.00964.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Evidence from several models of hormone depletion and/or replacement and from knockout animals points to a key role of androgens in the control of spermatogenesis. In testes of mice with a Sertoli cell-selective ablation of the androgen receptor (SCARKO), transcriptional profiling, using microarray technology, revealed that, already on postnatal day 10,692 genes are differentially expressed compared with testes of control mice. Further evaluation of a subset of these genes by quantitative RT-PCR suggested that differences in expression may already be evident on day 8 or earlier. As the androgen receptor in mouse Sertoli cells becomes immunologically detectable around day 5, we tried to identify the earliest responses to androgens by a new transcriptional profiling study on testes from 6-day-old SCARKO and control mice. No obvious and novel early androgen response genes, potentially acting as mediators of subsequent indirect androgen actions, could be identified. However, several genes differentially expressed on day 10 already displayed a response to androgen receptor ablation on day 6. Quantitative RT-PCR studies for 12 of these genes on 10 paired SCARKO and control testes from 4-, 6-, 8-, 10-, 20- and 50-day-old mice revealed significant differences in expression level from day 4 onwards for three genes (Eppin, PCI, Cldn11) and from day 6 onwards for one more gene (Rhox5). For at least two of these genes (Rhox5 and Eppin), there is evidence for direct regulation via the androgen receptor. For three additional genes (Gpd1, Tubb3 and Tpd52l1) significantly lower expression in the SCARKO was noted from day 8 onwards. For all the studied genes, an impressive increase in transcript levels was observed between day 4-50 and differential expression was maintained in adulthood. It is concluded that the SCARKO model indicates incipient androgen action in mouse Sertoli cells from day 4 onwards.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Willems
- Laboratory for Experimental Medicine and Endocrinology, Catholic University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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