1
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Shimada R, Ishiguro KI. Female-specific mechanisms of meiotic initiation and progression in mammalian oocyte development. Genes Cells 2024. [PMID: 39119753 DOI: 10.1111/gtc.13152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2024] [Revised: 06/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
Meiosis is regulated in sexually dimorphic manners in mammals. In females, the commitment to and entry into meiosis are coordinated with the developmental program of oocytes. Female germ cells initiate meiosis within a short time window during the fetal period and then undergo meiotic arrest until puberty. However, the genetic mechanisms underlying the orchestration of oocyte development and meiosis to maximize the reproductive lifespan of mammalian females remain largely elusive. While meiotic initiation is regulated by a sexually common mechanism, where meiosis initiator and Stimulated by Retinoic Acid Gene 8 (STRA8) activate the meiotic genes, the female-specific mode of meiotic initiation is mediated by the interaction between retinoblastoma (RB) and STRA8. This review highlights the female-specific mechanisms of meiotic initiation and meiotic prophase progression in the context of oocyte development. Furthermore, the downstream pathway of the RB-STRA8 interaction that may regulate meiotic arrest will be discussed in the context of oocyte development, highlighting a potential genetic link between the female-specific mode of meiotic entry and meiotic arrest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryuki Shimada
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics (IMEG), Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Kei-Ichiro Ishiguro
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics (IMEG), Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
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2
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Pfaltzgraff NG, Liu B, de Rooij DG, Page DC, Mikedis MM. Destabilization of mRNAs enhances competence to initiate meiosis in mouse spermatogenic cells. Development 2024; 151:dev202740. [PMID: 38884383 PMCID: PMC11273298 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202740] [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: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
The specialized cell cycle of meiosis transforms diploid germ cells into haploid gametes. In mammals, diploid spermatogenic cells acquire the competence to initiate meiosis in response to retinoic acid. Previous mouse studies revealed that MEIOC interacts with RNA-binding proteins YTHDC2 and RBM46 to repress mitotic genes and to promote robust meiotic gene expression in spermatogenic cells that have initiated meiosis. Here, we have used the enhanced resolution of scRNA-seq and bulk RNA-seq of developmentally synchronized spermatogenesis to define how MEIOC molecularly supports early meiosis in spermatogenic cells. We demonstrate that MEIOC mediates transcriptomic changes before meiotic initiation, earlier than previously appreciated. MEIOC, acting with YTHDC2 and RBM46, destabilizes its mRNA targets, including the transcriptional repressors E2f6 and Mga, in mitotic spermatogonia. MEIOC thereby derepresses E2F6- and MGA-repressed genes, including Meiosin and other meiosis-associated genes. This confers on spermatogenic cells the molecular competence to, in response to retinoic acid, fully activate the transcriptional regulator STRA8-MEIOSIN, which is required for the meiotic G1/S phase transition and for meiotic gene expression. We conclude that, in mice, mRNA decay mediated by MEIOC-YTHDC2-RBM46 enhances the competence of spermatogenic cells to initiate meiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie G. Pfaltzgraff
- Reproductive Sciences Center, Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Bingrun Liu
- Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | | | - David C. Page
- Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Maria M. Mikedis
- Reproductive Sciences Center, Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
- Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
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3
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Ishiguro KI. Mechanisms of meiosis initiation and meiotic prophase progression during spermatogenesis. Mol Aspects Med 2024; 97:101282. [PMID: 38797021 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2024.101282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Meiosis is a critical step for spermatogenesis and oogenesis. Meiosis commences with pre-meiotic S phase that is subsequently followed by meiotic prophase. The meiotic prophase is characterized by the meiosis-specific chromosomal events such as chromosome recombination and homolog synapsis. Meiosis initiator (MEIOSIN) and stimulated by retinoic acid gene 8 (STRA8) initiate meiosis by activating the meiotic genes by installing the meiotic prophase program at pre-meiotic S phase. This review highlights the mechanisms of meiotic initiation and meiotic prophase progression from the point of the gene expression program and its relevance to infertility. Furthermore, upstream pathways that regulate meiotic initiation will be discussed in the context of spermatogenic development, indicating the sexual differences in the mode of meiotic entry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kei-Ichiro Ishiguro
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics (IMEG), Kumamoto University, 2-2-1 Honjo, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 860-0811, Japan.
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4
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Shimada R, Kato Y, Takeda N, Fujimura S, Yasunaga KI, Usuki S, Niwa H, Araki K, Ishiguro KI. STRA8-RB interaction is required for timely entry of meiosis in mouse female germ cells. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6443. [PMID: 37880249 PMCID: PMC10600341 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42259-6] [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: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Meiosis is differently regulated in males and females. In females, germ cells initiate meiosis within a limited time period in the fetal ovary and undergo a prolonged meiotic arrest until puberty. However, how meiosis initiation is coordinated with the cell cycle to coincide with S phase remains elusive. Here, we demonstrate that STRA8 binds to RB via the LXCXE motif. Mutation of the RB-binding site of STRA8 in female mice delays meiotic entry, which consequently delays progression of meiotic prophase and leads to precocious depletion of the oocyte pool. Single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis reveals that the STRA8-RB interaction is required for S phase entry and meiotic gene activation, ensuring precise timing of meiosis initiation in oocytes. Strikingly, the results suggest STRA8 could sequester RB from E2F during pre-meiotic G1/S transition. This study highlights the gene regulatory mechanisms underlying the female-specific mode of meiotic initiation in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryuki Shimada
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics (IMEG), Kumamoto university, Honjo 2-2-1, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, Kumamoto, 860-0811, Japan
| | - Yuzuru Kato
- Mammalian Development Laboratory, Department of Gene Function and Phenomics, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima, Shizuoka, 411-8540, Japan
| | - Naoki Takeda
- Institute of Resource Development and Analysis, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 860-0811, Japan
| | - Sayoko Fujimura
- Liaison Laboratory Research Promotion Center, IMEG, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 860-0811, Japan
| | - Kei-Ichiro Yasunaga
- Liaison Laboratory Research Promotion Center, IMEG, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 860-0811, Japan
| | - Shingo Usuki
- Liaison Laboratory Research Promotion Center, IMEG, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 860-0811, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Niwa
- Department of Pluripotent Stem Cell Biology, IMEG, Kumamoto university, Honjo 2-2-1, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, Kumamoto, 860-0811, Japan
| | - Kimi Araki
- Institute of Resource Development and Analysis, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, 860-0811, Japan
- Center for Metabolic Regulation of Healthy Aging, Kumamoto University, 1-1-1, Honjo, Kumamoto, 860-8556, Japan
| | - Kei-Ichiro Ishiguro
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics (IMEG), Kumamoto university, Honjo 2-2-1, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, Kumamoto, 860-0811, Japan.
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5
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Wu K, Chen Q, Li F, Shen J, Sun W, Ge C. Evidence for RA-dependent meiosis onset in a turtle embryo. Cell Tissue Res 2023; 394:229-241. [PMID: 37526735 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-023-03814-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
Meiotic entry is one of the earliest sex determination events of the germ cell in higher vertebrates. Although advances in meiosis onset have been achieved in mammals, birds and fish, how this process functions in reptiles is largely unknown. In this study, we present the molecular analysis of meiosis onset and the role of retinoic acid (RA) in this process in the red-eared slider turtle. Our results using Stra8 as a pre-meiosis indicator show that in the female embryonic gonad, meiosis commitment starts around stage 19. Additionally, signals of the meiosis marker Sycp3 could be detected at stage 19 and become highly expressed by stage 23. No expression of these genes was detected in male embryonic gonads, suggesting the entry into meiosis prophase I was restricted to female embryonic germ cells. Notably, RA activity in fetal gonads is likely to be elevated in females than that in males, as evidenced by the higher expression of RA synthase Aldh1a1 and lower expression of RA-degrading enzyme Cyp26a1 in female gonads prior to meiotic entry. In addition, exogenous RA treatment induced the expression of Stra8 and Sycp3 in both sexes, whether in vivo or in vitro. Together, these results indicate that high levels of RA in the embryonic female gonads can lead to the initiation of meiosis in the turtle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaiyue Wu
- College of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo, 315100, China
| | - Qiran Chen
- College of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo, 315100, China.
- MOE Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China.
| | - Fang Li
- College of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo, 315100, China
| | - Jiadong Shen
- College of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo, 315100, China
| | - Wei Sun
- College of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo, 315100, China
| | - Chutian Ge
- College of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Zhejiang Wanli University, Ningbo, 315100, China.
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6
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Telfer EE, Grosbois J, Odey YL, Rosario R, Anderson RA. Making a good egg: human oocyte health, aging, and in vitro development. Physiol Rev 2023; 103:2623-2677. [PMID: 37171807 PMCID: PMC10625843 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00032.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Mammalian eggs (oocytes) are formed during fetal life and establish associations with somatic cells to form primordial follicles that create a store of germ cells (the primordial pool). The size of this pool is influenced by key events during the formation of germ cells and by factors that influence the subsequent activation of follicle growth. These regulatory pathways must ensure that the reserve of oocytes within primordial follicles in humans lasts for up to 50 years, yet only approximately 0.1% will ever be ovulated with the rest undergoing degeneration. This review outlines the mechanisms and regulatory pathways that govern the processes of oocyte and follicle formation and later growth, within the ovarian stroma, through to ovulation with particular reference to human oocytes/follicles. In addition, the effects of aging on female reproductive capacity through changes in oocyte number and quality are emphasized, with both the cellular mechanisms and clinical implications discussed. Finally, the details of current developments in culture systems that support all stages of follicle growth to generate mature oocytes in vitro and emerging prospects for making new oocytes from stem cells are outlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelyn E Telfer
- Institute of Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Johanne Grosbois
- Institute of Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Yvonne L Odey
- Institute of Cell Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Roseanne Rosario
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, Queens Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Richard A Anderson
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, Queens Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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Kirsanov O, Johnson TA, Niedenberger BA, Malachowski TN, Hale BJ, Chen Q, Lackford B, Wang J, Singh A, Schindler K, Hermann BP, Hu G, Geyer CB. Retinoic acid is dispensable for meiotic initiation but required for spermiogenesis in the mammalian testis. Development 2023; 150:dev201638. [PMID: 37350382 PMCID: PMC10357014 DOI: 10.1242/dev.201638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
Retinoic acid (RA) is the proposed mammalian 'meiosis inducing substance'. However, evidence for this role comes from studies in the fetal ovary, where germ cell differentiation and meiotic initiation are temporally inseparable. In the postnatal testis, these events are separated by more than 1 week. Exploiting this difference, we discovered that, although RA is required for spermatogonial differentiation, it is dispensable for the subsequent initiation, progression and completion of meiosis. Indeed, in the absence of RA, the meiotic transcriptome program in both differentiating spermatogonia and spermatocytes entering meiosis was largely unaffected. Instead, transcripts encoding factors required during spermiogenesis were aberrant during preleptonema, and the subsequent spermatid morphogenesis program was disrupted such that no sperm were produced. Taken together, these data reveal a RA-independent model for male meiotic initiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oleksandr Kirsanov
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
| | - Taylor A. Johnson
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
| | - Bryan A. Niedenberger
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
| | - Taylor N. Malachowski
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
| | - Benjamin J. Hale
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
| | - Qing Chen
- Epigenetics and Stem Cell Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC 27709, USA
| | - Brad Lackford
- Epigenetics and Stem Cell Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC 27709, USA
| | - Jiajia Wang
- Epigenetics and Stem Cell Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC 27709, USA
| | - Anukriti Singh
- Department of Neuroscience, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA
| | - Karen Schindler
- Department of Genetics, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Brian P. Hermann
- Department of Neuroscience, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA
| | - Guang Hu
- Epigenetics and Stem Cell Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC 27709, USA
| | - Christopher B. Geyer
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
- East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
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8
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Qian Z, Li C, Zhao S, Zhang H, Ma R, Ge X, Jing J, Chen L, Ma J, Yang Y, Zheng L, Zhang K, He Z, Xue M, Lin Y, Jueraitetibaike K, Feng Y, Cao C, Tang T, Sun S, Teng H, Zhao W, Yao B. Age-related elevation of O-GlcNAc causes meiotic arrest in male mice. Cell Death Discov 2023; 9:163. [PMID: 37188682 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-023-01433-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, the postponement of childbearing has become a critical social issue. Male fertility is negatively associated with age because of testis aging. Spermatogenesis is impaired with age, but the molecular mechanism remains unknown. The dynamic posttranslational modification O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc), which is a type of monosaccharide modification, has been shown to drive the process of aging in various systems, but it has not yet been investigated in the testis and male reproductive aging. Thus, this study aims to investigate the alteration of O-GlcNAc with aging and explore the role of O-GlcNAc in spermatogenesis. Here, we demonstrate that the decline in spermatogenesis in aged mice is associated with elevation of O-GlcNAc. O-GlcNAc is specifically localized in differentiating spermatogonia and spermatocytes, indicating its crucial role in meiotic initiation and progression. Mimicking the age-related elevation of O-GlcNAc in young mice by disabling O-GlcNAcase (OGA) using the chemical inhibitor Thiamet-G can recapitulate the impairment of spermatogenesis in aged mice. Mechanistically, the elevation of O-GlcNAc in the testis leads to meiotic pachytene arrest due to defects in synapsis and recombination. Furthermore, decreasing O-GlcNAc in aged testes using an O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) inhibitor can partially rescue the age-related impairment of spermatogenesis. Our results highlight that O-GlcNAc, as a novel posttranslational modification, participates in meiotic progression and drives the impairment of spermatogenesis during aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhang Qian
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Affiliated Jinling Hospital, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210002, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chuwei Li
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Affiliated Jinling Hospital, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210002, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shanmeizi Zhao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hong Zhang
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Affiliated Jinling Hospital, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210002, Jiangsu, China
| | - Rujun Ma
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Affiliated Jinling Hospital, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210002, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xie Ge
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Affiliated Jinling Hospital, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210002, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jun Jing
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Jinling Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210002, China
| | - Li Chen
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Affiliated Jinling Hospital, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210002, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jinzhao Ma
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Affiliated Jinling Hospital, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210002, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Basic Medical Laboratory, Nanjing Jinling Hospital, Clinical School of Medical College, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210002, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lu Zheng
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Affiliated Jinling Hospital, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210002, Jiangsu, China
| | - Kemei Zhang
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Jinling Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210002, China
| | - Zhaowanyue He
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Affiliated Jinling Hospital, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210002, Jiangsu, China
| | - Mengqi Xue
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Jinling Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210002, China
| | - Ying Lin
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Affiliated Jinling Hospital, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210002, Jiangsu, China
| | - Kadiliya Jueraitetibaike
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Affiliated Jinling Hospital, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210002, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuming Feng
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Affiliated Jinling Hospital, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210002, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chun Cao
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Affiliated Jinling Hospital, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210002, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ting Tang
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Affiliated Jinling Hospital, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210002, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shanshan Sun
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Molecular and Medical Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hui Teng
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Jinling Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 210002, China
| | - Wei Zhao
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Affiliated Jinling Hospital, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210002, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Bing Yao
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Affiliated Jinling Hospital, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210002, Jiangsu, China.
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9
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Johnson TA, Niedenberger BA, Kirsanov O, Harrington EV, Malachowski T, Geyer CB. Differential responsiveness of spermatogonia to retinoic acid dictates precocious differentiation but not meiotic entry during steady-state spermatogenesis†. Biol Reprod 2023; 108:822-836. [PMID: 36708226 PMCID: PMC10183363 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioad010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The foundation of mammalian spermatogenesis is provided by undifferentiated spermatogonia, which comprise of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) and transit-amplifying progenitors that differentiate in response to retinoic acid (RA) and are committed to enter meiosis. Our laboratory recently reported that the foundational populations of SSCs, undifferentiated progenitors, and differentiating spermatogonia are formed in the neonatal testis in part based on their differential responsiveness to RA. Here, we expand on those findings to define the extent to which RA responsiveness during steady-state spermatogenesis in the adult testis regulates the spermatogonial fate. Our results reveal that both progenitor and differentiating spermatogonia throughout the testis are capable of responding to exogenous RA, but their resulting fates were quite distinct-undifferentiated progenitors precociously differentiated and proceeded into meiosis on a normal timeline, while differentiating spermatogonia were unable to hasten their entry into meiosis. This reveals that the spermatogonia responding to RA must still complete the 8.6 day differentiation program prior to their entry into meiosis. Addition of exogenous RA enriched testes with preleptotene and pachytene spermatocytes one and two seminiferous cycles later, respectively, supporting recent clinical studies reporting increased sperm production and enhanced fertility in subfertile men on long-term RA analog treatment. Collectively, our results reveal that a well-buffered system exists within mammalian testes to regulate spermatogonial RA exposure, that exposed undifferentiated progenitors can precociously differentiate, but must complete a normal-length differentiation program prior to entering meiosis, and that daily RA treatments increased the numbers of advanced germ cells by directing undifferentiated progenitors to continuously differentiate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor A Johnson
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NCUSA
| | - Bryan A Niedenberger
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NCUSA
| | - Oleksandr Kirsanov
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NCUSA
| | - Ellen V Harrington
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NCUSA
| | - Taylor Malachowski
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NCUSA
| | - Christopher B Geyer
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NCUSA
- East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute at East Carolina University, Greenville, NCUSA
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10
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Somashekar H, Nonomura KI. Genetic Regulation of Mitosis-Meiosis Fate Decision in Plants: Is Callose an Oversighted Polysaccharide in These Processes? PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:1936. [PMID: 37653853 PMCID: PMC10223186 DOI: 10.3390/plants12101936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Timely progression of the meiotic cell cycle and synchronized establishment of male meiosis in anthers are key to ascertaining plant fertility. With the discovery of novel regulators of the plant cell cycle, the mechanisms underlying meiosis initiation and progression appear to be more complex than previously thought, requiring the conjunctive action of cyclins, cyclin-dependent kinases, transcription factors, protein-protein interactions, and several signaling components. Broadly, cell cycle regulators can be classified into two categories in plants based on the nature of their mutational effects: (1) those that completely arrest cell cycle progression; and (2) those that affect the timing (delay or accelerate) or synchrony of cell cycle progression but somehow complete the division process. Especially the latter effects reflect evasion or obstruction of major steps in the meiosis but have sometimes been overlooked due to their subtle phenotypes. In addition to meiotic regulators, very few signaling compounds have been discovered in plants to date. In this review, we discuss the current state of knowledge about genetic mechanisms to enter the meiotic processes, referred to as the mitosis-meiosis fate decision, as well as the importance of callose (β-1,3 glucan), which has been unsung for a long time in male meiosis in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harsha Somashekar
- Plant Cytogenetics Laboratory, Department of Gene Function and Phenomics, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima 411-8540, Japan;
- Department of Genetics, School of Life Science, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI), Mishima 411-8540, Japan
| | - Ken-Ichi Nonomura
- Plant Cytogenetics Laboratory, Department of Gene Function and Phenomics, National Institute of Genetics, Mishima 411-8540, Japan;
- Department of Genetics, School of Life Science, The Graduate University for Advanced Studies (SOKENDAI), Mishima 411-8540, Japan
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11
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Wang F, Tang Y, Cai Y, Yang R, Wang Z, Wang X, Yang Q, Wang W, Tian J, An L. Intrafollicular Retinoic Acid Signaling Is Important for Luteinizing Hormone-Induced Oocyte Meiotic Resumption. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:genes14040946. [PMID: 37107703 PMCID: PMC10137601 DOI: 10.3390/genes14040946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
It has been clear that retinoic acid (RA), the most active vitamin A (VA) derivative, plays a central role in governing oocyte meiosis initiation. However, it has not been functionally determined if RA participates in luteinizing hormone (LH)-induced resumption from long-lasting oocyte meiotic arrest, which is essential for haploid oocyte formation. In the present study, using well-established in vivo and in vitro models, we identified that intrafollicular RA signaling is important for normal oocyte meiotic resumption. A mechanistic study indicated that mural granulosa cells (MGCs) are the indispensable follicular compartment for RA-prompted meiotic resumption. Moreover, retinoic acid receptor (RAR) is essential for mediating RA signaling to regulate meiotic resumption. Furthermore, we found zinc finger protein 36 (ZFP36) is the transcriptional target of RAR. Both RA signaling and epidermal growth factor (EGF) signaling were activated in MGCs in response to LH surge, and two intrafollicular signalings cooperate to induce rapid Zfp36 upregulation and Nppc mRNA decrease, which is critical to LH-induced meiotic resumption. These findings extend our understanding of the role of RA in oocyte meiosis: RA not only governs meiotic initiation but also regulates LH-induced meiotic resumption. We also emphasize the importance of LH-induced metabolic changes in MGCs in this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fupeng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yawen Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yijie Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Ran Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Zongyu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xiaodong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Qianying Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Wenjing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jianhui Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Lei An
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan West Road, Beijing 100193, China
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12
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Retinoic acid-induced differentiation of porcine prospermatogonia in vitro. Theriogenology 2023; 198:344-355. [PMID: 36640739 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2023.01.007] [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: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Spermatogenesis is an intricate developmental process occurring in testes by which spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) self-renew and differentiate into mature sperm. The molecular mechanisms for SSC self-renewal and differentiation, while have been well studied in mice, may differ between mice and domestic animals including pigs. To gain knowledge about the molecular mechanisms for porcine SSC self-renewal and differentiation that have so far been poorly understood, here we isolated and enriched prospermatogonia from neonatal porcine testes, and exposed the cells to retinoic acid, a direct inducer for spermatogonial differentiation. We then identified that retinoic acid could induce porcine prospermatogonial differentiation, which was accompanied by a clear transcriptomic alteration, as revealed by the RNA-sequencing analysis. We also compared retinoic acid-induced in vitro porcine spermatogonial differentiation with the in vivo process, and compared retinoic acid-induced in vitro spermatogonial differentiation between pigs and mice. Furthermore, we analyzed retinoic acid-induced differentially expressed long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), and demonstrated that a pig-specific lncRNA, lncRNA-106504875, positively regulated porcine spermatogonial proliferation by targeting the core transcription factor ZBTB16. Taken together, these results would help to elucidate the roles of retinoic acid in porcine spermatogonial differentiation, thereby contributing to further knowledge about the molecular mechanisms underlying porcine SSC development and, in the long run, to optimization of both long-term culture and induced differentiation systems for porcine SSCs.
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13
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Huang Y, Roig I. Genetic control of meiosis surveillance mechanisms in mammals. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1127440. [PMID: 36910159 PMCID: PMC9996228 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1127440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Meiosis is a specialized cell division that generates haploid gametes and is critical for successful sexual reproduction. During the extended meiotic prophase I, homologous chromosomes progressively pair, synapse and desynapse. These chromosomal dynamics are tightly integrated with meiotic recombination (MR), during which programmed DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are formed and subsequently repaired. Consequently, parental chromosome arms reciprocally exchange, ultimately ensuring accurate homolog segregation and genetic diversity in the offspring. Surveillance mechanisms carefully monitor the MR and homologous chromosome synapsis during meiotic prophase I to avoid producing aberrant chromosomes and defective gametes. Errors in these critical processes would lead to aneuploidy and/or genetic instability. Studies of mutation in mouse models, coupled with advances in genomic technologies, lead us to more clearly understand how meiosis is controlled and how meiotic errors are linked to mammalian infertility. Here, we review the genetic regulations of these major meiotic events in mice and highlight our current understanding of their surveillance mechanisms. Furthermore, we summarize meiotic prophase genes, the mutations that activate the surveillance system leading to meiotic prophase arrest in mouse models, and their corresponding genetic variants identified in human infertile patients. Finally, we discuss their value for the diagnosis of causes of meiosis-based infertility in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Huang
- Genome Integrity and Instability Group, Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.,Histology Unit, Department of Cell Biology, Physiology, and Immunology, Cytology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Ignasi Roig
- Genome Integrity and Instability Group, Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.,Histology Unit, Department of Cell Biology, Physiology, and Immunology, Cytology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
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14
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Kulibin AY, Malolina EA. In vitro spermatogenesis: In search of fully defined conditions. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1106111. [PMID: 36910153 PMCID: PMC9998899 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1106111] [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: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
A complete reconstruction of spermatogenesis in vitro under fully defined conditions still has not been achieved. However, many techniques have been proposed to get closer to that aim. Here we review the current progress in the field. At first, we describe the most successful technique, the organ culture method, which allows to produce functional haploid cells. However, this method is based on the culturing of intact testis tissue with unknown factors acting inside it. Then we discuss different types of 3D-cultures where specific testicular cell populations may be aggregated and the impact of each cell population may be examined. Unfortunately, germ cell development does not proceed further than the pachytene stage of meiosis there, with rare exceptions. Finally, we describe recent studies that focus on germ cells in a conventional adherent cell culture. Such studies thoroughly examine issues with in vitro meiosis and provide insight into the mechanisms of meiotic initiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Yu Kulibin
- Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - E A Malolina
- Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
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15
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Imaimatsu K, Uchida A, Hiramatsu R, Kanai Y. Gonadal Sex Differentiation and Ovarian Organogenesis along the Cortical-Medullary Axis in Mammals. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:13373. [PMID: 36362161 PMCID: PMC9655463 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232113373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 09/20/2023] Open
Abstract
In most mammals, the sex of the gonads is based on the fate of the supporting cell lineages, which arises from the proliferation of coelomic epithelium (CE) that surfaces on the bipotential genital ridge in both XY and XX embryos. Recent genetic studies and single-cell transcriptome analyses in mice have revealed the cellular and molecular events in the two-wave proliferation of the CE that produce the supporting cells. This proliferation contributes to the formation of the primary sex cords in the medullary region of both the testis and the ovary at the early phase of gonadal sex differentiation, as well as to that of the secondary sex cords in the cortical region of the ovary at the perinatal stage. To support gametogenesis, the testis forms seminiferous tubules in the medullary region, whereas the ovary forms follicles mainly in the cortical region. The medullary region in the ovary exhibits morphological and functional diversity among mammalian species that ranges from ovary-like to testis-like characteristics. This review focuses on the mechanism of gonadal sex differentiation along the cortical-medullary axis and compares the features of the cortical and medullary regions of the ovary in mammalian species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenya Imaimatsu
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8654, Japan
| | - Aya Uchida
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8654, Japan
- RIKEN BioResouce Research Center, Tsukuba 305-0074, Japan
| | - Ryuji Hiramatsu
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8654, Japan
| | - Yoshiakira Kanai
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8654, Japan
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16
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Alhasnani MA, Loeb S, Hall SJ, Caruolo Z, Simmonds F, Solano AE, Spade DJ. Interaction between mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate and retinoic acid alters Sertoli cell development during fetal mouse testis cord morphogenesis. Curr Res Toxicol 2022; 3:100087. [PMID: 36189433 PMCID: PMC9520016 DOI: 10.1016/j.crtox.2022.100087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 09/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Phthalic acid esters (phthalates) are a class of industrial chemicals that cause developmental and reproductive toxicity, but there are significant gaps in knowledge of phthalate toxicity mechanisms. There is evidence that phthalates disrupt retinoic acid signaling in the fetal testis, potentially disrupting control of spatial and temporal patterns of testis development. Our goal was to determine how a phthalate would interact with retinoic acid signaling during fetal mouse testis development. We hypothesized that mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) would exacerbate the adverse effect of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) on seminiferous cord development in the mouse fetal testis. To test this hypothesis, gestational day (GD) 14 C57BL/6 mouse testes were isolated and cultured on media containing MEHP, ATRA, or a combination of both compounds. Cultured testes were collected for global transcriptome analysis after one day in culture and for histology and immunofluorescent analysis of Sertoli cell differentiation after three days in culture. ATRA disrupted seminiferous cord morphogenesis and induced aberrant FOXL2 expression. MEHP alone had no significant effect on cord development, but combined exposure to MEHP and ATRA increased the number of FOXL2-positive cells, reduced seminiferous cord number, and increased testosterone levels, beyond the effect of ATRA alone. In RNA-seq analysis, ATRA treatment and MEHP treatment resulted in differential expression of genes 510 and 134 genes, respectively, including 70 common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the two treatments, including genes with known roles in fetal testis development. MEHP DEGs included RAR target genes, genes involved in angiogenesis, and developmental patterning genes, including members of the homeobox superfamily. These results support the hypothesis that MEHP modulates retinoic acid signaling in the mouse fetal testis and provide insight into potential mechanisms by which phthalates disrupt seminiferous cord morphogenesis.
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Key Words
- ATRA, All-trans retinoic acid. CAS # 302-79-4
- DMSO, dimethyl sulfoxide
- Fetal testis development
- GD, gestational day
- GO, Gene Ontology
- IPA, Ingenuity Pathway Analysis
- ITCN, Image-based Tool for Counting Nuclei
- MEHP, mono-(2-ethylheyxl) phthalate. CAS # 4376-20-9
- MNGs, multinucleated germ cells
- PVC, polyvinyl chloride
- Phthalate toxicity
- Retinoic acid
- Sertoli cell
- TDS, testicular dysgenesis syndrome
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Affiliation(s)
- Maha A. Alhasnani
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brown University, Box G-E5, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Skylar Loeb
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brown University, Box G-E5, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Susan J. Hall
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brown University, Box G-E5, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Zachary Caruolo
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brown University, Box G-E5, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Faith Simmonds
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brown University, Box G-E5, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Amanda E. Solano
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brown University, Box G-E5, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Daniel J. Spade
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brown University, Box G-E5, Providence, RI 02912, USA
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17
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Establishment of a Spermatogonial Stem Cell Line with Potential of Meiosis in a Hermaphroditic Fish, Epinephelus coioides. Cells 2022; 11:cells11182868. [PMID: 36139441 PMCID: PMC9496998 DOI: 10.3390/cells11182868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are unique adult stem cells capable of self-renewal and differentiation into sperm. Grouper is a protogynous hermaphroditic fish farmed widely in the tropical and subtropical seas. In this study, we established an SSC line derived from adult testis of orange-spotted grouper, Epinephelus coioides. In the presence of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), the cells could be maintained with proliferation and self-renewal over 20 months and 120 passages under in vitro culture conditions. The cells exhibited strong alkaline phosphatase activity and the characteristics of SSCs with the expression of germ cell markers, including Vasa, Dazl, and Plzf, as well as the stem cell markers Nanog, Oct4, and Ssea1. Furthermore, the cultured cells could be induced by 11-ketotestosterone treatment to highly express the meiotic markers Rec8, Sycp3, and Dmc1, and produce some spherical cells, and even sperm-like cells with a tail. The findings of this study suggested that the cultured grouper SSC line would serve as an excellent tool to study the molecular mechanisms behind SSCs self-renewal and differentiation, meiosis during spermatogenesis, and sex reversal in hermaphroditic vertebrates. Moreover, this SSC line has great application value in grouper fish aquaculture, such as germ cell transplantation, genetic manipulation, and disease research.
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18
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R-Loop Formation in Meiosis: Roles in Meiotic Transcription-Associated DNA Damage. EPIGENOMES 2022; 6:epigenomes6030026. [PMID: 36135313 PMCID: PMC9498298 DOI: 10.3390/epigenomes6030026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 07/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Meiosis is specialized cell division during gametogenesis that produces genetically unique gametes via homologous recombination. Meiotic homologous recombination entails repairing programmed 200–300 DNA double-strand breaks generated during the early prophase. To avoid interference between meiotic gene transcription and homologous recombination, mammalian meiosis is thought to employ a strategy of exclusively transcribing meiotic or post-meiotic genes before their use. Recent studies have shown that R-loops, three-stranded DNA/RNA hybrid nucleotide structures formed during transcription, play a crucial role in transcription and genome integrity. Although our knowledge about the function of R-loops during meiosis is limited, recent findings in mouse models have suggested that they play crucial roles in meiosis. Given that defective formation of an R-loop can cause abnormal transcription and transcription-coupled DNA damage, the precise regulatory network of R-loops may be essential in vivo for the faithful progression of mammalian meiosis and gametogenesis.
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19
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Abstract
Meiosis is critical for germ cell development in multicellular organisms. Initiation of meiosis coincides with pre-meiotic S phase, which is followed by meiotic prophase, a prolonged G2 phase that ensures numerous meiosis-specific chromosome events. Meiotic prophase is accompanied by robust alterations of gene expression. In mouse germ cells, MEIOSIN and STRA8 direct cell cycle switch from mitosis to meiosis. MEIOSIN and STRA8 coordinate meiotic initiation with cell cycle, by activating the meiotic genes to have meiotic prophase program installed at S phase. This review mainly focuses on the mechanism of meiotic initiation in mouse germ cells from the viewpoint of the transcription of meiotic genes. Furthermore, signaling pathways that regulate meiotic initiation will be discussed in the context of germ cell development, pointing out the sexual differences in the mode of meiotic initiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kei-Ichiro Ishiguro
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics (IMEG), Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan.
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20
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Loup B, Poumerol E, Jouneau L, Fowler PA, Cotinot C, Mandon-Pépin B. BPA disrupts meiosis I in oogonia by acting on pathways including cell cycle regulation, meiosis initiation and spindle assembly. Reprod Toxicol 2022; 111:166-177. [PMID: 35667523 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2022.06.001] [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: 01/02/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The negative in utero effects of bisphenol A (BPA) on female reproduction are of concern since the ovarian reserve of primordial follicles is constituted during the fetal period. This time-window is difficult to access, particularly in humans. Animal models and explant culture systems are, therefore, vital tools for investigating EDC impacts on primordial germ cells (PGCs). Here, we investigated the effects of BPA on prophase I meiosis in the fetal sheep ovary. We established an in vitro model of early gametogenesis through retinoic acid (RA)-induced differentiation of sheep PGCs that progressed through meiosis. Using this system, we demonstrated that BPA (3×10-7 M & 3×10-5M) exposure for 20 days disrupted meiotic initiation and completion in sheep oogonia and induced transcriptomic modifications of exposed explants. After exposure to the lowest concentrations of BPA (3×10-7M), only 2 probes were significantly up-regulated corresponding to NR2F1 and TMEM167A transcripts. In contrast, after exposure to 3×10-5M BPA, 446 probes were deregulated, 225 were down- and 221 were up-regulated following microarray analysis. Gene Ontology (GO) annotations of differentially expressed genes revealed that pathways mainly affected were involved in cell-cycle phase transition, meiosis and spindle assembly. Differences in key gene expression within each pathway were validated by qRT-PCR. This study provides a novel model for direct examination of the molecular pathways of environmental toxicants on early female gametogenesis and novel insights into the mechanisms by which BPA affects meiosis I. BPA exposure could thereby disrupt ovarian reserve formation by inhibiting meiotic progression of oocytes I and consequently by increasing atresia of primordial follicles containing defective oocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benoit Loup
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, ENVA, INRAE, BREED, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France.
| | - Elodie Poumerol
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, ENVA, INRAE, BREED, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France.
| | - Luc Jouneau
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, ENVA, INRAE, BREED, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France.
| | - Paul A Fowler
- Institute of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences & Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK.
| | - Corinne Cotinot
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, ENVA, INRAE, BREED, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France.
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21
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Bonefas KM, Iwase S. Soma-to-germline transformation in chromatin-linked neurodevelopmental disorders? FEBS J 2022; 289:2301-2317. [PMID: 34514717 PMCID: PMC8918023 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Mutations in numerous chromatin regulators cause neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) with unknown mechanisms. Understandably, most research has focused on how chromatin regulators control gene expression that is directly relevant to brain development and function, such as synaptic genes. However, some NDD models surprisingly show ectopic expression of germline genes in the brain. These germline genes are usually expressed only in the primordial germ cells, testis, and ovaries for germ cell development and sexual reproduction. Such ectopic germline gene expression has been reported in several NDDs, including immunodeficiency, centromeric instability, facial anomalies syndrome 1; Kleefstra syndrome 1; MeCP2 duplication syndrome; and mental retardation, X-linked syndromic, Claes-Jensen type. The responsible genes, DNMT3B, G9A/GLP, MECP2, and KDM5C, all encode chromatin regulators for gene silencing. These mutations may therefore lead to germline gene derepression and, in turn, a severe identity crisis of brain cells-potentially interfering with normal brain development. Thus, the ectopic expression of germline genes is a unique hallmark defining this NDD subset and further implicates the importance of germline gene silencing during brain development. The functional impact of germline gene expression on brain development, however, remains undetermined. This perspective article explores how this apparent soma-to-germline transformation arises and how it may interfere with neurodevelopment through genomic instability and impaired sensory cilium formation. Furthermore, we also discuss how to test these hypotheses experimentally to ultimately determine the contribution of ectopic germline transcripts to chromatin-linked NDDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine M. Bonefas
- Department of Human Genetics, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109,The University of Michigan Neuroscience Graduate Program,Corresponding authors: Please address correspondence to: , and
| | - Shigeki Iwase
- Department of Human Genetics, Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109,The University of Michigan Neuroscience Graduate Program,Corresponding authors: Please address correspondence to: , and
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22
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Spiller C, Bowles J. Instructing Mouse Germ Cells to Adopt a Female Fate. Sex Dev 2022:1-13. [PMID: 35320803 DOI: 10.1159/000523763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Germ cells are critical for the survival of our species. They are the only cells that undergo meiosis - the reductive form of cell division that is necessary for genetic reassortment of chromosomes and production of the haploid gametes, the sperm and eggs. Remarkably, the initial female/male fate decision in fetal germ cells does not depend on whether they are chromosomally XX or XY; rather, initial sexual fate is imposed by influences from the surrounding tissue. In mammals, the female germline is particularly precious: despite recent suggestions that germline stem cells exist in the ovary, it is still generally accepted that the ovarian reserve is finite, and its size is dependant on germ cells of the fetal ovary initiating meiosis in a timely manner. SUMMARY Prior to 2006, evidence suggested that gonadal germ cells initiate meiotic prophase I by default, but more recent data support a key role for the signalling molecule retinoic acid (RA) in instructing female germ cell fate. Newer findings also support a key meiosis-inducing role for another signalling molecule, bone morphogenic protein (BMP). Nonetheless, many questions remain. KEY MESSAGES Here, we review knowledge thus far regarding extrinsic and intrinsic determinants of a female germ cell fate, focusing on the mouse model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassy Spiller
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Josephine Bowles
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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23
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AOP Key Event Relationship report: Linking decreased retinoic acid levels with disrupted meiosis in developing oocytes. Curr Res Toxicol 2022; 3:100069. [PMID: 35345548 PMCID: PMC8957012 DOI: 10.1016/j.crtox.2022.100069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The first case study to develop and publish an individual KER as a stand-alone unit of information under the AOP framework overseen by the OECD. Full description of a KER linking decreased all-trans retinoic acid (atRA) levels in developing ovaries with disrupted meiotic entry of oogonia. KER described is associated with an intended AOP linking inhibition of the atRA producing ALDH1A enzymes with reduced fertility in women.
The Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP) concept is an emerging tool in regulatory toxicology that uses simplified descriptions to show cause-effect relationships between stressors and toxicity outcomes in intact organisms. The AOP structure is a modular framework, with Key Event Relationships (KERs) representing the unit of causal relationship based on existing knowledge, describing the connection between two Key Events. Because KERs are the only unit to support inference it has been argued recently that KERs should be recognized as the core building blocks of knowledge assembly within the AOP-Knowledge Base. Herein, we present a first case to support this proposal and provide a full description of a KER linking decreased all-trans retinoic acid (atRA) levels in developing ovaries with disrupted meiotic entry of oogonia. We outline the evidence to support a role for atRA in inducing meiosis in oogonia across mammals; this is important because elements of the RA synthesis/degradation pathway are recognized targets for numerous environmental chemicals. The KER we describe will be used to support an intended AOP linking inhibition of the atRA producing ALDH1A enzymes with reduced fertility in women.
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Zhang L, Li Y, Hu Y, Chen M, Cen C, Chen M, Lin L, Zhou J, Wang M, Cui X, Tang F, Gao F. Somatic cell-derived BMPs induce premature meiosis in male germ cells during the embryonic stage by upregulating Dazl expression. FASEB J 2022; 36:e22131. [PMID: 34985827 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202101585r] [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: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Although germ cell fate is believed to be determined by signaling factors from differentiated somatic cells, the molecular mechanism behind this process remains obscure. In this study, premature meiosis in male germ cells was observed during the embryonic stage by conditional activation of β-catenin in Sertoli cells. Somatic and germ cell transcriptome results indicated that the BMP signaling pathway was enriched after β-catenin activation. In addition, we observed a decreased DNA methylation within a reduction of DNMT3A in germ cells of β-catenin activated testes and reversed increase after inhibiting BMP signaling pathway with LDN-193189. We also found that Dazl expression was increased in β-catenin activated testes and decreased after LDN treatment. Taken together, this study demonstrates that male germ cells entered meiosis prematurely during the embryonic stage after β-catenin activated in Sertoli cells. BMP signaling pathway involved in germ cell meiosis initiation by mediating DNA methylation to induce meiotic genes expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lianjun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Yaqiong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Stem cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Yuqiong Hu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, Biomedical Institute for Pioneering Investigation via Convergence, College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, P.R. China.,Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Min Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Stem cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Changhuo Cen
- State Key Laboratory of Stem cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China.,Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Min Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Stem cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China.,Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Limei Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Stem cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Jingjing Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Stem cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China.,Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Mengyue Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China.,Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Xiuhong Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Stem cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China.,Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Fuchou Tang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Genomics, Biomedical Institute for Pioneering Investigation via Convergence, College of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, P.R. China.,Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, Biomedical Pioneering Innovation Center, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Fei Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Stem cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China.,Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
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25
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Xing H, Chen S, Wang X, Li J, Ren F. 3-Monochloropropane-1,2-diol causes spermatogenesis failure in male rats via Sertoli cell dysfunction but not testosterone reduction. Toxicol Lett 2022; 360:1-10. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2022.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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26
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Meyer-Ficca ML, Zwerdling AE, Swanson CA, Tucker AG, Lopez SA, Wandersee MK, Warner GM, Thompson KL, Chini CC, Chen H, Chini EN, Meyer RG. Low NAD + Levels Are Associated With a Decline of Spermatogenesis in Transgenic ANDY and Aging Mice. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:896356. [PMID: 35600581 PMCID: PMC9120959 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.896356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Advanced paternal age has increasingly been recognized as a risk factor for male fertility and progeny health. While underlying causes are not well understood, aging is associated with a continuous decline of blood and tissue NAD+ levels, as well as a decline of testicular functions. The important basic question to what extent ageing-related NAD+ decline is functionally linked to decreased male fertility has been difficult to address due to the pleiotropic effects of aging, and the lack of a suitable animal model in which NAD+ levels can be lowered experimentally in chronologically young adult males. We therefore developed a transgenic mouse model of acquired niacin dependency (ANDY), in which NAD+ levels can be experimentally lowered using a niacin-deficient, chemically defined diet. Using ANDY mice, this report demonstrates for the first time that decreasing body-wide NAD+ levels in young adult mice, including in the testes, to levels that match or exceed the natural NAD+ decline observed in old mice, results in the disruption of spermatogenesis with small testis sizes and reduced sperm counts. ANDY mice are dependent on dietary vitamin B3 (niacin) for NAD+ synthesis, similar to humans. NAD+-deficiency the animals develop on a niacin-free diet is reversed by niacin supplementation. Providing niacin to NAD+-depleted ANDY mice fully rescued spermatogenesis and restored normal testis weight in the animals. The results suggest that NAD+ is important for proper spermatogenesis and that its declining levels during aging are functionally linked to declining spermatogenesis and male fertility. Functions of NAD+ in retinoic acid synthesis, which is an essential testicular signaling pathway regulating spermatogonial proliferation and differentiation, may offer a plausible mechanism for the hypospermatogenesis observed in NAD+-deficient mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirella L. Meyer-Ficca
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Utah State University, Logan, UT, United States
- Department of Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences, College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, UT, United States
- *Correspondence: Ralph G. Meyer, ; Mirella L. Meyer-Ficca,
| | - Alexie E. Zwerdling
- Department of Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences, College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, UT, United States
| | - Corey A. Swanson
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Utah State University, Logan, UT, United States
| | - Abby G. Tucker
- Department of Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences, College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, UT, United States
| | - Sierra A. Lopez
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Utah State University, Logan, UT, United States
- Department of Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences, College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, UT, United States
| | - Miles K. Wandersee
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Utah State University, Logan, UT, United States
- Department of Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences, College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, UT, United States
| | - Gina M. Warner
- Signal Transduction and Molecular Nutrition Laboratory, Kogod Aging Center, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, United States
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Katie L. Thompson
- Signal Transduction and Molecular Nutrition Laboratory, Kogod Aging Center, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, United States
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Claudia C.S. Chini
- Signal Transduction and Molecular Nutrition Laboratory, Kogod Aging Center, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, United States
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Haolin Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Eduardo N. Chini
- Signal Transduction and Molecular Nutrition Laboratory, Kogod Aging Center, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, United States
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, United States
| | - Ralph G. Meyer
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Utah State University, Logan, UT, United States
- Department of Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences, College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, UT, United States
- *Correspondence: Ralph G. Meyer, ; Mirella L. Meyer-Ficca,
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27
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Ishiguro KI, Shimada R. MEIOSIN directs initiation of meiosis and subsequent meiotic prophase program during spermatogenesis. Genes Genet Syst 2021; 97:27-39. [PMID: 34955498 DOI: 10.1266/ggs.21-00054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Meiosis is a crucial process for spermatogenesis and oogenesis. Initiation of meiosis coincides with spermatocyte differentiation and is followed by meiotic prophase, a prolonged G2 phase that ensures the completion of numerous meiosis-specific chromosome events. During meiotic prophase, chromosomes are organized into axis-loop structures, which underlie meiosis-specific events such as meiotic recombination and homolog synapsis. In spermatocytes, meiotic prophase is accompanied by robust alterations of gene expression programs and chromatin status for subsequent sperm production. The mechanisms regulating meiotic initiation and subsequent meiotic prophase programs are enigmatic. Recently, we discovered MEIOSIN (Meiosis initiator), a DNA-binding protein that directs the switch from mitosis to meiosis. This review mainly focuses on how MEIOSIN is involved in meiotic initiation and the meiotic prophase program during spermatogenesis. Further, we discuss the downstream genes activated by MEIOSIN, which are crucial for meiotic prophase-specific events, from the viewpoint of chromosome dynamics and the gene expression program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kei-Ichiro Ishiguro
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics (IMEG), Kumamoto University
| | - Ryuki Shimada
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics (IMEG), Kumamoto University
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28
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Chen X, Li Y, Dai H, Zhang H, Wan D, Zhou X, Situ C, Zhu H. Cyclin-dependent kinase 7 is essential for spermatogenesis by regulating retinoic acid signaling pathways and the STAT3 molecular pathway. IUBMB Life 2021; 73:1446-1459. [PMID: 34717033 DOI: 10.1002/iub.2574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Spermatogenesis is a complex process that requires precise regulation. Phosphorylation plays a role in spermatogenesis by regulating protein structure and activity. This study focused on cyclin-dependent kinase 7 (CDK7), and explored its function and molecular mechanisms in spermatogenesis in vitro in a cell line and in vivo in a mouse model. Inhibition of CDK7 activity affected spermatogonia proliferation and differentiation, and we found that CDK7 regulates retinoic acid (RA)-mediated c-KIT expression to play a role in spermatogonia. Then, we demonstrated that inhibition of CDK7 affected meiosis initiation, DNA repair, and synaptonemal complex formation in meiosis progression, and CDK7 played this role by regulating RA-mediated STRA8 and REC8 signaling pathways. Moreover, inhibition of CDK7 impacted spermatid differentiation and resulted in decreased counts, decreased motility, and increased head deformity of sperm. We demonstrated that CDK7 affects germ cell apoptosis and sperm motility by activating STAT3 and that STAT3 further regulates Cortactin expression to influence the nuclear elongation, chromatin condensation, and acrosome formation of sperm. Additionally, EP300 was identified as another potential target phosphorylated by CDK7 that participates in chromatin condensation. Our results demonstrated the important role of CDK7 in all key aspects of spermatogenesis, potentially providing an effective target for clinical diagnosis and pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Haiqian Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Danyang Wan
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xinli Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chenghao Situ
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hui Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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29
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Abstract
Male meiosis is a complex process whereby spermatocytes undergo cell division to form haploid cells. This review focuses on the role of retinoic acid (RA) in meiosis, as well as several processes regulated by RA before cell entry into meiosis that are critical for proper meiotic entry and completion. Here, we discuss RA metabolism in the testis as well as the roles of stimulated by retinoic acid gene 8 (STRA8) and MEIOSIN, which are responsive to RA and are critical for meiosis. We assert that transcriptional regulation in the spermatogonia is critical for successful meiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel L Gewiss
- School of Molecular Biosciences and Center for Reproductive Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - M Christine Schleif
- School of Molecular Biosciences and Center for Reproductive Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Michael D Griswold
- School of Molecular Biosciences and Center for Reproductive Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
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30
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Heckmann L, Langenstroth-Röwer D, Wistuba J, Portela JMD, van Pelt AMM, Redmann K, Stukenborg JB, Schlatt S, Neuhaus N. The initial maturation status of marmoset testicular tissues has an impact on germ cell maintenance and somatic cell response in tissue fragment culture. Mol Hum Reprod 2021; 26:374-388. [PMID: 32236422 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gaaa024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2018] [Revised: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Successful in vitro spermatogenesis was reported using immature mouse testicular tissues in a fragment culture approach, raising hopes that this method could also be applied for fertility preservation in humans. Although maintaining immature human testicular tissue fragments in culture is feasible for an extended period, it remains unknown whether germ cell survival and the somatic cell response depend on the differentiation status of tissue. Employing the marmoset monkey (Callithrix jacchus), we aimed to assess whether the maturation status of prepubertal and peri-/pubertal testicular tissues influence the outcome of testis fragment culture. Testicular tissue fragments from 4- and 8-month-old (n = 3, each) marmosets were cultured and evaluated after 0, 7, 14, 28 and 42 days. Immunohistochemistry was performed for identification and quantification of germ cells (melanoma-associated antigen 4) and Sertoli cell maturation status (anti-Müllerian hormone: AMH). During testis fragment culture, spermatogonial numbers were significantly reduced (P < 0.05) in the 4- but not 8-month-old monkeys, at Day 0 versus Day 42 of culture. Moreover, while Sertoli cells from 4-month-old monkeys maintained an immature phenotype (i.e. AMH expression) during culture, AMH expression was regained in two of the 8-month-old monkeys. Interestingly, progression of differentiation to later meiotic stage was solely observed in one 8-month-old marmoset, which was at an intermediate state regarding germ cell content, with gonocytes as well as spermatocytes present, as well as Sertoli cell maturation status. Although species-specific differences might influence the outcome of testis fragment experiments in vitro, our study demonstrated that the developmental status of the testicular tissues needs to be considered as it seems to be decisive for germ cell maintenance, somatic cell response and possibly the differentiation potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Heckmann
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Institute of Reproductive and Regenerative Biology, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, Building D11, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - D Langenstroth-Röwer
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Institute of Reproductive and Regenerative Biology, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, Building D11, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - J Wistuba
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Institute of Reproductive and Regenerative Biology, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, Building D11, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - J M D Portela
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Research Institute Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - A M M van Pelt
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Research Institute Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - K Redmann
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Institute of Reproductive and Regenerative Biology, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, Building D11, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - J B Stukenborg
- NORDFERTIL Research Lab Stockholm, Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, 17164 Solna, Sweden
| | - S Schlatt
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Institute of Reproductive and Regenerative Biology, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, Building D11, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - N Neuhaus
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Institute of Reproductive and Regenerative Biology, Albert-Schweitzer-Campus 1, Building D11, 48149 Münster, Germany
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31
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Webster NJ, Maywald RL, Benton SM, Dawson EP, Murillo OD, LaPlante EL, Milosavljevic A, Lanza DG, Heaney JD. Testicular germ cell tumors arise in the absence of sex-specific differentiation. Development 2021; 148:260592. [PMID: 33912935 DOI: 10.1242/dev.197111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
In response to signals from the embryonic testis, the germ cell intrinsic factor NANOS2 coordinates a transcriptional program necessary for the differentiation of pluripotent-like primordial germ cells toward a unipotent spermatogonial stem cell fate. Emerging evidence indicates that genetic risk factors contribute to testicular germ cell tumor initiation by disrupting sex-specific differentiation. Here, using the 129.MOLF-Chr19 mouse model of testicular teratomas and a NANOS2 reporter allele, we report that the developmental phenotypes required for tumorigenesis, including failure to enter mitotic arrest, retention of pluripotency and delayed sex-specific differentiation, were exclusive to a subpopulation of germ cells failing to express NANOS2. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed that embryonic day 15.5 NANOS2-deficient germ cells and embryonal carcinoma cells developed a transcriptional profile enriched for MYC signaling, NODAL signaling and primed pluripotency. Moreover, lineage-tracing experiments demonstrated that embryonal carcinoma cells arose exclusively from germ cells failing to express NANOS2. Our results indicate that NANOS2 is the nexus through which several genetic risk factors influence tumor susceptibility. We propose that, in the absence of sex specification, signals native to the developing testis drive germ cell transformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas J Webster
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Rebecca L Maywald
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Susan M Benton
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Emily P Dawson
- Department of Cell Biology, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Oscar D Murillo
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Emily L LaPlante
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | | | - Denise G Lanza
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jason D Heaney
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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32
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Skaftnesmo KO, Crespo D, Kleppe L, Andersson E, Edvardsen RB, Norberg B, Fjelldal PG, Hansen TJ, Schulz RW, Wargelius A. Loss of stra8 Increases Germ Cell Apoptosis but Is Still Compatible With Sperm Production in Atlantic Salmon ( Salmo salar). Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:657192. [PMID: 33942021 PMCID: PMC8087537 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.657192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Entering meiosis strictly depends on stimulated by retinoic acid 8 (Stra8) gene function in mammals. This gene is missing in a number of fish species, including medaka and zebrafish, but is present in the majority of fishes, including Atlantic salmon. Here, we have examined the effects of removing stra8 on male fertility in Atlantic salmon. As in mammals, stra8 expression was restricted to germ cells in the testis, transcript levels increased during the start of puberty, and decreased when blocking the production of retinoic acid. We targeted the salmon stra8 gene with two gRNAs one of these were highly effective and produced numerous mutations in stra8, which led to a loss of wild-type (WT) stra8 expression in F0 salmon testis. In maturing stra8 crispants, the spermatogenetic tubuli were partially disorganized and displayed a sevenfold increase in germ cell apoptosis, in particular among type B spermatogonia and spermatocytes. The production of spermatogenic cysts, on the other hand, increased in maturing stra8 crispants. Gene expression analysis revealed unchanged (lin28a, ret) or reduced levels (egr1, dusp4) of transcripts associated with undifferentiated spermatogonia. Decreased expression was recorded for some genes expressed in differentiating spermatogonia including dmrt1 and ccnd2 or in spermatocytes, such as ccna1. Different from Stra8-deficient mammals, a large number of germ cells completed spermatogenesis, sperm was produced and fertilization rates were similar in WT and crispant males. While loss of stra8 increased germ cell apoptosis during salmon spermatogenesis, crispants compensated this cell loss by an elevated production of spermatogenic cysts, and were able to produce functional sperm. It appears that also in a fish species with a stra8 gene in the genome, the critical relevance this gene has attained for mammalian spermatogenesis is not yet given, although detrimental effects of the loss of stra8 were clearly visible during maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai O Skaftnesmo
- Institute of Marine Research, Research Group Reproduction and Developmental Biology, Bergen, Norway
| | - Diego Crespo
- Institute of Marine Research, Research Group Reproduction and Developmental Biology, Bergen, Norway
| | - Lene Kleppe
- Institute of Marine Research, Research Group Reproduction and Developmental Biology, Bergen, Norway
| | - Eva Andersson
- Institute of Marine Research, Research Group Reproduction and Developmental Biology, Bergen, Norway
| | - Rolf B Edvardsen
- Institute of Marine Research, Research Group Reproduction and Developmental Biology, Bergen, Norway
| | - Birgitta Norberg
- Institute of Marine Research, Research Group Reproduction and Developmental Biology, Austevoll Research Station, Storebø, Norway
| | - Per Gunnar Fjelldal
- Institute of Marine Research, Research Group Reproduction and Developmental Biology, Matre Research Station, Matredal, Norway
| | - Tom J Hansen
- Institute of Marine Research, Research Group Reproduction and Developmental Biology, Matre Research Station, Matredal, Norway
| | - Rüdiger W Schulz
- Institute of Marine Research, Research Group Reproduction and Developmental Biology, Bergen, Norway.,Reproductive Biology Group, Division Developmental Biology, Department Biology, Science Faculty, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Anna Wargelius
- Institute of Marine Research, Research Group Reproduction and Developmental Biology, Bergen, Norway
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33
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Li X, Wang H, Wang Y, Zhang L, Wang Y. Comparison of Metabolic Profiling of Arabidopsis Inflorescences Between Landsberg erecta and Columbia, and Meiosis-Defective Mutants by 1H-NMR Spectroscopy. PHENOMICS (CHAM, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 1:73-89. [PMID: 36939799 PMCID: PMC9590573 DOI: 10.1007/s43657-021-00012-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 01/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED With the rapid development of omics technologies during the last several decades, genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics have been extensively used to characterize gene or protein functions in many organisms at the cell or tissue level. However, metabolomics has not been conducted in reproductive organs, with a focus on meiosis in plants. In this study, we adopted a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabolomics approach to reveal the metabolic profile of inflorescences from two Arabidopsis accessions, Columbia (Col) and Landsberg erecta (Ler), and several sterile mutants caused by meiosis defects. We identified 68 dominant metabolites in the samples. Col and Ler displayed distinct metabolite profiles. Interestingly, mutants with similar meiotic defects, such as Atrad51-3, Atrfc1-2, and Atpol2a-2, exhibited similar alterations in metabolites, including upregulation of energy metabolites and promotion of compounds related to maintenance of genomic stability, cytoplasmic homeostasis, and membrane integrity. The collective data reveal distinct changes in metabolites in Arabidopsis inflorescences between the Col and Ler wild type accessions. NMR-based metabolomics could be an effective tool for molecular phenotyping in studies of aspects of plant reproductive development such as meiosis. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s43657-021-00012-3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Sciences and Ecological Engineering, Institute of Plant Biology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hongkuan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Sciences and Ecological Engineering, Institute of Plant Biology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ying Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Sciences and Ecological Engineering, Institute of Plant Biology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Limin Zhang
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance in Biological Systems, State Key Laboratory of Magnetic Resonance and Atomic and Molecular Physics, Wuhan Institute of Physics and Mathematics, CAS, Wuhan, China
| | - Yingxiang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Biodiversity Sciences and Ecological Engineering, Institute of Plant Biology, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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34
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Feng CW, Burnet G, Spiller CM, Cheung FKM, Chawengsaksophak K, Koopman P, Bowles J. Identification of regulatory elements required for Stra8 expression in fetal ovarian germ cells of the mouse. Development 2021; 148:dev.194977. [PMID: 33574039 DOI: 10.1242/dev.194977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
In mice, the entry of germ cells into meiosis crucially depends on the expression of stimulated by retinoic acid gene 8 (Stra8). Stra8 is expressed specifically in pre-meiotic germ cells of females and males, at fetal and postnatal stages, respectively, but the mechanistic details of its spatiotemporal regulation are yet to be defined. In particular, there has been considerable debate regarding whether retinoic acid is required, in vivo, to initiate Stra8 expression in the mouse fetal ovary. We show that the distinctive anterior-to-posterior pattern of Stra8 initiation, characteristic of germ cells in the fetal ovary, is faithfully recapitulated when 2.9 kb of the Stra8 promoter is used to drive eGFP expression. Using in vitro transfection assays of cutdown and mutant constructs, we identified two functional retinoic acid responsive elements (RAREs) within this 2.9 kb regulatory element. We also show that the transcription factor DMRT1 enhances Stra8 expression, but only in the presence of RA and the most proximal RARE. Finally, we used CRISPR/Cas9-mediated targeted mutation studies to demonstrate that both RAREs are required for optimal Stra8 expression levels in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Wei Feng
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia.,Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Guillaume Burnet
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Cassy M Spiller
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia.,Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Fiona Ka Man Cheung
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Kallayanee Chawengsaksophak
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia.,Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, v.v.i. Vídenská 1083, 4 14220 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Peter Koopman
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Josephine Bowles
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia .,Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
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35
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Vanderhout SM, Rastegar Panah M, Garcia-Bailo B, Grace-Farfaglia P, Samsel K, Dockray J, Jarvi K, El-Sohemy A. Nutrition, genetic variation and male fertility. Transl Androl Urol 2021; 10:1410-1431. [PMID: 33850777 PMCID: PMC8039611 DOI: 10.21037/tau-20-592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Infertility affects nearly 50 million couples worldwide, with 40-50% of cases having a male factor component. It is well established that nutritional status impacts reproductive development, health and function, although the exact mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. Genetic variation that affects nutrient metabolism may impact fertility through nutrigenetic mechanisms. This review summarizes current knowledge on the role of several dietary components (vitamins A, B12, C, D, E, folate, betaine, choline, calcium, iron, caffeine, fiber, sugar, dietary fat, and gluten) in male reproductive health. Evidence of gene-nutrient interactions and their potential effect on fertility is also examined. Understanding the relationship between genetic variation, nutrition and male fertility is key to developing personalized, DNA-based dietary recommendations to enhance the fertility of men who have difficulty conceiving.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Konrad Samsel
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Judith Dockray
- Murray Koffler Urologic Wellness Centre, Department of Urology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Keith Jarvi
- Murray Koffler Urologic Wellness Centre, Department of Urology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ahmed El-Sohemy
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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36
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Dai X, Cheng X, Huang J, Gao Y, Wang D, Feng Z, Zhai G, Lou Q, He J, Wang Z, Yin Z. Rbm46, a novel germ cell-specific factor, modulates meiotic progression and spermatogenesis. Biol Reprod 2021; 104:1139-1153. [PMID: 33524105 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioab016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2020] [Revised: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
It has been suggested that many novel RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are required for gametogenesis, but the necessity of few of these proteins has been functionally verified. Here, we identified one RBP, Rbm46, and investigated its expression pattern and role in zebrafish reproduction. We found that rbm46 is maternally provided and specifically expressed in the germ cells of gonadal tissues using in situ hybridization, reverse transcription-PCR, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Two independent rbm46 mutant zebrafish lines were generated via the transcription activator-like effector nuclease technique. Specific disruption of rbm46 resulted in masculinization and infertility in the mutants. Although the spermatogonia appeared grossly normal in the mutants, spermatogenesis was impaired, and meiosis events were not observed. The introduction of a tp53M214K mutation could not rescue the female-to-male sex-reversal phenotype, indicating that rbm46 acts independently of the p53-dependent apoptotic pathway. RNA sequencing and qRT-PCR subsequently indicated that Rbm46 might be involved in the posttranscriptional regulation of functional genes essential for germ cell development, such as nanos3, dazl, and sycp3, during gametogenesis. Together, our results reveal for the first time the crucial role of rbm46 in regulating germ cell development in vivo through promotion of germ cell progression through meiosis prophase I.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyan Dai
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development (Ministry of Education), Key Laboratory of Aquatic Science of Chongqing, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xinkai Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development (Ministry of Education), Key Laboratory of Aquatic Science of Chongqing, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jianfei Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Yanping Gao
- Research Centre for Diagnosis and Prevention of Hereditary Disease, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, China
| | - Deshou Wang
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development (Ministry of Education), Key Laboratory of Aquatic Science of Chongqing, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhi Feng
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development (Ministry of Education), Key Laboratory of Aquatic Science of Chongqing, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Gang Zhai
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Qiyong Lou
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiangyan He
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhijian Wang
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development (Ministry of Education), Key Laboratory of Aquatic Science of Chongqing, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhan Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
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37
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Luo Y, Wang J, Bai X, Xiao H, Tao W, Zhou L, Wang D, Wei J. Differential expression patterns of the two paralogous Rec8 from Nile tilapia and their responsiveness to retinoic acid signaling. Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2021; 253:110563. [PMID: 33482354 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2021.110563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
REC8 (meiotic recombination protein 8) is an essential component of meiotic cohesion complexes. Interestingly, two paralogous rec8 genes happen to exist in the stra8 (stimulated by retinoic acid gene 8)-absent fishes but not in stra8-existing fishes. Stra8 is usually considered as the prerequirement during RA (retinoic acid)-mediated meiosis initiation in mammals. However, how RA triggers meiosis in the stra8-absent fishes just like Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) remains elusive. Here we characterized the two paralogous rec8 genes in Nile tilapia (Onrec8a and Onrec8b), and investigated their expression patterns and responsiveness to RA signaling by treatment of ex vivo testicular culture and promoter luciferase reporter assay. OnRec8a and OnRec8b share 36% identity to each other and are true orthologs of REC8. Their expression was predominantly restricted to meiotic germline cells with differential spatiotemporal patterns. During spermatogenesis, OnRec8b predominantly exhibited nuclear expression in spermatocytes from 60 dah (days after hatching), while OnRec8a exhibited cytoplasmic expression from 90 dah. During oogenesis, OnRec8a was expressed from 30 dah, while OnRec8b from 90 dah. Further study shows that RA signaling could upregulate the expression of both Onrec8a and Onrec8b. Collectively, our data implies that OnRec8a and OnRec8b might have differential function during meiosis and be involved in RA-mediated meiosis program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yubing Luo
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Ministry of Education, Laboratory of Aquatic Science of Chongqing, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, 400715 Chongqing, China; Lijia Middle School, Chongqing, 401122 Chongqing, China
| | - Jie Wang
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Ministry of Education, Laboratory of Aquatic Science of Chongqing, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, 400715 Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaoming Bai
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Ministry of Education, Laboratory of Aquatic Science of Chongqing, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, 400715 Chongqing, China
| | - Hesheng Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Ministry of Education, Laboratory of Aquatic Science of Chongqing, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, 400715 Chongqing, China
| | - Wenjing Tao
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Ministry of Education, Laboratory of Aquatic Science of Chongqing, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, 400715 Chongqing, China
| | - Linyan Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Ministry of Education, Laboratory of Aquatic Science of Chongqing, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, 400715 Chongqing, China
| | - Deshou Wang
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Ministry of Education, Laboratory of Aquatic Science of Chongqing, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, 400715 Chongqing, China.
| | - Jing Wei
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development, Ministry of Education, Laboratory of Aquatic Science of Chongqing, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, 400715 Chongqing, China.
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38
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Gewiss RL, Shelden EA, Griswold MD. STRA8 induces transcriptional changes in germ cells during spermatogonial development. Mol Reprod Dev 2021; 88:128-140. [PMID: 33400349 PMCID: PMC7920925 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2020] [Revised: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Spermatogonial development is a key process during spermatogenesis to prepare germ cells to enter meiosis. While the initial point of spermatogonial differentiation is well‐characterized, the development of spermatogonia from the onset of differentiation to the point of meiotic entry has not been well defined. Further, STRA8 is highly induced at the onset of spermatogonial development but its function in spermatogonia has not been defined. To better understand how STRA8 impacts spermatogonia, we performed RNA‐sequencing in both wild‐type and STRA8 knockout mice at multiple timepoints during retinoic acid (RA)‐stimulated spermatogonial development. As expected, in spermatogonia from wild‐type mice we found that steady‐state levels of many transcripts that define undifferentiated progenitor cells were decreased while transcripts that define the differentiating spermatogonia were increased as a result of the actions of RA. However, the spermatogonia from STRA8 knockout mice displayed a muted RA response such that there were more transcripts typical of undifferentiated cells and fewer transcripts typical of differentiating cells following RA action. While spermatogonia from STRA8 knockout mice can ultimately form spermatocytes that fail to complete meiosis, it appears that the defect likely begins as a result of altered messenger RNA levels during spermatogonial differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel L Gewiss
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA.,Center for Reproductive Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA
| | - Eric A Shelden
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA.,Center for Reproductive Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA
| | - Michael D Griswold
- School of Molecular Biosciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, USA.,Center for Reproductive Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA
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39
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Yu DCW, Wu FC, Wu CE, Chow LP, Ho HN, Chen HF. Human pluripotent stem cell-derived DDX4 and KRT-8 positive cells participate in ovarian follicle-like structure formation. iScience 2020; 24:102003. [PMID: 33490911 PMCID: PMC7811146 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.102003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2017] [Revised: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the mechanisms of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) specification, development and differentiation to gametes are useful for elucidating the causes of infertility and potential treatment. This study aims to examine whether hPSCs can be induced to DDX4 extracellularly expressing primordial germ cell-like cells (DDX4ec PGCLCs) and further into ovarian follicle stage in a combined in vitro and in vivo model. The transcriptional signatures show that these DDX4ec PGCLCs are characteristic of PGCs and express ovarian folliculogenesis markers. We also verify that keratin (KRT)-8 is highly expressed in the DDX4ec PGCLCs and plays a crucial role in germ cell migration. By co-culturing DDX4ec PGCLCs with human granulosa cells (GCs), these cells are further induced into ovarian follicle-like structures in a xenograft mice model. This approach can in the future design practical strategies for treating germ cell-associated issues of infertility. hPSC-derived DDX4 PGCLCs participate ovarian follicle-like structure formation Human granulosa cells as a niche environment are participating folliculogenesis Keratin 8 plays an essential role in primordial germ cell migration
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Affiliation(s)
- Danny C W Yu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine and the Hospital, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Medical Genomics and Proteomics, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Institute of Immunotherapy, Fujian Medical University, Fujian, China.,Aging and Disease Prevention Research Center, and Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences and Biotechnology, Fooyin University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Fang-Chun Wu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine and the Hospital, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Medical Genomics and Proteomics, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Eng Wu
- Graduate Institute of Immunology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Lu-Ping Chow
- Graduate Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hong-Nerng Ho
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine and the Hospital, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Medical Genomics and Proteomics, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Immunology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Fu Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine and the Hospital, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Medical Genomics and Proteomics, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
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40
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Bloom JC, Schimenti JC. Sexually dimorphic DNA damage responses and mutation avoidance in the mouse germline. Genes Dev 2020; 34:1637-1649. [PMID: 33184219 PMCID: PMC7706705 DOI: 10.1101/gad.341602.120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
In this study, Bloom and Schimenti examine the response of primordial germ cells to DNA damage. Using both environmental and genetic stresses, the authors reveal the importance of the G1 checkpoint in preventing accumulation of complex mutations in the germline, and the differentiation of the DNA damage response during germ cell development. Germ cells specified during fetal development form the foundation of the mammalian germline. These primordial germ cells (PGCs) undergo rapid proliferation, yet the germline is highly refractory to mutation accumulation compared with somatic cells. Importantly, while the presence of endogenous or exogenous DNA damage has the potential to impact PGCs, there is little known about how these cells respond to stressors. To better understand the DNA damage response (DDR) in these cells, we exposed pregnant mice to ionizing radiation (IR) at specific gestational time points and assessed the DDR in PGCs. Our results show that PGCs prior to sex determination lack a G1 cell cycle checkpoint. Additionally, the response to IR-induced DNA damage differs between female and male PGCs post-sex determination. IR of female PGCs caused uncoupling of germ cell differentiation and meiotic initiation, while male PGCs exhibited repression of piRNA metabolism and transposon derepression. We also used whole-genome single-cell DNA sequencing to reveal that genetic rescue of DNA repair-deficient germ cells (Fancm−/−) leads to increased mutation incidence and biases. Importantly, our work uncovers novel insights into how PGCs exposed to DNA damage can become developmentally defective, leaving only those genetically fit cells to establish the adult germline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordana C Bloom
- Department of Biomedical Sciences,, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.,Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
| | - John C Schimenti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences,, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.,Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
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41
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Sun HY, Yang D, Mi J, Yu YQ, Qiu LH. Histone demethylase Jmjd3 modulates osteoblast apoptosis induced by tumor necrosis factor-alpha through directly targeting RASSF5. Connect Tissue Res 2020; 61:517-525. [PMID: 31092054 DOI: 10.1080/03008207.2019.1620225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Purpose: Regulation of gene expression is fine-tuned by a dynamic equilibrium between repressive modifications and transcriptional activation of histone tails. Jumonji domain-containing 3 (Jmjd3), also known as KDM6B, is a specific histone demethylase for trimethylation on histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27me3) that specifically removes the methylation of H3K27me3 and promotes gene expression. Our previous study showed that Jmjd3 inhibits serum deprivation-induced osteoblast apoptosis. In this study, we clarified the role of Jmjd3 in tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)-induced osteoblast apoptosis. Materials and Methods: Jmjd3 activity was inhibited by GSK-J4. Transfection of osteoblastic murine MC3T3-E1 cells with short hairpin RNA (shRNA) was used to establish stable Jmjd3 knockdown cells. Osteoblast apoptosis was detected using Annexin V-APC/PI staining, cysteinyl aspartate specific protease-3 (caspase-3) activity assays, and Western blot. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays were performed to clarify the mechanism responsible for Jmjd3-regulated osteoblast apoptosis induced by TNF-α. Results: Based on Annexin V-APC/PI staining, caspase-3 activation, and poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) cleavage, pretreatment with GSK-J4 and knockdown of Jmjd3 by shRNA transfection each inhibited osteoblast apoptosis. Furthermore, knockdown of Jmjd3 decreased the expression of Ras association domain family 5 (RASSF5), which is a pro-apoptotic gene of the Ras associated domain family. H3K27me3 levels in the promoter region of RASSF5 were up-regulated in the Jmjd3 knockdown cells. Conclusions: Jmjd3 regulated TNF-α-induced osteoblast apoptosis by targeting RASSF5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai-Yan Sun
- Department of Endodontics, School of Stomatology, China Medical University , Shenyang, China
| | - Di Yang
- Department of Endodontics, School of Stomatology, China Medical University , Shenyang, China
| | - Jing Mi
- Department of Endodontics, School of Stomatology, China Medical University , Shenyang, China
| | - Ya-Qiong Yu
- Department of Endodontics, School of Stomatology, China Medical University , Shenyang, China
| | - Li-Hong Qiu
- Department of Endodontics, School of Stomatology, China Medical University , Shenyang, China
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42
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Portela JMD, de Winter-Korver CM, van Daalen SKM, Meißner A, de Melker AA, Repping S, van Pelt AMM. Assessment of fresh and cryopreserved testicular tissues from (pre)pubertal boys during organ culture as a strategy for in vitro spermatogenesis. Hum Reprod 2020; 34:2443-2455. [PMID: 31858131 PMCID: PMC6936721 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dez180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2019] [Revised: 07/26/2019] [Accepted: 07/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Can the organ culture method be applied to both fresh and cryopreserved human (pre)pubertal testicular tissue as a strategy for in vitro spermatogenesis? SUMMARY ANSWER Although induction of spermatogenesis was not achieved in vitro, testicular architecture, endocrine function and spermatogonial proliferation were maintained in both fresh and cryopreserved testicular tissues. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Cryopreservation of a testicular biopsy is increasingly offered as a fertility preservation strategy for prepubertal cancer patients. One of the proposed experimental approaches to restore fertility is the organ culture method, which, in the mouse model, successfully allows for in vitro development of spermatozoa from testicular biopsies. However, complete spermatogenesis from human prepubertal testicular tissue in such an organ culture system has not been demonstrated. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION Testicular tissue was collected from nine (pre)pubertal boys diagnosed with cancer (ranging from 6 to 14 years of age) admitted for fertility preservation before treatment. Testicular biopsies were either immediately processed for culture or first cryopreserved, using a controlled slow freezing protocol, and thawed before culture. Organ culture of testicular fragments was performed in two different media for a maximum period of 5 weeks, targeting early cellular events (viability, meiosis and somatic differentiation) in vitro. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Fresh and cryopreserved-thawed testis fragments (1–2 mm3) were cultured at a gas–liquid interphase (34°C, 5% CO2) in Minimum Essential Medium alpha + 10% knock-out serum replacement medium containing 10−7 M melatonin and 10−6 M retinoic acid, with or without 3 IU/L FSH/LH supplementation. The effect of culture conditions on testicular fragments was weekly assessed by histological evaluation of germ cell development and immunohistochemical identification of spermatogonia (using MAGEA4), proliferative status of spermatogonia and Sertoli cells (using proliferating cell nuclear antigen [PCNA]), intratubular cell apoptosis (by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling) and Sertoli cells maturation (using Anti-Müllerian Hormone [AMH] versus Androgen Receptor [AR]). Additionally, Leydig cells’ functionality was determined by measuring testosterone concentration in the culture media supernatants. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Neither fresh nor cryopreserved human (pre)pubertal testicular fragments were able to initiate spermatogenesis in our organ culture system. Nonetheless, our data suggest that fresh and cryopreserved testicular fragments have comparable functionality in the described organ culture conditions, as reflected by the absence of significant differences in any of the weekly evaluated functional parameters. Additionally, no significant differences were found between the two tested media when culturing fresh and cryopreserved human testicular fragments. Although spermatogonia survived and remained proliferative in all culture conditions, a significant reduction of the spermatogonial population (P ≤ 0.001) was observed over the culture period, justified by a combined reduction of proliferation activity (P ≤ 0.001) and increased intratubular cell apoptosis (P ≤ 0.001). We observed a transient increase in Sertoli cell proliferative activity, loss of AMH expression (P ≤ 0.001) but no induction of AR expression. Leydig cell endocrine function was successfully stimulated in vitro as indicated by increased testosterone production in all conditions throughout the entire culture period (P ≤ 0.02). LARGE SCALE DATA N/A LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Although not noticeable in this study, we cannot exclude that if an optimized culture method ensuring complete spermatogenesis in human testicular fragments is established, differences in functional or spermatogenic efficiency between fresh and cryopreserved tissue might be found. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS The current inability to initiate spermatogenesis in vitro from cryopreserved human testicular fragments should be included in the counselling of patients who are offered testicular tissue cryopreservation to preserve fertility. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This project was funded by EU-FP7-PEOPLE-2013-ITN 603568 `Growsperm’. None of the authors have competing interests. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER Not applicable.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M D Portela
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Research Institute Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - C M de Winter-Korver
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Research Institute Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - S K M van Daalen
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Research Institute Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - A Meißner
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Research Institute Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - A A de Melker
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Research Institute Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - S Repping
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Research Institute Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - A M M van Pelt
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Research Institute Reproduction and Development, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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43
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Xie Y, Wei BH, Ni FD, Yang WX. Conversion from spermatogonia to spermatocytes: Extracellular cues and downstream transcription network. Gene 2020; 764:145080. [PMID: 32858178 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2020.145080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2020] [Revised: 08/16/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Spermatocyte (spc) formation from spermatogonia (spg) differentiation is the first step of spermatogenesis which produces prodigious spermatozoa for a lifetime. After decades of studies, several factors involved in the functioning of a mouse were discovered both inside and outside spg. Considering the peculiar expression and working pattern of each factor, this review divides the whole conversion of spg to spc into four consecutive development processes with a focus on extracellular cues and downstream transcription network in each one. Potential coordination among Dmrt1, Sohlh1/2 and BMP families mediates Ngn3 upregulation, which marks progenitor spg, with other changes. After that, retinoic acid (RA), as a master regulator, promotes A1 spg formation with its helpers and Sall4. A1-to-B spg transition is under the control of Kitl and impulsive RA signaling together with early and late transcription factors Stra8 and Dmrt6. Finally, RA and its responsive effectors conduct the entry into meiosis. The systematic transcription network from outside to inside still needs research to supplement or settle the controversials in each process. As a step further ahead, this review provides possible drug targets for infertility therapy by cross-linking humans and mouse model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Xie
- The Sperm Laboratory, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Bang-Hong Wei
- The Sperm Laboratory, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Fei-Da Ni
- The Sperm Laboratory, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wan-Xi Yang
- The Sperm Laboratory, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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Vernet N, Condrea D, Mayere C, Féret B, Klopfenstein M, Magnant W, Alunni V, Teletin M, Souali-Crespo S, Nef S, Mark M, Ghyselinck NB. Meiosis occurs normally in the fetal ovary of mice lacking all retinoic acid receptors. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:eaaz1139. [PMID: 32917583 PMCID: PMC7244263 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aaz1139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Gametes are generated through a specialized cell differentiation process, meiosis, which, in ovaries of most mammals, is initiated during fetal life. All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) is considered as the molecular signal triggering meiosis initiation. In the present study, we analyzed female fetuses ubiquitously lacking all ATRA nuclear receptors (RAR), obtained through a tamoxifen-inducible cre recombinase-mediated gene targeting approach. Unexpectedly, mutant oocytes robustly expressed meiotic genes, including the meiotic gatekeeper STRA8. In addition, ovaries from mutant fetuses grafted into adult recipient females yielded offspring bearing null alleles for all Rar genes. Thus, our results show that RAR are fully dispensable for meiotic initiation, as well as for the production of functional oocytes. Assuming that the effects of ATRA all rely on RAR, our study goes against the current model according to which meiosis is triggered by endogenous ATRA in the developing ovary. It therefore revives the search for the meiosis-inducing substance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadège Vernet
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), Département de Génétique Fonctionnelle et Cancer, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS UMR7104), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM U1258), Université de Strasbourg (UNISTRA), 1 rue Laurent Fries, BP-10142, F-67404 Illkirch Cedex, France
| | - Diana Condrea
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), Département de Génétique Fonctionnelle et Cancer, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS UMR7104), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM U1258), Université de Strasbourg (UNISTRA), 1 rue Laurent Fries, BP-10142, F-67404 Illkirch Cedex, France
| | - Chloé Mayere
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva Medical School, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Betty Féret
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), Département de Génétique Fonctionnelle et Cancer, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS UMR7104), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM U1258), Université de Strasbourg (UNISTRA), 1 rue Laurent Fries, BP-10142, F-67404 Illkirch Cedex, France
| | - Muriel Klopfenstein
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), Département de Génétique Fonctionnelle et Cancer, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS UMR7104), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM U1258), Université de Strasbourg (UNISTRA), 1 rue Laurent Fries, BP-10142, F-67404 Illkirch Cedex, France
| | - William Magnant
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), Département de Génétique Fonctionnelle et Cancer, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS UMR7104), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM U1258), Université de Strasbourg (UNISTRA), 1 rue Laurent Fries, BP-10142, F-67404 Illkirch Cedex, France
| | - Violaine Alunni
- GenomEast platform, France Génomique consortium, IGBMC, 1 rue Laurent Fries, F-67404 Illkirch Cedex, France
| | - Marius Teletin
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), Département de Génétique Fonctionnelle et Cancer, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS UMR7104), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM U1258), Université de Strasbourg (UNISTRA), 1 rue Laurent Fries, BP-10142, F-67404 Illkirch Cedex, France
- Service de Biologie de la Reproduction, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg (HUS), France
| | - Sirine Souali-Crespo
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), Département de Génétique Fonctionnelle et Cancer, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS UMR7104), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM U1258), Université de Strasbourg (UNISTRA), 1 rue Laurent Fries, BP-10142, F-67404 Illkirch Cedex, France
| | - Serge Nef
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva Medical School, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Manuel Mark
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), Département de Génétique Fonctionnelle et Cancer, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS UMR7104), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM U1258), Université de Strasbourg (UNISTRA), 1 rue Laurent Fries, BP-10142, F-67404 Illkirch Cedex, France
- Service de Biologie de la Reproduction, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg (HUS), France
| | - Norbert B Ghyselinck
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), Département de Génétique Fonctionnelle et Cancer, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS UMR7104), Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM U1258), Université de Strasbourg (UNISTRA), 1 rue Laurent Fries, BP-10142, F-67404 Illkirch Cedex, France.
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Satirapod C, Wang N, MacDonald JA, Sun M, Woods DC, Tilly JL. Estrogen regulation of germline stem cell differentiation as a mechanism contributing to female reproductive aging. Aging (Albany NY) 2020; 12:7313-7333. [PMID: 32302290 PMCID: PMC7202493 DOI: 10.18632/aging.103080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2020] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Progressive loss of ovarian estrogen (E2) production is a hallmark feature of, if not a driving force behind, reproductive aging and the menopause. Recent genetic studies in mice have shown that female germline or oogonial stem cells (OSCs) contribute to maintenance of adult ovarian function and fertility under physiological conditions through support of de-novo oogenesis. Here we show that mouse OSCs express E2 receptor-α (ERα). In the presence of E2, ERα interacts with the stimulated by retinoic acid gene 8 (Stra8) promoter to drive Stra8 expression followed by oogenesis. Treatment of mice with E2 in vivo increases Stra8 expression and oogenesis, and these effects are nullified by ERα (Esr1), but not ERβ (Esr2), gene disruption. Although mice lacking ERα are born with a normal quota of oocytes, ERα-deficient females develop premature ovarian insufficiency in adulthood due to impaired oogenesis. Lastly, mice treated with reversible ER antagonists show a loss of Stra8 expression and oocyte numbers; however, both endpoints rebound to control levels after ceasing drug treatment. These findings establish a key physiological role for E2-ERα signaling in promoting OSC differentiation as a potential mechanism to maintain adequate numbers of ovarian follicles during reproductive life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chonthicha Satirapod
- Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ning Wang
- Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Current address: Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | - Julie A. MacDonald
- Department of Biology, Laboratory of Aging and Infertility Research, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Current address: Department of Medical Oncology Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Minghan Sun
- Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Dori C. Woods
- Department of Biology, Laboratory of Aging and Infertility Research, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jonathan L. Tilly
- Department of Biology, Laboratory of Aging and Infertility Research, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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46
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Peng C, Wang Q, Chen J, Yang H, Zhang W, Wang D, Li S, Tao M, Shi H, Lin H, Zhao H, Zhang Y. Retinoic acid and androgen influence germ cells development and meiotic initiation in juvenile orange-spotted grouper, Epinephelus coioides. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2020; 289:113379. [PMID: 31891688 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2019.113379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2019] [Revised: 12/01/2019] [Accepted: 12/27/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Meiosis is essential for germ cells development for all sexually reproducing species. Retinoic acid (RA) is the key factor controlling the sex-specific timing of meiotic initiation in mammals, birds and tetrapods. Here, we investigated the effects of RA on meiotic initiation and sex determination in protogynous hermaphrodite orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides). Expression profile investigations of meiotic marker genes during gonadal development indicated that germ cells undergone meiosis approximately at 180 days after hatching in the orange-spotted grouper. RA synthase inhibitor treatments on juvenile orange-spotted groupers resulted in impeded germ cells development and delayed meiotic initiation with simultaneous down-regulation of vasa, dazl, sycp3 and rec8, which was rescued by exogenous RA administration. Additionally, exogenous androgen treated fish showed a delayed meiotic initiation consistent with decreased sycp3 and rec8 expression and were directed to a spermiogenesis fate. Our results imply that meiotic initiation in the orange-spotted grouper is strongly influenced by RA and androgen, and the regulation of meiotic initiation may involve in the spermatogenesis induced by exogenous androgen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Peng
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Guangdong Institute of Applied Biological Resources, Guangzhou 510260, China; State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Qing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China; College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Jiaxing Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Huirong Yang
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Wenrui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Developmental Biology of Freshwater Fish, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
| | - Dengdong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Shuisheng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Min Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Developmental Biology of Freshwater Fish, College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410081, China
| | - Herong Shi
- Marine Fisheries Development Center of Guangdong Province, Huizhou 516081, China
| | - Haoran Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Huihong Zhao
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
| | - Yong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Aquatic Economic Animals and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China; Marine Fisheries Development Center of Guangdong Province, Huizhou 516081, China; Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (ZhanJiang), Guangdong Research Center on Reproductive Control and Breeding Technology of Indigenous Valuable Fish Species, Fisheries College, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China.
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47
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Guioli S, Zhao D, Nandi S, Clinton M, Lovell-Badge R. Oestrogen in the chick embryo can induce chromosomally male ZZ left gonad epithelial cells to form an ovarian cortex that can support oogenesis. Development 2020; 147:dev181693. [PMID: 32001442 PMCID: PMC7055392 DOI: 10.1242/dev.181693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
In chickens, the embryonic ovary differentiates into two distinct domains before meiosis: a steroidogenic core (the female medulla), overlain by the germ cell niche (the cortex). The differentiation of the medulla is a cell-autonomous process based on chromosomal sex identity (CASI). In order to address the extent to which cortex differentiation depends on intrinsic or extrinsic factors, we generated models of gonadal intersex by mixing ZW (female) and ZZ (male) cells in gonadal chimeras, or by altering oestrogen levels of ZW and ZZ embryos. We found that CASI does not apply to the embryonic cortex. Both ZW and ZZ cells can form the cortex and this can happen independently of the phenotypic sex of the medulla as long as oestrogen is provided. We also show that the cortex-promoting activity of oestrogen signalling is mediated via estrogen receptor alpha within the left gonad epithelium. However, the presence of a medulla with an 'intersex' or male phenotype may compromise germ cell progression into meiosis, causing cortical germ cells to remain in an immature state in the embryo.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Debiao Zhao
- The Roslin Institute and R(D)SVS, Gene Function and Development, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Sunil Nandi
- The Roslin Institute and R(D)SVS, Gene Function and Development, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Michael Clinton
- The Roslin Institute and R(D)SVS, Gene Function and Development, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH25 9RG, UK
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Broholm C, Ribel-Madsen R, Hjort L, Olsson AH, Ahlers JMD, Hansen NS, Schrölkamp M, Gillberg L, Perfilyev A, Volkov P, Ling C, Jørgensen SW, Mortensen B, Hingst J, Wojtaszewski J, Scheele C, Brøns C, Pedersen BK, Vaag A. Epigenome- and Transcriptome-wide Changes in Muscle Stem Cells from Low Birth Weight Men. Endocr Res 2020; 45:58-71. [PMID: 31566019 DOI: 10.1080/07435800.2019.1669160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Background: Being born with low birth weight (LBW) is a risk factor for muscle insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes (T2D), which may be mediated by epigenetic mechanisms programmed by the intrauterine environment. Epigenetic mechanisms exert their prime effects in developing cells. We hypothesized that muscle insulin resistance in LBW subjects may be due to early differential epigenomic and transcriptomic alterations in their immature muscle progenitor cells.Results: Muscle progenitor cells were obtained from 23 healthy young adult men born at term with LBW, and 15 BMI-matched normal birth weight (NBW) controls. The cells were subsequently cultured and differentiated into myotubes. DNA and RNA were harvested before and after differentiation for genome-wide DNA methylation and RNA expression measurements.After correcting for multiple comparisons (q ≤ 0.05), 56 CpG sites were found to be significantly, differentially methylated in myoblasts from LBW compared with NBW men, of which the top five gene-annotated CpG sites (SKI, ARMCX3, NR5A2, NEUROG, ESRRG) previously have been associated to regulation of cholesterol, fatty acid and glucose metabolism and muscle development or hypertrophy. LBW men displayed markedly decreased myotube gene expression levels of the AMPK-repressing tyrosine kinase gene FYN and the histone deacetylase gene HDAC7. Silencing of FYN and HDAC7 was associated with impaired myotube formation, which for HDAC7 reduced muscle glucose uptake.Conclusions: The data provides evidence of impaired muscle development predisposing LBW individuals to T2D is linked to and potentially caused by distinct DNA methylation and transcriptional changes including down regulation of HDAC7 and FYN in their immature myoblast stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christa Broholm
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Bone-metabolic Research Unit, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Rasmus Ribel-Madsen
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Bone-metabolic Research Unit, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Danish Diabetes Academy, Odense, Denmark
| | - Line Hjort
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Bone-metabolic Research Unit, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Danish Diabetes Academy, Odense, Denmark
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anders Henrik Olsson
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Bone-metabolic Research Unit, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Ninna Schiøler Hansen
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Bone-metabolic Research Unit, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Danish PhD School of Molecular Metabolism, Odense, Denmark
| | - Maren Schrölkamp
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Bone-metabolic Research Unit, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Linn Gillberg
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Bone-metabolic Research Unit, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Alexander Perfilyev
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Epigenetics and Diabetes Unit, Lund University Diabetes Centre, CRC, Malmo, Sweden
| | - Petr Volkov
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Epigenetics and Diabetes Unit, Lund University Diabetes Centre, CRC, Malmo, Sweden
| | - Charlotte Ling
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Epigenetics and Diabetes Unit, Lund University Diabetes Centre, CRC, Malmo, Sweden
| | | | | | - Janne Hingst
- Section of Molecular Physiology, Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sport, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jørgen Wojtaszewski
- Section of Molecular Physiology, Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sport, Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Camilla Scheele
- The Centre of Inflammation and Metabolism and the Centre for Physical Activity Research, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Charlotte Brøns
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Bone-metabolic Research Unit, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Bente Klarlund Pedersen
- The Centre of Inflammation and Metabolism and the Centre for Physical Activity Research, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Allan Vaag
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Bone-metabolic Research Unit, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease (CVMD) Translational Medicine Unit, Early Clinical Development, IMED Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
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49
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MEIOSIN Directs the Switch from Mitosis to Meiosis in Mammalian Germ Cells. Dev Cell 2020; 52:429-445.e10. [DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2020.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Revised: 10/10/2019] [Accepted: 01/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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50
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Bowles J, Feng CW, Ineson J, Miles K, Spiller CM, Harley VR, Sinclair AH, Koopman P. Retinoic Acid Antagonizes Testis Development in Mice. Cell Rep 2019; 24:1330-1341. [PMID: 30067986 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.06.111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2017] [Revised: 04/26/2018] [Accepted: 06/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammalian sex determination depends on a complex interplay of signals that promote the bipotential fetal gonad to develop as either a testis or an ovary, but the details are incompletely understood. Here, we investigated whether removal of the signaling molecule retinoic acid (RA) by the degradative enzyme CYP26B1 is necessary for proper development of somatic cells of the testes. Gonadal organ culture experiments suggested that RA promotes expression of some ovarian markers and suppresses expression of some testicular markers, acting downstream of Sox9. XY Cyp26b1-null embryos, in which endogenous RA is not degraded, develop mild ovotestes, but more important, steroidogenesis is impaired and the reproductive tract feminized. Experiments involving purified gonadal cells showed that these effects are independent of germ cells and suggest the direct involvement of the orphan nuclear receptor DAX1. Our results reveal that active removal of endogenous RA is required for normal testis development in the mouse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josephine Bowles
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
| | - Chun-Wei Feng
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Jessica Ineson
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Kim Miles
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Cassy M Spiller
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Vincent R Harley
- Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Melbourne, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - Andrew H Sinclair
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute and Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Peter Koopman
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
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