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Davoudi P, Do DN, Rathgeber B, Colombo S, Sargolzaei M, Plastow G, Wang Z, Miar Y. Characterization of runs of homozygosity islands in American mink using whole-genome sequencing data. J Anim Breed Genet 2024; 141:507-520. [PMID: 38389405 DOI: 10.1111/jbg.12859] [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: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
The genome-wide analysis of runs of homozygosity (ROH) islands can be an effective strategy for identifying shared variants within a population and uncovering important genomic regions related to complex traits. The current study performed ROH analysis to characterize the genome-wide patterns of homozygosity, identify ROH islands and annotated genes within these candidate regions using whole-genome sequencing data from 100 American mink (Neogale vison). After sequence processing, variants were called using GATK and Samtools pipelines. Subsequent to quality control, 8,373,854 bi-allelic variants identified by both pipelines remained for further analysis. A total of 34,652 ROH segments were identified in all individuals, among which shorter segments (0.3-1 Mb) were abundant throughout the genome, approximately accounting for 84.39% of all ROH. Within these segments, we identified 63 ROH islands housing 156 annotated genes. The genes located in ROH islands were associated with fur quality (EDNRA, FGF2, FOXA2 and SLC24A4), body size/weight (MYLK4, PRIM2, FABP2, EYS and PHF3), immune capacity (IL2, IL21, PTP4A1, SEMA4C, JAK2, CCNA2 and TNIP3) and reproduction (ADAD1, KHDRBS2, INSL6, PGRMC2 and HSPA4L). Furthermore, Gene Ontology and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses revealed 56 and 9 significant terms (FDR-corrected p-value < 0.05), respectively, among which cGMP-PKG signalling pathway, regulation of actin cytoskeleton, and calcium signalling pathway were highlighted due to their functional roles in growth and fur characteristics. This is the first study to present ROH islands in American mink. The candidate genes from ROH islands and functional enrichment analysis suggest possible signatures of selection in response to the mink breeding targets, such as increased body length, reproductive performance and fur quality. These findings contribute to our understanding of genetic characteristics, and provide complementary information to assist with implementation of breeding strategies for genetic improvement in American mink.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pourya Davoudi
- Department of Animal Science and Aquaculture, Dalhousie University, Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Duy Ngoc Do
- Department of Animal Science and Aquaculture, Dalhousie University, Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Bruce Rathgeber
- Department of Animal Science and Aquaculture, Dalhousie University, Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Stefanie Colombo
- Department of Animal Science and Aquaculture, Dalhousie University, Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Mehdi Sargolzaei
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
- Select Sires Inc., Plain City, Ohio, USA
| | - Graham Plastow
- Livestock Gentec, Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Zhiquan Wang
- Livestock Gentec, Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Younes Miar
- Department of Animal Science and Aquaculture, Dalhousie University, Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada
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La Y, Ma X, Bao P, Chu M, Yan P, Guo X, Liang C. Quantitative Proteomic Analysis Reveals Key Proteins Involved in Testicular Development of Yaks. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:8433. [PMID: 39126002 PMCID: PMC11313431 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25158433] [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: 06/24/2024] [Revised: 07/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Male reproductive health is largely determined already in the early development of the testis. Although much work has been carried out to study the mechanisms of testicular development and spermatogenesis, there was previously no information on the differences in the protein composition of yak testicles during early development. In this study, the protein profiles in the testicles of 6- (M6), 18- (M18), and 30-month-old (M30) yaks were comparatively analyzed using TMT proteomics. A total of 5521 proteins were identified, with 13, 1295, and 1397 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in 30- vs. 18-, 18- vs. 6-, and 30- vs. 6-month-old testes, respectively. Gene Ontology (GO) annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis showed that DEPs were mainly involved in signaling pathways related to testicular development and spermatogenesis, including the MAPK, PI3K-Akt, Wnt, mTOR, TGF-β, and AMPK signaling pathways. Furthermore, we also identified eight potential proteins (TEX101, PDCL2, SYCP2, SYCP3, COL1A1, COL1A2, ADAM10, and ATF1) that may be related to the testicular development and spermatogenesis of yaks. This study may provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms of the testicular development and spermatogenesis of yaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongfu La
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding on Tibetan Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou 730050, China; (Y.L.); (X.M.); (P.B.); (M.C.); (P.Y.)
- Key Laboratory of Yak Breeding Engineering, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, China
| | - Xiaoming Ma
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding on Tibetan Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou 730050, China; (Y.L.); (X.M.); (P.B.); (M.C.); (P.Y.)
- Key Laboratory of Yak Breeding Engineering, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, China
| | - Pengjia Bao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding on Tibetan Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou 730050, China; (Y.L.); (X.M.); (P.B.); (M.C.); (P.Y.)
- Key Laboratory of Yak Breeding Engineering, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, China
| | - Min Chu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding on Tibetan Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou 730050, China; (Y.L.); (X.M.); (P.B.); (M.C.); (P.Y.)
- Key Laboratory of Yak Breeding Engineering, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, China
| | - Ping Yan
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding on Tibetan Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou 730050, China; (Y.L.); (X.M.); (P.B.); (M.C.); (P.Y.)
- Key Laboratory of Yak Breeding Engineering, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, China
| | - Xian Guo
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding on Tibetan Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou 730050, China; (Y.L.); (X.M.); (P.B.); (M.C.); (P.Y.)
- Key Laboratory of Yak Breeding Engineering, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, China
| | - Chunnian Liang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding on Tibetan Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou 730050, China; (Y.L.); (X.M.); (P.B.); (M.C.); (P.Y.)
- Key Laboratory of Yak Breeding Engineering, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, China
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3
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Liu S, Ezran C, Wang MFZ, Li Z, Awayan K, Long JZ, De Vlaminck I, Wang S, Epelbaum J, Kuo CS, Terrien J, Krasnow MA, Ferrell JE. An organism-wide atlas of hormonal signaling based on the mouse lemur single-cell transcriptome. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2188. [PMID: 38467625 PMCID: PMC10928088 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46070-9] [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: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Hormones mediate long-range cell communication and play vital roles in physiology, metabolism, and health. Traditionally, endocrinologists have focused on one hormone or organ system at a time. Yet, hormone signaling by its very nature connects cells of different organs and involves crosstalk of different hormones. Here, we leverage the organism-wide single cell transcriptional atlas of a non-human primate, the mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus), to systematically map source and target cells for 84 classes of hormones. This work uncovers previously-uncharacterized sites of hormone regulation, and shows that the hormonal signaling network is densely connected, decentralized, and rich in feedback loops. Evolutionary comparisons of hormonal genes and their expression patterns show that mouse lemur better models human hormonal signaling than mouse, at both the genomic and transcriptomic levels, and reveal primate-specific rewiring of hormone-producing/target cells. This work complements the scale and resolution of classical endocrine studies and sheds light on primate hormone regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shixuan Liu
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Camille Ezran
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Michael F Z Wang
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Zhengda Li
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Kyle Awayan
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jonathan Z Long
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
- Sarafan ChEM-H, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Iwijn De Vlaminck
- Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Sheng Wang
- Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jacques Epelbaum
- Adaptive Mechanisms and Evolution (MECADEV), UMR 7179, National Center for Scientific Research, National Museum of Natural History, Brunoy, France
| | - Christin S Kuo
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jérémy Terrien
- Adaptive Mechanisms and Evolution (MECADEV), UMR 7179, National Center for Scientific Research, National Museum of Natural History, Brunoy, France
| | - Mark A Krasnow
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - James E Ferrell
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
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Zhang L, Zhang S, Yuan M, Zhan F, Song M, Shang P, Yang F, Li X, Qiao R, Han X, Li X, Fang M, Wang K. Genome-Wide Association Studies and Runs of Homozygosity to Identify Reproduction-Related Genes in Yorkshire Pig Population. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:2133. [PMID: 38136955 PMCID: PMC10742578 DOI: 10.3390/genes14122133] [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: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Reproductive traits hold considerable economic importance in pig breeding and production. However, candidate genes underpinning the reproductive traits are still poorly identified. In the present study, we executed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) and runs of homozygosity (ROH) analysis using the PorcineSNP50 BeadChip array for 585 Yorkshire pigs. Results from the GWAS identified two genome-wide significant and eighteen suggestive significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with seven reproductive traits. Furthermore, we identified candidate genes, including ELMO1, AOAH, INSIG2, NUP205, LYPLAL1, RPL34, LIPH, RNF7, GRK7, ETV5, FYN, and SLC30A5, which were chosen due to adjoining significant SNPs and their functions in immunity, fertilization, embryonic development, and sperm quality. Several genes were found in ROH islands associated with spermatozoa, development of the fetus, mature eggs, and litter size, including INSL6, TAF4B, E2F7, RTL1, CDKN1C, and GDF9. This study will provide insight into the genetic basis for pig reproductive traits, facilitating reproduction improvement using the marker-based selection methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lige Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; (L.Z.); (S.Z.); (M.Y.); (F.Z.); (M.S.); (F.Y.); (X.L.); (R.Q.); (X.H.); (X.L.)
| | - Songyuan Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; (L.Z.); (S.Z.); (M.Y.); (F.Z.); (M.S.); (F.Y.); (X.L.); (R.Q.); (X.H.); (X.L.)
| | - Meng Yuan
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; (L.Z.); (S.Z.); (M.Y.); (F.Z.); (M.S.); (F.Y.); (X.L.); (R.Q.); (X.H.); (X.L.)
| | - Fengting Zhan
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; (L.Z.); (S.Z.); (M.Y.); (F.Z.); (M.S.); (F.Y.); (X.L.); (R.Q.); (X.H.); (X.L.)
| | - Mingkun Song
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; (L.Z.); (S.Z.); (M.Y.); (F.Z.); (M.S.); (F.Y.); (X.L.); (R.Q.); (X.H.); (X.L.)
| | - Peng Shang
- Animal Science College, Tibet Agriculture and Animal Husbandry University, Linzhi 860000, China;
| | - Feng Yang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; (L.Z.); (S.Z.); (M.Y.); (F.Z.); (M.S.); (F.Y.); (X.L.); (R.Q.); (X.H.); (X.L.)
| | - Xiuling Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; (L.Z.); (S.Z.); (M.Y.); (F.Z.); (M.S.); (F.Y.); (X.L.); (R.Q.); (X.H.); (X.L.)
| | - Ruimin Qiao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; (L.Z.); (S.Z.); (M.Y.); (F.Z.); (M.S.); (F.Y.); (X.L.); (R.Q.); (X.H.); (X.L.)
| | - Xuelei Han
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; (L.Z.); (S.Z.); (M.Y.); (F.Z.); (M.S.); (F.Y.); (X.L.); (R.Q.); (X.H.); (X.L.)
| | - Xinjian Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; (L.Z.); (S.Z.); (M.Y.); (F.Z.); (M.S.); (F.Y.); (X.L.); (R.Q.); (X.H.); (X.L.)
| | - Meiying Fang
- Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, MOA Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Kejun Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China; (L.Z.); (S.Z.); (M.Y.); (F.Z.); (M.S.); (F.Y.); (X.L.); (R.Q.); (X.H.); (X.L.)
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5
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Bilekova S, Garcia-Colomer B, Cebrian-Serrano A, Schirge S, Krey K, Sterr M, Kurth T, Hauck SM, Lickert H. Inceptor facilitates acrosomal vesicle formation in spermatids and is required for male fertility. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1240039. [PMID: 37691832 PMCID: PMC10483240 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1240039] [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: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Spermatogenesis is a crucial biological process that enables the production of functional sperm, allowing for successful reproduction. Proper germ cell differentiation and maturation require tight regulation of hormonal signals, cellular signaling pathways, and cell biological processes. The acrosome is a lysosome-related organelle at the anterior of the sperm head that contains enzymes and receptors essential for egg-sperm recognition and fusion. Even though several factors crucial for acrosome biogenesis have been discovered, the precise molecular mechanism of pro-acrosomal vesicle formation and fusion is not yet known. In this study, we investigated the role of the insulin inhibitory receptor (inceptor) in acrosome formation. Inceptor is a single-pass transmembrane protein with similarities to mannose-6-phosphate receptors (M6PR). Inceptor knockout male mice are infertile due to malformations in the acrosome and defects in the nuclear shape of spermatozoa. We show that inceptor is expressed in early spermatids and mainly localizes to vesicles between the Golgi apparatus and acrosome. Here we show that inceptor is an essential factor in the intracellular transport of trans-Golgi network-derived vesicles which deliver acrosomal cargo in maturing spermatids. The absence of inceptor results in vesicle-fusion defects, acrosomal malformation, and male infertility. These findings support our hypothesis of inceptor as a universal lysosomal or lysosome-related organelle sorting receptor expressed in several secretory tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Bilekova
- Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health GmbH, Institute of Diabetes and Regeneration Research, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
- School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Balma Garcia-Colomer
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
- Helmholtz Center Munich, Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Alberto Cebrian-Serrano
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
- Helmholtz Center Munich, Institute for Diabetes and Obesity, Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Silvia Schirge
- Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health GmbH, Institute of Diabetes and Regeneration Research, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Karsten Krey
- School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Institute of Virology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Michael Sterr
- Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health GmbH, Institute of Diabetes and Regeneration Research, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Kurth
- Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering (CMCB), Technology Platform, Core Facility Electron Microscopy and Histology, Dresden University of Technology, Dresden, Germany
| | - Stefanie M. Hauck
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
- Metabolomics and Proteomics Core, Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health GmbH, Munich, Germany
| | - Heiko Lickert
- Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health GmbH, Institute of Diabetes and Regeneration Research, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
- School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
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Myocardial Infarction-Induced INSL6 Decrease Contributes to Breast Cancer Progression. DISEASE MARKERS 2023; 2023:8702914. [PMID: 36798786 PMCID: PMC9928516 DOI: 10.1155/2023/8702914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
Myocardial infarction (MI) induces early-stage breast cancer progression and increases breast cancer patients' mortality and morbidity. Insulin-like peptide 6 (INSL6) overexpression can impede cardiotoxin-induced injury through myofiber regeneration, playing a significant role in MI progression. To investigate the diverse significance of INSL6 in a variety of malignant tumors, we explored INSL6 through MI GEO dataset and multiple omics data integrative analysis, such as gene expression level, enriched pathway analysis, protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis, and immune subtypes as well as diagnostic value and prognostic value in pancancer. INSL6 expression was downregulated in the MI group, and overall survival analysis demonstrated that INSL6 could be the prognostic biomarkers in the overall survival of breast cancer (BRCA). INSL6 expression differs significantly not only in most cancers but also in different molecular and immune subtypes of cancers. INSL6 might be a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker of cancers due to the high accuracy in diagnostic and prognostic value. Furthermore, we focused on BRCA and further investigated INSL6 from the perspective of the correlations with clinical characteristics, prognosis in different clinical subgroups, coexpression genes, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and PPI analysis. Overall survival and disease-specific survival analysis of subgroups in BRCA demonstrated that lower INSL6 expression had a worse prognosis. Therefore, INSL6 aberrant expression is associated with the progression and immune cell infiltration of the tumor, especially in KIRP and BRCA. Therefore, INSL6 may serve as a potential prognostic biomarker and the crosstalk between MI and tumor progression.
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Zheng QY, Lu QF, Liu J, Liu N, Huang XL, Huang F, Hu CH, Xu CL. Effect of MnTBAP on sperm ultra-rapid freezing and its proteomics study. Cryobiology 2023:S0011-2240(23)00004-4. [PMID: 36642193 DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2023.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
MnTBAP is a new synthetic antioxidant that has been used for the cryopreservation of sperm. However, the exact mechanism of its cryoprotection at the molecular level is largely unknown. Therefore, in this study, normal human semen samples were selected and MnTBAP (0, 5, 10, 20, 40 μM) was added to sperm freezing medium to assess changes in kinetics parameters, apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and DNA fragmentation index (DFI) after sperm ultra-rapid freezing. The tandem masstagging (TMT) proteomics technique was used to further investigate the changes in proteins after sperm ultra-rapid freezing. The kinetic parameters of sperm after ultra-rapid freezing and thawing were significantly reduced and apoptosis, ROS production and DFI were significantly increased. The addition of 40 μM MnTBAP improved the kinetic parameters, while it reduced apoptosis, ROS production, and DFI of sperm after ultra-rapid freezing and thawing (P < 0.05). Compared with the fresh semen, 1978 differential proteins were identified in the frozen-thawed sperm without MnTBAP and 1888 differential proteins were identified in the frozen-thawed sperm with MnTBAP (40 μM) added. The proteins affected during ultra-rapid freezing were mainly related to sperm metabolism, flagellar structure motility, apoptosis, intracellular signaling, capacitation and fertilization, while the addition of MnTBAP reduced the alterations of these proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi-Yuan Zheng
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Qing-Fang Lu
- Medical College, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Juan Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Nian Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Xi-Ling Huang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Fang Huang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, China
| | - Chuan-Huo Hu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, China.
| | - Chang-Long Xu
- The Reproductive Medical Center, Nanning Second People's Hospital, Nanning, China.
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Comparative Genomic Characterization of Relaxin Peptide Family in Cattle and Buffalo. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 2022:1581714. [PMID: 36246983 PMCID: PMC9553489 DOI: 10.1155/2022/1581714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Relaxin family peptides significantly regulate reproduction, nutrient metabolism, and immune response in mammals. The present study aimed to identify and characterize the relaxin family peptides in cattle and buffalo at the genome level. The genomic and proteomic sequences of cattle, buffalo, goat, sheep, horse, and camel were accessed through the NCBI database, and BLAST was performed. We identified four relaxin peptides genes (RLN3, INSL3, INSL5, and INSL6) in Bos taurus, whereas three relaxin genes (RLN3, INSL3, and INSL6) in Bubalus bubalis. Evolutionary analysis revealed the conserved nature of relaxin family peptides in buffalo and cattle. Physicochemical properties revealed that relaxin proteins were thermostable, hydrophilic, and basic peptides except for INSL5 which was an acidic peptide. Three nonsynonymous mutations (two in RLN3 at positions A16 > T and P29 > A, and one in INSL6 at position R32 > Q) in Bos taurus, whereas two nonsynonymous mutations (one in RLN3 at positions G105 > w and one in INSL3 at position G22 > R) in Bubalus bubalis, were identified. INSL3 had one indel (insertion) at position 55 in Bos taurus. Gene duplication analysis revealed predominantly segmental duplications (INSL5/RLN3 and INSL6/INSL3 gene pairs) that helped expand this gene family, whereas Bubalus bubalis showed primarily tandem duplication (INSL3/RLN3). Our study concluded that relaxin family peptides remained conserved during the evolution, and gene duplications might help to adapt and enrich specific functions like reproduction, nutrient metabolism, and immune response. Further, the nonsynonymous mutations identified potentially affect these functions in buffalo.
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Yi X, Liu X, Kenney HM, Duan R, Lin X, Schwarz E, Yao Z. TNF-Polarized Macrophages Produce Insulin-like 6 Peptide to Stimulate Bone Formation in Rheumatoid Arthritis in Mice. J Bone Miner Res 2021; 36:2426-2439. [PMID: 34585777 PMCID: PMC8688308 DOI: 10.1002/jbmr.4447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The risk of osteoporosis is increased in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy has markedly improved the outcomes of RA patients but does not improve osteoporosis in some reports. This could be a combined result of disease severity and other therapeutic agents, such as glucocorticoids that accelerate osteoporosis progression. We evaluated the effects of anti-TNF therapy on osteoporosis in an animal model of RA and explored the possible mechanisms involved. Six-week-old TNF transgenic (TNF-Tg) mice with early stage erosive arthritis were treated with TNF antibody (Ab) or control immunoglobulin (IgG) weekly for 4 weeks. We found that TNF Ab completely blocked the development of erosive arthritis in TNF-Tg mice, but only slightly increased vertebral bone mass, associated with reduction in parameters of both bone resorption and formation. Similarly, TNF Ab slightly increased trabecular bone mass in tibias of 8-month-old TNF-Tg mice with advanced erosive arthritis. Interestingly, TNFα increased osteoblast differentiation from mouse bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) containing large number of macrophages but not from pure mesenchymal progenitor cells (MPCs). TNFα-polarized macrophages (TPMs) did not express iNos and Arginase 1, typical markers of inflammatory and resident macrophages. Interestingly, TPMs stimulated osteoblast differentiation, unlike resident and inflammatory macrophages polarized by IL-4 and interferon-λ, respectively. RNA-seq analysis indicated that TPMs produced several anabolic factors, including Jagged1 and insulin like 6 (INSL6). Importantly, inhibition of either Jagged1 or INSL6 blocked TNFα-induced osteoblast differentiation. Furthermore, INSL6 Ab significantly decreased the expansion of TNF-induced MPCs in BMSCs, and anti-TNF Ab reduced INSL6 expression by macrophages in vitro and in TNF-Tg mice in vivo. We conclude that TPMs produce INSL6 to stimulate bone formation and anti-TNF Ab blocks not only enhanced bone resorption but also the anabolic effect of TPMs on bone, limiting its effect to increase bone mass in this model of RA. © 2021 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangjiao Yi
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Xin Liu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - H Mark Kenney
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Rong Duan
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Xi Lin
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Edward Schwarz
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA.,Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Zhenqiang Yao
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Center for Musculoskeletal Research, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
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10
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Sgpl1 deletion elevates S1P levels, contributing to NPR2 inactivity and p21 expression that block germ cell development. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:574. [PMID: 34083520 PMCID: PMC8175456 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-03848-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Sphingosine phosphate lyase 1 (SGPL1) is a highly conserved enzyme that irreversibly degrades sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P). Sgpl1-knockout mice fail to develop germ cells, resulting in infertility. However, the molecular mechanism remains unclear. The results of the present study showed that SGPL1 was expressed mainly in granulosa cells, Leydig cells, spermatocytes, and round spermatids. Sgpl1 deletion led to S1P accumulation in the gonads. In the ovary, S1P decreased natriuretic peptide receptor 2 (NPR2) activity in granulosa cells and inhibited early follicle growth. In the testis, S1P increased the levels of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A (p21) and apoptosis in Leydig cells, thus resulting in spermatogenesis arrest. These results indicate that Sgpl1 deletion increases intracellular S1P levels, resulting in the arrest of female and male germ cell development via different signaling pathways.
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11
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Kiyozumi D, Noda T, Yamaguchi R, Tobita T, Matsumura T, Shimada K, Kodani M, Kohda T, Fujihara Y, Ozawa M, Yu Z, Miklossy G, Bohren KM, Horie M, Okabe M, Matzuk MM, Ikawa M. NELL2-mediated lumicrine signaling through OVCH2 is required for male fertility. Science 2020; 368:1132-1135. [PMID: 32499443 PMCID: PMC7396227 DOI: 10.1126/science.aay5134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 04/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The lumicrine system is a postulated signaling system in which testis-derived (upstream) secreted factors enter the male reproductive tract to regulate epididymal (downstream) pathways required for sperm maturation. Until now, no lumicrine factors have been identified. We demonstrate that a testicular germ-cell-secreted epidermal growth factor-like protein, neural epidermal growth factor-like-like 2 (NELL2), specifically binds to an orphan receptor tyrosine kinase, c-ros oncogene 1 (ROS1), and mediates the differentiation of the initial segment (IS) of the caput epididymis. Male mice in which Nell2 had been knocked out were infertile. The IS-specific secreted proteases, ovochymase 2 (OVCH2) and A disintegrin and metallopeptidase 28 (ADAM28), were expressed upon IS maturation, and OVCH2 was required for processing of the sperm surface protein ADAM3, which is required for sperm fertilizing ability. This work identifies a lumicrine system essential for testis-epididymis-spermatozoa (NELL2-ROS1-OVCH2-ADAM3) signaling and male fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daiji Kiyozumi
- Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 5650871, Japan
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 5650871, Japan
| | - Taichi Noda
- Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 5650871, Japan
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 5650871, Japan
| | - Ryo Yamaguchi
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 5650871, Japan
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 5650871, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Tobita
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 5650871, Japan
- Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 5650871, Japan
| | - Takafumi Matsumura
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 5650871, Japan
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 5650871, Japan
| | - Kentaro Shimada
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 5650871, Japan
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 5650871, Japan
| | - Mayo Kodani
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 5650871, Japan
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 5650871, Japan
| | - Takashi Kohda
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Yamanashi, Kofu, Yamanashi 4008510, Japan
| | - Yoshitaka Fujihara
- Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 5650871, Japan
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 5650871, Japan
| | - Manabu Ozawa
- The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Minato-ku, Tokyo 1088639, Japan
| | - Zhifeng Yu
- Center for Drug Discovery and Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Gabriella Miklossy
- Center for Drug Discovery and Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Kurt M Bohren
- Center for Drug Discovery and Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Masato Horie
- Department of CNS Research, Otsuka Pharmaceutical, Kawauchi-cho, Tokushima 771-0192, Japan
| | - Masaru Okabe
- Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 5650871, Japan
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 5650871, Japan
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 5650871, Japan
| | - Martin M Matzuk
- Center for Drug Discovery and Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Masahito Ikawa
- Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 5650871, Japan.
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 5650871, Japan
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 5650871, Japan
- Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 5650871, Japan
- The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Minato-ku, Tokyo 1088639, Japan
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12
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Kent K, Johnston M, Strump N, Garcia TX. Toward Development of the Male Pill: A Decade of Potential Non-hormonal Contraceptive Targets. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:61. [PMID: 32161754 PMCID: PMC7054227 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
With the continued steep rise of the global human population, and the paucity of safe and practical contraceptive options available to men, the need for development of effective and reversible non-hormonal methods of male fertility control is widely recognized. Currently there are several contraceptive options available to men, however, none of the non-hormonal alternatives have been clinically approved. To advance progress in the development of a safe and reversible contraceptive for men, further identification of novel reproductive tract-specific druggable protein targets is required. Here we provide an overview of genes/proteins identified in the last decade as specific or highly expressed in the male reproductive tract, with deletion phenotypes leading to complete male infertility in mice. These phenotypes include arrest of spermatogenesis and/or spermiogenesis, abnormal spermiation, abnormal spermatid morphology, abnormal sperm motility, azoospermia, globozoospermia, asthenozoospermia, and/or teratozoospermia, which are all desirable outcomes for a novel male contraceptive. We also consider other associated deletion phenotypes that could impact the desirability of a potential contraceptive. We further discuss novel contraceptive targets underscoring promising leads with the objective of presenting data for potential druggability and whether collateral effects may exist from paralogs with close sequence similarity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Kent
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States.,Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Houston-Clear Lake, Houston, TX, United States.,Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Madelaine Johnston
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States.,Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Natasha Strump
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States.,Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Thomas X Garcia
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States.,Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Houston-Clear Lake, Houston, TX, United States.,Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
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13
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Maruyama S, Wu CL, Yoshida S, Zhang D, Li PH, Wu F, Parker Duffen J, Yao R, Jardin B, Adham IM, Law R, Berger J, Di Marchi R, Walsh K. Relaxin Family Member Insulin-Like Peptide 6 Ameliorates Cardiac Fibrosis and Prevents Cardiac Remodeling in Murine Heart Failure Models. J Am Heart Assoc 2018; 7:e008441. [PMID: 29887522 PMCID: PMC6220528 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.117.008441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The insulin/insulin-like growth factor/relaxin family represents a group of structurally related but functionally diverse proteins. The family member relaxin-2 has been evaluated in clinical trials for its efficacy in the treatment of acute heart failure. In this study, we assessed the role of insulin-like peptide 6 (INSL6), another member of this protein family, in murine heart failure models using genetic loss-of-function and protein delivery methods. METHODS AND RESULTS Insl6-deficient and wild-type (C57BL/6N) mice were administered angiotensin II or isoproterenol via continuous infusion with an osmotic pump or via intraperitoneal injection once a day, respectively, for 2 weeks. In both models, Insl6-knockout mice exhibited greater cardiac systolic dysfunction and left ventricular dilatation. Cardiac dysfunction in the Insl6-knockout mice was associated with more extensive cardiac fibrosis and greater expression of fibrosis-associated genes. The continuous infusion of chemically synthesized INSL6 significantly attenuated left ventricular systolic dysfunction and cardiac fibrosis induced by isoproterenol infusion. Gene expression profiling suggests liver X receptor/retinoid X receptor signaling is activated in the isoproterenol-challenged hearts treated with INSL6 protein. CONCLUSIONS Endogenous Insl6 protein inhibits cardiac systolic dysfunction and cardiac fibrosis in angiotensin II- and isoproterenol-induced cardiac stress models. The administration of recombinant INSL6 protein could have utility for the treatment of heart failure and cardiac fibrosis.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Disease Models, Animal
- Fibrosis
- Heart Failure/metabolism
- Heart Failure/pathology
- Heart Failure/physiopathology
- Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular/metabolism
- Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular/pathology
- Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular/physiopathology
- Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular/prevention & control
- Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
- Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/deficiency
- Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/genetics
- Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/metabolism
- Liver X Receptors/genetics
- Liver X Receptors/metabolism
- Male
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Knockout
- Myocardium/metabolism
- Myocardium/pathology
- Retinoid X Receptors/genetics
- Retinoid X Receptors/metabolism
- Signal Transduction
- Ventricular Dysfunction, Left/metabolism
- Ventricular Dysfunction, Left/pathology
- Ventricular Dysfunction, Left/physiopathology
- Ventricular Dysfunction, Left/prevention & control
- Ventricular Function, Left
- Ventricular Remodeling
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonomi Maruyama
- Molecular Cardiology, Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
| | - Chia-Ling Wu
- Molecular Cardiology, Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
| | - Sumiko Yoshida
- Molecular Cardiology, Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
| | - Dongying Zhang
- Molecular Cardiology, Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
| | - Pei-Hsuan Li
- Molecular Cardiology, Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
| | - Fangzhou Wu
- Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
| | - Jennifer Parker Duffen
- Molecular Cardiology, Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
| | - Rouan Yao
- Molecular Cardiology, Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
| | - Blake Jardin
- Molecular Cardiology, Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
| | - Ibrahim M Adham
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ronald Law
- New Frontier Science, Takeda Pharmaceuticals International Co, Cambridge, MA
| | - Joel Berger
- New Frontier Science, Takeda Pharmaceuticals International Co, Cambridge, MA
| | | | - Kenneth Walsh
- Molecular Cardiology, Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
- Center for Hematovascular Biology, Robert M. Berne Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA
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14
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Ivell R, Agoulnik AI, Anand‐Ivell R. Relaxin-like peptides in male reproduction - a human perspective. Br J Pharmacol 2017; 174:990-1001. [PMID: 27933606 PMCID: PMC5406299 DOI: 10.1111/bph.13689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2016] [Revised: 11/10/2016] [Accepted: 12/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The relaxin family of peptide hormones and their cognate GPCRs are becoming physiologically well-characterized in the cardiovascular system and particularly in female reproductive processes. Much less is known about the physiology and pharmacology of these peptides in male reproduction, particularly as regards humans. H2-relaxin is involved in prostate function and growth, while insulin-like peptide 3 (INSL3) is a major product of the testicular Leydig cells and, in the adult, appears to modulate steroidogenesis and germ cell survival. In the fetus, INSL3 is a key hormone expressed shortly after sex determination and is responsible for the first transabdominal phase of testicular descent. Importantly, INSL3 is becoming a very useful constitutive biomarker reflecting both fetal and post-natal development. Nothing is known about roles for INSL4 in male reproduction and only very little about relaxin-3, which is mostly considered as a brain peptide, or INSL5. The former is expressed at very low levels in the testes, but has no known physiology there, whereas the INSL5 knockout mouse does exhibit a testicular phenotype with mild effects on spermatogenesis, probably due to a disruption of glucose homeostasis. INSL6 is a major product of male germ cells, although it is relatively unexplored with regard to its physiology or pharmacology, except that in mice disruption of the INSL6 gene leads to a disruption of spermatogenesis. Clinically, relaxin analogues may be useful in the control of prostate cancer, and both relaxin and INSL3 have been considered as sperm adjuvants for in vitro fertilization. LINKED ARTICLES This article is part of a themed section on Recent Progress in the Understanding of Relaxin Family Peptides and their Receptors. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v174.10/issuetoc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Ivell
- School of BiosciencesUniversity of NottinghamNottinghamLE12 5RDUK
- School of Veterinary and Medical SciencesUniversity of NottinghamNottinghamLE12 5RDUK
| | - Alexander I Agoulnik
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Herbert Wertheim College of MedicineFlorida International UniversityMiamiFLUSA
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15
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Patil NA, Rosengren KJ, Separovic F, Wade JD, Bathgate RAD, Hossain MA. Relaxin family peptides: structure-activity relationship studies. Br J Pharmacol 2017; 174:950-961. [PMID: 27922185 DOI: 10.1111/bph.13684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2016] [Revised: 11/25/2016] [Accepted: 11/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The human relaxin peptide family consists of seven cystine-rich peptides, four of which are known to signal through relaxin family peptide receptors, RXFP1-4. As these peptides play a vital role physiologically and in various diseases, they are of considerable importance for drug discovery and development. Detailed structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies towards understanding the role of important residues in each of these peptides have been reported over the years and utilized for the design of antagonists and minimized agonist variants. This review summarizes the current knowledge of the SAR of human relaxin 2 (H2 relaxin), human relaxin 3 (H3 relaxin), human insulin-like peptide 3 (INSL3) and human insulin-like peptide 5 (INSL5). LINKED ARTICLES This article is part of a themed section on Recent Progress in the Understanding of Relaxin Family Peptides and their Receptors. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v174.10/issuetoc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nitin A Patil
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.,School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - K Johan Rosengren
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Frances Separovic
- School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - John D Wade
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.,School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Ross A D Bathgate
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Mohammed Akhter Hossain
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.,School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
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16
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Cai X, Yu S, Mipam T, Yang F, Zhao W, Liu W, Cao S, Shen L, Zhao F, Sun L, Xu C, Wu S. Comparative analysis of testis transcriptomes associated with male infertility in cattleyak. Theriogenology 2017; 88:28-42. [DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2016.09.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2016] [Revised: 09/18/2016] [Accepted: 09/24/2016] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
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17
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Yin Y, Liu L, Yang C, Lin C, Veith GM, Wang C, Sutovsky P, Zhou P, Ma L. Cell Autonomous and Nonautonomous Function of CUL4B in Mouse Spermatogenesis. J Biol Chem 2016; 291:6923-35. [PMID: 26846852 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.699660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
CUL4B ubiquitin ligase belongs to the cullin-RING ubiquitin ligase family. Although sharing many sequence and structural similarities, CUL4B plays distinct roles in spermatogenesis from its homologous protein CUL4A. We previously reported that genetic ablation ofCul4ain mice led to male infertility because of aberrant meiotic progression. In the present study, we generated Cul4bgerm cell-specific conditional knock-out (Cul4b(Vasa)),as well asCul4bglobal knock-out (Cul4b(Sox2)) mouse, to investigate its roles in spermatogenesis. Germ cell-specific deletion of Cul4bled to male infertility, despite normal testicular morphology and comparable numbers of spermatozoa. Notably, significantly impaired sperm mobility caused by reduced mitochondrial activity and glycolysis level were observed in the majority of the mutant spermatozoa, manifested by low, if any, sperm ATP production. Furthermore,Cul4b(Vasa)spermatozoa exhibited defective arrangement of axonemal microtubules and flagella outer dense fibers. Our mass spectrometry analysis identified INSL6 as a novel CUL4B substrate in male germ cells, evidenced by its direct polyubiquination and degradation by CUL4B E3 ligase. Nevertheless,Cul4bglobal knock-out males lost their germ cells in an age-dependent manner, implying failure of maintaining the spermatogonial stem cell niche in somatic cells. Taken together, our results show that CUL4B is indispensable to spermatogenesis, and it functions cell autonomously in male germ cells to ensure spermatozoa motility, whereas it functions non-cell-autonomously in somatic cells to maintain spermatogonial stemness. Thus, CUL4B links two distinct spermatogenetic processes to a single E3 ligase, highlighting the significance of ubiquitin modification during spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Yin
- From the Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine and
| | - Liren Liu
- the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Medical College and Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University, New York, New York 10021, and
| | - Chenyi Yang
- the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Medical College and Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University, New York, New York 10021, and
| | - Congxing Lin
- From the Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine and
| | | | - Caihong Wang
- the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110
| | - Peter Sutovsky
- the Division of Animal Sciences and the Departments of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211
| | - Pengbo Zhou
- the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Medical College and Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University, New York, New York 10021, and
| | - Liang Ma
- From the Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine and
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18
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Huszar JM, Jia Y, Reddy JK, Payne CJ. Med1 regulates meiotic progression during spermatogenesis in mice. Reproduction 2015; 149:597-604. [PMID: 25778538 PMCID: PMC4417004 DOI: 10.1530/rep-14-0483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2014] [Accepted: 03/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Spermatogenesis is a highly coordinated process. Signaling from nuclear hormone receptors, like those for retinoic acid (RA), is important for normal spermatogenesis. However, the mechanisms regulating these signals are poorly understood. Mediator complex subunit 1 (MED1) is a transcriptional enhancer that directly modulates transcription from nuclear hormone receptors. MED1 is present in male germ cells throughout mammalian development, but its function during spermatogenesis is unknown. To determine its role, we generated mice lacking Med1 specifically in their germ cells beginning just before birth. Conditional Med1 knockout males are fertile, exhibiting normal testis weights and siring ordinary numbers of offspring. RA-responsive gene products stimulated by RA gene 8 (Stra8) and synaptonemal complex protein 3 (Sycp3) are first detected in knockout spermatogonia at the expected time points during the first wave of spermatogenesis, and persist with normal patterns of cellular distribution in adult knockout testes. Meiotic progression, however, is altered in the absence of Med1. At postnatal day 7 (P7), zygotene-stage knockout spermatocytes are already detected, unlike in control testes, with fewer pre-leptotene-stage cells and more leptotene spermatocytes observed in the knockouts. At P9, Med1 knockout spermatocytes prematurely enter pachynema. Once formed, greater numbers of knockout spermatocytes remain in pachynema relative to the other stages of meiosis throughout testis development and its maintenance in the adult. Meiotic exit is not inhibited. We conclude that MED1 regulates the temporal progression of primary spermatocytes through meiosis, with its absence resulting in abbreviated pre-leptotene, leptotene, and zygotene stages, and a prolonged pachytene stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica M Huszar
- Driskill Graduate ProgramDepartment of PathologyDepartments of Pediatrics and Obstetrics and GynecologyNorthwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Human Molecular Genetics Program, Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, 225 E Chicago Avenue, PO Box 211, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
| | - Yuzhi Jia
- Driskill Graduate ProgramDepartment of PathologyDepartments of Pediatrics and Obstetrics and GynecologyNorthwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Human Molecular Genetics Program, Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, 225 E Chicago Avenue, PO Box 211, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
| | - Janardan K Reddy
- Driskill Graduate ProgramDepartment of PathologyDepartments of Pediatrics and Obstetrics and GynecologyNorthwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Human Molecular Genetics Program, Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, 225 E Chicago Avenue, PO Box 211, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
| | - Christopher J Payne
- Driskill Graduate ProgramDepartment of PathologyDepartments of Pediatrics and Obstetrics and GynecologyNorthwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Human Molecular Genetics Program, Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, 225 E Chicago Avenue, PO Box 211, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA Driskill Graduate ProgramDepartment of PathologyDepartments of Pediatrics and Obstetrics and GynecologyNorthwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Human Molecular Genetics Program, Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, 225 E Chicago Avenue, PO Box 211, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA
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19
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Pereira R, Oliveira J, Ferraz L, Barros A, Santos R, Sousa M. Mutation analysis in patients with total sperm immotility. J Assist Reprod Genet 2015; 32:893-902. [PMID: 25877373 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-015-0474-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2015] [Accepted: 04/01/2015] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Perform the genetic characterization of five patients with total sperm immotility using Sanger sequencing and Whole Exome Sequencing (WES), in order to increase the knowledge on the genetics of sperm immotility and, ultimately, allow the identification of potential genetic markers for infertility. METHODS Prospective study at a University Medical school. We analysed five men with total sperm immotility, four with dysplasia of the fibrous sheath (DFS), associated with disruption of several axonemal structures, and one patient with situs inversus totalis, which showed absence of dynein arms (DA) and nexin bridges. We screened 7 genes by Sanger sequencing, involved in sperm motility and associated to ultrastructural defects found in these patients (CCDC39, CCDC40, DNAH5, DNAI1, RSPH1, AKAP3 and AKAP4). Additionally, we performed WES analysis in the patient with situs inversus. RESULTS We identified nine new DNA sequence variants by WES. Two of these variants were considered particularly relevant: a homozygous missense change in CCDC103 gene (c.104G > C, p.R35P) probably related with absence of dynein arms; the other in the INSL6 gene (c.262_263delCC) is thought to be also involved in sperm immotility. CONCLUSIONS Our work suggests that WES is an effective strategy, especially as compared with conventional sequencing, to study highly heterogenic genetic diseases, such as sperm immotility. For future work we expect to expand the analysis of WES to the other four patients and complement findings with expression analysis or functional studies to determine the impact of the novel variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rute Pereira
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Department of Microscopy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto (UP), Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal
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Kusakabe M, Ishikawa A, Kitano J. Relaxin-related gene expression differs between anadromous and stream-resident stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) following seawater transfer. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2014; 205:197-206. [PMID: 24973563 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2014.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [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: 02/28/2014] [Revised: 06/09/2014] [Accepted: 06/15/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Relaxin (RLN) is a hormone that was originally identified as a regulator of pregnancy and reproduction. However, recent mammalian studies have demonstrated that relaxins also have potent osmoregulatory actions. In mammals, six relaxin family peptides have been identified: RLN1/2, RLN3, insulin-like peptide (INSL) 3, INSL4, INSL5, and INSL6. Previous genome database searches have revealed that teleosts also possess multiple relaxin family genes. However, the functions of these relaxin family peptides in teleosts remain unclear. In order to gain insight into the osmoregulatory functions of teleost relaxins, we studied the relaxin family peptides in euryhaline three-spined sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus), which have diversified into a variety of ecotypes. Rln3a, rln3b, and rln transcripts were abundant in the stickleback brain, whereas insl5b transcript levels were highest in the intestine among tissues. Seawater challenge experiments showed that transcript levels of rln3a, rln3b, and rln in the brain changed significantly after seawater transfer. Particularly, rln3b showed different patterns of temporal changes between anadromous and stream-resident morphs. The transcript levels of relaxin family peptide receptors, rxfp1, rxfp2b, rxfp3-2a, and rxfp3-2b, did not exhibit substantial changes in the brain, although these were constantly higher in the anadromous morph than the stream-resident morph. These results suggest that stickleback relaxin systems are differentially regulated by salinity signals, at least at the transcriptional level, and anadromous and stream-resident morphs differ in relaxin signaling pathways. The differences in the expression of relaxin-related genes between these two morphs provide a foundation for further exploration of the osmoregulatory function of relaxins in teleosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makoto Kusakabe
- Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, Chiba 277-8564, Japan.
| | - Asano Ishikawa
- Ecological Genetics Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan
| | - Jun Kitano
- Ecological Genetics Laboratory, National Institute of Genetics, Shizuoka 411-8540, Japan
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Zeng L, Maruyama S, Nakamura K, Parker-Duffen JL, Adham IM, Zhong X, Lee HK, Querfurth H, Walsh K. The injury-induced myokine insulin-like 6 is protective in experimental autoimmune myositis. Skelet Muscle 2014; 4:16. [PMID: 25161767 PMCID: PMC4144317 DOI: 10.1186/2044-5040-4-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2014] [Accepted: 06/11/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The idiopathic inflammatory myopathies represent a group of autoimmune diseases that are characterized by lymphocyte infiltration of muscle and muscle weakness. Insulin-like 6 (Insl6) is a poorly characterized member of the insulin-like/relaxin family of secreted proteins, whose expression is upregulated upon acute muscle injury. Methods In this study, we employed Insl6 gain or loss of function mice to investigate the role of Insl6 in a T cell-mediated model of experimental autoimmune myositis (EAM). EAM models in rodents have involved immunization with human myosin-binding protein C with complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) emulsions and pertussis toxin. Results Insl6-deficiency in mice led to a worsened myositis phenotype including increased infiltration of CD4 and CD8 T cells and the elevated expression of inflammatory cytokines. Insl6-deficient mice show significant motor function impairment when tested with treadmill or Rotarod devices. Conversely, muscle-specific overexpression of Insl6 protected against the development of myositis as indicated by reduced lymphocyte infiltration in muscle, diminished inflammatory cytokine expression and improved motor function. The improvement in myositis by Insl6 could also be demonstrated by acute hydrodynamic delivery of a plasmid encoding murine Insl6. In cultured cells, Insl6 inhibits Jurkat cell proliferation and activation in response to phytohemagglutinin/phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate stimulation. Insl6 transcript expression in muscle was reduced in a cohort of dermatomyositis and polymyositis patients. Conclusions These data suggest that Insl6 may have utility for the treatment of myositis, a condition for which few treatment options exist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Zeng
- Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute, Boston University School of Medicine, 715 Albany Street, W611, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Sonomi Maruyama
- Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute, Boston University School of Medicine, 715 Albany Street, W611, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Kazuto Nakamura
- Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute, Boston University School of Medicine, 715 Albany Street, W611, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Jennifer L Parker-Duffen
- Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute, Boston University School of Medicine, 715 Albany Street, W611, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Ibrahim M Adham
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Xuemei Zhong
- Hematology Oncology Section, Boston University School of Medicine, 715 Albany Street, W611, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Han-Kyu Lee
- Department of Neurology, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University School of Medicine, 593 Eddy St, Providence, RI 02903, USA
| | - Henry Querfurth
- Department of Neurology, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University School of Medicine, 593 Eddy St, Providence, RI 02903, USA
| | - Kenneth Walsh
- Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute, Boston University School of Medicine, 715 Albany Street, W611, Boston, MA 02118, USA
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Anand-Ivell R, Ivell R. Regulation of the reproductive cycle and early pregnancy by relaxin family peptides. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2014; 382:472-479. [PMID: 23994019 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2013.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2013] [Revised: 08/09/2013] [Accepted: 08/18/2013] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The relaxin family of peptide hormones are structurally closely related to one another sharing a heterodimeric A-B structure, like that of insulin. They may also be active as unprocessed B-C-A pro-forms. Relaxin has been shown to pay a key role within the ovary, being involved in follicle growth, and ovulation. Relaxin is produced in large amounts also by the corpus luteum where it acts as an endocrine hormone positively affecting implantation, placentation and vascularization during the all-important first trimester phase of pregnancy establishment. Relaxin exerts its functions via the receptor RXFP1. Insulin-like peptide 3 (INSL3) in contrast acts through the related receptor RXFP2, and plays an essential role in the production of androgens within growing antral follicles. INSL3 is also produced in large amounts by the male fetus shortly after sex determination, where it controls the first transabdominal phase of testicular descent. However, this fetal INSL3 is also able to influence placental and maternal physiology, indicating associations with later preeclampsia and/or fetal growth restriction. Other members of this relaxin-like family of peptides, such as INSL4, INSL5 and INSL6 are less well studied, though all suggest modulatory roles in ovarian and/or placental function.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Richard Ivell
- Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology, 18196 Dummerstorf, Germany.
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Schütte B, El Hajj N, Kuhtz J, Nanda I, Gromoll J, Hahn T, Dittrich M, Schorsch M, Müller T, Haaf T. Broad DNA methylation changes of spermatogenesis, inflammation and immune response-related genes in a subgroup of sperm samples for assisted reproduction. Andrology 2013; 1:822-9. [PMID: 23996961 PMCID: PMC4033565 DOI: 10.1111/j.2047-2927.2013.00122.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2013] [Revised: 07/19/2013] [Accepted: 07/22/2013] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Aberrant sperm DNA methylation patterns, mainly in imprinted genes, have been associated with male subfertility and oligospermia. Here, we performed a genome-wide methylation analysis in sperm samples representing a wide range of semen parameters. Sperm DNA samples of 38 males attending a fertility centre were analysed with Illumina HumanMethylation27 BeadChips, which quantify methylation of >27 000 CpG sites in cis-regulatory regions of almost 15 000 genes. In an unsupervised analysis of methylation of all analysed sites, the patient samples clustered into a major and a minor group. The major group clustered with samples from normozoospermic healthy volunteers and, thus, may more closely resemble the normal situation. When correlating the clusters with semen and clinical parameters, the sperm counts were significantly different between groups with the minor group exhibiting sperm counts in the low normal range. A linear model identified almost 3000 CpGs with significant methylation differences between groups. Functional analysis revealed a broad gain of methylation in spermatogenesis-related genes and a loss of methylation in inflammation- and immune response-related genes. Quantitative bisulfite pyrosequencing validated differential methylation in three of five significant candidate genes on the array. Collectively, we identified a subgroup of sperm samples for assisted reproduction with sperm counts in the low normal range and broad methylation changes (affecting approximately 10% of analysed CpG sites) in specific pathways, most importantly spermatogenesis-related genes. We propose that epigenetic analysis can supplement traditional semen parameters and has the potential to provide new insights into the aetiology of male subfertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Schütte
- Institute of Human Genetics, Julius Maximilians University, Würzburg, Germany; Department of Bioinformatics, Julius Maximilians University, Würzburg, Germany
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25
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Pignataro L, Varodayan FP, Tannenholz LE, Protiva P, Harrison NL. Brief alcohol exposure alters transcription in astrocytes via the heat shock pathway. Brain Behav 2013; 3:114-33. [PMID: 23533150 PMCID: PMC3607153 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2012] [Revised: 12/23/2012] [Accepted: 01/07/2013] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes are critical for maintaining homeostasis in the central nervous system (CNS), and also participate in the genomic response of the brain to drugs of abuse, including alcohol. In this study, we investigated ethanol regulation of gene expression in astrocytes. A microarray screen revealed that a brief exposure of cortical astrocytes to ethanol increased the expression of a large number of genes. Among the alcohol-responsive genes (ARGs) are glial-specific immune response genes, as well as genes involved in the regulation of transcription, cell proliferation, and differentiation, and genes of the cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix. Genes involved in metabolism were also upregulated by alcohol exposure, including genes associated with oxidoreductase activity, insulin-like growth factor signaling, acetyl-CoA, and lipid metabolism. Previous microarray studies performed on ethanol-treated hepatocyte cultures and mouse liver tissue revealed the induction of almost identical classes of genes to those identified in our microarray experiments, suggesting that alcohol induces similar signaling mechanisms in the brain and liver. We found that acute ethanol exposure activated heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) in astrocytes, as demonstrated by the translocation of this transcription factor to the nucleus and the induction of a family of known HSF1-dependent genes, the heat shock proteins (Hsps). Transfection of a constitutively transcriptionally active Hsf1 construct into astrocytes induced many of the ARGs identified in our microarray study supporting the hypothesis that HSF1 transcriptional activity, as part of the heat shock cascade, may mediate the ethanol induction of these genes. These data indicate that acute ethanol exposure alters gene expression in astrocytes, in part via the activation of HSF1 and the heat shock cascade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Pignataro
- Department of Anesthesiology The College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University 630 West 168th St., New York, NY, 10032
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Anand-Ivell R, Dai Y, Ivell R. Neohormones as biomarkers of reproductive health. Fertil Steril 2013; 99:1153-60. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2012.12.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2012] [Revised: 12/14/2012] [Accepted: 12/14/2012] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Bathgate RAD, Halls ML, van der Westhuizen ET, Callander GE, Kocan M, Summers RJ. Relaxin family peptides and their receptors. Physiol Rev 2013; 93:405-80. [PMID: 23303914 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00001.2012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 379] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
There are seven relaxin family peptides that are all structurally related to insulin. Relaxin has many roles in female and male reproduction, as a neuropeptide in the central nervous system, as a vasodilator and cardiac stimulant in the cardiovascular system, and as an antifibrotic agent. Insulin-like peptide-3 (INSL3) has clearly defined specialist roles in male and female reproduction, relaxin-3 is primarily a neuropeptide involved in stress and metabolic control, and INSL5 is widely distributed particularly in the gastrointestinal tract. Although they are structurally related to insulin, the relaxin family peptides produce their physiological effects by activating a group of four G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), relaxin family peptide receptors 1-4 (RXFP1-4). Relaxin and INSL3 are the cognate ligands for RXFP1 and RXFP2, respectively, that are leucine-rich repeat containing GPCRs. RXFP1 activates a wide spectrum of signaling pathways to generate second messengers that include cAMP and nitric oxide, whereas RXFP2 activates a subset of these pathways. Relaxin-3 and INSL5 are the cognate ligands for RXFP3 and RXFP4 that are closely related to small peptide receptors that when activated inhibit cAMP production and activate MAP kinases. Although there are still many unanswered questions regarding the mode of action of relaxin family peptides, it is clear that they have important physiological roles that could be exploited for therapeutic benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- R A D Bathgate
- Drug Discovery Biology, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences & Department of Pharmacology, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
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Cernaro V, Lacquaniti A, Lupica R, Buemi A, Trimboli D, Giorgianni G, Bolignano D, Buemi M. Relaxin: new pathophysiological aspects and pharmacological perspectives for an old protein. Med Res Rev 2013; 34:77-105. [PMID: 23401142 DOI: 10.1002/med.21277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Human relaxin-2 (hereafter simply defined as "relaxin") is a 6-kDa peptidic hormone best known for the physiological role played during pregnancy in the growth and differentiation of the reproductive tract and in the renal and systemic hemodynamic changes. This factor can also be involved in the pathophysiology of arterial hypertension and heart failure, in the molecular pathways of fibrosis and cancer, and in angiogenesis and bone remodeling. It belongs to the relaxin peptide family, whose members comprehensively exert numerous effects through interaction with different types of receptors, classified as relaxin family peptide (RXFP) receptors (RXFP1, RXFP2, RXFP3, RXFP4). Research looks toward the in-depth examination and complete understanding of relaxin in its various pleiotropic actions. The intent is to evaluate the likelihood of employing this substance for therapeutic purposes, for instance in diseases where a deficit could be part of the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms, also avoiding any adverse effect. Relaxin is already being considered as a promising drug, especially in acute heart failure. A careful study of the different RXFPs and their receptors and the comprehension of all biological activities of these hormones will probably provide new drugs with a potential wide range of therapeutic applications in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Cernaro
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Messina, Via Consolare Valeria, 1, 98100, Italy
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Nie DS, Liu Y, Juan H, Yang X. Overexpression of human SPATA17 protein induces germ cell apoptosis in transgenic male mice. Mol Biol Rep 2012; 40:1905-10. [PMID: 23079716 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-012-2246-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2012] [Accepted: 10/10/2012] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
SPATA17 is a new testis-specific-expressed gene that is involved in Spermatogenesis process. Previous studies show that SPATA17 was involved in acceleration of cell apoptosis in GC-1 cell lines. To further investigate specific roles of SPATA17 in Spermatogenesis in vivo, we generated transgenic mice in which the human SPATA17 gene was expressed specifically in spermatocytes using the human phosphoglycerate kinase 2 (PGK2) promoter. The SPATA17 transgenic mice did not show any significant defect in gross testicular anatomy as well as in fertility. However, a significant increase was observed in defective spermatogenic cells, such as apoptotic cells in the SPATA17 transgenic mice. These results revealed that elevated production of the SPATA17 protein disturbed the normal development of male germ cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong-Song Nie
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan Institute of Science and Technology, YueYang, 414006, Hunan, China.
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Burnicka-Turek O, Mohamed BA, Shirneshan K, Thanasupawat T, Hombach-Klonisch S, Klonisch T, Adham IM. INSL5-deficient mice display an alteration in glucose homeostasis and an impaired fertility. Endocrinology 2012; 153:4655-65. [PMID: 22822165 DOI: 10.1210/en.2012-1161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Insulin-like factor 5 (INSL5), a member of the insulin superfamily, is expressed in the colorectum and hypothalamus. To facilitate studies into the role of INSL5, we generated Insl5(-/-) mice by gene targeting. Insl5(-/-) mice were born in the expected Mendelian ratio, reached normal body weight, but displayed impaired male and female fertility that are due to marked reduction in sperm motility and irregular length of the estrous cycle. Furthermore, Insl5(-/-) mice showed impairment in glucose homeostasis with characteristic elevation of serum glucose levels at an advanced age. Glucose and insulin tolerance tests revealed that the increased blood glucose in Insl5(-/-) mice was due to glucose intolerance resulting from reduced insulin secretion. Morphometric and immunohistological analyses revealed that the Insl5(-/-) mice had markedly reduced average islets area and β-cell numbers. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry showed the expression of INSL5 in enteroendocrine cells in the colorectal epithelium and the presence of its putative receptor relaxin family peptide receptor 4 in pancreatic islet cells. These results suggest the potential role of INSL5 signaling in the regulation of insulin secretion and β-cell homeostasis.
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Held T, Barakat AZ, Mohamed BA, Paprotta I, Meinhardt A, Engel W, Adham IM. Heat-shock protein HSPA4 is required for progression of spermatogenesis. Reproduction 2011; 142:133-44. [DOI: 10.1530/rep-11-0023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Heat-shock protein 110 (HSP110) family members act as nucleotide exchange factors (NEF) of mammalian and yeast HSP70 chaperones during the ATP hydrolysis cycle. In this study, we describe the expression pattern of murine HSPA4, a member of the HSP110 family, during testis development and the consequence of HSPA4 deficiency on male fertility. HSPA4 is ubiquitously expressed in all the examined tissues. During prenatal and postnatal development of gonad, HSPA4 is expressed in both somatic and germ cells; however, expression was much higher in germ cells of prenatal gonads. Analyses ofHspa4-deficient mice revealed that all homozygous mice on the hybrid C57BL/6J×129/Sv genetic background were apparently healthy. Although HSPA4 is expressed as early as E13.5 in male gonad, a lack of histological differences betweenHspa4−/−and control littermates suggests thatHspa4deficiency does not impair the gonocytes or their development to spermatogonia. Remarkably, an increased number of theHspa4-deficient males displayed impaired fertility, whereas females were fertile. The total number of spermatozoa and their motility were drastically reduced in infertileHspa4-deficient mice compared with wild-type littermates. The majority of pachytene spermatocytes in the juvenileHspa4−/−mice failed to complete the first meiotic prophase and became apoptotic. Furthermore, down-regulation of transcription levels of genes known to be expressed in spermatocytes at late stages of prophase I and post-meiotic spermatids leads to suggest that the development of most spermatogenic cells is arrested at late stages of meiotic prophase I. These results provide evidence that HSPA4 is required for normal spermatogenesis.
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Luo X, Huang CH, Shao XX, Guo ZY. Design, recombinant expression and in vitro maturation of human insulin-like peptide 6 and a biotin-labeled analogue. Process Biochem 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/j.procbio.2011.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Chen GW, Luo X, Liu YL, Jiang Q, Qian XM, Guo ZY. R171H missense mutation of INSL6 in a patient with spermatogenic failure. Eur J Med Genet 2011; 54:e455-7. [PMID: 21616179 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmg.2011.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2011] [Accepted: 04/25/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Insulin-like peptide 6 (INSL6) is a newly identified insulin/relaxin family peptide hormone that is predominantly expressed by the male germ cells in testes. A recent murine study demonstrated that INSL6-knockout results in spermatogenic failure. In the present study, human INSL6 gene was screened for mutations that may contribute to human spermatogenic failure. Of 249 patients and 249 healthy control subjects, a heterozygous R171H missense mutation was found in one patient. The R171H mutation probably disturbed the in vivo processing of the INSL6 prohormone because it was located at the absolutely conserved tetrabasic cleavage site between the C-peptide and the A-chain, therefore the R171H missense mutation might be responsible for human spermatogenic failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guo-Wu Chen
- Shanghai JiAi Genetics and IVF Institute, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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Kaczmarek K, Studencka M, Meinhardt A, Wieczerzak K, Thoms S, Engel W, Grzmil P. Overexpression of peroxisomal testis-specific 1 protein induces germ cell apoptosis and leads to infertility in male mice. Mol Biol Cell 2011; 22:1766-79. [PMID: 21460186 PMCID: PMC3093327 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e09-12-0993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Peroxisomal testis-specific 1 gene (Pxt1) is the only male germ cell-specific gene that encodes a peroxisomal protein known to date. To elucidate the role of Pxt1 in spermatogenesis, we generated transgenic mice expressing a c-MYC-PXT1 fusion protein under the control of the PGK2 promoter. Overexpression of Pxt1 resulted in induction of male germ cells' apoptosis mainly in primary spermatocytes, finally leading to male infertility. This prompted us to analyze the proapoptotic character of mouse PXT1, which harbors a BH3-like domain in the N-terminal part. In different cell lines, the overexpression of PXT1 also resulted in a dramatic increase of apoptosis, whereas the deletion of the BH3-like domain significantly reduced cell death events, thereby confirming that the domain is functional and essential for the proapoptotic activity of PXT1. Moreover, we demonstrated that PXT1 interacts with apoptosis regulator BAT3, which, if overexpressed, can protect cells from the PXT1-induced apoptosis. The PXT1-BAT3 association leads to PXT1 relocation from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. In summary, we demonstrated that PXT1 induces apoptosis via the BH3-like domain and that this process is inhibited by BAT3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karina Kaczmarek
- Institute of Human Genetics, Georg-August-University of Göttingen, 37073 Göttingen, Germany
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Ivell R, Kotula-Balak M, Glynn D, Heng K, Anand-Ivell R. Relaxin family peptides in the male reproductive system--a critical appraisal. Mol Hum Reprod 2010; 17:71-84. [DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gaq086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
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Zeng L, Akasaki Y, Sato K, Ouchi N, Izumiya Y, Walsh K. Insulin-like 6 is induced by muscle injury and functions as a regenerative factor. J Biol Chem 2010; 285:36060-9. [PMID: 20807758 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m110.160879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The insulin-like family of factors are involved in the regulation of a variety of physiological processes, but the function of the family member termed insulin-like 6 (Insl6) in skeletal muscle has not been reported. We show that Insl6 is a myokine that is up-regulated in skeletal muscle downstream of Akt signaling and in regenerating muscle in response to cardiotoxin (CTX)-induced injury. In the CTX injury model, myofiber regeneration was improved by the intramuscular or systemic delivery of an adenovirus expressing Insl6. Skeletal muscle-specific Insl6 transgenic mice exhibited normal muscle mass under basal conditions but elevated satellite cell activation and enhanced muscle regeneration in response to CTX injury. The Insl6-mediated regenerative response was associated with reductions in muscle cell apoptosis and reduced serum levels of creatine kinase M. Overexpression of Insl6 stimulated proliferation and reduced apoptosis in cultured myogenic cells. Conversely, knockdown of Insl6 reduced proliferation and increased apoptosis. These data indicate that Insl6 is an injury-regulated myokine that functions as a myogenic regenerative factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Zeng
- Molecular Cardiology/Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute, Boston University Medical Campus, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, USA
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Kong RCK, Shilling PJ, Lobb DK, Gooley PR, Bathgate RAD. Membrane receptors: structure and function of the relaxin family peptide receptors. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2010; 320:1-15. [PMID: 20138959 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2010.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2009] [Revised: 12/14/2009] [Accepted: 02/02/2010] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
The receptors for members of the relaxin peptide family have only recently been discovered and are G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Relaxin and insulin-like peptide 3 (INSL3) interact with the leucine-rich-repeat-containing GPCRs (LGRs) LGR7 and LGR8, respectively. These receptors show closest similarity to the glycoprotein hormone receptors and contain large ectodomains with 10 leucine-rich repeats (LRRs) but are unique members of the LGR family (class C) as they have an LDL class A (LDLa) module at their N-terminus. In contrast, relaxin-3 and INSL5 interact with another class of type I GPCRs which lack a large ectodomain, the peptide receptors GPCR135 and GPCR142, respectively. These receptors are now classified as relaxin family peptide (RXFP) receptors, RXFP1 (LGR7), RXFP2 (LGR8), RXFP3 (GPCR135) and RXFP4 (GPCR142). This review outlines the identification of the peptides and receptors, their expression profiles and physiological roles and the functional interactions of the peptides with their unique receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roy C K Kong
- Florey Neuroscience Institutes, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3010, Australia
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Ivell R, Grutzner F. Evolution and male fertility: lessons from the insulin-like factor 6 gene (Insl6). Endocrinology 2009; 150:3986-90. [PMID: 19700610 DOI: 10.1210/en.2009-0691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Richard Ivell
- School of Molecular and Biomedical Science, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia.
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