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Li H, Zhao J, Deng H, Zhong Y, Chen M, Chi L, Luo G, Cao C, Yu C, Liu H, Zhang X. N6-methyladenosine modification of PLOD2 causes spermatocyte damage in rats with varicocele. Cell Mol Biol Lett 2023; 28:72. [PMID: 37670228 PMCID: PMC10481479 DOI: 10.1186/s11658-023-00475-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In recent years, N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation modification of mRNA has been studied extensively. It has been reported that m6A determines mRNA fate and participates in many cellular functions and reactions, including oxidative stress. The PLOD2 gene encodes a protein that plays a key role in tissue remodeling and fibrotic processes. METHODS The m6A methylation and expression levels of PLOD2 were determined by m6A methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeRIP-seq) and MeRIP-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) in the testes of varicocele rats compared with control. To determine whether IGF2BP2 had a targeted effect on the PLOD2 mRNA, RNA immunoprecipitation-qPCR (RIP-qPCR) and luciferase assays were performed. CRISPR/dCas13b-ALKBH5 could downregulate m6A methylation level of PLOD2, which plays an important role in PLOD2-mediated cell proliferation and apoptosis in GC-2 cells. RESULTS PLOD2 was frequently exhibited with high m6A methylation and expression level in the testes of varicocele rats compared with control. In addition, we found that IGF2BP2 binds to the m6A-modified 3' untranslated region (3'-UTR) of PLOD2 mRNA, thereby positively regulating its mRNA stability. Targeted specific demethylation of PLOD2 m6A by CRISPR/dCas13b-ALKBH5 system can significantly decrease the m6A and expression level of PLOD2. Furthermore, demethylation of PLOD2 mRNA dramatically promote GC-2 cell proliferation and inhibit cell apoptosis under oxidative stress. CONCLUSION As a result, we found that varicocele-induced oxidative stress promoted PLOD2 expression level via m6A methylation modification. In addition, targeting m6A demethylation of PLOD2 by CRISPR/dCas13b-ALKBH5 system can regulate GC-2 cell proliferation and apoptosis under oxidative stress. Taken together, our study has acquired a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying male infertility associated with oxidative stress, as well as a novel therapeutic target for male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Li
- Assisted Reproductive Technology Center, Foshan Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Foshan, China
| | - Jun Zhao
- Assisted Reproductive Technology Center, Foshan Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Foshan, China
| | - Hao Deng
- Assisted Reproductive Technology Center, Foshan Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Foshan, China
| | - YuCheng Zhong
- Assisted Reproductive Technology Center, Foshan Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Foshan, China
| | - Mian Chen
- Pharmacy Department, Foshan Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Foshan, China
| | - LinSheng Chi
- Assisted Reproductive Technology Center, Foshan Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Foshan, China
| | - GuoQun Luo
- Assisted Reproductive Technology Center, Foshan Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Foshan, China
| | - Cong Cao
- Assisted Reproductive Technology Center, Foshan Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Foshan, China
| | - Cong Yu
- Assisted Reproductive Technology Centre, Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital of Meizhou, Meizhou, China
| | - Honghai Liu
- Assisted Reproductive Technology Centre, Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital of Meizhou, Meizhou, China
| | - Xinzong Zhang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Guangdong Provincial Reproductive Science Institute (Guangdong Provincial Fertility Hospital), Guangzhou, China.
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Zheng X, Wei Y, Chen J, Wang X, Li D, Yu C, Hong Y, Shen L, Long C, Wei G, Wu S. Difenoconazole Exposure Induces Retinoic Acid Signaling Dysregulation and Testicular Injury in Mice Testes. Toxics 2023; 11:328. [PMID: 37112555 PMCID: PMC10142862 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11040328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Difenoconazole (DFZ) is a broad-spectrum triazole fungicide that is widely utilized in agriculture. Although DFZ has been demonstrated to induce reproductive toxicity in aquatic species, its toxic effects on the mammalian reproductive system have yet to be fully elucidated. In vivo, male mice were administered 0, 20 or 40 mg/kg/d of DFZ via oral gavage for 35 days. Consequently, DFZ significantly decreased testicular organ coefficient, sperm count and testosterone levels, augmented sperm malformation rates, and elicited histopathological alterations in testes. TUNEL assay showed increased apoptosis in testis. Western blotting results suggested abnormally high expression of the sperm meiosis-associated proteins STRA8 and SCP3. The concentrations of retinoic acid (RA), retinaldehyde (RE), and retinol (ROL) were increased in the testicular tissues of DFZ-treated groups. The mRNA expression level of genes implicated in RA synthesis significantly increased while genes involved in RA catabolism significantly decreased. In vitro, DFZ reduced cell viability and increased RA, RE, and ROL levels in GC-2 cells. Transcriptome analysis revealed a significant enrichment of numerous terms associated with the RA pathway and apoptosis. The qPCR experiment verified the transcriptome results. In conclusion, our results indicate that DFZ exposure can disrupt RA signaling pathway homeostasis, and induce testicular injury in mice testes.
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Yuan WB, Chen HQ, Li JZ, Zhou SM, Zeng Y, Fan J, Zhang Z, Liu JY, Cao J, Liu WB. TET1 mediated male reproductive toxicity induced by Bisphenol A through Catsper-Ca 2+ signaling pathway. Environ Pollut 2022; 296:118739. [PMID: 34953956 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Bisphenol A (BPA) exposure has many adverse effects on the reproductive system in animals and humans. Ten-eleven translocation 1 (TET1) is closely related to a variety of biological processes through regulating the dynamic balance of DNA demethylation and methylation. However, the role and mechanism of TET1 during BPA induced reproductive toxicity are largely unknown. In this study, mouse spermatogonia cell line GC-2 was treated with BPA in the final concentration of 0, 20, 40 and 80 μM for 72 h. The cell model of differential TET1 gene expression was established to explore the role and mechanism. We found that the growth rate of GC-2 cells, and the intracellular calcium level decreased significantly with the increase of BPA dose, while TET1 and Catsper1-4 expression level decrease with a dose-dependent relationship. Furthermore, TET1 overexpression promoted the proliferation of GC-2 cell, the increase of calcium ion concentration, and the expression level of Catsper1-4, while knockdown of TET1 leads to the opposite results. Mechanistically, TET1 expression promoted the hydroxymethylation of Catsper1-4 and reduced their methylation level. In addition, the expression level of Catsper1-4 was positively correlated with TET1 gene expression level in semen samples of the population. Our study revealed for the first time that TET1 gene regulates the expression of related molecules in the Catsper calcium signal pathway through its hydroxymethylation modification to affect the calcium level, thereby participating in the process of BPA induced damage. These results indicated that TET1 gene may be a potential biomarker of BPA induced male reproductive toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Bo Yuan
- Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, PR China; School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, 453003, PR China
| | - Hong-Qiang Chen
- Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, PR China; Department of Environmental Health, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, PR China
| | - Jing-Zhi Li
- Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, PR China; School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, 453003, PR China
| | - Shi-Meng Zhou
- Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, PR China; School of Public Health, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, PR China
| | - Yong Zeng
- Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, PR China; Department of Environmental Health, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, PR China
| | - Jun Fan
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400042, PR China
| | - Zhe Zhang
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400042, PR China
| | - Jin-Yi Liu
- Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, PR China
| | - Jia Cao
- Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, PR China
| | - Wen-Bin Liu
- Institute of Toxicology, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, PR China; Department of Environmental Health, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, 400038, PR China.
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Che Q, Wang W, Duan P, Fang F, Liu C, Zhou T, Li H, Xiong C, Zhao K. Downregulation of miR-322 promotes apoptosis of GC-2 cell by targeting Ddx3x. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2019; 17:63. [PMID: 31382975 PMCID: PMC6683552 DOI: 10.1186/s12958-019-0506-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2019] [Accepted: 07/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aberrant DNA damage of germ cells, which impairs spermatogenesis and lowers fertility, is an important factor contributing to male infertility. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a significant role in the expression and regulation of multiple genes during spermatogenesis. Our previous study found much lower miR-424 (murine homologue miR-322) levels in the seminal plasma of infertile patients with high DFI(DNA Fragmentation Index)than in the fertile group. However, the mechanism by which miR-322 regulates germ cells during spermatogenesis remains unknown. METHODS In this study, we successfully established a GC-2 cell model of miR-322 downregulation resulting in impaired spermatogenesis. And the cell viability were measured using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8; Dojindo, Japan) and MTT (Sigma Aldrich, USA). Immunofluorescence assay was used to detect cell damage and the expression of apoptosis-related proteins were measured using real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot analysis. Target genes were predicted and verified by online database retrieval and Dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. RESULTS We observed evident decreases in the cell viability of GC-2 cells along with remarkable increases in apoptosis after miR-322 inhibition. While the expression of apoptosis-related genes, including Bax and caspases 3, 9, and 8 greatly increased in GC-2 cells after miR-322 downregulation, that of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 gene decreased. Ddx3x was found to be the direct target of miR-322. MiR-424 was then detected in the seminal plasma of infertile patients with high DFI(DNA Fragmentation Index); this miRNA was down-regulated but Ddx3x was upregulated in the infertile group. CONCLUSION MiR-322 plays a key role in promoting GC-2 cell apoptosis by directly regulating Ddx3x expression. MiR-424 downregulation in infertile men may induce spermatogenic cell apoptosis and sperm DNA damage by directly acting on the target gene locus Ddx3x, resulting in male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Che
- Family Planning Research Institute/Center of Reproductive Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Family Planning Research Institute/Center of Reproductive Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Peng Duan
- Family Planning Research Institute/Center of Reproductive Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Fang Fang
- Family Planning Research Institute/Center of Reproductive Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Chunyan Liu
- Family Planning Research Institute/Center of Reproductive Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Ting Zhou
- Family Planning Research Institute/Center of Reproductive Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Honggang Li
- Family Planning Research Institute/Center of Reproductive Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Wuhan Tongji Reproductive Medicine Hospital, Wuhan, 430014, China
| | - Chengling Xiong
- Family Planning Research Institute/Center of Reproductive Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
- Wuhan Tongji Reproductive Medicine Hospital, Wuhan, 430014, China
| | - Kai Zhao
- Family Planning Research Institute/Center of Reproductive Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China.
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Chen R, Deng L, Yu X, Wang X, Zhu L, Yu T, Zhang Y, Zhou B, Xu W, Chen L, Luo H. MiR-122 partly mediates the ochratoxin A-induced GC-2 cell apoptosis. Toxicol In Vitro 2015; 30:264-73. [PMID: 26514935 DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2015.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2015] [Revised: 09/11/2015] [Accepted: 10/25/2015] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin which has been shown to be nephrotoxic, hepatotoxic, and immunotoxic to animals, and mainly exists in the mildew grain. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate a wide variety of cellular processes. However, the toxic effects of OTA on the germ cell and whether miRNAs mediate the effects of OTA-induced GC-2 cell apoptosis are still not clear. In the present study, OTA treatment resulted in a dose-dependent increase apoptosis in GC-2 cells. MiR-122 was increased in the OTA-treated GC-2 cells. It showed that Bcl-w was down-regulated after OTA treatment, and caspase-3 was obviously activated. Cyclin G1 (CCNG1) was significantly decreased, and inversely the expression of p53 was increased. Inhibition of miR-122 partly relieved the OTA-induced GC-2 cell apoptosis. These results indicate that OTA induces GC-2 cell apoptosis by causing the increase of caspase-3 activity and that miR-122 partly mediates the OTA-induced cell apoptosis.
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