1
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Chauhan V, Kashyap P, Chera JS, Pal A, Patel A, Karanwal S, Badrhan S, Josan F, Solanki S, Bhakat M, Datta TK, Kumar R. Differential abundance of microRNAs in seminal plasma extracellular vesicles (EVs) in Sahiwal cattle bull related to male fertility. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1473825. [PMID: 39411484 PMCID: PMC11473417 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1473825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2024] [Accepted: 09/18/2024] [Indexed: 10/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Sahiwal cattle, known for their high milk yield, are propagated through artificial insemination (AI) using male germplasm, largely contingent on semen quality. Spermatozoa, produced in the testes, carry genetic information and molecular signals essential for successful fertilization. Seminal plasma, in addition to sperm, contains nano-sized lipid-bound extracellular vesicles (SP-EVs) that carry key biomolecules, including fertility-related miRNAs, which are essential for bull fertility. The current study focused on miRNA profiling of SP-EVs from high-fertile (HF) and low-fertile (LF) Sahiwal bulls. SP-EVs were isolated using size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS) and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). Western blotting detected the EV-specific protein markers TSG101 and CD63. The DLS analysis showed SP-EV sizes of 170-180 nm in HF and 130-140 nm in LF samples. The NTA revealed particle concentrations of 5.76 × 1010 to 5.86 × 1011 particles/mL in HF and 5.31 × 1010 to 2.70 × 1011 particles/mL in LF groups, with no significant differences in size and concentration between HF and LF. High-throughput miRNA sequencing identified 310 miRNAs in SP-EVs from both groups, with 61 upregulated and 119 downregulated in HF bull. Further analysis identified 41 miRNAs with significant fold changes and p-values, including bta-miR-1246, bta-miR-195, bta-miR-339b, and bta-miR-199b, which were analyzed for target gene prediction. Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway analyses indicated that these miRNAs target genes involved in transcription regulation, ubiquitin-dependent endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation (ERAD) pathways, and signalling pathways. Functional exploration revealed that these genes play roles in spermatogenesis, motility, acrosome reactions, and inflammatory responses. qPCR analysis showed that bta-miR-195 had 80% higher expression in HF spermatozoa compared to LF, suggesting its association with fertility status (p < 0.05). In conclusion, this study elucidates the miRNA cargoes in SP-EVs as indicators of Sahiwal bull fertility, highlighting bta-miR-195 as a potential fertility factor among the various miRNAs identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vitika Chauhan
- Animal Genomics Laboratory, Animal Biotechnology Division, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, India
| | - Poonam Kashyap
- Animal Genomics Laboratory, Animal Biotechnology Division, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, India
| | - Jatinder Singh Chera
- Animal Genomics Laboratory, Animal Biotechnology Division, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, India
| | - Ankit Pal
- Animal Genomics Laboratory, Animal Biotechnology Division, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, India
| | - Aditya Patel
- Animal Genomics Laboratory, Animal Biotechnology Division, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, India
| | - Seema Karanwal
- Animal Genomics Laboratory, Animal Biotechnology Division, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, India
| | - Shiva Badrhan
- Animal Genomics Laboratory, Animal Biotechnology Division, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, India
| | - Fanny Josan
- Animal Genomics Laboratory, Animal Biotechnology Division, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, India
| | - Subhash Solanki
- Animal Genomics Laboratory, Animal Biotechnology Division, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, India
| | - Mukesh Bhakat
- Livestock Production and Management Division, ICAR- Central Institute of Research on Goat, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | | | - Rakesh Kumar
- Animal Genomics Laboratory, Animal Biotechnology Division, National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, India
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Liu W, Du L, Li J, He Y, Tang M. Microenvironment of spermatogonial stem cells: a key factor in the regulation of spermatogenesis. Stem Cell Res Ther 2024; 15:294. [PMID: 39256786 PMCID: PMC11389459 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-024-03893-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 08/25/2024] [Indexed: 09/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) play a crucial role in the male reproductive system, responsible for maintaining continuous spermatogenesis. The microenvironment or niche of SSCs is a key factor in regulating their self-renewal, differentiation and spermatogenesis. This microenvironment consists of multiple cell types, extracellular matrix, growth factors, hormones and other molecular signals that interact to form a complex regulatory network. This review aims to provide an overview of the main components of the SSCs microenvironment, explore how they regulate the fate decisions of SSCs, and discuss the potential impact of microenvironmental abnormalities on male reproductive health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Liu
- Department of Pathology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University/Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha, China
- Department of Pharmacy, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Li Du
- The Key Laboratory of Model Animals and Stem Cell Biology in Hunan Province, The Engineering Research Center of Reproduction and Translational Medicine of Hunan Province, Hunan Normal University School of Medicine, Changsha, China
| | - Junjun Li
- Department of Pathology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University/Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha, China
| | - Yan He
- Department of Pathology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University/Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha, China.
| | - Mengjie Tang
- Department of Pathology, The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University/Hunan Cancer Hospital, Changsha, China.
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3
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Mohammadi A, Bashiri Z, Rafiei S, Asgari H, Shabani R, Hosseini S, Koruji M. Testicular niche repair after gonadotoxic treatments: Current knowledge and future directions. Biol Cell 2024; 116:e2300123. [PMID: 38470182 DOI: 10.1111/boc.202300123] [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: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
The testicular niche, which includes the germ cells, somatic cells, and extracellular matrix, plays a crucial role in maintaining the proper functions of the testis. Gonadotoxic treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy, have significantly improved the survival rates of cancer patients but have also been shown to have adverse effects on the testicular microenvironment. Therefore, repairing the testicular niche after gonadotoxic treatments is essential to restore its function. In recent years, several approaches, such as stem cell transplantation, gene therapy, growth factor therapy, and pharmacological interventions have been proposed as potential therapeutic strategies to repair the testicular niche. This comprehensive review aims to provide an overview of the current understanding of testis damage and repair mechanisms. We will cover a range of topics, including the mechanism of gonadotoxic action, repair mechanisms, and treatment approaches. Overall, this review highlights the importance of repairing the testicular niche after gonadotoxic treatments and identifies potential avenues for future research to improve the outcomes for cancer survivors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amirhossein Mohammadi
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zahra Bashiri
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Endometrium and Endometriosis Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
- Omid Fertility & Infertility Clinic, Hamedan, Iran
| | - Sara Rafiei
- Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamidreza Asgari
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ronak Shabani
- Reproductive Sciences and Technology Research Center, Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - SeyedJamal Hosseini
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biomaterials and Medical Biomaterials Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Morteza Koruji
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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4
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Mohammadpour-Asl S, Roshan-Milani S, Fard AA, Golchin A. Hormetic effects of a cannabinoid system component, 2-arachidonoyl glycerol, on cell viability and expression profile of growth factors in cultured mouse Sertoli cells: Friend or foe of male fertility? Reprod Toxicol 2024; 125:108575. [PMID: 38462211 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2024.108575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
The generally undesired effects of exocannabinoids on male reproduction include alterations in testicular cell proliferation and function, as well as apoptosis induction. However, this paradigm has been challenged by the ability of endocannabinoids to regulate reproductive function. The present study addresses these paradoxical facts by investigating the effects of the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoyl glycerol (2-AG) on mouse Sertoli cells' survival and apoptosis, with a mechanistic insight into Sertoli cell-based growth factors' production. The Mus musculus Sertoli cell line (TM4) was exposed to different concentrations of 2-AG, and cell viability was evaluated using MTT assay. Growth factors' gene and protein expressions were analyzed through RT-PCR and western blotting. 2-AG concentration dependently increased TM4 viability, with a slight increase starting at 0.0001 µM, a peak of 190% of the control level at 1 µM, and a decrease at 3 µM. Moreover, 2-AG paradoxically altered mRNA expression of caspase-3 and growth factors. Caspase-3 mRNA expression was down-regulated, and growth factors mRNA and protein expression were up-regulated when using a low concentration of 2-AG (1 μM). Opposite effects were observed by a higher concentration of 2-AG (3 μM). These paradoxical effects of 2-AG can be explained through the concept of hormesis. The results indicate the pivotal role of 2-AG in mediating Sertoli cell viability and apoptosis, at least in part, through altering growth factors secretion. Furthermore, they suggest the involvement of endocannabinoids in Sertoli cell-based physiological and pathological conditions and reflect the ability of abnormally elevated 2-AG to mimic the actions of exocannabinoids in reproductive dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shadi Mohammadpour-Asl
- Student Research Committee, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran; Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Shiva Roshan-Milani
- Neurophysiology Research Center, Cellular and Molecular Medicine Research Institute, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.
| | - Amin Abdollahzade Fard
- Nephrology and Kidney Transplant Research Center, Clinical Research Institute, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Ali Golchin
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Cellular and Molecular Medicine Research Institute, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran; Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Applied Cell Sciences, School of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
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5
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Chen LC, Chen CY, Lee YP, Huang BM. Cordycepin inhibits ERK pathway to suppress FGF9-induced tumorigenesis with MA-10 mouse Leydig tumor cells. J Food Drug Anal 2023; 31:485-501. [PMID: 39666281 PMCID: PMC10629915 DOI: 10.38212/2224-6614.3464] [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: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Fibroblast growth factor 9 (FGF9) is a member of FGF family, and abnormal expression of FGF9 can promote tumorigenesis. Cordycepin, a major bioactive component in fungus Cordyceps sinensis, could suppress various tumors. We have shown that cordycepin could inhibit FGF9-induced testicular tumor growth in vitro and in vivo with MA-10 mouse Leydig tumor cells. In the present study, the mechanisms related to apoptosis and autophagy were determined. Results show that cordycepin significantly suppressed cell viability and colony formation with correlatedly morphological change related to cell death in FGF9-treated MA-10 cells. Flow cytometry and western blotting results further demonstrate that cordycepin induced apoptosis through the cleavage of caspase-8, -9, -3 and PARP in FGF9-treated MA-10 cells. However, the expressions of LC3-II, beclin-1 and p62 were not stimulated by cordycepin with the presence of FGF9, suggesting cordycepin would activate apoptosis, but not autophagy, in FGF9-treated MA-10 cells. Moreover, inhibition of ERK signal pathway and autophagy would enhance cordycepin-induced cell death effects in FGF9-treated MA-10 cells, referring that ERK signaling was regulated under cordycepin and FGF9 treatments. In NOD-SCID mouse allograft model inoculated with MA-10 cells, cordycepin significantly suppressed tumor growth with the presence of FGF9, and the cleavage of caspase-3 could be observed in tumor tissue, implying cordycepin induced caspase cascade to suppress tumor growth. Moreover, cordycepin plus U0126, ERK inhibitor, further significantly suppressed tumor growth with the presence of FGF9 as compared to the FGF9 only group, confirming the involvement of ERK signaling in this event. In conclusion, cordycepin induced caspase and ERK pathways to promote MA-10 cell apoptosis, but not autophagy, with the presence of FGF9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Ching Chen
- Department of Biological Science & Technology, China Medical University, Taichung, 406040,
Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chin-Ying Chen
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70101,
Taiwan, ROC
| | - Yi-Ping Lee
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70101,
Taiwan, ROC
| | - Bu-Miin Huang
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70101,
Taiwan, ROC
- Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung, 40406,
Taiwan, ROC
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6
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Single-Cell and Transcriptome-Based Immune Cell-Related Prognostic Model in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2023; 2023:5355269. [PMID: 36925653 PMCID: PMC10014191 DOI: 10.1155/2023/5355269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
Traditional studies mostly focus on the role of single gene in regulating clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), while it ignores the impact of tumour heterogeneity on disease progression. The purpose of this study is to construct a prognostic risk model for ccRCC by analysing the differential marker genes related to immune cells in the single-cell database to provide help in clinical diagnosis and targeted therapy. Single-cell data and ligand-receptor relationship pair data were downloaded from related publications, and ccRCC phenotype and expression profile data were downloaded from TCGA and CPTAC. Based on the DEGs of each cluster acquired from single-cell data, immune cell marker genes, and ligand-receptor gene data, we constructed a multilayer network. Then, the genes in the network and the genes in TCGA were used to construct the WGCNA network, which screened out prognosis-associated genes for subsequent analysis. Finally, a prognostic risk scoring model was obtained, and CPTAC data showed that the effectiveness of this model was good. A nomogram based on the predictive model for predicting the overall survival was established, and internal validation was performed well. Our findings suggest that the predictive model built and based on the immune cell scRNA-seq will enable us to judge the prognosis of patients with ccRCC and provide more accurate directions for basic relevant research and clinical practice.
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7
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Di R, Zhang R, Mwacharo JM, Wang X, He X, Liu Y, Zhang J, Gong Y, Zhang X, Chu M. Characteristics of piRNAs and their comparative profiling in testes of sheep with different fertility. Front Genet 2022; 13:1078049. [PMID: 36568364 PMCID: PMC9768229 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.1078049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
As a novel class of small RNAs, piRNAs are highly expressed in the animal gonads and their main known role is to inhibit transposon activity for ensuring the correctness and integrity of genome. In order to explore the characteristics of piRNAs in sheep testis and their possible regulatory roles on male reproduction, deep sequencing technology was used to sequence small RNAs and identify piRNAs in testes of sheep. The length of piRNAs in sheep testes showed a unimodal distribution between 26 and 31 nt, with a peak at 29 nt. These piRNAs exhibited obvious ping-pong signature and strand specificity. In the genome, they were mainly aligned to CDS, intron, repetitive sequence regions and unannotated regions. Furthermore, in transposon analysis, piRNAs were aligned predominantly to LINE, SINE, and LTR types of retrotransposon in sheep testes, and the piRNAs derived from each type showed obvious ping-pong signature. The piRNA clusters identified in sheep testes were mainly distributed on chromosomes 3, 7, 15, 17, 18 and 20. The results combining semen determination with pathway enrichment analysis implied that differentially expressed piRNAs between the testes of rams with different fertility might participate in spermatogenesis by regulating multiple pathways closely related to stabilization of blood-testis barrier and renewal and differentiation of spermatogonial stem cell. Taken together, the study provided new insights into the characteristics, origin and expression patterns of piRNAs in sheep testes tissue, which would help us better understand the role of piRNAs in sheep reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ran Di
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Rensen Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China,School of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, Yiyang Vocational & Technical College, Yiyang, China
| | - Joram Mwashigadi Mwacharo
- Small Ruminant Genomics International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,Institute of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, SRUC and Center for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health (CTLGH), Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Xiangyu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoyun He
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yufang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jinlong Zhang
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Tianjin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Tianjin, China
| | - Yiming Gong
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaosheng Zhang
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Tianjin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Tianjin, China,*Correspondence: Xiaosheng Zhang, ; Mingxing Chu,
| | - Mingxing Chu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China,*Correspondence: Xiaosheng Zhang, ; Mingxing Chu,
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Fayaz MA, Ibtisham F, Cham TC, Honaramooz A. Culture supplementation of bFGF, GDNF, and LIF alters in vitro proliferation, colony formation, and pluripotency of neonatal porcine germ cells. Cell Tissue Res 2022; 388:195-210. [PMID: 35102441 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-022-03583-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Gonocytes in the neonatal testis have male germline stem cell properties and as such have important potential applications in fertility preservation and regenerative medicine. Such applications require further studies aimed at increasing gonocyte numbers and evaluating their pluripotency in vitro. The objective of the present study was to test the effects of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) on in vitro propagation, colony formation, and expression of pluripotency markers of neonatal porcine gonocytes. Testis cells from 1-week-old piglets were cultured in basic media (DMEM + 15% FBS), supplemented with various concentrations of bFGF, GDNF, and LIF, either individually or in combinations, in a stepwise experimental design. Gonocytes and/or their colonies were evaluated every 7 days and the gonocyte- (DBA) and pluripotency-specific markers (POU5F1, SSEA-1, E-cadherin, and NANOG) assessed on day 28. Greatest gonocyte numbers and largest colonies were found in media supplemented with 10 ng/mL bFGF and 10 ng/mL bFGF + 100 ng/mL GDNF + 1500 U/mL LIF, respectively. The resultant gonocytes and colonies expressed both germ cell- and pluripotency-specific markers. These results shed light on the growth hormone requirements of porcine gonocytes for in vitro proliferation and colony formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Amin Fayaz
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, S7N 5B4, Canada
| | - Fahar Ibtisham
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, S7N 5B4, Canada
| | - Tat-Chuan Cham
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, S7N 5B4, Canada
| | - Ali Honaramooz
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, S7N 5B4, Canada.
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Cao Y, Liu L, Lin J, Sun P, Guo K, Li S, Li X, Lan ZJ, Wang H, Lei Z. Dysregulation of Notch-FGF signaling axis in germ cells results in cystic dilation of the rete testis in mice. J Cell Commun Signal 2021; 16:75-92. [PMID: 34101112 PMCID: PMC8688682 DOI: 10.1007/s12079-021-00628-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Numb (Nb) and Numb-like (Nbl) are functionally redundant adaptor proteins that critically regulate cell fate and morphogenesis in a variety of organs. We selectively deleted Nb and Nbl in testicular germ cells by breeding Nb/Nbl floxed mice with a transgenic mouse line Tex101-Cre. The mutant mice developed unilateral or bilateral cystic dilation in the rete testis (RT). Dye trace indicated partial blockages in the testicular hilum. Morphological and immunohistochemical evaluations revealed that the lining epithelium of the cysts possessed similar characteristics of RT epithelium, suggesting that the cyst originated from dilation of the RT lumen. Spermatogenesis and the efferent ducts were unaffected. In comparisons of isolated germ cells from mutants to control mice, the Notch activity considerably increased and the expression of Notch target gene Hey1 significantly elevated. Further studies identified that germ cell Fgf4 expression negatively correlated the Notch activity and demonstrated that blockade of FGF receptors mediated FGF4 signaling induced enlargement of the RT lumen in vitro. The crucial role of the FGF4 signaling in modulation of RT development was verified by the selective germ cell Fgf4 ablation, which displayed a phenotype similar to that of germ cell Nb/Nbl null mutant males. These findings indicate that aberrant over-activation of the Notch signaling in germ cells due to Nb/Nbl abrogation impairs the RT development, which is through the suppressing germ cell Fgf4 expression. The present study uncovers the presence of a lumicrine signal pathway in which secreted/diffusible protein FGF4 produced by germ cells is essential for normal RT development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin Cao
- Department of Andrology, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, People's Republic of China
| | - Lingyun Liu
- Department of Andrology, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Lin
- Department of OB/GYN and Women's Health, MDR Building, University of Louisville School of Medicine, 511 South Floyd Street, Louisville, KY, 40292, USA
| | - Penghao Sun
- Department of Andrology, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, People's Republic of China
| | - Kaimin Guo
- Department of Andrology, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, People's Republic of China
| | - Shengqiang Li
- Department of OB/GYN and Women's Health, MDR Building, University of Louisville School of Medicine, 511 South Floyd Street, Louisville, KY, 40292, USA
- Fujian Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, 350003, China
| | - Xian Li
- Department of OB/GYN and Women's Health, MDR Building, University of Louisville School of Medicine, 511 South Floyd Street, Louisville, KY, 40292, USA
| | - Zi-Jian Lan
- Division of Life Sciences, Alltech, Nicholasville, KY, 40356, USA
| | - Hongliang Wang
- Department of Andrology, the First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, People's Republic of China.
| | - Zhenmin Lei
- Department of OB/GYN and Women's Health, MDR Building, University of Louisville School of Medicine, 511 South Floyd Street, Louisville, KY, 40292, USA.
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Lamichhaney S, Catullo R, Keogh JS, Clulow S, Edwards SV, Ezaz T. A bird-like genome from a frog: Mechanisms of genome size reduction in the ornate burrowing frog, Platyplectrum ornatum. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2011649118. [PMID: 33836564 PMCID: PMC7980411 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2011649118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The diversity of genome sizes across the tree of life is of key interest in evolutionary biology. Various correlates of variation in genome size, such as accumulation of transposable elements (TEs) or rate of DNA gain and loss, are well known, but the underlying molecular mechanisms driving or constraining genome size are poorly understood. Here, we study one of the smallest genomes among frogs characterized thus far, that of the ornate burrowing frog (Platyplectrum ornatum) from Australia, and compare it to other published frog and vertebrate genomes to examine the forces driving reduction in genome size. At ∼1.06 gigabases (Gb), the P. ornatum genome is like that of birds, revealing four major mechanisms underlying TE dynamics: reduced abundance of all major classes of TEs; increased net deletion bias in TEs; drastic reduction in intron lengths; and expansion via gene duplication of the repertoire of TE-suppressing Piwi genes, accompanied by increased expression of Piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA)-based TE-silencing pathway genes in germline cells. Transcriptomes from multiple tissues in both sexes corroborate these results and provide insight into sex-differentiation pathways in Platyplectrum Genome skimming of two closely related frog species (Lechriodus fletcheri and Limnodynastes fletcheri) confirms a reduction in TEs as a major driver of genome reduction in Platyplectrum and supports a macroevolutionary scenario of small genome size in frogs driven by convergence in life history, especially rapid tadpole development and tadpole diet. The P. ornatum genome offers a model for future comparative studies on mechanisms of genome size reduction in amphibians and vertebrates generally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sangeet Lamichhaney
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138
- Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138
| | - Renee Catullo
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Acton, ACT, Australia 2601
- Australian National Insect Collection and Future Science Platform Environomics, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Acton, ACT, Australia 2601
| | - J Scott Keogh
- Division of Ecology and Evolution, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Acton, ACT, Australia 2601
| | - Simon Clulow
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia 2109
| | - Scott V Edwards
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138;
- Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138
| | - Tariq Ezaz
- Institute for Applied Ecology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Canberra, Canberra, ACT, Australia 2617
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Yang F, Whelan EC, Guan X, Deng B, Wang S, Sun J, Avarbock MR, Wu X, Brinster RL. FGF9 promotes mouse spermatogonial stem cell proliferation mediated by p38 MAPK signalling. Cell Prolif 2020; 54:e12933. [PMID: 33107118 PMCID: PMC7791179 DOI: 10.1111/cpr.12933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Revised: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives Fibroblast growth factor 9 (FGF9) is expressed by somatic cells in the seminiferous tubules, yet little information exists about its role in regulating spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). Materials and Methods Fgf9 overexpression lentivirus was injected into mouse testes, and PLZF immunostaining was performed to investigate the effect of FGF9 on spermatogonia in vivo. Effect of FGF9 on SSCs was detected by transplanting cultured germ cells into tubules of testes. RNA‐seq of bulk RNA and single cell was performed to explore FGF9 working mechanisms. SB203580 was used to disrupt p38 MAPK pathway. p38 MAPK protein expression was detected by Western blot and qPCR was performed to determine different gene expression. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) was used to knock down Etv5 gene expression in germ cells. Results Overexpression of Fgf9 in vivo resulted in arrested spermatogenesis and accumulation of undifferentiated spermatogonia. Exposure of germ cell cultures to FGF9 resulted in larger numbers of SSCs over time. Inhibition of p38 MAPK phosphorylation negated the SSC growth advantage provided by FGF9. Etv5 and Bcl6b gene expressions were enhanced by FGF9 treatment. Gene knockdown of Etv5 disrupted the growth effect of FGF9 in cultured SSCs along with downstream expression of Bcl6b. Conclusions Taken together, these data indicate that FGF9 is an important regulator of SSC proliferation, operating through p38 MAPK phosphorylation and upregulating Etv5 and Bcl6b in turn.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Eoin C Whelan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Xuebing Guan
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Bingquan Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jiachen Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Mary R Avarbock
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Xin Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ralph L Brinster
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Agarwal D, Gireesh-Babu P, Pavan-Kumar A, Koringa P, Joshi CG, Chaudhari A. Transcriptome analysis of Clarias magur brain and gonads suggests neuro-endocrine inhibition of milt release from captive GnRH-induced males. Genomics 2020; 112:4041-4052. [PMID: 32650102 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2020.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Revised: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 07/03/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Transcriptome analysis of Clarias magur brain and gonads at preparatory, mature, 6 and 16 h post-GnRH injection (hpi) stages yielded 9.5 GB data with 39,738 contigs. Sequences of 45 reproductive genes were identified for the first time in C. magur along with unique and differentially expressed genes. The expression of 20 genes was validated by qRT-PCR. Upregulation of Cyp11A1, Cyp17A1 and FTZF1 genes in the 16hpi testis accompanied by the 17β-HSD3 expression indicates testosterone (T) synthesis in response to LH surge, while reduced expression of CYP11B1 suggests a high T: 11-KT ratio. It is evident by the gene expression analysis that the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA, altered T: 11-KT, increased testicular bile acids, and oxytocin-like neuropeptide in the male brain, appear to be involved in arresting the pulsatile motion of testicular smooth muscles. The work generates important leads for an effective induced breeding strategy for silurid catfish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepak Agarwal
- Fish Genetics and Biotechnology Division, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai, India
| | - P Gireesh-Babu
- Fish Genetics and Biotechnology Division, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai, India
| | - A Pavan-Kumar
- Fish Genetics and Biotechnology Division, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai, India
| | - Prakash Koringa
- Animal Biotechnology Department, Anand Agricultural University, Anand, India
| | - C G Joshi
- Animal Biotechnology Department, Anand Agricultural University, Anand, India
| | - Aparna Chaudhari
- Fish Genetics and Biotechnology Division, ICAR-Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Mumbai, India.
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13
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Adaptation of Human Testicular Niche Cells for Pluripotent Stem Cell and Testis Development Research. Tissue Eng Regen Med 2020; 17:223-235. [PMID: 32114677 DOI: 10.1007/s13770-020-00240-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Revised: 01/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human testicular cells are greatly valuable to the research community as tools for studying testicular physiology and the effects of environmental pollutants. Because adult testicular cells have a limited self-organization capacity and life span, we investigated whether human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) can be used together with testicular cells to move a step closer toward making an optimal model of the human testis. METHODS We used in vitro culture of donor testicular cells under serum-containing and chemically defined conditions. CRISPR-Cas9 technology was applied to introduce fluorescent transgenes (mCherry2 and EGFP) into hPSCs and testicular cells. hPSC-derived spheroids were co-cultured with human testicular cells in mini-spin bioreactors. RESULTS Traditional cell culture conditions used for maintenance of testicular somatic cells generally contain serum and pose limitations on evaluating the role of active molecules on cell functions. We established that chemically defined culture conditions can be used to maintain testicular cells without the loss of proliferative activity. These cultures demonstrate marker expression which is characteristic of common testicular cell types: Sertoli, Leydig, endothelial, myoid cells, and macrophages. In order to model testicular physiology, it is important to be able to perform live cell microscopy. Thus, we generated fluorescent protein-expressing human testicular cells and hPSCs and demonstrated that these cell types can be successfully co-cultured for prolonged periods of time in a three-dimensional microenvironment. CONCLUSION Our research extends the possible applications of human testis-derived somatic cells and shows that they can be used together with hPSCs for further studies of human male reproductive biology.
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14
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Ni FD, Hao SL, Yang WX. Multiple signaling pathways in Sertoli cells: recent findings in spermatogenesis. Cell Death Dis 2019; 10:541. [PMID: 31316051 PMCID: PMC6637205 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-019-1782-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 155] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2019] [Revised: 06/13/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The functions of Sertoli cells in spermatogenesis have attracted much more attention recently. Normal spermatogenesis depends on Sertoli cells, mainly due to their influence on nutrient supply, maintenance of cell junctions, and support for germ cells' mitosis and meiosis. Accumulating evidence in the past decade has highlighted the dominant functions of the MAPK, AMPK, and TGF-β/Smad signaling pathways during spermatogenesis. Among these pathways, the MAPK signaling pathway regulates dynamics of tight junctions and adherens junctions, proliferation and meiosis of germ cells, proliferation and lactate production of Sertoli cells; the AMPK and the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathways both affect dynamics of tight junctions and adherens junctions, as well as the proliferation of Sertoli cells. The AMPK signaling pathway also regulates lactate supply. These signaling pathways combine to form a complex regulatory network for spermatogenesis. In testicular tumors or infertile patients, the activities of these signaling pathways in Sertoli cells are abnormal. Clarifying the mechanisms of signaling pathways in Sertoli cells on spermatogenesis provides new insights into the physiological functions of Sertoli cells in male reproduction, and also serves as a pre-requisite to identify potential therapeutic targets in abnormal spermatogenesis including testicular tumor and male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei-Da Ni
- The Sperm Laboratory, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, 310058, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shuang-Li Hao
- The Sperm Laboratory, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, 310058, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wan-Xi Yang
- The Sperm Laboratory, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, 310058, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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15
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Saucedo L, Rumpel R, Sobarzo C, Schreiner D, Brandes G, Lustig L, Vazquez-Levin MH, Grothe C, Marín-Briggiler C. Deficiency of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) leads to abnormal spermatogenesis and altered sperm physiology. J Cell Physiol 2018; 233:9640-9651. [PMID: 30054911 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.26876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2018] [Accepted: 05/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
In previous studies, we described the presence of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF-2) and its receptors (FGFRs) in human testis and sperm, which are involved in spermatogenesis and in motility regulation. The aim of the present study was to analyze the role of FGF-2 in the maintenance of sperm physiology using FGF-2 knockout (KO) mice. Our results showed that in wild-type (WT) animals, FGF-2 is expressed in germ cells of the seminiferous epithelium, in epithelial cells of the epididymis, and in the flagellum and acrosomal region of epididymal sperm. In the FGF-2 KO mice, we found alterations in spermatogenesis kinetics, higher numbers of spermatids per testis, and enhanced daily sperm production compared with the WT males. No difference in the percentage of sperm motility was detected, but a significant increase in sperm concentration and in sperm head abnormalities was observed in FGF-2 KO animals. Sperm from KO mice depicted reduced phosphorylation on tyrosine residues (a phenomenon that was associated with sperm capacitation) and increased acrosomal loss after incubation under capacitating conditions. However, the FGF-2 KO males displayed no apparent fertility defects, since their mating with WT females showed no differences in the time to delivery, litter size, and pup weight in comparison with WT males. Overall, our findings suggest that FGF-2 exerts a role in mammalian spermatogenesis and that the lack of FGF-2 leads to dysregulated sperm production and altered sperm morphology and function. FGF-2-deficient mice constitute a model for the study of the complex mechanisms underlying mammalian spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucía Saucedo
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), National Research Council of Argentina (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Regina Rumpel
- Institute of Neuroanatomy and Cell Biology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Cristian Sobarzo
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, National Research Council of Argentina (CONICET), University of Buenos Aires (UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Dietmar Schreiner
- Institute of Neuroanatomy and Cell Biology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Gudrun Brandes
- Institute of Neuroanatomy and Cell Biology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Livia Lustig
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, National Research Council of Argentina (CONICET), University of Buenos Aires (UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mónica Hebe Vazquez-Levin
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), National Research Council of Argentina (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Claudia Grothe
- Institute of Neuroanatomy and Cell Biology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Clara Marín-Briggiler
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), National Research Council of Argentina (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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16
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Involvement of growth factors in diabetes mellitus and its complications: A general review. Biomed Pharmacother 2018; 101:510-527. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.02.105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2017] [Revised: 02/03/2018] [Accepted: 02/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
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17
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Gautam M, Bhattacharya I, Rai U, Majumdar SS. Hormone induced differential transcriptome analysis of Sertoli cells during postnatal maturation of rat testes. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0191201. [PMID: 29342173 PMCID: PMC5771609 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0191201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2017] [Accepted: 12/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Sertoli cells (Sc) are unique somatic cells of testis that are the target of both FSH and testosterone (T) and regulate spermatogenesis. Although Sc of neonatal rat testes are exposed to high levels of FSH and T, robust differentiation of spermatogonial cells becomes conspicuous only after 11-days of postnatal age. We have demonstrated earlier that a developmental switch in terms of hormonal responsiveness occurs in rat Sc at around 12 days of postnatal age during the rapid transition of spermatogonia A to B. Therefore, such “functional maturation” of Sc, during pubertal development becomes prerequisite for the onset of spermatogenesis. However, a conspicuous difference in robust hormone (both T and FSH) induced gene expression during the different phases of Sc maturation restricts our understanding about molecular events necessary for the spermatogenic onset and maintenance. Here, using microarray technology, we for the first time have compared the differential transcriptional profile of Sc isolated and cultured from immature (5 days old), maturing (12 days old) and mature (60 days old) rat testes. Our data revealed that immature Sc express genes involved in cellular growth, metabolism, chemokines, cell division, MAPK and Wnt pathways, while mature Sc are more specialized expressing genes involved in glucose metabolism, phagocytosis, insulin signaling and cytoskeleton structuring. Taken together, this differential transcriptome data provide an important resource to reveal the molecular network of Sc maturation which is necessary to govern male germ cell differentiation, hence, will improve our current understanding of the etiology of some forms of idiopathic male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mukesh Gautam
- Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | | | - Umesh Rai
- Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Subeer S. Majumdar
- Cellular Endocrinology Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India
- National Institute of Animal Biotechnology, Hyderabad, India
- * E-mail:
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18
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Garbarino Azúa DJ, Saucedo L, Giordana S, Magri ML, Buffone MG, Neuspiller F, Vazquez-Levin MH, Marín-Briggiler CI. Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) is present in human spermatozoa and is related with sperm motility. The use of recombinant FGF2 to improve motile sperm recovery. Andrology 2017; 5:990-998. [PMID: 28732140 DOI: 10.1111/andr.12398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2017] [Revised: 05/12/2017] [Accepted: 06/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) and their receptors (FGFRs) regulate several functions of somatic cells. In a previous work, we reported FGFR expression in human spermatozoa and their involvement in motility. This study aimed to evaluate the presence and localization of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) in human spermatozoa, to determine the relationship of FGF2 levels with conventional semen parameters and to assess the effect of recombinant FGF2 (rFGF2) on sperm recovery in a selection procedure. Western immunoblotting analysis using an antibody against FGF2 revealed an 18-kDa band in sperm protein extracts. The protein was immunolocalized in the sperm flagellum and acrosomal region, as well as in all germ cells. Sperm FGF2 levels, assessed by flow cytometry, showed a positive (p < 0.05) correlation with sperm concentration, motility, total sperm number and total motile cells per ejaculate. Moreover, samples with abnormal motility depicted diminished (p < 0.01) FGF2 levels compared to those with normal motility. Spermatozoa exposed to rFGF2 bound the protein, exhibited higher (p < 0.05) total and motile sperm recoveries, and increased (p < 0.01) kinematic parameters after the swim-up. Findings herein presented lead to consider sperm FGF2 level as a potential marker of sperm quality, and rFGF2 as a supplement for improving sperm recovery in selection techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- D J Garbarino Azúa
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), National Research Council of Argentina (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - L Saucedo
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), National Research Council of Argentina (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - S Giordana
- Instituto Valenciano de Infertilidad (IVI), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M L Magri
- Instituto Valenciano de Infertilidad (IVI), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M G Buffone
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), National Research Council of Argentina (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - F Neuspiller
- Instituto Valenciano de Infertilidad (IVI), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M H Vazquez-Levin
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), National Research Council of Argentina (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - C I Marín-Briggiler
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), National Research Council of Argentina (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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19
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Sedaghat N, Fathy M, Modarressi MH, Shojaie A. Identifying functional cancer-specific miRNA-mRNA interactions in testicular germ cell tumor. J Theor Biol 2016; 404:82-96. [PMID: 27235586 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2016.05.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2015] [Revised: 04/26/2016] [Accepted: 05/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in men aged between 15 and 35 and more than 90% of testicular neoplasms are originated at germ cells. Recent research has shown the impact of microRNAs (miRNAs) in different types of cancer, including testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT). MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs which affect the development and progression of cancer cells by binding to mRNAs and regulating their expressions. The identification of functional miRNA-mRNA interactions in cancers, i.e. those that alter the expression of genes in cancer cells, can help delineate post-regulatory mechanisms and may lead to new treatments to control the progression of cancer. A number of sequence-based methods have been developed to predict miRNA-mRNA interactions based on the complementarity of sequences. While necessary, sequence complementarity is, however, not sufficient for presence of functional interactions. Alternative methods have thus been developed to refine the sequence-based interactions using concurrent expression profiles of miRNAs and mRNAs. This study aims to find functional cancer-specific miRNA-mRNA interactions in TGCT. To this end, the sequence-based predicted interactions are first refined using an ensemble learning method, based on two well-known methods of learning miRNA-mRNA interactions, namely, TaLasso and GenMiR++. Additional functional analyses were then used to identify a subset of interactions to be most likely functional and specific to TGCT. The final list of 13 miRNA-mRNA interactions can be potential targets for identifying TGCT-specific interactions and future laboratory experiments to develop new therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nafiseh Sedaghat
- Computer Engineering School, Iran University of Science and Technology, Iran
| | - Mahmood Fathy
- Computer Engineering School, Iran University of Science and Technology, Iran
| | | | - Ali Shojaie
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, United States
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20
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Saucedo L, Buffa GN, Rosso M, Guillardoy T, Góngora A, Munuce MJ, Vazquez-Levin MH, Marín-Briggiler C. Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptors (FGFRs) in Human Sperm: Expression, Functionality and Involvement in Motility Regulation. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0127297. [PMID: 25970615 PMCID: PMC4430232 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0127297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2014] [Accepted: 04/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibroblast growth factors receptors (FGFRs) have been widely characterized in somatic cells, but there is scarce evidence of their expression and function in mammalian gametes. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the expression of FGFRs in human male germ cells, to determine sperm FGFR activation by the FGF2 ligand and their participation in the regulation of sperm motility. The expression of FGFR1, 2, 3 and 4 mRNAs and proteins in human testis and localization of these receptors in germ cells of the seminiferous epithelium was demonstrated. In ejaculated sperm, FGFRs were localized to the acrosomal region and flagellum. Sperm exposure to FGF2 caused an increase in flagellar FGFR phosphorylation and activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and protein kinase B (PKB or Akt) signaling pathways. Incubation with FGF2 led to a significant increase in the percentage of total and progressive sperm motility, as well as in sperm kinematics. All responses were prevented by sperm preincubation with BGJ398, a specific inhibitor of FGFR tyrosine kinase activity. In addition to confirming the expression of FGFRs in germ cells of the human testis, our study describes for the first time the presence, localization and functionality of human sperm FGFRs, and provides evidence of the beneficial effect of FGF2 upon sperm motility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucía Saucedo
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), CONICET-FIBYME, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gabriela N. Buffa
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), CONICET-FIBYME, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Marina Rosso
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), CONICET-FIBYME, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Tomás Guillardoy
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), CONICET-FIBYME, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Adrian Góngora
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), CONICET-FIBYME, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María J. Munuce
- Laboratorio de Medicina Reproductiva, Area de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina
- Reprolab, Sanatorio Británico de Rosario, Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Mónica H. Vazquez-Levin
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), CONICET-FIBYME, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Clara Marín-Briggiler
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), CONICET-FIBYME, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- * E-mail:
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21
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Winge SB, Nielsen J, Jørgensen A, Owczarek S, Ewen KA, Nielsen JE, Juul A, Berezin V, Rajpert-De Meyts E. Biglycan is a novel binding partner of fibroblast growth factor receptor 3c (FGFR3c) in the human testis. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2015; 399:235-43. [PMID: 25260943 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2014.09.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2014] [Revised: 09/16/2014] [Accepted: 09/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Regulation of spermatogonial maintenance in the human testis is currently not well understood. One pathway suggested to be involved is activated by fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3), which is expressed in a subset of spermatogonia. FGFR3-activating mutations have been identified in spermatocytic seminoma, thought to originate from clonal expansion of spermatogonia. In this study we aimed to characterize potential binding partners of FGFR3, and specifically its mesenchymal "c" splice isoform, in human spermatogonia. Based on expression patterns and homology to the binding site, we identified FGF1, FGF2, and FGF9 as the best candidates for natural ligands of FGFR3c in the testis. In addition, we screened non-FGF proteins and found that a proteoglycan biglycan (BGN) contains a sequence homologous to the FGFR3c binding site on FGF1, and is expressed in peritubular cells adjacent to FGFR3-expressing spermatogonia. Experiments in a cell-free system confirmed that BGN binds to FGFR3c and FGF1. In conclusion, our findings further clarify the complex regulation of FGFR3c in the human testis. We postulate that BGN is a factor secreted by peritubular cells to modulate FGFR3c signaling and thus contributes to the regulation of spermatogonial maintenance.
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Affiliation(s)
- S B Winge
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen DK-2100, Denmark.
| | - J Nielsen
- Laboratory of Neural Plasticity, Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen DK-2100, Denmark
| | - A Jørgensen
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen DK-2100, Denmark
| | - S Owczarek
- Laboratory of Neural Plasticity, Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen DK-2100, Denmark
| | - K A Ewen
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen DK-2100, Denmark
| | - J E Nielsen
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen DK-2100, Denmark
| | - A Juul
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen DK-2100, Denmark
| | - V Berezin
- Laboratory of Neural Plasticity, Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen DK-2100, Denmark
| | - E Rajpert-De Meyts
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Copenhagen DK-2100, Denmark
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22
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Preventive effect of non-mitogenic acidic fibroblast growth factor on diabetes-induced testicular cell death. Reprod Toxicol 2014; 49:136-44. [PMID: 25150137 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2014.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2014] [Revised: 07/31/2014] [Accepted: 08/07/2014] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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