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Chen L, Cheng Y, Zhang G, Zhou Y, Zhang Z, Chen Q, Feng Y. WGBS of embryonic gonads revealed that long non-coding RNAs in the MHM region might be involved in cell autonomous sex identity and female gonadal development in chickens. Epigenetics 2024; 19:2283657. [PMID: 38037805 PMCID: PMC10761181 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2023.2283657] [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: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation plays a key role in sex determination and differentiation in vertebrates. However, there are few studies on DNA methylation involved in chicken gonad development, and most focused on male hypermethylated regions (MHM). It is unclear whether there are specific differentially methylated regions (DMRs) in chicken embryonic gonads regulating sex determination and differentiation. Here, the DNA methylation maps showed that the difference of DNA methylation level between sexes was much higher at embryonic day 10 (E10) than that at embryonic day 6 (E6), and the significant differentially methylated regions at both stages were mainly distributed on the Z chromosome, including MHM1 and MHM2. The results of bisulphite sequencing PCR (BSP) and qRT-PCR showed hypomethylation of female MHM and upregulation of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) whose promoter in the MHM region was consistent with the sequencing results, and similar results were in brain and muscle. In female sex-reversed gonads, the methylation pattern of MHM remained unchanged, and the expression levels of the three candidate lncRNAs were significantly decreased compared with those in females, but were significantly increased compared to males. The fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) results also showed that these lncRNAs were highly expressed in female embryonic gonads. The results of methyltransferase inhibitor and dual-luciferase reporter assay suggest that lncRNA expression may be regulated by DNA methylation within their promoters. Therefore, we speculated that MHM may be involved in cell-autonomous sex identity in chickens, and that lncRNAs regulated by MHM may be involved in female sexual differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ligen Chen
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology and College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yu Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology and College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Guixin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology and College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yang Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology and College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhen Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology and College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qianhong Chen
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology and College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yanping Feng
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology and College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, People’s Republic of China
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Yu L, Peng R, Liang J, Jahejo AR, Zhang L, Lan M, Liu X, Ran M, Yang X, Lu Y. Spatiotemporal single-cell RNA sequencing reveals the role of steroid hormone pathway during chicken primordial follicle formation. Poult Sci 2024; 103:104090. [PMID: 39096826 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2024.104090] [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: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/06/2024] [Indexed: 08/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The size of the initial primordial follicle pool in the ovary depends on primordial follicle formation, which determines the female reproductive lifespan. However, the molecular regulation of primordial follicle formation in chickens remains unclear. In this study, the left ovaries of chickens were collected at 2 d posthatch (dph), 5.5 dph, and 10.5 dph to examine the formation of primordial follicles. Single-cell mRNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and spatial transcriptomic analysis were performed to explore the ovarian microenvironment and identify regulatory pathways involved in the formation of primordial follicles in chickens. Histomorphological analysis of chicken ovary tissues revealed the presence of germ cell cysts at 1 dph, which began to disintegrate at 2 dph. Primordial follicles appeared at 5.5 dph and continued to develop into larger-diameter follicles. scRNA-seq and spatial transcriptomic analysis revealed 24 cellular clusters involved in chicken primordial follicle formation. The metabolic pathway of steroid hormone synthesis was found in pregranulosa and pretheca cells. Histological analysis showed that chicken ovaries did not form primordial follicles after the inhibition of the steroid hormone synthesis pathway by simvastatin or tamoxifen. In addition, mRNA transcriptomic and bioinformatics analyses revealed that GREB1 was a downstream gene of the steroid hormone synthesis pathway during the formation of chicken primordial follicles. This study provides a valuable foundation for investigating primordial follicle formation in avian species and optimizing their reproductive performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lintian Yu
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding, Disease Control and Prevention, College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004 China
| | - Rui Peng
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding, Disease Control and Prevention, College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004 China
| | - Jiongming Liang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding, Disease Control and Prevention, College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004 China
| | - Ali Raza Jahejo
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding, Disease Control and Prevention, College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004 China
| | - Lang Zhang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding, Disease Control and Prevention, College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004 China
| | - Meiyu Lan
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding, Disease Control and Prevention, College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004 China
| | - Xingting Liu
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding, Disease Control and Prevention, College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004 China
| | - Mingxia Ran
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding, Disease Control and Prevention, College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004 China
| | - Xiaogan Yang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding, Disease Control and Prevention, College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004 China
| | - Yangqing Lu
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding, Disease Control and Prevention, College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004 China.
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Zhang X, Li J, Chen S, Yang N, Zheng J. Overview of Avian Sex Reversal. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24098284. [PMID: 37175998 PMCID: PMC10179413 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24098284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Sex determination and differentiation are processes by which a bipotential gonad adopts either a testicular or ovarian cell fate, and secondary sexual characteristics adopt either male or female developmental patterns. In birds, although genetic factors control the sex determination program, sex differentiation is sensitive to hormones, which can induce sex reversal when disturbed. Although these sex-reversed birds can form phenotypes opposite to their genotypes, none can experience complete sex reversal or produce offspring under natural conditions. Promising evidence indicates that the incomplete sex reversal is associated with cell autonomous sex identity (CASI) of avian cells, which is controlled by genetic factors. However, studies cannot clearly describe the regulatory mechanism of avian CASI and sex development at present, and these factors require further exploration. In spite of this, the abundant findings of avian sex research have provided theoretical bases for the progress of gender control technologies, which are being improved through interdisciplinary co-operation and will ultimately be employed in poultry production. In this review, we provide an overview of avian sex determination and differentiation and comprehensively summarize the research progress on sex reversal in birds, especially chickens. Importantly, we describe key issues faced by applying gender control systems in poultry production and chronologically summarize the development of avian sex control methods. In conclusion, this review provides unique perspectives for avian sex studies and helps scientists develop more advanced systems for sex regulation in birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuan Zhang
- Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jianbo Li
- Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Sirui Chen
- Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Ning Yang
- Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jiangxia Zheng
- Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
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Estermann MA, Major AT, Smith CA. DMRT1-mediated regulation of TOX3 modulates expansion of the gonadal steroidogenic cell lineage in the chicken embryo. Development 2023; 150:287047. [PMID: 36794750 PMCID: PMC10108705 DOI: 10.1242/dev.201466] [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: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
During gonadal sex determination, the supporting cell lineage differentiates into Sertoli cells in males and pre-granulosa cells in females. Recently, single cell RNA-seq data have indicated that chicken steroidogenic cells are derived from differentiated supporting cells. This differentiation process is achieved by a sequential upregulation of steroidogenic genes and downregulation of supporting cell markers. The exact mechanism regulating this differentiation process remains unknown. We have identified TOX3 as a previously unreported transcription factor expressed in embryonic Sertoli cells of the chicken testis. TOX3 knockdown in males resulted in increased CYP17A1-positive Leydig cells. TOX3 overexpression in male and female gonads resulted in a significant decline in CYP17A1-positive steroidogenic cells. In ovo knockdown of the testis determinant DMRT1 in male gonads resulted in a downregulation of TOX3 expression. Conversely, DMRT1 overexpression caused an increase in TOX3 expression. Taken together, these data indicate that DMRT1-mediated regulation of TOX3 modulates expansion of the steroidogenic lineage, either directly, via cell lineage allocation, or indirectly, via signaling from the supporting to steroidogenic cell populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin A Estermann
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Andrew T Major
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Craig A Smith
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
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Cheng X, Li X, Liu Y, Ma Y, Zhang R, Zhang Y, Fan C, Qu L, Ning Z. DNA methylome and transcriptome identified Key genes and pathways involved in Speckled Eggshell formation in aged laying hens. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:31. [PMID: 36658492 PMCID: PMC9854222 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-022-09100-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The quality of poultry eggshells is closely related to the profitability of egg production. Eggshell speckles reflect an important quality trait that influences egg appearance and customer preference. However, the mechanism of speckle formation remains poorly understood. In this study, we systematically compared serum immune and antioxidant indices of hens laying speckled and normal eggs. Transcriptome and methylome analyses were used to elucidate the mechanism of eggshell speckle formation. RESULTS The results showed that seven differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between the normal and speckle groups. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) revealed that the expressed genes were mainly enriched in the calcium signaling pathway, focal adhesion, and MAPK signaling pathway. Additionally, 282 differentially methylated genes (DMGs) were detected, of which 15 genes were associated with aging, including ARNTL, CAV1, and GCLC. Pathway analysis showed that the DMGs were associated with T cell-mediated immunity, response to oxidative stress, and cellular response to DNA damage stimulus. Integrative analysis of transcriptome and DNA methylation data identified BFSP2 as the only overlapping gene, which was expressed at low levels and hypomethylated in the speckle group. CONCLUSIONS Overall, these results indicate that aging- and immune-related genes and pathways play a crucial role in the formation of speckled eggshells, providing useful information for improving eggshell quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Cheng
- grid.22935.3f0000 0004 0530 8290National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China
| | - Xinghua Li
- grid.22935.3f0000 0004 0530 8290National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China
| | - Yuchen Liu
- grid.22935.3f0000 0004 0530 8290National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China
| | - Ying Ma
- grid.22935.3f0000 0004 0530 8290National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China
| | - Ruiqi Zhang
- grid.22935.3f0000 0004 0530 8290National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China
| | - Yalan Zhang
- grid.22935.3f0000 0004 0530 8290National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China
| | - Cuidie Fan
- Rongde Breeding Company Limited, Hebei, 053000 China
| | - Lujiang Qu
- grid.22935.3f0000 0004 0530 8290National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China
| | - Zhonghua Ning
- grid.22935.3f0000 0004 0530 8290National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193 China
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Zhang X, Li J, Wang X, Jie Y, Sun C, Zheng J, Li J, Yang N, Chen S. ATAC-seq and RNA-seq analysis unravel the mechanism of sex differentiation and infertility in sex reversal chicken. Epigenetics Chromatin 2023; 16:2. [PMID: 36617567 PMCID: PMC9827654 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-022-00476-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sex determination and differentiation are complex and delicate processes. In female chickens, the process of sex differentiation is sensitive and prone to be affected by the administration of aromatase inhibitors, which result in chicken sex reversal and infertility. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying sex differentiation and infertility in chicken sex reversal remain unclear. Therefore, we established a sex-reversed chicken flock by injecting an aromatase inhibitor, fadrozole, and constructed relatively high-resolution profiles of the gene expression and chromatin accessibility of embryonic gonads. RESULTS We revealed that fadrozole affected the transcriptional activities of several genes, such as DMRT1, SOX9, FOXL2, and CYP19A1, related to sex determination and differentiation, and the expression of a set of gonadal development-related genes, such as FGFR3 and TOX3, by regulating nearby open chromatin regions in sex-reversed chicken embryos. After sexual maturity, the sex-reversed chickens were confirmed to be infertile, and the possible causes of this infertility were further investigated. We found that the structure of the gonads and sperm were greatly deformed, and we identified several promising genes related to spermatogenesis and infertility, such as SPEF2, DNAI1, and TACR3, through RNA-seq. CONCLUSIONS This study provides clear insights into the exploration of potential molecular basis underlying sex differentiation and infertility in sex-reversed chickens and lays a foundation for further research into the sex development of birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuan Zhang
- grid.22935.3f0000 0004 0530 8290National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jianbo Li
- grid.22935.3f0000 0004 0530 8290National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiqiong Wang
- grid.22935.3f0000 0004 0530 8290National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuchen Jie
- grid.22935.3f0000 0004 0530 8290National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Congjiao Sun
- grid.22935.3f0000 0004 0530 8290National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiangxia Zheng
- grid.22935.3f0000 0004 0530 8290National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Junying Li
- grid.22935.3f0000 0004 0530 8290National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Ning Yang
- grid.22935.3f0000 0004 0530 8290National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Sirui Chen
- grid.22935.3f0000 0004 0530 8290National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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Estermann MA, Smith CA. Fadrozole-mediated sex reversal in the embryonic chicken gonad involves a PAX2 positive undifferentiated supporting cell state. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:1042759. [DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1042759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Gonadal sex differentiation among vertebrates involves divergent fates of a common group of progenitor cells present in both presumptive ovaries and testes. The first cell type to differentiate gives rise to pre-Sertoli cells in the testis, and pre-follicular cells in the ovary. These cells derive from a common lineage of so-called “supporting cells”. In birds and other egg-laying vertebrates, locally synthesised estrogen has a central role in ovarian development and influences the fate of these supporting cells. Manipulation of estrogen levels during embryonic development induces gonadal sex reversal, providing an experimental setting to evaluate the process of gonadal sex differentiation. Recently, we identified PAX2 as a novel marker of the undifferentiated supporting cell lineage in the chicken embryo, expressed in both sexes prior to overt gonadal sex differentiation. PAX2 expression is downregulated at the onset of gonadal sex differentiation in both males and females. The analysis of this undifferentiated supporting cell marker, together with Sertoli (male) and pre-granulosa (female) will enhance our understanding of supporting cell differentiation. Here we characterized the supporting cells differentiation process and identified undifferentiated supporting cells in estrogen-mediated sex reversal experiments. Female embryos treated with the aromatase inhibitor fadrozole developed into ovotestis, containing pre-granulosa cells, Sertoli cells and PAX2 positive undifferentiated supporting cells. In contrast, male embryos treated with 17β-estradiol showed no PAX2+ undifferentiated gonadal supporting cells. Fadrozole time-course as well as multiple dose analysis suggests that supporting cell transdifferentiation involves a dedifferentiation event into a PAX2+ undifferentiated supporting cell state, followed by a redifferentiation towards the opposite sex lineage.
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Amirian M, Azizi H, Hashemi Karoii D, Skutella T. VASA protein and gene expression analysis of human non-obstructive azoospermia and normal by immunohistochemistry, immunocytochemistry, and bioinformatics analysis. Sci Rep 2022; 12:17259. [PMID: 36241908 PMCID: PMC9568577 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-22137-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
VASA, also known as DDX4, is a member of the DEAD-box proteins and an RNA binding protein with an ATP-dependent RNA helicase. The VASA gene expression, which is required for human germ cell development, may lead to infertility. Immunocytochemistry and immunohistochemistry were used to examine the expression of VASA protein in the human testis sections of azoospermic patients, in-vitro and in-silico models. Some studies of fertile humans showed VASA expression in the basal and adluminal compartments of seminiferous tubules. Our Immunocytochemistry and immunohistochemistry in infertile humans showed expression of VASA in the luminal compartments of the seminiferous tubule. The immunohistochemical analysis of three human cases with different levels of non-obstructive azoospermia revealed a higher expression of VASA-positive cells. For this purpose, Enrichr and Shiny Gene Ontology databases were used for pathway enrichment analysis and gene ontology. STRING and Cytoscape online evaluation were applied to predict proteins' functional and molecular interactions and performed to recognize the master genes, respectively. According to the obtained results, the main molecular functions of the up-regulated and downregulated genes include the meiotic cell cycle, RNA binding, and differentiation. STRING and Cytoscape analyses presented seven genes, i.e., DDX5, TNP2, DDX3Y, TDRD6, SOHL2, DDX31, and SYCP3, as the hub genes involved in infertility with VASA co-function and protein-protein interaction. Our findings suggest that VASA and its interacting hub proteins could help determine the pathophysiology of germ cell abnormalities and infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Amirian
- grid.7700.00000 0001 2190 4373Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical Faculty, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 307, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hossein Azizi
- grid.495554.cFaculty of Biotechnology, Amol University of Special Modern Technologies, Amol, Iran
| | - Danial Hashemi Karoii
- grid.495554.cFaculty of Biotechnology, Amol University of Special Modern Technologies, Amol, Iran
| | - Thomas Skutella
- grid.7700.00000 0001 2190 4373Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical Faculty, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 307, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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Nicol B, Estermann MA, Yao HHC, Mellouk N. Becoming female: Ovarian differentiation from an evolutionary perspective. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:944776. [PMID: 36158204 PMCID: PMC9490121 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.944776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Differentiation of the bipotential gonadal primordium into ovaries and testes is a common process among vertebrate species. While vertebrate ovaries eventually share the same functions of producing oocytes and estrogens, ovarian differentiation relies on different morphogenetic, cellular, and molecular cues depending on species. The aim of this review is to highlight the conserved and divergent features of ovarian differentiation through an evolutionary perspective. From teleosts to mammals, each clade or species has a different story to tell. For this purpose, this review focuses on three specific aspects of ovarian differentiation: ovarian morphogenesis, the evolution of the role of estrogens on ovarian differentiation and the molecular pathways involved in granulosa cell determination and maintenance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Nicol
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States,*Correspondence: Barbara Nicol,
| | - Martin A. Estermann
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Humphrey H-C Yao
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Namya Mellouk
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, Jouy en Josas, France
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10
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Smirnov AF, Leoke DY, Trukhina AV. Natural and Experimental Sex Reversal in Birds and Other Groups of Vertebrates, with the Exception of Mammals. RUSS J GENET+ 2022. [DOI: 10.1134/s1022795422060114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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11
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Li J, Zhang X, Wang X, Sun C, Zheng J, Li J, Yi G, Yang N. The m6A methylation regulates gonadal sex differentiation in chicken embryo. J Anim Sci Biotechnol 2022; 13:52. [PMID: 35581635 PMCID: PMC9115958 DOI: 10.1186/s40104-022-00710-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background As a ubiquitous reversible epigenetic RNA modification, N6-methyladenosine (m6A) plays crucial regulatory roles in multiple biological pathways. However, its functional mechanisms in sex determination and differentiation during gonadal development of chicken embryos are not clear. Therefore, we established a transcriptome-wide m6A map in the female and male chicken left gonads of embryonic day 7 (E7) by methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeRIP-seq) to offer insight into the landscape of m6A methylation and investigate the post-transcriptional modification underlying gonadal differentiation. Results The chicken embryonic gonadal transcriptome was extensively methylated. We found 15,191 and 16,111 m6A peaks in the female and male left gonads, respectively, which were mainly enriched in the coding sequence (CDS) and stop codon. Among these m6A peaks, we identified that 1013 and 751 were hypermethylated in females and males, respectively. These differential peaks covered 281 and 327 genes, such as BMP2, SMAD2, SOX9 and CYP19A1, which were primarily associated with development, morphogenesis and sex differentiation by functional enrichment. Further analysis revealed that the m6A methylation level was positively correlated with gene expression abundance. Furthermore, we found that YTHDC2 could regulate the expression of sex-related genes, especially HEMGN and SOX9, in male mesonephros/gonad mingle cells, which was verified by in vitro experiments, suggesting a regulatory role of m6A methylation in chicken gonad differentiation. Conclusions This work provided a comprehensive m6A methylation profile of chicken embryonic gonads and revealed YTHDC2 as a key regulator responsible for sex differentiation. Our results contribute to a better understanding of epigenetic factors involved in chicken sex determination and differentiation and to promoting the future development of sex manipulation in poultry industry. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40104-022-00710-6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianbo Li
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiuan Zhang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiqiong Wang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Congjiao Sun
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiangxia Zheng
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Junying Li
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Guoqiang Yi
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory of Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Ning Yang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding and Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
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12
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Li P, Guo Y, Jin L, Liang X, Chen G, Sun W, Xiao L, Qian G, Ge C. ESR1 mediates estrogen-induced feminization of genetic male Chinese soft-shelled turtle. Biol Reprod 2022; 107:779-789. [PMID: 35512131 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioac088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2022] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Exogenous estrogen have shown their femininization abilities during the specific sex differentiation period in several reptiles. However, the specific regulatory mechanism and downstream regulatory genes of estrogen remain elusive. In the present study, 17β-estradiol (E2), as well as drugs of specific antagonists and/or agonists of estrogen receptors, were employed to figure out the molecular pathway involved in the E2-induced feminization in Chinese soft-shelled turtles, an important aquaculture species in China. E2 treatment led to typical female characteristics in the gonads of ZZ individuals, including thickened outer cortex containing a number of germ cells and degenerated medullary cords, as well as the disappearance of male marker SOX9, and the ectopic expression of ovarian regulator FOXL2 at the embryonic developmental stage 27 and 1 month after hatching. The specific ESR1 antagonist or a combination of three estrogen receptor antagonists could block the sex reversal of ZZ individuals induced by estrogen. In addition, specific activation of ESR1 by agonist also led to the feminization of ZZ gonads, which was similar to the effect of estrogen treatment. Furthermore, transcriptome data showed that the expression level of FOXL2 was significantly up-regulated, while mRNA levels of DMRT1, SOX9 and AMH were down-regulated after estrogen treatment. Taken together, our results indicated that E2 induced the feminization of ZZ Chinese soft-shelled turtles via ESR1, and decrease of male genes DMRT1, SOX9and AMH and increase of ovarian development regulator FOXL2 might be responsible for the initiation of E2-induced feminization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pan Li
- Institute of Animal Sex and Development, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo, 315100, China.,College of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo, 315100, China
| | - Yin Guo
- Institute of Animal Sex and Development, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo, 315100, China.,College of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo, 315100, China
| | - Lin Jin
- Institute of Animal Sex and Development, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo, 315100, China.,College of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo, 315100, China
| | - Xiao Liang
- College of Fisheries and Life Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China
| | - Gaoan Chen
- Institute of Animal Sex and Development, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo, 315100, China
| | - Wei Sun
- Institute of Animal Sex and Development, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo, 315100, China.,College of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo, 315100, China
| | - Ling Xiao
- Institute of Animal Sex and Development, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo, 315100, China.,College of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo, 315100, China
| | - Guoying Qian
- College of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo, 315100, China
| | - Chutian Ge
- Institute of Animal Sex and Development, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo, 315100, China.,College of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo, 315100, China
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13
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Transgenerational Transcriptomic and DNA Methylome Profiling of Mouse Fetal Testicular Germline and Somatic Cells after Exposure of Pregnant Mothers to Tributyltin, a Potent Obesogen. Metabolites 2022; 12:metabo12020095. [PMID: 35208169 PMCID: PMC8874857 DOI: 10.3390/metabo12020095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Obesogens such as tributyltin (TBT) are xenobiotic compounds that promote obesity, in part by distorting the normal balance of lipid metabolism. The obesogenic effects of TBT can be observed in directly exposed (F1 and F2 generations) and also subsequent generations (F3 and beyond) that were never exposed. To address the effects of TBT exposure on germ cells, we exposed pregnant transgenic OG2 mouse dams (F0), which specifically express EGFP in germline cells, to an environmentally relevant dose of TBT or DMSO throughout gestation through drinking water. When fed with a high-fat diet, F3 male offspring of TBT-exposed F0 dams (TBT-F3) accumulated much more body fat than did DMSO-F3 males. TBT-F3 males also lost more body fluid and lean compositions than did DMSO-F3 males. Expression of genes involved in transcriptional regulation or mesenchymal differentiation was up-regulated in somatic cells of TBT-F1 (but not TBT-F3) E18.5 fetal testes, and promoter-associated CpG islands were hyper-methylated in TBT-F1 somatic cells. Global mRNA expression of protein-coding genes in F1 or F3 fetal testicular cells was unaffected by F0 exposure to TBT; however, expression of a subset of endogenous retroviruses was significantly affected in F1 and F3. We infer that TBT may directly target testicular somatic cells in F1 testes to irreversibly affect epigenetic suppression of endogenous retroviruses in both germline and somatic cells.
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14
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Estermann MA, Hirst CE, Major AT, Smith CA. The homeobox gene TGIF1 is required for chicken ovarian cortical development and generation of the juxtacortical medulla. Development 2021; 148:dev199646. [PMID: 34387307 PMCID: PMC8406534 DOI: 10.1242/dev.199646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
During early embryogenesis in amniotic vertebrates, the gonads differentiate into either ovaries or testes. The first cell lineage to differentiate gives rise to the supporting cells: Sertoli cells in males and pre-granulosa cells in females. These key cell types direct the differentiation of the other cell types in the gonad, including steroidogenic cells. The gonadal surface epithelium and the interstitial cell populations are less well studied, and little is known about their sexual differentiation programs. Here, we show the requirement of the homeobox transcription factor gene TGIF1 for ovarian development in the chicken embryo. TGIF1 is expressed in the two principal ovarian somatic cell populations: the cortex and the pre-granulosa cells of the medulla. TGIF1 expression is associated with an ovarian phenotype in estrogen-mediated sex reversal experiments. Targeted misexpression and gene knockdown indicate that TGIF1 is required, but not sufficient, for proper ovarian cortex formation. In addition, TGIF1 is identified as the first known regulator of juxtacortical medulla development. These findings provide new insights into chicken ovarian differentiation and development, specifically cortical and juxtacortical medulla formation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Craig Allen Smith
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton VIC 3800, Australia
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15
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Shioda K, Odajima J, Kobayashi M, Kobayashi M, Cordazzo B, Isselbacher KJ, Shioda T. Transcriptomic and Epigenetic Preservation of Genetic Sex Identity in Estrogen-feminized Male Chicken Embryonic Gonads. Endocrinology 2021; 162:5973467. [PMID: 33170207 PMCID: PMC7745639 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqaa208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Whereas in ovo exposure of genetically male (ZZ) chicken embryos to exogenous estrogens temporarily feminizes gonads at the time of hatching, the morphologically ovarian ZZ-gonads (FemZZs for feminized ZZ gonads) are masculinized back to testes within 1 year. To identify the feminization-resistant "memory" of genetic male sex, FemZZs showing varying degrees of feminization were subjected to transcriptomic, DNA methylome, and immunofluorescence analyses. Protein-coding genes were classified based on their relative mRNA expression across normal ZZ-testes, genetically female (ZW) ovaries, and FemZZs. We identified a group of 25 genes that were strongly expressed in both ZZ-testes and FemZZs but dramatically suppressed in ZW-ovaries. Interestingly, 84% (21/25) of these feminization-resistant testicular marker genes, including the DMRT1 master masculinizing gene, were located in chromosome Z. Expression of representative marker genes of germline cells (eg, DAZL or DDX4/VASA) was stronger in FemZZs than normal ZZ-testes or ZW-ovaries. We also identified 231 repetitive sequences (RSs) that were strongly expressed in both ZZ-testes and FemZZs, but these RSs were not enriched in chromosome Z. Although 94% (165/176) of RSs exclusively expressed in ZW-ovaries were located in chromosome W, no feminization-inducible RS was detected in FemZZs. DNA methylome analysis distinguished FemZZs from normal ZZ- and ZW-gonads. Immunofluorescence analysis of FemZZ gonads revealed expression of DMRT1 protein in medullary SOX9+ somatic cells and apparent germline cell populations in both medulla and cortex. Taken together, our study provides evidence that both somatic and germline cell populations in morphologically feminized FemZZs maintain significant transcriptomic and epigenetic memories of genetic sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiko Shioda
- Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Junko Odajima
- Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Misato Kobayashi
- Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Mutsumi Kobayashi
- Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Bianca Cordazzo
- Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kurt J Isselbacher
- Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Toshi Shioda
- Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Correspondence: Toshi Shioda, Massachusetts General Hospital Center for Cancer Research, Building 149 – 7th Floor, 13th Street, Charlestown, Massachusetts 02129, USA. E-mail:
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