UC-MSCs promote frozen-thawed ovaries angiogenesis via activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in vitro ovarian culture system

Vigor King mitigates spermatogenic disorders caused by environmental estrogen zearalenone exposure

Zearalenone (ZEN) has been shown to cause reproductive damage by inducing oxidative stress. Astaxanthin and L-carnitine are widely used to alleviate oxidative stress and promote sperm maturation. However, it remains uncertain whether they are effective in mitigating spermatogenesis disorders induced by ZEN. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic efficacy and potential mechanisms of Vigor King (Vig), a compound preparation primarily consisting of astaxanthin and L-carnitine, in alleviating ZEN-induced spermatogenesis disorders. In the experiment, mice received continuous oral gavage of ZEN (80 μg/kg) for 35 days, accompanied by a rescue strategy with Vig (200 mg/kg). The results showed that Vig effectively reduced the negative impact on semen quality and improved the structural and functional abnormalities of the seminiferous epithelium caused by ZEN. Additionally, the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), DNA double-strand breaks, apoptosis, and autophagy abnormalities were all significantly ameliorated. Intriguingly, the GSK3β-dependent BTRC-NRF2 signaling pathway was found to play an important role in this process. Furthermore, testing of offspring indicated that Vig could extend its protective effects to the next generation, effectively combating the transgenerational toxic effects of ZEN. In summary, our research suggests that Vig supplementation holds considerable promise in alleviating spermatogenesis disorders induced by zearalenone.

Enhancement of Vascularization and Ovarian Follicle Survival Using Stem Cells in Cryopreserved Ovarian Tissue Transplantation-A Systematic Review

The increase in cancer survival rates has put a focus on ensuring fertility preservation procedures for cancer patients. Ovarian tissue cryopreservation presents the only option for prepubertal girls and patients who require immediate start of treatment and, therefore, cannot undergo controlled ovarian stimulation. We aimed to provide an assessment of stem cells' impact on cryopreserved ovarian tissue grafts in regard to the expression of growth factors, angiogenesis promotion, tissue oxygenation, ovarian follicle survival and restoration of endocrine function. For this systematic review, we searched the Scopus and PubMed databases and included reports of trials using murine and/or human cryopreserved ovarian tissue for transplantation or in vitro culture in combination with mesenchymal stem cell administration to the grafting site. Of the 1201 articles identified, 10 met the criteria. The application of stem cells to the grafting site has been proven to support vascular promotion and thereby shorten the period of tissue hypoxia, which is reflected in the increased number of remaining viable follicles and faster recovery of ovarian endocrine function. Further research is needed before implementing the use of stem cells in OT cryopreservation and transplantation procedures in clinical practice. Complex ethical dilemmas make this process more difficult.

CCT2 prevented β-catenin proteasomal degradation to sustain cancer stem cell traits and promote tumor progression in epithelial ovarian cancer

BACKGROUND

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is featured by rapid progression and dismal outcomes clinically. Chaperonin Containing TCP1 Subunit 2 (CCT2) was identified as a crucial regulator for tumor progression, however, its exact role in EOC remained largely unknown.

METHODS

CCT2 expression and prognostic value in EOC samples were assessed according to TCGA dataset. Proliferation and mobility potentials were assessed by CCK8, colony-formation, wound healing, and Transwell assays. Cancer stem cell (CSC) traits were evaluated by RT-PCR, WB assays, sphere-forming assay and chemoresistance analysis. Bioinformatic analysis, co-IP assays and ubiquitin assays were performed to explore the mechanisms of CCT2 on EOC cells.

RESULTS

CCT2 highly expressed in EOC tissues and predicted poor prognosis of EOC patients by TCGA analysis. Silencing CCT2 significantly restrained cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Moreover, CCT2 could effectively trigger epithelial-mesenchymal transition to confer extensive invasion potentials to EOC cells, Importantly, CCT2 positively correlated with CSC markers in EOC, and CCT2 knockdown impaired CSC traits and sensitize EOC cells to conventional chemotherapy regimens. Contrarily, overexpressing CCT2 achieved opposite results. Mechanistically, CCT2 exerted its pro-oncogene function by triggering Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Specifically, CCT2 could recruit HSP105-PP2A complex, a well-established dephosphorylation complex, to β-catenin via direct physical interaction to prevent phosphorylation-induced proteasomal degradation of β-catenin, resulting in intracellular accumulation of active β-catenin and increased signaling activity.

CONCLUSIONS

CCT2 was a novel promotor for EOC progression and a crucial sustainer for CSC traits mainly by preventing β-catenin degradation. Targeting CCT2 may represent a promising therapeutic strategy for EOC.

Single-Cell Atlas of Human Ovaries Reveals The Role Of The Pyroptotic Macrophage in Ovarian Aging

Female fecundity declines in a nonlinear manner with age during the reproductive years, even as ovulatory cycles continue, which reduces female fertility, disrupts metabolic homeostasis, and eventually induces various chronic diseases. Despite this, the aging-related cellular and molecular changes in human ovaries that occur during these reproductive years have not been elucidated. Here, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) of human ovaries is performed from different childbearing ages and reveals that the activation of the pyroptosis pathway increased with age, mainly in macrophages. The enrichment of pyroptotic macrophages leads to a switch from a tissue-resident macrophage (TRM)-involve immunoregulatory microenvironment in young ovaries to a pyroptotic monocyte-derived macrophage (MDM)-involved proinflammatory microenvironment in middle-aged ovaries. This remolded ovarian immuno-microenvironment further promotes stromal cell senescence and accelerated reproductive decline. This hypothesis is validated in a series of cell and animal experiments using GSDMD-KO mice. In conclusion, the work expands the current understanding of the ovarian aging process by illustrating a pyroptotic macrophage-involved immune mechanism, which has important implications for the development of novel strategies to delay senescence and promote reproductive health.

SIRT1 Promotes Cisplatin Resistance in Bladder Cancer via Beclin1 Deacetylation-Mediated Autophagy

Autophagy-dependent cisplatin resistance poses a challenge in bladder cancer treatment. SIRT1, a protein deacetylase, is involved in autophagy regulation. However, the precise mechanism through which SIRT1 mediates cisplatin resistance in bladder cancer via autophagy remains unclear. In this study, we developed a cisplatin-resistant T24/DDP cell line to investigate this mechanism. The apoptosis rate and cell viability were assessed using flow cytometry and the CCK8 method. The expression levels of the relevant RNA and protein were determined using RT-qPCR and a Western blot analysis, respectively. Immunoprecipitation was utilized to validate the interaction between SIRT1 and Beclin1, as well as to determine the acetylation level of Beclin1. The findings indicated the successful construction of the T24/DDP cell line, which exhibited autophagy-dependent cisplatin resistance. Inhibiting autophagy significantly reduced the drug resistance index of these cells. The T24/DDP cell line showed a high SIRT1 expression level. The overexpression of SIRT1 activated autophagy, thereby further promoting cisplatin resistance in the T24/DDP cell line. Conversely, inhibiting autophagy counteracted the cisplatin-resistance-promoting effects of SIRT1. Silencing SIRT1 led to increased acetylation of Beclin1, the inhibition of autophagy, and a reduction in the cisplatin resistance of the T24/DDP cell line. Introducing a double mutation (lysine 430 and 437 to arginine, 2KR) in Beclin-1 inhibited acetylation and activated autophagy, effectively reversing the decreased cisplatin resistance resulting from SIRT1 silencing. In summary, our study elucidated that SIRT1 promotes cisplatin resistance in human bladder cancer T24 cells through Beclin1-deacetylation-mediated autophagy activation. These findings suggest a potential new strategy for reversing cisplatin resistance in bladder cancer.

The role of Wnt signaling in mesenchymal stromal cell-driven angiogenesis

Development, growth, and remodeling of blood vessels occur through an intricate process involving cell differentiation, proliferation, and rearrangement by cell migration under the direction of various signaling pathways. Recent reports highlight that resident and exogenous mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have the potential to regulate the neovascularization process through paracrine secretion of proangiogenic factors. Recent research has established that the vasculogenic potential of MSCs is regulated by several signaling pathways, including the Wnt signaling pathway, and their interplay. These findings emphasize the complex nature of the vasculogenic process and underscore the importance of understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms for the development of effective cell-based therapies in regenerative medicine. This review provides an updated briefing on the canonical and non-canonical Wnt signaling pathways and summarizes the recent reports of both in vitro and in vivo studies with the involvement of MSCs of various sources in the vasculogenic process mediated by Wnt signaling pathways. Here we outline the current understanding of the plausible role of the Wnt signaling pathway, specifically in MSC-regulated angiogenesis.