1
|
Li Z, Liang Y, Wang Y, Lin Y, Zeng L, Zhang Y, Zhu L. Zuogui Pills alleviate cyclophosphamide-induced ovarian aging by reducing oxidative stress and restoring the stemness of oogonial stem cells through the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 333:118505. [PMID: 38945466 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2024] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Zuogui Pill (ZGP) is a traditional herbal formula of Chinese Medicine with a long history of use in alleviating ovarian aging. AIM OF THE STUDY To examine the impact of ZGP on oxidative stress and the stemness of oogonial stem cells (OSCs) in cyclophosphamide (CTX)-induced ovarian aging, as well as its molecular mechanisms involving the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2, NFE2L2)/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1, Hmox1) pathway. MATERIALS AND METHODS Female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into seven groups: control, model (CTX), estradiol valerate (EV, 0.103 mg/kg), ZGP-L (low dose Zuogui Pill, 1.851 g/kg), ZGP-H (high dose Zuogui Pill, 3.702 g/kg), ML385 (30 mg/kg), and ML385+ZGP-L. After CTX modeling, the EV, ZGP-L, ZGP-H, and ML385+ZGP-L groups were treated by gavage for 8 weeks, while the ML385 and ML385+ZGP-L groups were administered the Nrf2 antagonist ML385 twice a week. OSCs were isolated after modeling and then treated with drug serum containing 10% ZGP or 10 μM ML385. The general conditions of the rats, including body weight, ovarian weight/body weight ratio, and estrous cycle, were observed. Ovarian ultrastructure, follicle and corpus luteum counts were assessed via hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Serum hormone levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, stem cell, germ cell, and cell cycle biomarkers were analyzed by qPCR and Western blot. Cell viability was assessed by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Oxidative stress biomarkers were evaluated using flow cytometry and assay kits. Immunofluorescence was employed to detect and locate OSCs in the ovary, quantify the average fluorescence intensity, and identify OSCs. RESULTS After ZGP treatment, rats with CTX-induced ovarian aging exhibited improved general condition, increased body weight, higher total ovarian weight to body weight ratio, and a restoration of the estrous cycle similar to the control group. Serum levels of estradiol (E2) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), two sex hormones, were also improved. Ovarian ultrastructure and follicle count at all stages showed improvement. Moreover, the viability and proliferation capacity of OSCs were enhanced following ZGP intervention. The Nrf2/HO-1 pathway was found to be down-regulated in CTX-induced aging ovarian OSCs. However, ZGP reversed this effect by activating the expression of Nrf2, HO-1, and NAD(P)H oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), and reducing the accumulation of malonaldehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), thus restoring resistance to oxidative stress. Additionally, ZGP improved the cell cycle of OSCs, up-regulated the expression of Cyclin D1 and Cyclin E1, restored cell stemness, promoted proliferation, enhanced the expression of cell stemness markers octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (Oct4) and mouse VASA homolog (MVH), and down-regulated the expression of P21, thereby inhibiting apoptosis. The therapeutic effects of ZGP against oxidative stress and restoration of cell stemness were attenuated following inhibition of the Nrf2 signaling pathway using ML385. CONCLUSIONS ZGP protected against CTX-induced ovarian aging by restoring normal ovarian function, alleviating oxidative stress in aging OSCs, promoting OSCs proliferation, and restoring their stemness in rats, possibly through regulating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zuang Li
- Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China; Lingnan Medical Research Center of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
| | - Yunyi Liang
- Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China; Lingnan Medical Research Center of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
| | - Yixuan Wang
- Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China; Lingnan Medical Research Center of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
| | - Yuewei Lin
- Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China; Lingnan Medical Research Center of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
| | - Lihua Zeng
- Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
| | - Yuying Zhang
- Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China; Lingnan Medical Research Center of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
| | - Ling Zhu
- Department of Gynecology, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China; Lingnan Medical Research Center of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Varshavsky JR, Lam J, Cooper C, Allard P, Fung J, Oke A, Kumar R, Robinson JF, Woodruff TJ. Analyzing high-throughput assay data to advance the rapid screening of environmental chemicals for human reproductive toxicity. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.21.595187. [PMID: 38826231 PMCID: PMC11142090 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.21.595187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
While high-throughput (HTP) assays have been proposed as platforms to rapidly assess reproductive toxicity, there is currently a lack of established assays that specifically address germline development/function and fertility. We assessed the applicability domains of yeast (S. cerevisiae) and nematode (C. elegans) HTP assays in toxicity screening of 124 environmental chemicals, determining their agreement in identifying toxicants and their concordance with reproductive toxicity in vivo. We integrated data generated in the two models and compared results using a streamlined, semi-automated benchmark dose (BMD) modeling approach. We then extracted and modeled relevant mammalian in vivo data available for the matching chemicals included in the Toxicological Reference Database (ToxRefDB). We ranked potencies of common compounds using the BMD and evaluated correlation between the datasets using Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients. We found moderate to good correlation across the three data sets, with r = 0.48 (95% CI: 0.28-1.00, p<0.001) and rs = 0.40 (p=0.002) for the parametric and rank order correlations between the HTP BMDs; r = 0.95 (95% CI: 0.76-1.00, p=0.0005) and rs = 0.89 (p=0.006) between the yeast assay and ToxRefDB BMDs; and r = 0.81 (95% CI: 0.28-1.00, p=0.014) and rs = 0.75 (p=0.033) between the worm assay and ToxRefDB BMDs. Our findings underscore the potential of these HTP assays to identify environmental chemicals that exhibit reproductive toxicity. Integrating these HTP datasets into mammalian in vivo prediction models using machine learning methods could further enhance the predictive value of these assays in future rapid screening efforts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julia R. Varshavsky
- Department of Health Sciences and Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA
| | - Juleen Lam
- Department of Public Health, California State University, East Bay, Hayward, CA, USA
| | - Courtney Cooper
- University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Patrick Allard
- Institute for Society and Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer Fung
- Center for Reproductive Sciences and Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ashwini Oke
- Center for Reproductive Sciences and Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ravinder Kumar
- Center for Reproductive Sciences and Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Joshua F. Robinson
- University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Center for Reproductive Sciences and Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Tracey J. Woodruff
- University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, San Francisco, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Grettka K, Idzik K, Lewandowska K, Świętek K, Palini S, Silvestris F. Ovarian Stem Cells for Women's Infertility: State of the Art. Biomedicines 2024; 12:1139. [PMID: 38927346 PMCID: PMC11200641 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12061139] [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: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Today, women's infertility is considered a social disease in females, occurring not only as an effect of POF (premature ovarian failure) but also as CTRI (cancer treatment-related infertility) in oncologic patients. Several procedures for FP (fertility preservation) are currently adopted to prevent this condition, mostly based on utilization of retrieved eggs from the patients with subsequent IVF (in vitro fertilization) or cryopreservation. However, great interest has recently been devoted to OSCs (ovarian stem cells), whose isolation from female ovaries, followed by their in vitro culture, led to their maturation to OLCs (oocyte-like cells), namely, neo-oocytes comparable to viable eggs suitable for IVF. Translation of these data to FP clinical application creates new hope in the treatment of infertility. Thus, in line with the significant progress in using stem cells in the regenerative medicine field, neo-oogenesis via OSCs, which is currently unapplicable in fertility preservation procedures, will provide novel possibilities for young and adult females in motherhood programs in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Krzysztof Grettka
- FERTILITA Sp. z o.o., 41-700 Ruda Śląska, Poland
- GLOBIANA Sp. z o.o., 40-083 Katowice, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Idzik
- FERTILITA Sp. z o.o., 41-700 Ruda Śląska, Poland
- GLOBIANA Sp. z o.o., 40-083 Katowice, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Lewandowska
- FERTILITA Sp. z o.o., 41-700 Ruda Śląska, Poland
- GLOBIANA Sp. z o.o., 40-083 Katowice, Poland
| | - Ksena Świętek
- FERTILITA Sp. z o.o., 41-700 Ruda Śląska, Poland
- GLOBIANA Sp. z o.o., 40-083 Katowice, Poland
| | - Simone Palini
- FERTILITA Sp. z o.o., 41-700 Ruda Śląska, Poland
- GLOBIANA Sp. z o.o., 40-083 Katowice, Poland
- Cervesi Hospital, AUSL Romagna, Via Beetovhen 1, 47841 Cattolica, Italy
| | - Franco Silvestris
- FERTILITA Sp. z o.o., 41-700 Ruda Śląska, Poland
- GLOBIANA Sp. z o.o., 40-083 Katowice, Poland
- OSC Research Project, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70121 Bari, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
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: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Adashev VE, Kotov AA, Olenina LV. RNA Helicase Vasa as a Multifunctional Conservative Regulator of Gametogenesis in Eukaryotes. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2023; 45:5677-5705. [PMID: 37504274 PMCID: PMC10378496 DOI: 10.3390/cimb45070358] [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: 06/18/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Being a conservative marker of germ cells across metazoan species, DEAD box RNA helicase Vasa (DDX4) remains the subject of worldwide investigations thanks to its multiple functional manifestations. Vasa takes part in the preformation of primordial germ cells in a group of organisms and contributes to the maintenance of germline stem cells. Vasa is an essential player in the piRNA-mediated silencing of harmful genomic elements and in the translational regulation of selected mRNAs. Vasa is the top hierarchical protein of germ granules, liquid droplet organelles that compartmentalize RNA processing factors. Here, we survey current advances and problems in the understanding of the multifaceted functions of Vasa proteins in the gametogenesis of different eukaryotic organisms, from nematodes to humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vladimir E Adashev
- Department of Molecular Mechanisms for Realization of Genetic Information, Laboratory of Biochemical Genetics of Animals, National Research Center "Kurchatov Institute", Kurchatov Sq. 1, 123182 Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexei A Kotov
- Department of Molecular Mechanisms for Realization of Genetic Information, Laboratory of Biochemical Genetics of Animals, National Research Center "Kurchatov Institute", Kurchatov Sq. 1, 123182 Moscow, Russia
| | - Ludmila V Olenina
- Department of Molecular Mechanisms for Realization of Genetic Information, Laboratory of Biochemical Genetics of Animals, National Research Center "Kurchatov Institute", Kurchatov Sq. 1, 123182 Moscow, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Coxir SA, Costa GMJ, Santos CFD, Alvarenga RDLLS, Lacerda SMDSN. From in vivo to in vitro: exploring the key molecular and cellular aspects of human female gametogenesis. Hum Cell 2023:10.1007/s13577-023-00921-7. [PMID: 37237248 DOI: 10.1007/s13577-023-00921-7] [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: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Human oogenesis is a highly complex and not yet fully understood process due to ethical and technological barriers that limit studies in the field. In this context, replicating female gametogenesis in vitro would not only provide a solution for some infertility problems, but also be an excellent study model to better understand the biological mechanisms that determine the formation of the female germline. In this review, we explore the main cellular and molecular aspects involved in human oogenesis and folliculogenesis in vivo, from the specification of primordial germ cells (PGCs) to the formation of the mature oocyte. We also sought to describe the important bidirectional relationship between the germ cell and the follicular somatic cells. Finally, we address the main advances and different methodologies used in the search for obtaining cells of the female germline in vitro.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Abreu Coxir
- Laboratory of Cellular Biology, Department of Morphology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Guilherme Mattos Jardim Costa
- Laboratory of Cellular Biology, Department of Morphology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Camilla Fernandes Dos Santos
- Laboratory of Cellular Biology, Department of Morphology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil
| | | | - Samyra Maria Dos Santos Nassif Lacerda
- Laboratory of Cellular Biology, Department of Morphology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Rodriguez-Wallberg KA, Jiang Y, Lekberg T, Nilsson HP. The Late Effects of Cancer Treatment on Female Fertility and the Current Status of Fertility Preservation-A Narrative Review. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:1195. [PMID: 37240840 PMCID: PMC10224240 DOI: 10.3390/life13051195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Fertility counseling should be offered to all individuals of young reproductive age early in the patient's trajectory following a cancer diagnosis. Systemic cancer treatment and radiotherapy often have an inherent gonadotoxic effect with the potential to induce permanent infertility and premature ovarian failure. For the best chances to preserve a patient's fertility potential and to improve future quality of life, fertility preservation methods should be applied before cancer treatment initiation, thus multidisciplinary team-work and timely referral to reproductive medicine centers specialized in fertility preservation is recommended. We aim to review the current clinical possibilities for fertility preservation and summarize how infertility, as a late effect of gonadotoxic treatment, affects the growing population of young female cancer survivors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kenny A. Rodriguez-Wallberg
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Laboratory of translational Fertility Preservation, Karolinska Institutet, SE-17177 Stockholm, Sweden; (Y.J.); (T.L.); (H.P.N.)
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Division of Gynecology and Reproduction, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Yanyu Jiang
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Laboratory of translational Fertility Preservation, Karolinska Institutet, SE-17177 Stockholm, Sweden; (Y.J.); (T.L.); (H.P.N.)
| | - Tobias Lekberg
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Laboratory of translational Fertility Preservation, Karolinska Institutet, SE-17177 Stockholm, Sweden; (Y.J.); (T.L.); (H.P.N.)
- Breast, Endocrine tumors and Sarcoma Cancer Theme, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-17177 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hanna P. Nilsson
- Department of Oncology-Pathology, Laboratory of translational Fertility Preservation, Karolinska Institutet, SE-17177 Stockholm, Sweden; (Y.J.); (T.L.); (H.P.N.)
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Sills ES, Tan SL. Population Dynamics, Plasma Cytokines and Platelet Centrifugation: Technical and Sociodemographic Aspects of 'Ovarian Rejuvenation'. Clin Pract 2023; 13:435-441. [PMID: 36961064 PMCID: PMC10037579 DOI: 10.3390/clinpract13020039] [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: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
While advanced reproductive technologies have attained remarkable increases in sophistication, success, and availability since the 1980s, clinicians always meet a therapeutic impasse when the ovarian reserve reaches exhaustion. Irrespective of fertility aspirations, the decline in and eventual collapse of ovarian estrogen output means that menopause arrives with tremendous physiologic changes and reduced overall productivity. Because more women are gaining in longevity or delaying the age at pregnancy, the number of affected patients has never been larger. As concerns regarding standard hormone replacement therapy and the limitations of IVF are confronted, a workable path to enable primordial germ cell recruitment and de novo oocyte development would be welcome. Proof-of-concept case reports and clinical studies on autologous activated platelet-rich plasma (PRP) or its condensed cytokine derivatives suggest a way to facilitate these goals. However, ovarian PRP faces vexing challenges that place 'ovarian rejuvenation' under caution as it enters this therapeutic space. Here, we review key features of experimental human ovarian stem cell isolation/handling and reaffirm the need to harmonize laboratory protocols. Recognizing the regenerative science borrowed from other disciplines, specimen centrifugation, platelet processing, and condensed plasma cytokine enrichment are highlighted here. As the refinement of this rejuvenation approach would promise to reprogram adult ovarian physiology, the disruption of established treatment paradigms for infertility, menopause, and perhaps overall women's health seems likely. Emerging roles in reproductive biology and clinical practice are thus placed in a broader social and demographic context.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- E Scott Sills
- Plasma Research Section, FertiGen/CAG, Regenerative Biology Group, San Clemente, CA 92673, USA
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Palomar Medical Center, Escondido, CA 92029, USA
| | - Seang Lin Tan
- OriginElle Fertility Clinic, Montréal, QC H4A 3J3, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
MacDonald JA, Sheehan HC, Piasecki A, Faustino LR, Hauschildt C, Stolzenbach V, Woods DC, Tilly JL. Characterization of Oogonial Stem Cells in Adult Mouse Ovaries with Age and Comparison to In Silico Data on Human Ovarian Aging. Stem Cells Dev 2023; 32:99-114. [PMID: 36594561 PMCID: PMC9986025 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2022.0284] [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: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Many adult somatic stem cell lineages are comprised of subpopulations that differ in gene expression, mitotic activity, and differentiation status. In this study, we explored if cellular heterogeneity also exists within oogonial stem cells (OSCs), and how chronological aging impacts OSCs. In OSCs isolated from mouse ovaries by flow cytometry and established in culture, we identified subpopulations of OSCs that could be separated based on differential expression of stage-specific embryonic antigen 1 (SSEA1) and cluster of differentiation 61 (CD61). Levels of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity were inversely related to OSC differentiation, whereas commitment of OSCs to differentiation through transcriptional activation of stimulated by retinoic acid gene 8 was marked by a decline in ALDH activity and in SSEA1 expression. Analysis of OSCs freshly isolated from ovaries of mice between 3 and 20 months of age revealed that these subpopulations were present and persisted throughout adult life. However, expression of developmental pluripotency associated 3 (Dppa3), an epigenetic modifier that promotes OSC differentiation into oocytes, was lost as the mice transitioned from a time of reproductive compromise (10 months) to reproductive failure (15 months). Further analysis showed that OSCs from aged females could be established in culture, and that once established the cultured cells reactivated Dppa3 expression and the capacity for oogenesis. Analysis of single-nucleus RNA sequence data sets generated from ovaries of women in their 20s versus those in their late 40s to early 50s showed that the frequency of DPPA3-expressing cells decreased with advancing age, and this was paralleled by reduced expression of several key meiotic differentiation genes. These data support the existence of OSC subpopulations that differ in gene expression profiles and differentiation status. In addition, an age-related decrease in Dppa3/DPPA3 expression, which is conserved between mice and humans, may play a role in loss of the ability of OSCs to maintain oogenesis with age.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julie A MacDonald
- Laboratory of Aging and Infertility Research, Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Hannah C Sheehan
- Laboratory of Aging and Infertility Research, Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Andrew Piasecki
- Laboratory of Aging and Infertility Research, Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Luciana R Faustino
- Laboratory of Aging and Infertility Research, Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Charlotte Hauschildt
- Laboratory of Aging and Infertility Research, Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Victor Stolzenbach
- Laboratory of Aging and Infertility Research, Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Dori C Woods
- Laboratory of Aging and Infertility Research, Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jonathan L Tilly
- Laboratory of Aging and Infertility Research, Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Bhartiya D, Sharma D. VSELs and OSCs together sustain oogenesis in adult ovaries and their dysfunction results in age-related senescence, PCOS, POI and cancer. J Ovarian Res 2023; 16:29. [PMID: 36726163 PMCID: PMC9890840 DOI: 10.1186/s13048-022-01093-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple studies using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) have failed to detect stem cells in adult ovaries. We have maintained that two populations of ovarian stem cells including pluripotent, very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs) and tissue-committed 'progenitors' termed ovarian stem cells (OSCs) can easily be detected in Hematoxylin and Eosin-stained ovary surface epithelial (OSE) cells smears prepared from both mice and human ovaries. Most likely the stem cells never get subjected to scRNAseq since they pellet down only by centrifuging cells suspension at 1000 g while cells for scRNAseq were invariably prepared by centrifuging at 200-400 g. A recent article provided further explanation for the failure of scRNAseq to detect ovarian stem cells. Extensive reanalysis of data (generated by scRNAseq) using an advanced software successfully detected OSCs and meiotic markers supporting neo-oogenesis in adult human ovaries. But this article remained critical on the biological relevance of VSELs and their relationship with OSCs. By carefully studying the OSE cells smears (which hold VSELs, OSCs and germ cell nests GCNs), prepared by partial trypsin digestion of intact mice ovaries during different stages of estrus cycle, we have successfully delineated novel functions of VSELs/OSCs in vivo under physiological conditions. VSELs undergo asymmetrical divisions to self-renew and give rise to slightly bigger OSCs which in turn undergo symmetrical divisions and clonal expansion to form GCNs, regular neo-oogenesis and follicle assembly. GCNs have been earlier described in fetal ovaries and during OSE cells culture (from adult ovaries) in response to FSH treatment. Dysfunction of VSELs/OSCs (which express ERα, ERβ, FSHR) due to neonatal exposure to endocrine disruption results in ovarian insufficiency and polycystic ovaries. VSELs have also been implicated in ovarian cancer. Age-related ovarian senescence/menopause is also due to dysfunction and blocked differentiation of VSELs/OSCs. These novel findings in vivo along with abundant in vitro and lineage tracing studies data in published literature provides huge scope for further research, offers novel avenues to manage ovarian pathologies and calls for re-writing of textbooks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Deepa Bhartiya
- Stem Cell Biology Department, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive & Child Health, Jehangir Merwanji Street, Parel, Mumbai, 400 012, India.
- Present address: Epigeneres Biotech Pvt Ltd, Sun Mill Compound, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai, 400 013, India.
| | - Diksha Sharma
- Stem Cell Biology Department, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive & Child Health, Jehangir Merwanji Street, Parel, Mumbai, 400 012, India
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Liu S, Ma X, Wang Z, Lin F, Li M, Li Y, Yang L, Rushdi HE, Riaz H, Gao T, Yang L, Fu T, Deng T. MAEL gene contributes to bovine testicular development through the m5C-mediated splicing. iScience 2023; 26:105941. [PMID: 36711243 PMCID: PMC9876746 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.105941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Knowledge of RNA molecules regulating testicular development and spermatogenesis in bulls is essential for elite bull selection and an ideal breeding program. Herein, we performed direct RNA sequencing (DRS) to explore the functional characterization of RNA molecules produced in the testicles of 9 healthy Simmental bulls at three testicular development stages (prepuberty, puberty, and postpuberty). We identified 5,043 differentially expressed genes associated with testicular weight. These genes exhibited more alternative splicing at sexual maturity, particularly alternative 3' (A3) and 5' (A5) splice sites usage and exon skipping (SE). The expression of hub genes in testicular developmental stages was also affected by both m6A and m5C RNA modifications. We found m5C-mediated splicing events significantly (p < 0.05) increased MAEL gene expression at the isoform level, likely promoting spermatogenesis. Our findings highlight the complexity of RNA processing and expression as well as the regulation of transcripts involved in testicular development and spermatogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shenhe Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Xiaoya Ma
- Guangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Buffalo Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction Technology, Buffalo Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning 530001, China
| | - Zichen Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Feng Lin
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Ming Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Yali Li
- Wuhan Benagen Technology Co, Ltd, Wuhan 430000, China
| | - Liu Yang
- Wuhan Benagen Technology Co, Ltd, Wuhan 430000, China
| | - Hossam E. Rushdi
- Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza 12613, Egypt
| | - Hasan Riaz
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Sahiwal Campus, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Tengyun Gao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Liguo Yang
- China Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Tong Fu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China,Corresponding author
| | - Tingxian Deng
- Guangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Buffalo Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction Technology, Buffalo Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning 530001, China,Corresponding author
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Wang Y, Jiang J, Zhang J, Fan P, Xu J. Research Progress on the Etiology and Treatment of Premature Ovarian Insufficiency. Biomed Hub 2023; 8:97-107. [PMID: 38094192 PMCID: PMC10718577 DOI: 10.1159/000535508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Menopause in women marks the knot of reproductive life, and menopause is defined as the last menstrual period in a woman, but this is caused by the failure of the ovarian reserve. The average age of natural menopause in the general population of women has remained around 50-52 years. Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is a debilitating clinical syndrome that manifests as a decline in ovarian function in women under 40. This condition is a prominent cause of female infertility. Summary POI is a debilitating condition that not only wreaks havoc on patients' physical and mental well-being but also imposes substantial mental, psychological, and economic burdens, particularly on women. In addition to diminished fertility, individuals afflicted with POI face an elevated risk of developing debilitating conditions such as osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. The etiologies of POI are highly heterogeneous, and it can be caused by spontaneous genetic defects or induced by autoimmune diseases, infections, and iatrogenic or environmental factors. Alarmingly, idiopathic POI, a subtype characterized by an unknown etiology, accounts for more than half of all POI cases. Currently, clinical interventions for POI primarily consist of hormone replacement therapy. Fertility preservation methods are cryopreservation of embryos, oocytes, and ovarian tissue. Immunological interventions, gene editing techniques, and stem cell-based therapies are being explored to unravel the diverse etiologies and underlying mechanisms of POI, thereby enabling the identification of optimal therapeutic interventions. These innovative approaches offer unprecedented opportunities to advance the field of reproductive medicine. Key Messages The main aim of this paper was to offer a succinct summary of the latest research breakthroughs concerning the elucidation of the mechanisms governing the origin and management of POI.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuxian Wang
- Department of Reproductive Medicine Centre, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, International Institutes of Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu City, China
| | - Jianqiu Jiang
- Department of Reproductive Medicine Centre, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, International Institutes of Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu City, China
| | - Jiali Zhang
- Department of Reproductive Medicine Centre, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, International Institutes of Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu City, China
| | - Peiyin Fan
- Department of Reproductive Medicine Centre, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, International Institutes of Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu City, China
| | - Jian Xu
- Department of Reproductive Medicine Centre, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, International Institutes of Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu City, China
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Application of Single-Cell RNA Sequencing in Ovarian Development. Biomolecules 2022; 13:biom13010047. [PMID: 36671432 PMCID: PMC9855652 DOI: 10.3390/biom13010047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The ovary is a female reproductive organ that plays a key role in fertility and the maintenance of endocrine homeostasis, which is of great importance to women's health. It is characterized by a high heterogeneity, with different cellular subpopulations primarily containing oocytes, granulosa cells, stromal cells, endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, and diverse immune cell types. Each has unique and important functions. From the fetal period to old age, the ovary experiences continuous structural and functional changes, with the gene expression of each cell type undergoing dramatic changes. In addition, ovarian development strongly relies on the communication between germ and somatic cells. Compared to traditional bulk RNA sequencing techniques, the single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) approach has substantial advantages in analyzing individual cells within an ever-changing and complicated tissue, classifying them into cell types, characterizing single cells, delineating the cellular developmental trajectory, and studying cell-to-cell interactions. In this review, we present single-cell transcriptome mapping of the ovary, summarize the characteristics of the important constituent cells of the ovary and the critical cellular developmental processes, and describe key signaling pathways for cell-to-cell communication in the ovary, as revealed by scRNA-seq. This review will undoubtedly improve our understanding of the characteristics of ovarian cells and development, thus enabling the identification of novel therapeutic targets for ovarian-related diseases.
Collapse
|
14
|
Woods DC, Tilly JL. Revisiting Claims of the Continued Absence of Functional Germline Stem Cells in Adult Ovaries. Stem Cells 2022; 41:200-204. [PMID: 36472569 PMCID: PMC9982064 DOI: 10.1093/stmcls/sxac083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Dori C Woods
- Laboratory for Aging and Infertility Research, Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jonathan L Tilly
- Corresponding author: Laboratory for Aging and Infertility Research, Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Clark KL, George JW, Przygrodzka E, Plewes MR, Hua G, Wang C, Davis JS. Hippo Signaling in the Ovary: Emerging Roles in Development, Fertility, and Disease. Endocr Rev 2022; 43:1074-1096. [PMID: 35596657 PMCID: PMC9695108 DOI: 10.1210/endrev/bnac013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Emerging studies indicate that the Hippo pathway, a highly conserved pathway that regulates organ size control, plays an important role in governing ovarian physiology, fertility, and pathology. Specific to the ovary, the spatiotemporal expression of the major components of the Hippo signaling cascade are observed throughout the reproductive lifespan. Observations from multiple species begin to elucidate the functional diversity and molecular mechanisms of Hippo signaling in the ovary in addition to the identification of interactions with other signaling pathways and responses to various external stimuli. Hippo pathway components play important roles in follicle growth and activation, as well as steroidogenesis, by regulating several key biological processes through mechanisms of cell proliferation, migration, differentiation, and cell fate determination. Given the importance of these processes, dysregulation of the Hippo pathway contributes to loss of follicular homeostasis and reproductive disorders such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), premature ovarian insufficiency, and ovarian cancers. This review highlights what is currently known about the Hippo pathway core components in ovarian physiology, including ovarian development, follicle development, and oocyte maturation, while identifying areas for future research to better understand Hippo signaling as a multifunctional pathway in reproductive health and biology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kendra L Clark
- Olson Center for Women's Health, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA.,Veterans Affairs Nebraska Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE 68105, USA
| | - Jitu W George
- Olson Center for Women's Health, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA.,Veterans Affairs Nebraska Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE 68105, USA
| | - Emilia Przygrodzka
- Olson Center for Women's Health, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA.,Veterans Affairs Nebraska Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE 68105, USA
| | - Michele R Plewes
- Olson Center for Women's Health, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA.,Veterans Affairs Nebraska Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE 68105, USA
| | - Guohua Hua
- Key Lab of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science & Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China
| | - Cheng Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - John S Davis
- Olson Center for Women's Health, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA.,Veterans Affairs Nebraska Western Iowa Health Care System, Omaha, NE 68105, USA
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
ÜNAL MS, SEÇME M. Does the ovarian surface epithelium differentiate into primordial follicle and primary follicle precursor structures? CUKUROVA MEDICAL JOURNAL 2022. [DOI: 10.17826/cumj.1134852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate the differentiation capacity of ovarian surface epithelial cells both in cell culture conditions and in ovarian tissue sections.
Materials and Methods: The ovaries of two prepubertal (4 weeks old) female rats were divided into small pieces and explant cell culture was created. Ovarian surface epithelium proliferating together with ovarian stromal cells in mixed cell culture was isolated and reproduced. In addition, ovarian surface epithelium was examined in histological sections of ovarian tissue and images were taken under the microscope.
Results: The morphological appearance of the ovarian surface epithelium was found to be cobblestone. In the count performed under phase contrast microscopy, it was observed that 2x106 and 3x106 cells were grown in the culture dishes, respectively. Primordial follicle-like structures were observed in some areas of the petri dishes. On the histological sections, primordial and primary follicle precursor structures were observed on the basement membrane.
Conclusion: Showing oocyte markers (Gdf-9, C-Mos, Zpc, Stella) and germ cell markers (Dazl, Vasa, Blimp1, Fragilis) both in cell cultures and in histological sections can give us valuable information in terms of monitoring the differentiation capacity of these cells.
Collapse
|
17
|
Yoshihara M, Wagner M, Damdimopoulos A, Zhao C, Petropoulos S, Katayama S, Kere J, Lanner F, Damdimopoulou P. The Continued Absence of Functional Germline Stem Cells in Adult Ovaries. Stem Cells 2022; 41:105-110. [PMID: 36153824 PMCID: PMC9982068 DOI: 10.1093/stmcls/sxac070] [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: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Ovaries are central to development, fertility, and reproduction of women. A particularly interesting feature of ovaries is their accelerated aging compared to other tissues, leading to loss of function far before other organs senesce. The limited pool of ovarian follicles is generated before birth and once exhausted, menopause will inevitably commence around the age of 50 years marking the end of fertility. Yet, there are reports suggesting the presence of germline stem cells and neo-oogenesis in adult human ovaries. These observations have fueled a long debate, created experimental fertility treatments, and opened business opportunities. Our recent analysis of cell types in the ovarian cortex of women of fertile age could not find evidence of germline stem cells. Like before, our work has been met with critique suggesting methodological shortcomings. We agree that excellence starts with methods and welcome discussion on the pros and cons of different protocols. In this commentary, we discuss the recent re-interpretation of our work.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Masahito Yoshihara
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden,Institute for Advanced Academic Research, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan,Department of Artificial Intelligence Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Magdalena Wagner
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anastasios Damdimopoulos
- Bioinformatics and Expression Analysis core facility, Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Cheng Zhao
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sophie Petropoulos
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden,Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal, Axe Immunopathologie, Montréal, Canada,Département de Médecine, Université de Montréal, MontréalCanada
| | - Shintaro Katayama
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden,Folkhälsan Research Center, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Juha Kere
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden,Folkhälsan Research Center, Helsinki, Finland,Stem Cells and Metabolism Research Unit, University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Fredrik Lanner
- Corresponding author: Fredrik Lanner or Pauliina Damdimopoulou, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. Emails: ;
| | - Pauliina Damdimopoulou
- Corresponding author: Fredrik Lanner or Pauliina Damdimopoulou, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. Emails: ;
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Stolzenbach V, Woods DC, Tilly JL. Non-neutral clonal selection and its potential role in mammalian germline stem cell dysfunction with advancing age. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:942652. [PMID: 36081905 PMCID: PMC9445274 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.942652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The concept of natural selection, or "survival of the fittest", refers to an evolutionary process in nature whereby traits emerge in individuals of a population through random gene alterations that enable those individuals to better adapt to changing environmental conditions. This genetic variance allows certain members of the population to gain an advantage over others in the same population to survive and reproduce in greater numbers under new environmental pressures, with the perpetuation of those advantageous traits in future progeny. Here we present that the behavior of adult stem cells in a tissue over time can, in many respects, be viewed in the same manner as evolution, with each stem cell clone being representative of an individual within a population. As stem cells divide or are subjected to cumulative oxidative damage over the lifespan of the organism, random genetic alterations are introduced into each clone that create variance in the population. These changes may occur in parallel to, or in response to, aging-associated changes in microenvironmental cues perceived by the stem cell population. While many of these alterations will be neutral or silent in terms of affecting cell function, a small fraction of these changes will enable certain clones to respond differently to shifts in microenvironmental conditions that arise with advancing age. In some cases, the same advantageous genetic changes that support survival and expansion of certain clones over others in the population (viz. non-neutral competition) could be detrimental to the downstream function of the differentiated stem cell descendants. In the context of the germline, such a situation would be devastating to successful propagation of the species across generations. However, even within a single generation, the “evolution” of stem cell lineages in the body over time can manifest into aging-related organ dysfunction and failure, as well as lead to chronic inflammation, hyperplasia, and cancer. Increased research efforts to evaluate stem cells within a population as individual entities will improve our understanding of how organisms age and how certain diseases develop, which in turn may open new opportunities for clinical detection and management of diverse pathologies.
Collapse
|
19
|
Sharma D, Bhartiya D. Dysfunctional Ovarian Stem Cells Due to Neonatal Endocrine Disruption Result in PCOS and Ovarian Insufficiency in Adult Mice. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2022; 18:2912-2927. [PMID: 35834052 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-022-10414-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a common global cause of anovulatory infertility but underlying etiology leading to PCOS still remains elusive. Fetal and perinatal endocrine disruption reportedly affects germ cell nests (GCN) breakdown, meiosis, and primordial follicle (PF) assembly with unassembled oocytes in neonatal ovaries. We recently reported that very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs) and ovarian stem cells (OSCs) express ERα, ERβ and FSHR, undergo distinct cyclic changes and neo-oogenesis encompassing GCN formation, meiosis, and primordial follicle (PF) assembly on regular basis in adult mice ovaries and these GCN are arrested in pre-meiotic or early meiotic stage in aged ovaries. Present study was undertaken to evaluate whether neonatal exposure to endocrine disruption (estradiol E2 or diethylstilbestrol DES) affects ovarian stem cells and their differentiation (neo-oogenesis) and PF assembly in adult 100 days old ovaries. Neonatal exposure to E2 resulted in typical features of PCOS including hyperandrogenism, infertility, increased stromal compartment, absent corpus lutea, and cystic follicles whereas DES treated ovaries showed rapid recruitment of follicles in young ovaries and multi-ovular/cystic follicles. Ovary surface epithelial cells smears showed large numbers of growth-arrested GCN in zygotene/pachytene with increased expression of Mlh-1 and Scp-1 suggesting defects at synapsis and recombination stages during prophase-1 of meiosis. Being immortal and expression of ERα and ERβ makes VSELs directly vulnerable to carry developmental endocrine insults to adult life. Dysfunction of VSELs/OSCs possibly results in oocyte defects observed in our study in PCOS/POI besides the widely reported defects in granulosa cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Diksha Sharma
- Stem Cell Biology Department, ICMR- National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health, Jehangir Merwanji Street, Parel, 400 012, Mumbai, India
| | - Deepa Bhartiya
- Stem Cell Biology Department, ICMR- National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health, Jehangir Merwanji Street, Parel, 400 012, Mumbai, India.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Hong W, Wang B, Zhu Y, Wu J, Qiu L, Ling S, Zhou Z, Dai Y, Zhong Z, Zheng Y. Female germline stem cells: aging and anti-aging. J Ovarian Res 2022; 15:79. [PMID: 35787298 PMCID: PMC9251950 DOI: 10.1186/s13048-022-01011-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The delay of ovarian aging and the fertility preservation of cancer patients are the eternal themes in the field of reproductive medicine. Acting as the pacemaker of female physiological aging, ovary is also considered as the principle player of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases and etc. However, its aging mechanism and preventive measures are still unclear. Some researchers attempt to activate endogenous ovarian female germline stem cells (FGSCs) to restore ovarian function, as the most promising approach. FGSCs are stem cells in the adult ovaries that can be infinitely self-renewing and have the potential of committed differention. This review aims to elucidate FGSCs aging mechanism from multiple perspectives such as niches, immune disorder, chronic inflammation and oxidative stress. Therefore, the rebuilding nichs of FGSCs, regulation of immune dysfunction, anti-inflammation and oxidative stress remission are expected to restore or replenish FGSCs, ultimately to delay ovarian aging.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wenli Hong
- Reproductive Health Department, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, the Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000, People's Republic of China.,Shenzhen University Health Science Center, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000, People's Republic of China
| | - Baofeng Wang
- ARTcenter, Shenzhen Hengsheng Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000, People's Republic of China
| | - Yasha Zhu
- Reproductive Health Department, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, the Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun'e Wu
- Reproductive Health Department, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, the Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000, People's Republic of China
| | - Li Qiu
- Reproductive Health Department, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, the Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuyi Ling
- Reproductive Health Department, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, the Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000, People's Republic of China
| | - Ziqiong Zhou
- Reproductive Health Department, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, the Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuqing Dai
- Reproductive Health Department, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, the Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhisheng Zhong
- Reproductive Health Department, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, the Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yuehui Zheng
- Reproductive Health Department, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, the Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518000, People's Republic of China.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Tao B, Hu H, Chen J, Chen L, Luo D, Sun Y, Ge F, Zhu Z, Trudeau VL, Hu W. Sinhcaf‐dependent histone deacetylation is essential for primordial germ cell specification. EMBO Rep 2022; 23:e54387. [PMID: 35532311 PMCID: PMC9171691 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202154387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Primordial germ cells (PGCs) are the progenitor cells that give rise to sperm and eggs. Sinhcaf is a recently identified subunit of the Sin3 histone deacetylase complex (SIN3A-HDAC). Here, we provide evidence that Sinhcaf-dependent histone deacetylation is essential for germ plasm aggregation and primordial germ cell specification. Specifically, maternal-zygotic sinhcaf zebrafish mutants exhibit germ plasm aggregation defects, decreased PGC abundance and male-biased sex ratio, which can be rescued by re-expressing sinhcaf. Overexpression of sinhcaf results in excess PGCs and a female-biased sex ratio. Sinhcaf binds to the promoter region of kif26ab. Loss of sinhcaf epigenetically switches off kif26ab expression by increasing histone 3 acetylation in the promoter region. Injection of kif26ab mRNA could partially rescue the germ plasm aggregation defects in sinhcaf mutant embryos. Taken together, we demonstrate a role of Sinhcaf in germ plasm aggregation and PGC specialization that is mediated by regulating the histone acetylation status of the kif26ab promoter to activate its transcription. Our findings provide novel insights into the function and regulatory mechanisms of Sinhcaf-mediated histone deacetylation in PGC specification.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Binbin Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology Institute of Hydrobiology The Innovation Academy of Seed Design Chinese Academy of Sciences Wuhan China
| | - Hongling Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology Institute of Hydrobiology The Innovation Academy of Seed Design Chinese Academy of Sciences Wuhan China
| | - Ji Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology Institute of Hydrobiology The Innovation Academy of Seed Design Chinese Academy of Sciences Wuhan China
| | - Lu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology Institute of Hydrobiology The Innovation Academy of Seed Design Chinese Academy of Sciences Wuhan China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
| | - Daji Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology Institute of Hydrobiology The Innovation Academy of Seed Design Chinese Academy of Sciences Wuhan China
| | - Yonghua Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology Institute of Hydrobiology The Innovation Academy of Seed Design Chinese Academy of Sciences Wuhan China
| | - Feng Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology Institute of Hydrobiology The Innovation Academy of Seed Design Chinese Academy of Sciences Wuhan China
| | - Zuoyan Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology Institute of Hydrobiology The Innovation Academy of Seed Design Chinese Academy of Sciences Wuhan China
| | | | - Wei Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology Institute of Hydrobiology The Innovation Academy of Seed Design Chinese Academy of Sciences Wuhan China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing China
- Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology Qingdao China
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Bhartiya D, Mohammad SA, Singh P, Sharma D, Kaushik A. GFP Tagged VSELs Help Delineate Novel Stem Cells Biology in Multiple Adult Tissues. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2022; 18:1603-1613. [PMID: 35641711 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-022-10401-4] [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] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Various types of stem cells are being researched upon to exploit their potential for regenerative medicine including pluripotent human embryonic stem (hES) cells derived from spare human embryos, induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells by reprogramming somatic cells to a pluripotent state and multipotent mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) obtained in vitro from multiple tissues. More than 50 independent groups have reported another novel population of pluripotent stem cells in adult tissues termed very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs). VSELs are developmentally linked to primordial germ cells, which rather than giving rise to the germ cells and later ceasing to exist, survive throughout life in multiple organs along with tissue-specific adult stem cells better described as lineage-restricted, tissue-committed progenitors with limited plasticity. VSELs survive total body irradiation in bone marrow, oncotherapy in the gonads, bilateral ovariectomy in the uterus and partial pancreatectomy in the pancreas of mice and participate in the regeneration of multiple organs under normal physiological conditions. VSELs and tissue-specific progenitor cells work together in a subtle manner, maintain life-long tissue homeostasis and their dysfunction leads to various pathologies including cancer. However, due to their quiescent state, VSELs have invariably eluded lineage-tracing studies reported so far. Present article reviews novel insights into VSELs biology and how VSELs enriched from GFP (green fluorescent protein) mice have enabled to delineate their role in various biological processes in vivo. VSELs biology needs to be understood in-depth as this alone will help evolve the field of regenerative medicine and win the war against cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Deepa Bhartiya
- Stem Cell Biology Department, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health, Jehangir Merwanji Street, Parel, Mumbai, 400012, India.
- Epigeneres Biotech Pvt Ltd, Lower Parel, Mumbai, 400013, India.
| | - Subhan Ali Mohammad
- Stem Cell Biology Department, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health, Jehangir Merwanji Street, Parel, Mumbai, 400012, India
| | - Pushpa Singh
- Stem Cell Biology Department, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health, Jehangir Merwanji Street, Parel, Mumbai, 400012, India
| | - Diksha Sharma
- Stem Cell Biology Department, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health, Jehangir Merwanji Street, Parel, Mumbai, 400012, India
| | - Ankita Kaushik
- Stem Cell Biology Department, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health, Jehangir Merwanji Street, Parel, Mumbai, 400012, India
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Alberico H, Fleischmann Z, Bobbitt T, Takai Y, Ishihara O, Seki H, Anderson RA, Telfer EE, Woods DC, Tilly JL. Workflow Optimization for Identification of Female Germline or Oogonial Stem Cells in Human Ovarian Cortex Using Single-Cell RNA Sequence Analysis. Stem Cells 2022; 40:523-536. [PMID: 35263439 PMCID: PMC9199849 DOI: 10.1093/stmcls/sxac015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In 2004, the identification of female germline or oogonial stem cells (OSCs) that can support post-natal oogenesis in ovaries of adult mice sparked a major paradigm shift in reproductive biology. Although these findings have been independently verified, and further extended to include identification of OSCs in adult ovaries of many species ranging from pigs and cows to non-human primates and humans, a recent study rooted in single-cell RNA sequence analysis (scRNA-seq) of adult human ovarian cortical tissue claimed that OSCs do not exist, and that other groups working with OSCs following isolation by magnetic-assisted or fluorescence-activated cell sorting have mistaken perivascular cells (PVCs) for germ cells. Here we report that rare germ lineage cells with a gene expression profile matched to OSCs but distinct from that of other cells, including oocytes and PVCs, can be identified in adult human ovarian cortical tissue by scRNA-seq after optimization of analytical workflow parameters. Deeper cell-by-cell expression profiling also uncovered evidence of germ cells undergoing meiosis-I in adult human ovaries. Lastly, we show that, if not properly controlled for, PVCs can be inadvertently isolated during flow cytometry protocols designed to sort OSCs because of inherently high cellular autofluorescence. However, human PVCs and human germ cells segregate into distinct clusters following scRNA-seq due to non-overlapping gene expression profiles, which would preclude the mistaken identification and use of PVCs as OSCs during functional characterization studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Alberico
- Laboratory of Aging and Infertility Research, Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Zoë Fleischmann
- Laboratory of Aging and Infertility Research, Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Tyler Bobbitt
- Laboratory of Aging and Infertility Research, Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Yasushi Takai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical University, Saitama 350-0495, Japan
| | - Osamu Ishihara
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical University, Saitama 350-0495, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Seki
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical University, Saitama 350-0495, Japan
| | - Richard A Anderson
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, Queens Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH14 1DJ, UK
| | - Evelyn E Telfer
- Institute of Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH14 1DJ, UK
| | - Dori C Woods
- Laboratory of Aging and Infertility Research, Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jonathan L Tilly
- Laboratory of Aging and Infertility Research, Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Silvestris E, Minoia C, Guarini A, Opinto G, Negri A, Dellino M, Tinelli R, Cormio G, Paradiso AV, De Palma G. Ovarian Stem Cells (OSCs) from the Cryopreserved Ovarian Cortex: A Potential for Neo-Oogenesis in Women with Cancer-Treatment Related Infertility: A Case Report and a Review of Literature. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2022; 44:2309-2320. [PMID: 35678686 PMCID: PMC9164018 DOI: 10.3390/cimb44050157] [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: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer treatment related infertility (CTRI) affects more than one third of young women undergoing anti-cancer protocols, inducing a premature exhaustion of the ovarian reserve. In addition to ovarian suppression by GnRHa, oocyte and cortex cryopreservation has gained interest in patients with estrogen-sensitive tumors for whom the hormonal burst to prompt the multiple follicular growth could provide a further pro-life tumor pulsing. On the other hand, cortex reimplantation implies a few drawbacks due to the unknown consistency of the follicles to be reimplanted or the risk of reintroducing malignant cells. The capability of ovarian stem cells (OCSs) from fresh ovarian cortex fragments to differentiate in vitro to mature oocytes provides a tool to overcome these drawbacks. In fact, since ovarian cortex sampling and cryopreservation is practicable before gonadotoxic treatments, the recruitment of OSCs from defrosted fragments could provide a novel opportunity to verify their suitability to be expanded in vitro as oocyte like cells (OLCs). Here, we describe in very preliminary experiments the consistency of an OSC population from a single cryopreserved ovarian cortex after thawing as well as both their viability and their suitability to be further explored in their property to differentiate in OLCs, thus reinforcing interest in stemness studies in the treatment of female CTRI.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Erica Silvestris
- Gynecologic Oncology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Tumori “Giovanni Paolo II”, 70124 Bari, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Carla Minoia
- Haematology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Tumori “Giovanni Paolo II”, 70124 Bari, Italy; (C.M.); (A.G.); (G.O.); (A.N.)
| | - Attilio Guarini
- Haematology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Tumori “Giovanni Paolo II”, 70124 Bari, Italy; (C.M.); (A.G.); (G.O.); (A.N.)
| | - Giuseppina Opinto
- Haematology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Tumori “Giovanni Paolo II”, 70124 Bari, Italy; (C.M.); (A.G.); (G.O.); (A.N.)
| | - Antonio Negri
- Haematology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Tumori “Giovanni Paolo II”, 70124 Bari, Italy; (C.M.); (A.G.); (G.O.); (A.N.)
| | - Miriam Dellino
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “San Paolo” Hospital, 70123 Bari, Italy;
| | - Raffaele Tinelli
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, “Valle d’Itria” Hospital, 74015 Martina Franca, Italy;
| | - Gennaro Cormio
- Unit of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, Italy;
| | - Angelo Virgilio Paradiso
- Institutional BioBank, Experimental Oncology and Biobank Management Unit, IRCCS Istituto Tumori “Giovanni Paolo II”, 70124 Bari, Italy; (A.V.P.); (G.D.P.)
| | - Giuseppe De Palma
- Institutional BioBank, Experimental Oncology and Biobank Management Unit, IRCCS Istituto Tumori “Giovanni Paolo II”, 70124 Bari, Italy; (A.V.P.); (G.D.P.)
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Artificial Oocyte: Development and Potential Application. Cells 2022; 11:cells11071135. [PMID: 35406698 PMCID: PMC8998074 DOI: 10.3390/cells11071135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Millions of people around the world suffer from infertility, with the number of infertile couples and individuals increasing every year. Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) have been widely developed in recent years; however, some patients are unable to benefit from these technologies due to their lack of functional germ cells. Therefore, the development of alternative methods seems necessary. One of these methods is to create artificial oocytes. Oocytes can be generated in vitro from the ovary, fetal gonad, germline stem cells (GSCs), ovarian stem cells, or pluripotent stem cells (PSCs). This approach has raised new hopes in both basic research and medical applications. In this article, we looked at the principle of oocyte development, the landmark studies that enhanced our understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms that govern oogenesis in vivo, as well as the mechanisms underlying in vitro generation of functional oocytes from different sources of mouse and human stem cells. In addition, we introduced next-generation ART using somatic cells with artificial oocytes. Finally, we provided an overview of the reproductive application of in vitro oogenesis and its use in human fertility.
Collapse
|
26
|
Chen J, Torres-de la Roche LA, Kahlert UD, Isachenko V, Huang H, Hennefründ J, Yan X, Chen Q, Shi W, Li Y. Artificial Ovary for Young Female Breast Cancer Patients. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:837022. [PMID: 35372399 PMCID: PMC8969104 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.837022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent decades, there has been increasing attention toward the quality of life of breast cancer (BC) survivors. Meeting the growing expectations of fertility preservation and the generation of biological offspring remains a great challenge for these patients. Conventional strategies for fertility preservation such as oocyte and embryo cryopreservation are not suitable for prepubertal cancer patients or in patients who need immediate cancer therapy. Ovarian tissue cryopreservation (OTC) before anticancer therapy and autotransplantation is an alternative option for these specific indications but has a risk of retransplantation malignant cells. An emerging strategy to resolve these issues is by constructing an artificial ovary combined with stem cells, which can support follicle proliferation and ensure sex hormone secretion. This promising technique can meet both demands of improving the quality of life and meanwhile fulfilling their expectation of biological offspring without the risk of cancer recurrence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jing Chen
- Reproductive Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | | | - Ulf D. Kahlert
- Molecular and Experimental Surgery, University Clinic for General, Visceral and Vascular Surgery, University Medicine Magdeburg and Otto-von Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Vladimir Isachenko
- Research Group for Reproductive Medicine and IVF Laboratory, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cologne University, Cologne, Germany
| | - Hui Huang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Women and Children's Hospital, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Jörg Hennefründ
- University Hospital for Gynecology, Pius-Hospital, University Medicine Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
| | - Xiaohong Yan
- Reproductive Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Qionghua Chen
- Reproductive Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- *Correspondence: Qionghua Chen
| | - Wenjie Shi
- University Hospital for Gynecology, Pius-Hospital, University Medicine Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
- Wenjie Shi
| | - Youzhu Li
- Reproductive Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Youzhu Li
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Wu M, Lu Z, Zhu Q, Ma L, Xue L, Li Y, Zhou S, Yan W, Ye W, Zhang J, Luo A, Wang S. DDX4 + stem cells in the ovaries of postmenopausal women: existence and differentiation potential. Stem Cells 2022; 40:88-101. [PMID: 35511860 DOI: 10.1093/stmcls/sxab002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Ovarian aging is a pacemaker with multiple organ dysfunction. Recently, stem cells with the ability to generate new oocytes have been identified, which provides the possibility of stem cell therapy for ovarian aging. Several studies have revealed the existence of stem cells in human postmenopausal ovary. In this study, we describe a new method using magnetic activated cell sorting combined with differential adhesion to isolate DDX4 + stem cells from ovaries of postmenopausal women and show that the cells exhibit similar gene expression profiles and growth characteristics with primitive germ cells. Furthermore, the DDX4 + stem cells could enter meiosis stage and differentiation into oocytes. The RNA-seq data of the differentiated oocytes shows that mitochondrial metabolism may play an important role in the oogenesis process of the DDX4 + stem cells. Through using human ovarian cortical fragments transplantation model, we indicated that the GFP-DDX4 + stem cells differentiated into some GFP positive oocyte-like structure in vivo. Our study provided a new method for the isolation of DDX4 + stem cells from the ovaries of postmenopausal women and confirmed the ability of these stem cells to differentiate into oocytes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Meng Wu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Zhiyong Lu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, TaiHe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Qingqing Zhu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Lingwei Ma
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Liru Xue
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Su Zhou
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Wei Yan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Wenlei Ye
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Jinjin Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Aiyue Luo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Shixuan Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Wu Y, Guo T, Li J, Niu C, Sun W, Zhu S, Zhao H, Qiao G, Han M, He X, Lu Z, Yuan C, Han J, Liu J, Yang B, Yue Y. The Transcriptional Cell Atlas of Testis Development in Sheep at Pre-Sexual Maturity. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2022; 44:483-497. [PMID: 35723319 PMCID: PMC8929108 DOI: 10.3390/cimb44020033] [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: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Sheep testes undergo a dramatic rate of development with structural changes during pre-sexual maturity, including the proliferation and maturation of somatic niche cells and the initiation of spermatogenesis. To explore this complex process, 12,843 testicular cells from three males at pre-sexual maturity (three-month-old) were sequenced using the 10× Genomics ChromiumTM single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) technology. Nine testicular somatic cell types (Sertoli cells, myoid cells, monocytes, macrophages, Leydig cells, dendritic cells, endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and leukocytes) and an unknown cell cluster were observed. In particular, five male germ cell types (including two types of undifferentiated spermatogonia (Apale and Adark), primary spermatocytes, secondary spermatocytes, and sperm cells) were identified. Interestingly, Apale and Adark were found to be two distinct states of undifferentiated spermatogonia. Further analysis identified specific marker genes, including UCHL1, DDX4, SOHLH1, KITLG, and PCNA, in the germ cells at different states of differentiation. The study revealed significant changes in germline stem cells at pre-sexual maturation, paving the way to explore the candidate factors and pathways for the regulation of germ and somatic cells, and to provide us with opportunities for the establishment of livestock stem cell breeding programs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yi Wu
- Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Lanzhou 730050, China; (Y.W.); (T.G.); (J.L.); (C.N.); (W.S.); (S.Z.); (H.Z.); (G.Q.); (M.H.); (Z.L.); (C.Y.); (J.L.)
| | - Tingting Guo
- Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Lanzhou 730050, China; (Y.W.); (T.G.); (J.L.); (C.N.); (W.S.); (S.Z.); (H.Z.); (G.Q.); (M.H.); (Z.L.); (C.Y.); (J.L.)
| | - Jianye Li
- Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Lanzhou 730050, China; (Y.W.); (T.G.); (J.L.); (C.N.); (W.S.); (S.Z.); (H.Z.); (G.Q.); (M.H.); (Z.L.); (C.Y.); (J.L.)
| | - Chune Niu
- Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Lanzhou 730050, China; (Y.W.); (T.G.); (J.L.); (C.N.); (W.S.); (S.Z.); (H.Z.); (G.Q.); (M.H.); (Z.L.); (C.Y.); (J.L.)
| | - Weibo Sun
- Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Lanzhou 730050, China; (Y.W.); (T.G.); (J.L.); (C.N.); (W.S.); (S.Z.); (H.Z.); (G.Q.); (M.H.); (Z.L.); (C.Y.); (J.L.)
| | - Shaohua Zhu
- Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Lanzhou 730050, China; (Y.W.); (T.G.); (J.L.); (C.N.); (W.S.); (S.Z.); (H.Z.); (G.Q.); (M.H.); (Z.L.); (C.Y.); (J.L.)
| | - Hongchang Zhao
- Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Lanzhou 730050, China; (Y.W.); (T.G.); (J.L.); (C.N.); (W.S.); (S.Z.); (H.Z.); (G.Q.); (M.H.); (Z.L.); (C.Y.); (J.L.)
| | - Guoyan Qiao
- Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Lanzhou 730050, China; (Y.W.); (T.G.); (J.L.); (C.N.); (W.S.); (S.Z.); (H.Z.); (G.Q.); (M.H.); (Z.L.); (C.Y.); (J.L.)
| | - Mei Han
- Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Lanzhou 730050, China; (Y.W.); (T.G.); (J.L.); (C.N.); (W.S.); (S.Z.); (H.Z.); (G.Q.); (M.H.); (Z.L.); (C.Y.); (J.L.)
| | - Xue He
- College of Biological Sciences, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou 730050, China;
| | - Zengkui Lu
- Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Lanzhou 730050, China; (Y.W.); (T.G.); (J.L.); (C.N.); (W.S.); (S.Z.); (H.Z.); (G.Q.); (M.H.); (Z.L.); (C.Y.); (J.L.)
| | - Chao Yuan
- Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Lanzhou 730050, China; (Y.W.); (T.G.); (J.L.); (C.N.); (W.S.); (S.Z.); (H.Z.); (G.Q.); (M.H.); (Z.L.); (C.Y.); (J.L.)
| | - Jianlin Han
- CAAS-ILRI Joint Laboratory of Livestock and Forage Genetic Resources, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100193, China;
- Livestock Genetics Program, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi 00100, Kenya
| | - Jianbin Liu
- Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Lanzhou 730050, China; (Y.W.); (T.G.); (J.L.); (C.N.); (W.S.); (S.Z.); (H.Z.); (G.Q.); (M.H.); (Z.L.); (C.Y.); (J.L.)
| | - Bohui Yang
- Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Lanzhou 730050, China; (Y.W.); (T.G.); (J.L.); (C.N.); (W.S.); (S.Z.); (H.Z.); (G.Q.); (M.H.); (Z.L.); (C.Y.); (J.L.)
- Correspondence: (B.Y.); (Y.Y.); Tel.: +86-0931-211-5272 (B.Y.); +86-0931-211-15-5273 (Y.Y.)
| | - Yaojing Yue
- Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Lanzhou 730050, China; (Y.W.); (T.G.); (J.L.); (C.N.); (W.S.); (S.Z.); (H.Z.); (G.Q.); (M.H.); (Z.L.); (C.Y.); (J.L.)
- Correspondence: (B.Y.); (Y.Y.); Tel.: +86-0931-211-5272 (B.Y.); +86-0931-211-15-5273 (Y.Y.)
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Haldar S, Agrawal H, Saha S, Straughn AR, Roy P, Kakar SS. Overview of follicle stimulating hormone and its receptors in reproduction and in stem cells and cancer stem cells. Int J Biol Sci 2022; 18:675-692. [PMID: 35002517 PMCID: PMC8741861 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.63721] [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: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and its receptor (FSHR) have been reported to be responsible for several physiological functions and cancers. The responsiveness of stem cells and cancer stem cells towards the FSH-FSHR system make the function of FSH and its receptors more interesting in the context of cancer biology. This review is comprised of comprehensive information on FSH-FSHR signaling in normal physiology, gonadal stem cells, cancer cells, and potential options of utilizing FSH-FSHR system as an anti-cancer therapeutic target.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Swati Haldar
- Molecular Endocrinology Laboratory, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Uttarakhand 247667, India.,Current address: Drug Discovery and Development Division, Patanjali Research Institute, Haridwar, Uttarakhand 249405
| | - Himanshu Agrawal
- Molecular Endocrinology Laboratory, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Uttarakhand 247667, India
| | - Sarama Saha
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences Rishikesh, Uttarakhand 249203, India
| | - Alex R Straughn
- Department of Physiology, James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Partha Roy
- Molecular Endocrinology Laboratory, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Uttarakhand 247667, India
| | - Sham S Kakar
- Department of Physiology, James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Role of Stem Cells in the Ovarian Tissue Cryopreservation and Transplantation for Fertility Preservation. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222212482. [PMID: 34830363 PMCID: PMC8620430 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222212482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 11/13/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the cancer survival rate has increased, cancer treatments, including chemotherapy and radiotherapy, can cause ovarian failure and infertility in women of reproductive age. Preserving fertility throughout cancer treatment is critical for maintaining quality of life. Fertility experts should propose individualized fertility preservation methods based on the patient’s marital status, pubertal status, partner status, and the urgency of treatment. Widely practiced fertility preservation methods, including ovarian transposition and embryo and oocyte cryopreservation, are inappropriate for prepubertal girls or those needing urgent initiation of cancer treatment. Ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation, an emerging new technology, may be a solution for these cancer patients. The use of stem cells in ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation increases oxygenation, angiogenesis, and follicle survival rates. This review discusses the recent advances in ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation with special focus on the use of stem cells to improve fertilization techniques.
Collapse
|
31
|
Ebrahim N, Al Saihati HA, Shaman A, Dessouky AA, Farid AS, Hussien NI, Mostafa O, Seleem Y, Sabry D, Saad AS, Emam HT, Hassouna A, Badr OAM, Saffaf BA, Forsyth NR, Salim RF. Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells combined with gonadotropin therapy restore postnatal oogenesis of chemo-ablated ovaries in rats via enhancing very small embryonic-like stem cells. Stem Cell Res Ther 2021; 12:517. [PMID: 34579781 PMCID: PMC8477571 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-021-02415-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs) are a rare population within the ovarian epithelial surface. They contribute to postnatal oogenesis as they have the ability to generate immature oocytes and resist the chemotherapy. These cells express markers of pluripotent embryonic and primordial germ cells. OBJECTIVE We aimed to explore the capability of VSELs in restoring the postnatal oogenesis of chemo-ablated rat ovaries treated with bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) combined with pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG). METHODS Female albino rats were randomly assigned across five groups: I (control), II (chemo-ablation), III (chemo-ablation + PMSG), IV (chemo-ablation + MSCs), and V (chemo-ablation + PMSG + MSCs). Postnatal oogenesis was assessed through measurement of OCT4, OCT4A, Scp3, Mvh, Nobox, Dazl4, Nanog, Sca-1, FSHr, STRA8, Bax, miR143, and miR376a transcript levels using qRT-PCR. Expression of selected key proteins were established as further confirmation of transcript expression changes. Histopathological examination and ovarian hormonal assessment were determined. RESULTS Group V displayed significant upregulation of all measured genes when compared with group II, III or IV. Protein expression confirmed the changes in transcript levels as group V displayed the highest average density in all targeted proteins. These results were confirmed histologically by the presence of cuboidal germinal epithelium, numerous primordial, unilaminar, and mature Graafian follicles in group V. CONCLUSION VSELs can restore the postnatal oogenesis in chemo-ablated ovaries treated by BM-MSCs combined with PMSG.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nesrine Ebrahim
- Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha, Egypt
- Stem Cell Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha, Egypt
| | - Hajir A Al Saihati
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Hafr Albatin, Al-Batin, Saudi Arabia
| | - Amani Shaman
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Medical College, Tabuk University, Tabuk, Saudi Arabia
| | - Arigue A Dessouky
- Department of Medical Histology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Ayman Samir Farid
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Benha, Egypt
| | - Noha I Hussien
- Department of Medical Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha, Egypt
| | - Ola Mostafa
- Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha, Egypt
| | - Yasmin Seleem
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha, Egypt
| | - Dina Sabry
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Badr University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Ahmed S Saad
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha, Egypt
| | - Hanan Tawfeek Emam
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha, Egypt
| | - Amira Hassouna
- School of Interprofessional Health Studies, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, AUT University, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Omnia A M Badr
- Department of Genetics and Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, Benha University, Benha, Egypt
| | - Bayan A Saffaf
- Department of pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Future University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Nicholas R Forsyth
- Guy Hilton Research Laboratories, School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Keele University, Keele, UK
| | - Rabab F Salim
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha, Qalyubia, 13512, Egypt.
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Mason JB, Habermehl TL, Underwood KB, Schneider A, Brieño-Enriquez MA, Masternak MM, Parkinson KC. The interrelationship between female reproductive aging and survival. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 2021; 77:75-83. [PMID: 34528058 DOI: 10.1093/gerona/glab252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The link between survival and reproductive function is demonstrated across many species and is under both long-term evolutionary pressures and short-term environmental pressures. Loss of reproductive function is common in mammals and is strongly correlated with increased rates of disease in both males and females. However, the reproduction-associated change in disease rates is more abrupt and more severe in women, who benefit from a significant health advantage over men until the age of menopause. Young women with early ovarian failure also suffer from increased disease risks, further supporting the role of ovarian function in female health. Contemporary experiments where the influence of young ovarian tissue has been restored in post-reproductive-aged females with surgical manipulation were found to increase survival significantly. In these experiments, young, intact ovaries were used to replace the aged ovaries of females that had already reached reproductive cessation. As has been seen previously in primitive species, when the young mammalian ovaries were depleted of germ cells prior to transplantation to the post-reproductive female, survival was increased even further than with germ cell-containing young ovaries. Thus, extending reproductive potential significantly increases survival and appears to be germ cell and ovarian hormone-independent. The current review will discuss historical and contemporary observations and theories that support the link between reproduction and survival and provide hope for future clinical applications to decrease menopause-associated increases in disease risks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey B Mason
- Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, Center for Integrated BioSystems, School of Veterinary Medicine, Utah State University, 4700 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322, USA
| | - Tracy L Habermehl
- Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, Center for Integrated BioSystems, School of Veterinary Medicine, Utah State University, 4700 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322, USA
| | - Kaden B Underwood
- Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, Center for Integrated BioSystems, School of Veterinary Medicine, Utah State University, 4700 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322, USA
| | - Augusto Schneider
- Departmento de Nutrição, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, RS, Pelotas, Brazil
| | - Miguel A Brieño-Enriquez
- Magee-Womens Research Institute, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Michal M Masternak
- College of Medicine, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA.,Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Kate C Parkinson
- Department of Animal, Dairy and Veterinary Sciences, Center for Integrated BioSystems, School of Veterinary Medicine, Utah State University, 4700 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322, USA
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Stem Cells in Adult Mice Ovaries Form Germ Cell Nests, Undergo Meiosis, Neo-oogenesis and Follicle Assembly on Regular Basis During Estrus Cycle. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2021; 17:1695-1711. [PMID: 34455541 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-021-10237-4] [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] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Very small embryonic-like (VSELs) and ovarian (OSCs) stem cells are located in adult mammalian ovary surface epithelium (OSE). OSCs can expand long-term and differentiate into oocyte-like structures in vitro and have resulted in birth of fertile pups. Lineage tracing studies have provided evidence to suggest OSCs differentiation into oocytes in vivo. But how these stem cells function under normal physiological conditions has not yet been well worked out. Besides studying STRA-8 and SCP-3 expression in enzymatically isolated OSE cells smears, mice were injected BrdU to track mitosis, meiosis and follicle assembly. H&E stained OSE cells during late diestrus and proestrus showed VSELs undergoing asymmetrical cell divisions to give rise to slightly bigger OSCs which in turn underwent symmetrical cell divisions followed by clonal expansion (rapid expansion with incomplete cytokinesis) during early estrus to form germ cell nests (GCN). OCT-4, SSEA-1, MVH and DAZL positive cells in GCN expressed Erα, Erβ and FSHR, were interconnected by ring canals (TEX-14), showed mitochondrial aggregation (Cytochrome C) and Balbiani Body (TRAL). Apoptosis in 'nurse' cells was marked by PARP and putative oocytes were clearly visualized. BrdU was detected in cells undergoing mitosis/meiosis and also in an oocyte of secondary follicle. FACS sorted, green fluorescent protein (GFP) positive VSELs upon transplantation resulted in GFP positive GCN suggesting crucial role for VSELs in adult ovaries. Results suggest that various events described during oogenesis and follicle assembly in fetal ovaries are recapitulated on regular basis in adult ovary and result in the formation of follicles.
Collapse
|
34
|
Bhartiya D, Singh P, Sharma D, Kaushik A. Very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs) regenerate whereas mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) rejuvenate diseased reproductive tissues. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2021; 18:1718-1727. [PMID: 34410593 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-021-10243-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Compared to embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells, mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) have made their presence felt with good therapeutic promise and safety profile. Transplanting MSCs has successfully helped to reverse infertility and resulted in live births in animal models and also in humans. But the underlying mechanism for their therapeutic potential is not yet clear. MSCs are not pluripotent and hence lack plasticity to differentiate into multiple adult cell types. They rather act as 'paracrine providers' to the tissue-resident stem cells since similar beneficial effects are also observed when their secretome (microvesicles or exosomes) is transplanted. Cytokines, growth factors, signaling lipids, mRNAs, and miRNAs secreted by MSCs enables tissue-resident stem cells to undergo differentiation into specific cell types. Tissue-resident stem cells include pluripotent, very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs) and progenitors [spermatogonial (SSCs), ovarian (OSCs) and endometrial (EnSCs) stem cells in testes, ovary and uterus respectively] which function in a subtle manner to maintain life-long tissue homeostasis and regenerate damaged (non-functional) reproductive tissues by differentiating into sperm, oocytes and endometrial epithelial cells respectively. Similar to restoring spermatogenesis, primordial follicles numbers are increased upon transplanting MSCs. Published literature suggests that MSCs do not differentiate into epithelial cells in the endometrium. Nuclear OCT-4 positive VSELs and cytoplasmic OCT-4, AXIN2 and KERATIN-19 positive epithelial progenitors have a greater role during endometrial regeneration. We propose, transplantation of MSCs simply provides growth factors/cytokines essential for the tissue-resident stem/progenitor cells to undergo differentiation into sperm, eggs and endometrial epithelial cells in the reproductive tissues.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Deepa Bhartiya
- Stem Cell Biology Department, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Jehangir Merwanji Street, Parel, Mumbai, 400012, India.
| | - Pushpa Singh
- Stem Cell Biology Department, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Jehangir Merwanji Street, Parel, Mumbai, 400012, India
| | - Diksha Sharma
- Stem Cell Biology Department, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Jehangir Merwanji Street, Parel, Mumbai, 400012, India
| | - Ankita Kaushik
- Stem Cell Biology Department, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Jehangir Merwanji Street, Parel, Mumbai, 400012, India
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Ariyath A, Kanthi JM, Paul-Prasanth B. Differentiation Potential of Cultured Extracellular DEAD-Box Helicase 4+ Oogonial Stem Cells from Adult Human Ovaries into Somatic Lineages. Cells Tissues Organs 2021; 211:577-588. [PMID: 34412061 DOI: 10.1159/000519087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ajish Ariyath
- Centre for Nanosciences and Molecular Medicine, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kochi, India
| | - Janu Mangala Kanthi
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kochi, India
| | - Bindhu Paul-Prasanth
- Centre for Nanosciences and Molecular Medicine, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kochi, India
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
MacDonald JA, Woods DC, Tilly JL. Biomechanical Strain Promotes the Differentiation of Murine Oogonial Stem Cells. Stem Cells Dev 2021; 30:749-757. [PMID: 34036812 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2021.0086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cells within tissues are routinely subjected to physiological stress and strain, arising from direct interactions with neighboring cells as well as with extracellular matrix components. Accordingly, there is tremendous interest in deciphering how cells sense, and respond to, changes in biomechanical forces. In this study, we explored the effects of mechanostimulation on the differentiation of mouse female germline or oogonial stem cells (OSCs) as a model for adult stem cell function. We report that increasing levels, or repeated application of a subthreshold fixed level, of radial strain to OSCs in culture significantly increased rates of in vitro oocyte formation as a measure of stem cell differentiation. These responses involved changes in F-actin-mediated cytoskeletal tension as well as in activation of intracellular signaling by Rho-associated protein kinase (ROCK) and Yes-associated protein (YAP) phosphorylation. In addition, application of mechanical strain to OSCs enhanced association of YAP with muscle-specific cytidine-adenosine-thymidine (MCAT) response elements in the promoter stimulated by retinoic acid gene 8 (Stra8), the transcriptional activation of which is required for germline meiotic commitment. These data indicate that biomechanical strain directly promotes the differentiation of adult female germline stem cells through a signaling pathway involving F-actin, ROCK, YAP, and Stra8.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julie A MacDonald
- Laboratory of Aging and Infertility Research, Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Dori C Woods
- Laboratory of Aging and Infertility Research, Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jonathan L Tilly
- Laboratory of Aging and Infertility Research, Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Hainaut M, Clarke HJ. Germ cells of the mammalian female: A limited or renewable resource? Biol Reprod 2021; 105:774-788. [PMID: 34114006 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioab115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In many non-mammalian organisms, a population of germ-line stem cells supports continuing production of gametes during most or all the life of the individual, and germ-line stem cells are also present and functional in male mammals. Traditionally, however, they have been thought not to exist in female mammals, who instead generate all their germ cells during fetal life. Over the last several years, this dogma has been challenged by several reports, while supported by others. We describe and compare these conflicting studies with the aim of understanding how they came to opposing conclusions. We first consider studies that, by examining marker-gene expression, the fate of genetically marked cells, and consequences of depleting the oocyte population, addressed whether ovaries of post-natal females contain oogonial stem cells (OSC) that give rise to new oocytes. We next discuss whether ovaries contain cells that, even if inactive under physiological conditions, nonetheless possess OSC properties that can be revealed through cell-culture. We then examine studies of whether cells harvested after long-term culture of cells obtained from ovaries can, following transplantation into ovaries of recipient females, give rise to oocytes and offspring. Finally, we note studies where somatic cells have been re-programmed to acquire a female germ-cell fate. We conclude that the weight of evidence strongly supports the traditional interpretation that germ-line stem cells do not exist post-natally in female mammals. However, the ability to generate germ cells from somatic cells in vitro establishes a method to generate new gametes from cells of post-natal mammalian females.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mathilde Hainaut
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McGill University and Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal Canada
| | - Hugh J Clarke
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McGill University and Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal Canada
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Lee S, Ozkavukcu S, Ku SY. Current and Future Perspectives for Improving Ovarian Tissue Cryopreservation and Transplantation Outcomes for Cancer Patients. Reprod Sci 2021; 28:1746-1758. [PMID: 33791995 PMCID: PMC8144135 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-021-00517-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 02/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Although advances in cancer treatment and early diagnosis have significantly improved cancer survival rates, cancer therapies can cause serious side effects, including ovarian failure and infertility, in women of reproductive age. Infertility following cancer treatment can have significant adverse effects on the quality of life. However, established methods for fertility preservation, including embryo or oocyte cryopreservation, are not always suitable for female cancer patients because of complicated individual conditions and treatment methods. Ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation is a promising option for fertility preservation in pre-pubertal girls and adult patients with cancer who require immediate treatment, or who are not eligible to undergo ovarian stimulation. This review introduces various methods and strategies to improve ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation outcomes, to help patients and clinicians choose the best option when considering the potential complexity of a patient's situation. Effective multidisciplinary oncofertility strategies, involving the inclusion of a highly skilled and experienced oncofertility team that considers cryopreservation methods, thawing processes and devices, surgical procedures for transplantation, and advances in technologies, are necessary to provide high-quality care to a cancer patient.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sanghoon Lee
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Korea University College of Medicine, 73, Inchon-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea.
| | - Sinan Ozkavukcu
- Center for Assisted Reproduction, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Seung-Yup Ku
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Lee HJ, Park MJ, Joo BS, Joo JK, Kim YH, Yang SW, Kim CW, Kim KH. Effects of coenzyme Q10 on ovarian surface epithelium-derived ovarian stem cells and ovarian function in a 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide-induced murine model of ovarian failure. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2021; 19:59. [PMID: 33888135 PMCID: PMC8061220 DOI: 10.1186/s12958-021-00736-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several studies have shown that coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) can rescue ovarian aging and that ovarian surface epithelium (OSE)-derived ovarian stem cells (OSCs) are useful for treating infertility due to ovarian aging. However, few studies have examined the effect of CoQ10 on OSCs. This study was aimed to investigate whether CoQ10 activates OSCs and recovers ovarian function in a 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD)-induced mouse model of ovarian failure. METHODS Forty female C57BL/6 mice aged 6 weeks were randomly divided into four groups (n = 10/group): a control group administered saline orally, a CoQ10 group administered 150 mg/kg/day of CoQ10 orally in 1 mL of saline daily for 14 days, a VCD group administered 160 mg/kg/day of VCD i.p. in 2.5 mL of saline/kg for 5 days, and a VCD + CoQ10 group administered VCD i.p. for 5 days injection and CoQ10 (150 mg/kg/day) orally for 14 days. After treatment, follicle counts were evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, and ovarian mRNA expressions of Bmp-15, Gdf-9, and c-Kit were examined by quantitative real-time PCR. Serum FSH, AMH, and ROS levels were also measured. Oocyte-like structure counts and the expressions of Oct-4 and MVH were also evaluated after culturing OSE for 3 weeks. In a second experiment, 32 female mice were administered CoQ10 as described above, induced to superovulate using PMSG and hCG, and mated. Numbers of zygotes and embryo development rate were examined. RESULTS Postcultured OSE showed significant increases in the numbers of oocyte-like structure and that the expression of Oct-4 and MVH were higher in the VCD + CoQ10 group than in the VCD group (p < 0.05). Numbers of surviving follicles from primordial to antral follicles, numbers of zygotes retrieved and embryo development rate to blastocyst were significantly greater in the VCD + CoQ10 group than in the VCD group (p < 0.01). Serum AMH level and ovarian expressions of Bmp-15, Gdf-9 and c-Kit were also significantly greater in the VCD + CoQ10 group than in the VCD group (p < 0.05). In contrast, serum ROS level was significantly lower in the VCD + CoQ10 group than in the VCD group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION This study shows that CoQ10 stimulates the differentiation of OSE-derived OSCs and confirms that CoQ10 can reduce ROS levels and improve ovarian function and oocyte quality in mice with VCD-induced ovarian failure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hyun Joo Lee
- grid.262229.f0000 0001 0719 8572Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Republic of Korea
- grid.412588.20000 0000 8611 7824Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, 49241 Republic of Korea
| | - Min Jung Park
- The Korea Institute for Public Sperm Bank, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Bo Sun Joo
- The Korea Institute for Public Sperm Bank, Busan, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Kil Joo
- grid.262229.f0000 0001 0719 8572Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Republic of Korea
- grid.412588.20000 0000 8611 7824Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, 49241 Republic of Korea
| | - Yeon Hee Kim
- grid.264381.a0000 0001 2181 989XDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Samsung Changwon Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Changwoon, Kyungsang Nam-Do Republic of Korea
| | - Sun Woo Yang
- grid.264381.a0000 0001 2181 989XDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Samsung Changwon Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Changwoon, Kyungsang Nam-Do Republic of Korea
| | - Chang-Woon Kim
- grid.264381.a0000 0001 2181 989XDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Samsung Changwon Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Changwoon, Kyungsang Nam-Do Republic of Korea
| | - Ki Hyung Kim
- grid.262229.f0000 0001 0719 8572Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Republic of Korea
- grid.412588.20000 0000 8611 7824Biomedical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, 49241 Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Zhang Y, Zhou X, Zhu Y, Wang H, Xu J, Su Y. Current mechanisms of primordial follicle activation and new strategies for fertility preservation. Mol Hum Reprod 2021; 27:6128515. [PMID: 33538812 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gaab005] [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: 10/12/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is characterized by symptoms caused by ovarian dysfunction in patients aged <40 years. It is associated with a shortened reproductive lifespan. The only effective treatment for patients who are eager to become pregnant is IVF/Embryo Transfer (ET) using oocytes donated by young women. However, the use of the technique is constrained by the limited supply of oocytes and ethical issues. Some patients with POI still have some residual follicles in the ovarian cortex, which are not regulated by gonadotropin. These follicles are dormant. Therefore, activating dormant primordial follicles (PFs) to obtain high-quality oocytes for assisted reproductive technology may bring new hope for patients with POI. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the factors related to PF activation, such as the intercellular signaling network, the internal microenvironment of the ovary and the environment of the organism. In addition, we discussed new strategies for fertility preservation, such as in vitro activation and stem cell transplantation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zhang
- Department of Gynecology, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University (Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital), Nanjing 210004, China
| | - Xiaomei Zhou
- Department of Gynecology, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University (Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital), Nanjing 210004, China
| | - Ye Zhu
- Department of Gynecology, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University (Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital), Nanjing 210004, China
| | - Hanbin Wang
- Department of Gynecology, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University (Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital), Nanjing 210004, China
| | - Juan Xu
- Department of Gynecology, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University (Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital), Nanjing 210004, China
| | - Yiping Su
- Department of Gynecology, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University (Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital), Nanjing 210004, China
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Bhartiya D, Kaushik A. Testicular Stem Cell Dysfunction Due to Environmental Insults Could Be Responsible for Deteriorating Reproductive Health of Men. Reprod Sci 2021; 28:649-658. [PMID: 33409879 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-020-00411-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Reproductive health of men has declined over time including reduced semen quality specifically sperm count, increased incidence of infertility, and testicular cancers. Our recent findings suggest that these disease states possibly arise as a result of disruption of testicular stem cells biology by perinatal insults including exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals. Testicular stem cells include relatively quiescent, very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs), and actively dividing spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). Both VSELs and SSCs express estrogen receptors and are directly vulnerable to endocrine disruption. Exposing mice pups to estradiol (20 μg/pup/day on days 5-7) or diethylstilbestrol (2 μg/pup/day on days 1-5) affected spermatogenesis during adult life with reduced numbers of tubules in stage VIII, tetraploid cells and sperm. These mice were infertile and majority of diethylstilbestrol treated mice revealed testicular cancer-like changes. An increase in VSEL numbers, observed by both flow cytometry and qRT-PCR, was associated with marked reduction of c-KIT positive spermatogonial cells. VSELs undergo epigenetic changes due to endocrine disruption that results in blocked differentiation (impaired spermatogenesis) leading to reduced sperm count and infertility, and their excessive self-renewal initiates cancer-like changes in adult life. Thus, testicular dysgenesis syndrome (TDS) has a stem cell rather than a genetic basis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Deepa Bhartiya
- Stem Cell Biology Department, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Jehangir Merwanji Street, Parel, Mumbai, 400 012, India.
| | - Ankita Kaushik
- Stem Cell Biology Department, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Jehangir Merwanji Street, Parel, Mumbai, 400 012, India
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Moghadam AR, Taheri Moghadam M, Saki G, Nikbakht R. Utilizing Calcium Alginate for the Assessment of Bone Morphogenetic Protein 15 Induction Effect on the Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Derived from Human Follicular Fluid to Oocyte-Like Structure. Adv Biomed Res 2020; 9:80. [PMID: 33912496 PMCID: PMC8059453 DOI: 10.4103/abr.abr_200_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Follicular fluid (FF)-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are possible new source of cells in the study of oogenesis and regenerative medicine. Several biomaterials have been used as scaffolds to mimic ovarian tissue stroma. Using good matrix is essential for increasing the cell survival rate, proliferation, and differentiation. However, no study has been performed to investigate the effects of BMP15 and calcium alginate hydrogel on the differentiation potential of FF-derived MSCs to oocyte-like structures (OLSs). Materials and Methods: In this work, FF MSCs, which were collected from women in routine in vitro fertilization procedure, were capsulated with 0.5% calcium alginate, and then the encapsulated cells were cultured in medium containing BMP15 for 2 weeks. Trypan blue staining was carried out to determine cell viability. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunofluorescence (ICC) staining method were performed to characterize the expression of OCT4, Nanog, ZP2, and ZP3 genes and protein. The encapsulation process did not change the morphology and viability of the encapsulated cells. Results: Reverse-transcription-PCR and ICC showed that MSCs expressed germ line stem cell markers such as OCT4 and Nanog. After 4 days of culture, OLSs formed and expressed zona pellucida markers. OLSs at least reached 180–230 μm in diameter in the control and BMP15-treated groups. Finally, a reduction in the expression pattern of pluripotency and ZP markers was detected in the encapsulated cells cultured in the BMP15-supplemented medium. Conclusion: The three-dimensional alginate culture system seems to be a promising method of getting in vitro differentiation and development of ovarian cells, which could mimic the native ovarian condition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ali Reza Moghadam
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.,Department of Anatomical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Mahin Taheri Moghadam
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.,Department of Anatomical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Ghasem Saki
- Department of Anatomical Science, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Roshan Nikbakht
- Fertility, Infertility and Perinatology Center, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Xu D, Yoshino T, de Bello Cioffi M, Yoshikawa H, Ino Y, Yazawa R, Dos Santos Nassif Lacerda SM, Takeuchi Y. Production of donor-derived eggs after ovarian germ cell transplantation into the gonads of adult, germ cell-less, triploid hybrid fish†. Biol Reprod 2020; 103:1289-1299. [PMID: 32940693 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioaa168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In animals, spermatogonial transplantation in sterile adult males is widely developed; however, despite its utility, ovarian germ cell transplantation is not well developed. We previously showed that the interspecific hybrid offspring of sciaenid was a suitable model for germ cell transplantation studies as they have germ cell-less gonads. However, all these gonads have testis-like characteristics. Here, we tested whether triploidization in hybrid embryos could result in germ cell-less ovary development. Gonadal structure dimorphism and sex-specific gene expression patterns were examined in 6-month-old triploid hybrids (3nHybs). Thirty-one percent of 3nHybs had germ cell-less gonads with an ovarian cavity. cyp19a1a and foxl2, ovarian differentiation-related genes, were expressed in these gonads, whereas dmrt1 and vasa were not expressed, suggesting ovary-like germ cell-less gonad development. Some (26%) 3nHybs had testis-like germ cell-less gonads. Ovarian germ cells collected from homozygous green fluorescent protein (GFP) transgenic blue drum (BD) (Nibea mitsukurii) were transplanted into 6-month-old 3nHybs gonads via the urogenital papilla or oviduct. After 9 months, the recipients were crossed with wild type BD. Among the six 3nHyb recipients that survived, one female and one male produced fertile eggs and motile sperm carrying gfp-specific DNA sequences. Progeny tests revealed that all F1 offspring possessed gfp-specific DNA sequences, suggesting that these recipients produced only donor-derived eggs or sperm. Histological observation confirmed donor-derived gametogenesis in the 3nHyb recipients' gonads. Overall, triploidization reduces male-biased sex differentiation in germ cell-less gonads. We report, for the first time, donor-derived egg production in an animal via direct ovarian germ cell transplantation into a germ cell-less ovary.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dongdong Xu
- Marine Fisheries Institute of Zhejiang Province, Zhoushan, P.R. China.,Department of Aquatic Biosciences, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tasuku Yoshino
- Department of Aquatic Biosciences, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | | | - Yasuko Ino
- National Fisheries University, Shimonoseki, Japan
| | - Ryosuke Yazawa
- Department of Aquatic Biosciences, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | - Yutaka Takeuchi
- Noto Center for Fisheries Science and Technology, Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, Kanazawa University, Ishikawa, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Panay N, Anderson RA, Nappi RE, Vincent AJ, Vujovic S, Webber L, Wolfman W. Premature ovarian insufficiency: an International Menopause Society White Paper. Climacteric 2020; 23:426-446. [PMID: 32896176 DOI: 10.1080/13697137.2020.1804547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this International Menopause Society White Paper on premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is to provide the latest information regarding this distressing condition. The impact of POI has far-reaching consequences due to its impact on general, psychological, and sexual quality of life, fertility prospects, and long-term bone, cardiovascular, and cognitive health. Progress in fully understanding the etiology, diagnosis, and optimal management options has been slow thus far due to the complexity of the condition and fragmented research. Recent advances in epidemiological and genetic research have improved our understanding of this condition and randomized prospective trials are being planned to determine the intervention strategies, which will optimize quality of life and long-term well-being. The International Menopause Society has commissioned a number of experts at the forefront of their specialty to define the state of the art in the understanding of this condition, to advise on practical management strategies, and to propose future research strategies. It is hoped that a global task force will subsequently be convened in order to formulate a consensus statement across key societies, to accelerate date collection and analysis of a global POI registry, and to facilitate progress in the key defined areas of research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- N Panay
- Queen Charlotte's & Chelsea and Chelsea & Westminster Hospitals, Imperial College, London, UK
| | - R A Anderson
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, Queens Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - R E Nappi
- Research Center for Reproductive Medicine, Gynecological Endocrinology and Menopause, Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, IRCCS S. Matteo Foundation, Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - A J Vincent
- Department of Endocrinology, Monash Health, Clayton, VIC, Australia.,Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation, School of Public Health and Preventative Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - S Vujovic
- Faculty of Medicine, Clinic of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Diseases of Metabolism, Clinical Center of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - L Webber
- St. Mary's Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - W Wolfman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mt. Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Jessus C, Munro C, Houliston E. Managing the Oocyte Meiotic Arrest-Lessons from Frogs and Jellyfish. Cells 2020; 9:E1150. [PMID: 32392797 PMCID: PMC7290932 DOI: 10.3390/cells9051150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Revised: 05/03/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
During oocyte development, meiosis arrests in prophase of the first division for a remarkably prolonged period firstly during oocyte growth, and then when awaiting the appropriate hormonal signals for egg release. This prophase arrest is finally unlocked when locally produced maturation initiation hormones (MIHs) trigger entry into M-phase. Here, we assess the current knowledge of the successive cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for keeping meiotic progression on hold. We focus on two model organisms, the amphibian Xenopus laevis, and the hydrozoan jellyfish Clytia hemisphaerica. Conserved mechanisms govern the initial meiotic programme of the oocyte prior to oocyte growth and also, much later, the onset of mitotic divisions, via activation of two key kinase systems: Cdk1-Cyclin B/Gwl (MPF) for M-phase activation and Mos-MAPkinase to orchestrate polar body formation and cytostatic (CSF) arrest. In contrast, maintenance of the prophase state of the fully-grown oocyte is assured by highly specific mechanisms, reflecting enormous variation between species in MIHs, MIH receptors and their immediate downstream signalling response. Convergence of multiple signalling pathway components to promote MPF activation in some oocytes, including Xenopus, is likely a heritage of the complex evolutionary history of spawning regulation, but also helps ensure a robust and reliable mechanism for gamete production.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Jessus
- Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement - Institut de Biologie Paris Seine, LBD - IBPS, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Catriona Munro
- Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement de Villefranche-sur-mer (LBDV), Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 06230 Villefranche-sur-mer, France;
- Inserm, Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology, Collège de France, PSL Research University, CNRS, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Evelyn Houliston
- Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement de Villefranche-sur-mer (LBDV), Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 06230 Villefranche-sur-mer, France;
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Tilly JL, Woods DC. The obligate need for accuracy in reporting preclinical studies relevant to clinical trials: autologous germline mitochondrial supplementation for assisted human reproduction as a case study. Ther Adv Reprod Health 2020; 14:2633494120917350. [PMID: 32518919 PMCID: PMC7254586 DOI: 10.1177/2633494120917350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
A now large body of work has solidified the central role that mitochondria play in oocyte development, fertilization, and embryogenesis. From these studies, a new technology termed autologous germline mitochondrial energy transfer was developed for improving pregnancy success rates in assisted reproduction. Unlike prior clinical studies that relied on the use of donor, or nonautologous, mitochondria for microinjection into eggs of women with a history of repeated in vitro fertilization failure to enhance pregnancy success, autologous germline mitochondrial energy transfer uses autologous mitochondria collected from oogonial stem cells of the same woman undergoing the fertility treatment. Initial trials of autologous germline mitochondrial energy transfer during - in vitro fertilization at three different sites with a total of 104 patients indicated a benefit of the procedure for improving pregnancy success rates, with the birth of children conceived through the inclusion of autologous germline mitochondrial energy transfer during in vitro fertilization. However, a fourth clinical study, consisting of 57 patients, failed to show a benefit of autologous germline mitochondrial energy transfer-in vitro fertilization versus in vitro fertilization alone for improving cumulative live birth rates. Complicating this area of work further, a recent mouse study, which claimed to test the long-term safety of autologous mitochondrial supplementation during in vitro fertilization, raised concerns over the use of the procedure for reproduction. However, autologous mitochondria were not actually used for preclinical testing in this mouse study. The unwarranted fears that this new study's erroneous conclusions could cause in women who have become pregnant through the use of autologous germline mitochondrial energy transfer during-in vitro fertilization highlight the critical need for accurate reporting of preclinical work that has immediate bearing on human clinical studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan L Tilly
- Laboratory for Aging and Infertility Research (LAIR), Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Dori C Woods
- Laboratory for Aging and Infertility Research (LAIR), Department of Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Bhartiya D, Sharma D. Ovary does harbor stem cells - size of the cells matter! J Ovarian Res 2020; 13:39. [PMID: 32303227 PMCID: PMC7164193 DOI: 10.1186/s13048-020-00647-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
A recent study published in the journal Nature Communications from Karolinska Institute, Sweden was unable to detect stem cells in adult human ovarian cortex by single-cell RNAseq and by studying cell surface antigen profiles by flow cytometry studies. Their findings are startling since stem cells have been well characterized in the adult mammalian ovary of several species including mouse, rabbit, monkey, sheep, pig and humans. Ovarian stem cells include pluripotent, very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs) and slightly bigger ovarian stem cells (OSCs) which are easily visualized in smears obtained by gently scraping the ovary surface. The potential of ovarian stem cells to differentiate into oocyte-like structures in vitro and also resulting in the birth of mouse pups has been reported. A possible role of ovarian VSELs in initiation of ovarian cancers has also been delineated. The ovarian stem cells can also be collected by enzymatic digestion of ovarian tissue for various studies, taking care to always pellet the cells suspension at 1000 g since this high speed is required to collect the small-sized stem cell populations (VSELs & OSCs) with high nucleo-cytoplasmic ratio. These stem cells invariably get discarded when cells suspension is spun at lower speed. The cells were spun at 300 g for various experiments in the Karolinska study and this is the underlying reason for their negative results. Stem cells were inadvertently and unknowingly discarded and never got analyzed by single-cell RNAseq and flow cytometry experiments. To conclude, stem cells surely exist in adult mammalian ovary and their role during neo-oogenesis and primordial follicle assembly under physiological conditions is currently being investigated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Deepa Bhartiya
- Stem Cell Biology Department, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Jehangir Merwanji Street, Parel, Mumbai, 400 012, India.
| | - Diksha Sharma
- Stem Cell Biology Department, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Jehangir Merwanji Street, Parel, Mumbai, 400 012, India
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Bothun AM, Woods DC. Inherent mitochondrial activity influences specification of the germ line in pluripotent stem cells. Heliyon 2020; 6:e03651. [PMID: 32258510 PMCID: PMC7118317 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Revised: 01/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Herein we investigated whether inherent differences in mitochondrial activity in mouse pluripotent cells could be used to identify populations with an intrinsic ability to differentiate into primordial germ cells (PGCs). Notably, we determined that stem cells sorted based on differences in mitochondrial membrane activity exhibited altered germline differentiation capacity, with low-mitochondrial membrane potential associated with an increase in PGC-like cells. This specification was not further enhanced by hypoxia. We additionally noted differences between these populations in metabolism, transcriptome, and cell-cycle. These data contribute to a growing body of work demonstrating that pluripotent cells exhibit a large range of mitochondrial activity, which impacts cellular function and differentiation potential. Furthermore, pluripotent cells possess a subpopulation of cells with an improved ability to differentiate into the germ lineage that can be identified based on differences in mitochondrial membrane potential.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alisha M Bothun
- Department of Biology, Laboratory for Aging and Infertility Research, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Dori C Woods
- Department of Biology, Laboratory for Aging and Infertility Research, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Wagner M, Yoshihara M, Douagi I, Damdimopoulos A, Panula S, Petropoulos S, Lu H, Pettersson K, Palm K, Katayama S, Hovatta O, Kere J, Lanner F, Damdimopoulou P. Single-cell analysis of human ovarian cortex identifies distinct cell populations but no oogonial stem cells. Nat Commun 2020; 11:1147. [PMID: 32123174 PMCID: PMC7052271 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-14936-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 169] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The human ovary orchestrates sex hormone production and undergoes monthly structural changes to release mature oocytes. The outer lining of the ovary (cortex) has a key role in defining fertility in women as it harbors the ovarian reserve. It has been postulated that putative oogonial stem cells exist in the ovarian cortex and that these can be captured by DDX4 antibody isolation. Here, we report single-cell transcriptomes and cell surface antigen profiles of over 24,000 cells from high quality ovarian cortex samples from 21 patients. Our data identify transcriptional profiles of six main cell types; oocytes, granulosa cells, immune cells, endothelial cells, perivascular cells, and stromal cells. Cells captured by DDX4 antibody are perivascular cells, not oogonial stem cells. Our data do not support the existence of germline stem cells in adult human ovaries, thereby reinforcing the dogma of a limited ovarian reserve.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Wagner
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Masahito Yoshihara
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Iyadh Douagi
- Center of Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Flow Cytometry Section, Research Technologies Branch, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | - Sarita Panula
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sophie Petropoulos
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Medicine, Centre de recherche du CHUM, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Haojiang Lu
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Karin Pettersson
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Kerstin Palm
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Visby hospital, Visby, Sweden
| | - Shintaro Katayama
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Outi Hovatta
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Juha Kere
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Folkhälsan Research Institute, Helsinki, and Stem Cells and Metabolism Research Program, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Fredrik Lanner
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. .,Ming Wai Lau Center for Reparative Medicine, Stockholm node, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Pauliina Damdimopoulou
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
| |
Collapse
|