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Lee V, Hinton BT, Hirashima T. Collective cell dynamics and luminal fluid flow in the epididymis: A mechanobiological perspective. Andrology 2024; 12:939-948. [PMID: 37415418 DOI: 10.1111/andr.13490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The mammalian epididymis is a specialized duct system that serves a critical role in sperm maturation and storage. Its distinctive, highly coiled tissue morphology provides a unique opportunity to investigate the link between form and function in reproductive biology. Although recent genetic studies have identified key genes and signaling pathways involved in the development and physiological functions of the epididymis, there has been limited discussion about the underlying dynamic and mechanical processes that govern these phenomena. AIMS In this review, we aim to address this gap by examining two key aspects of the epididymis across its developmental and physiological phases. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION First, we discuss how the complex morphology of the Wolffian/epididymal duct emerges through collective cell dynamics, including duct elongation, cell proliferation, and arrangement during embryonic development. Second, we highlight dynamic aspects of luminal fluid flow in the epididymis, essential for regulating the microenvironment for sperm maturation and motility, and discuss how this phenomenon emerges and interplays with epididymal epithelial cells. CONCLUSION This review not only aims to summarize current knowledge but also to provide a starting point for further exploration of mechanobiological aspects related to the cellular and extracellular fluid dynamics in the epididymis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Lee
- Mechanobiology, Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Barry T Hinton
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Tsuyoshi Hirashima
- Mechanobiology, Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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Nakamura F. The Role of Mechanotransduction in Contact Inhibition of Locomotion and Proliferation. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2135. [PMID: 38396812 PMCID: PMC10889191 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25042135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Contact inhibition (CI) represents a crucial tumor-suppressive mechanism responsible for controlling the unbridled growth of cells, thus preventing the formation of cancerous tissues. CI can be further categorized into two distinct yet interrelated components: CI of locomotion (CIL) and CI of proliferation (CIP). These two components of CI have historically been viewed as separate processes, but emerging research suggests that they may be regulated by both distinct and shared pathways. Specifically, recent studies have indicated that both CIP and CIL utilize mechanotransduction pathways, a process that involves cells sensing and responding to mechanical forces. This review article describes the role of mechanotransduction in CI, shedding light on how mechanical forces regulate CIL and CIP. Emphasis is placed on filamin A (FLNA)-mediated mechanotransduction, elucidating how FLNA senses mechanical forces and translates them into crucial biochemical signals that regulate cell locomotion and proliferation. In addition to FLNA, trans-acting factors (TAFs), which are proteins or regulatory RNAs capable of directly or indirectly binding to specific DNA sequences in distant genes to regulate gene expression, emerge as sensitive players in both the mechanotransduction and signaling pathways of CI. This article presents methods for identifying these TAF proteins and profiling the associated changes in chromatin structure, offering valuable insights into CI and other biological functions mediated by mechanotransduction. Finally, it addresses unanswered research questions in these fields and delineates their possible future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fumihiko Nakamura
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, 92 Weijin Road, Nankai District, Tianjin 300072, China
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Wang J, Chen G, Yu X, Zhou X, Zhang Y, Wu Y, Tong J. Transcriptome analyses reveal differentially expressed genes associated with development of the palatal organ in bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis). COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY PART D: GENOMICS AND PROTEOMICS 2023; 46:101072. [PMID: 36990038 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2023.101072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/28/2023]
Abstract
The palatal organ is a filter-feeding related organ and occupies a considerable proportion of the head of bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis), a large cyprinid fish intensive aquaculture in Asia. In this study, we performed RNA-seq of the palatal organ during growth periods of two (M2), six (M6) and 15 (M15) months of age after hatching. The numbers of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were 1384, 481 and 1837 for M2 VS M6, M6 VS M15 and M2 VS M15 respectively. The following signaling pathways of energy metabolism and cytoskeleton function were enriched, including ECM-receptor interaction, Cardiac muscle contraction, Steroid biosynthesis and PPAR signaling pathway. Several members of collagen family (col1a1, col2a1, col6a2, col6a3, col9a2), Laminin gamma 1 (lamc1), integrin alpha 1 (itga1), Fatty acid binding protein 2 (fads2) and lipoprotein lipase (lpl), and Protein tyrosine kinase 7 (Ptk7) are candidate genes for growth and development of basic tissues of the palatal organ. Furthermore, taste-related genes such as fgfrl1, fgf8a, fsta and notch1a were also identified, which may be involved in the development of taste buds of the palatal organ. The transcriptome data obtained in this study provide insights into the understanding functions and development mechanisms of palatal organ, and potential candidate genes that may be related to the genetic modulation of head size of bighead carp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junru Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Geng Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Xiaomu Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Xiaoyu Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yifan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Yanhong Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; College of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jingou Tong
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Academy of Seed Design, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China; Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan 430070, China.
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Pilon N. Neural Crest Development in Health and Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232213684. [PMID: 36430161 PMCID: PMC9691040 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232213684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The first volume of this Special Issue met its goal of covering several aspects regarding both the normal and abnormal development of neural crest cells, which form a truly unique multipotent and highly migratory cell population that only exists in vertebrates [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Pilon
- Molecular Genetics of Development Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Montreal, QC H3C 3P8, Canada;
- Centre d’Excellence en Recherche sur les Maladies Orphelines–Fondation Courtois (CERMO-FC), Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Montreal, QC H2X 3Y7, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H3T 1C5, Canada
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