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Chen T, Zhou Y, Liu X, Liu Y, Yuan J, Wang Z. Adenylyl cyclase 3 deficiency results in dysfunction of blood-testis barrier during mouse spermiogenesis. Theriogenology 2021; 180:40-52. [PMID: 34953349 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2021.12.017] [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: 07/18/2021] [Revised: 12/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Human infertility has become a global medical and social health problem. Mice deficient in type 3 adenylyl cyclase (AC3), a key enzyme that synthesizes cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), develop male infertility, although the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unknown. We performed a label-free quantitative (LFQ) proteomics analyses to identify testicular differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) and their respective biological processes. Furthermore, histological examination demonstrated that AC3 deficiency in mice led to mild impairment of spermatogenesis, including the thinning of seminiferous epithelium and local lesions in the testis. We further identified that the integrity of the blood-testis barrier (BTB) was impaired in AC3 knockout (AC3-/-) mice accompanied with the reduction in the expression of tight junctions (TJs) and ectoplasmic specialization (ESs)-related proteins. In addition, the deletion of AC3 in mice also reduced the germ cell proliferation, increased apoptosis, and decreased lipid deposition in the seminiferous tubules. Collectively, our results revealed a role of AC3 in regulating the BTB integrity during spermatogenesis. Thus, our findings provide new perspectives for future research in male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingrong Chen
- College of Life Sciences, Institute of Life Science and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, Hebei, PR China
| | - Yanfen Zhou
- College of Life Sciences, Institute of Life Science and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, Hebei, PR China
| | - Xinxia Liu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding, 071030, Hebei, PR China
| | - Yuxin Liu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding, 071030, Hebei, PR China
| | - Junkai Yuan
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding, 071030, Hebei, PR China
| | - Zhenshan Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Institute of Life Science and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002, Hebei, PR China.
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152
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Akar F, Yildirim OG, Yucel Tenekeci G, Tunc AS, Demirel MA, Sadi G. Dietary high-fructose reduces barrier proteins and activates mitogenic signalling in the testis of a rat model: Regulatory effects of kefir supplementation. Andrologia 2021; 54:e14342. [PMID: 34872158 DOI: 10.1111/and.14342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
There are limited data on the influence of fructose rich diet on the male reproductive system. Kefir may have health beneficial effects, but its mechanism of action remains mostly unclear. Herein, we investigated the impact of dietary high fructose on tight junction proteins and mitogenic pathways in rat testis as well as their modulation by kefir supplementation. Twenty-two male Wistar rats (4 weeks old) were divided into the following three groups: Control; Fructose; Fructose + Kefir. Fructose was added to drinking water at concentration of 20% and administered to the rats for 15 weeks and kefir was supplemented by gavage once a day during final 6 weeks. Dietary fructose-induced testicular degeneration was associated with the downregulation of the blood-testis barrier proteins, claudin-11 and N-cadherin as well as SIRT1 expression in testicular tissue of rats. However, p38MAPK, p-p38MAPK and p-ERK1/2 levels were increased in testis of fructose-fed rats. Interestingly, JNK1 and p-JNK1 protein levels were decreased following this dietary intervention. Raf1, ERK1/2, and caspase 3 and TUNEL staining of the testis reveal the activation of apoptosis due to fructose intake. Kefir supplementation markedly promoted the expression of claudin-11, SIRT1, JNK1 and p-JNK1 but suppressed testicular mitogenic and apoptotic factors in fructose-fed rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatma Akar
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Onur Gokhan Yildirim
- Department of Pharmacy Services, Vocational School of Health Services, Artvin Coruh University, Artvin, Turkey
| | - Gozde Yucel Tenekeci
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Arda Selin Tunc
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Murside Ayse Demirel
- Laboratory Animals Breeding and Experimental Researches Center, Department of Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Gokhan Sadi
- Department of Biology, KO Science Faculty, Karamanoglu Mehmetbey University, Karaman, Turkey
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153
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Gupta A, Mandal K, Singh P, Sarkar R, Majumdar SS. Declining levels of miR-382-3p at puberty trigger the onset of spermatogenesis. MOLECULAR THERAPY-NUCLEIC ACIDS 2021; 26:192-207. [PMID: 34513304 PMCID: PMC8413679 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2021.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
A major change in the transcriptome of testicular Sertoli cells (Scs) at the onset of puberty enables them to induce robust spermatogenesis. Through comprehensive literature mining, we generated a list of genes crucial for Sc functioning and computationally predicted the microRNAs regulating them. Differential expression analysis of microRNAs in infant and pubertal rat Scs showed that miR-382-3p levels decline significantly in pubertal Scs. Interestingly, miR-382-3p was found to regulate genes like Ar and Wt1, which are crucial for functional competence of Scs. We generated a transgenic (Tg) mouse model in which pubertal decline of miR-382-3p was prevented by its overexpression in pubertal Scs. Elevated miR-382-3p restricted the functional maturation of Scs at puberty, leading to infertility. Prevention of decline in miR-382-3p expression in pubertal Scs was responsible for defective blood-testis barrier (BTB) formation, severe testicular defects, low epididymal sperm counts and loss of fertility in these mice. This provided substantial evidence that decline in levels of miR-382-3p at puberty is the essential trigger for onset of robust spermatogenesis at puberty. Hence, sustained high levels of miR-382-3p in pubertal Scs could be one of the underlying causes of idiopathic male infertility and should be considered for diagnosis and treatment of infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alka Gupta
- Cellular Endocrinology Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Kamal Mandal
- Cellular Endocrinology Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Parminder Singh
- Metabolic Research Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India
| | - Rajesh Sarkar
- Cellular Endocrinology Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Subeer S. Majumdar
- Cellular Endocrinology Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India
- Genes and Protein Engineering Laboratory, National Institute of Animal Biotechnology, Hyderabad, India
- Corresponding author: Subeer S. Majumdar, Cellular Endocrinology Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110067, India.
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154
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Misiakiewicz-Has K, Pilutin A, Wiszniewska B. Influence of hormonal imbalance on the integrity of seminiferous epithelium in the testes of adult rats chronically exposed to letrozole and rats exposed to soya isoflavones during the prenatal period, lactation, and up to sexual maturity. Reprod Biol 2021; 21:100562. [PMID: 34555686 DOI: 10.1016/j.repbio.2021.100562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The structural integrity of the germ cells in the seminiferous epithelium and the correct process of spermatogenesis are made possible by proteins that participate in the formation of different types of junctions. This study was performed on samples of the testes of 4 groups (2 experimental and 2 corresponding control) of male Wistar rats. In the first experimental group, the adult rats received letrozole - a nonsteroidal inhibitor of cytochrome P450 aromatase (P450arom). The second experimental group was exposed to soya isoflavones during the prenatal period, lactation, and up to sexual maturity. The aim of this study was to examine the immunoexpression of β-catenin, N-cadherin, occludin, connexin43, annexin V, and advanced glycation end products (AGE) in the seminiferous epithelium of rat testes with chronic estrogen deficiency and of rats exposed to soya isoflavones. Series of sections of the testes were stained using PAS and silver impregnation. Moreover, immunohistochemistry tests were performed. A semi-quantitative determination of protein immunoexpression was performed using Image J. The number of annexin V positive Sertoli cells per tubule were counted manually. Comparisons between the experimental and corresponding control groups were performed using a non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test. The most common alterations were prematurely sloughed germ cells in the lumen of the seminiferous tubules and invaginations of the seminiferous tubules. We observed a lower number of annexin V positive Sertoli cells and a lower expression of N-cadherin and occludin in the seminiferous epithelium of both groups of rats with hormonal imbalances. Moreover, a higher expression of AGE, a lower expression of connexin 43 and a lower amount of reticular fibers in the basal lamina of seminiferous tubules was present in rats treated with letrozole and a higher expression of β-catenin was found in rats exposed to soya isoflavones. The hormonal imbalance between androgens and estrogens resulted in a decreased number of annexin V positive Sertoli cells. This may be associated with a failed clearance of apoptotic germ cells that leads to disturbances in the blood-testis-barrier (BTB) by affecting the expression of junctional proteins in the seminiferous epithelium. Moreover, a decreased level of estrogens was also associated with an increased expression of AGEs and with a changed composition of basal lamina in the seminiferous tubules of rats. These changes could lead to germ cell sloughing and invaginations of the seminiferous tubules.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Misiakiewicz-Has
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, 70-111, Szczecin, Poland.
| | - A Pilutin
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, 70-111, Szczecin, Poland
| | - B Wiszniewska
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin, 70-111, Szczecin, Poland
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Yang ZJ, Wang YX, Zhao S, Hu N, Chen DM, Ma HM. SIRT 3 was involved in Lycium barbarum seed oil protection testis from oxidative stress: in vitro and in vivo analyses. PHARMACEUTICAL BIOLOGY 2021; 59:1314-1325. [PMID: 34569428 PMCID: PMC8475125 DOI: 10.1080/13880209.2021.1961822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Lycium barbarum L. (Solanaceae) seed oil (LBSO) exerts LBSO exerts protective effects in the testis in vivo and in vitro via upregulating SIRT3. OBJECTIVE This study evaluates the effects and mechanism of LBSO in the d-galactose (d-gal)-induced ageing testis. MATERIALS AND METHODS Male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats (n = 30, 8-week-old) were randomly divided into three groups: LBSO group (n = 10) where rats received subcutaneous injection of d-gal at 125 mg/kg/day for 8 weeks and intragastric administration of LBSO at 1000 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks, ageing model group (n = 10) received 8-week-sunbcutaneous injection of d-gal, and control group (n = 10) with same administration of normal saline. Lentivirus had established TM4 cells with SIRT3 overexpression or silencing before LBSO intervened in vitro. RESULTS Treatment with LBSO, the levels of INHB and testosterone both increased, compared to ageing model. In vitro, we found the ED50 of LBSO was 86.72 ± 1.49 and when the concentration of LBSO at 100 μg/mL to intervene TM4 cells, the number of cells increased from 8120 ± 676.2 to 15251 ± 1119, and the expression of SIRT3, HO-1, and SOD upregulated. However, HO-1 and SOD were dysregulated by silencing SIRT3. On the other hand, the expression of AMPK and PGC-1α upregulated as an effect of SIRT3 overexpression by lentivirus, meanwhile the same increasing trend of that being found in cells treated with LBSO, compared to control group. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS LBSO alleviated oxidative stress in d-gal-induced sub-acutely ageing testis and TM4 cells by suppressing the oxidative stress to mitochondria via SIRT3/AMPK/PGC-1α.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhang-Jie Yang
- Key Laboratory of Fertility Preservation and Maintenance of Ministry of Education in Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Yu-Xin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Fertility Preservation and Maintenance of Ministry of Education in Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Shuai Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Fertility Preservation and Maintenance of Ministry of Education in Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Na Hu
- Key Laboratory of Fertility Preservation and Maintenance of Ministry of Education in Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Dong-Mei Chen
- Institute of Human Stem Cell Research, The General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Hui-Ming Ma
- Key Laboratory of Fertility Preservation and Maintenance of Ministry of Education in Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
- College of Chinese medicine of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
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156
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Cen C, Wang F, Xiong K, Jiang L, Hou X. Protective effects of Coridius chinensis extracts on rat reproductive damage induced by manganese. Andrologia 2021; 54:e14326. [PMID: 34820869 PMCID: PMC9285684 DOI: 10.1111/and.14326] [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: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Manganese (Mn2+ ) is an environmental pollutant, and testis is one of the main target organs. Coridius chinensis (C. chinensis), a traditional Chinese medicine, has been shown widely used in treating various kinds of pain, nephropathy and erectile dysfunction. In our recent study, we found that Mn2+ exposure caused testicular injury could be rescued in part by the antioxidant activity of C. chinensis extracts (CcE). However, there is dearth of extensive knowledge on the therapeutic effects of C. chinensis on manganese-induced reproductive toxicity. In the present study, Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were administered manganese chloride alone or co-treated with CcE for 30 consecutive days. Results indicated that C. chinensis mediated suppression of spermatogenic dysfunction, and the number of apoptotic cells was significantly decreased in CcE-treated groups. Furthermore, the disintegrated testicular ultrastructural structure caused by Mn2+ was partially repaired in CcE-treated groups. C. chinensis significantly inhibited Mn2+ -induced decline in biomarkers of blood-testis barrier (BTB) including occludin, claudin1, zonula occludens-1 and junctional adhesion molecule 1, whereas it decreased the expression of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and c-Src. This study demonstrated that c-Src and FAK might be involved in the repair of Mn2+ -induced testicular injury by C. chinensis, but further research is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changhuo Cen
- Department of Cell Biology, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Fengyue Wang
- Department of Cell Biology, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Keyi Xiong
- Department of Cell Biology, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Lin Jiang
- Department of Cell Biology, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Xiaohui Hou
- Department of Cell Biology, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
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157
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Araujo SC, Bertolla RP. Protein markers of spermatogenesis and their potential use in the management of azoospermia. Expert Rev Proteomics 2021; 18:939-948. [PMID: 34812697 DOI: 10.1080/14789450.2021.2010548] [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: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Azoospermia, absence of sperm in the ejaculate is classified as obstructive (OA) and non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA). In OA, sperm are produced, but due to physical obstruction in the male reproductive tract, they are not released in the ejaculate. NOA, on the other hand, is defined as the absence of sperm in the ejaculate due to testicular dysfunction. In NOA, spermatogenesis is frequently preserved in specific sites, and proteomics studies have been employed in order to identify men with preserved spermatogenesis. AREAS COVERED Differential protein expression in patients with male infertility is an indicator of impaired spermatogenesis. Here, we reviewed proteins with a potential role as biomarkers of spermatogenesis that could help in the management of non-obstructive and obstructive azoospermia. The following keywords were used for bibliographic research: seminal plasma, proteomics, male infertility, nonobstructive, obstructive, azoospermia, oligospermia. EXPERT OPINION Biopsy is an invasive and potentially harmful technique for detecting spermatogenesis in men with OA and NOA. Seminal plasma proteins are highly promising as biomarkers for spermatogenesis. Current literature presents a number of potential candidate biomarkers for determining preserved spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia Costa Araujo
- Department of Surgery, Division of Urology, Human Reproduction Section, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Pimenta Bertolla
- Department of Surgery, Division of Urology, Human Reproduction Section, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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158
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Wei Y, Zhou Y, Long C, Wu H, Hong Y, Fu Y, Wang J, Wu Y, Shen L, Wei G. Polystyrene microplastics disrupt the blood-testis barrier integrity through ROS-Mediated imbalance of mTORC1 and mTORC2. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 289:117904. [PMID: 34371264 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
It has been found that polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) exposure leads to decreased sperm quality and quantity, and we aim to explore the underlying mechanisms. Therefore, we gave 20 mg/kg body weight (bw) and 40 mg/kg bw 4 μm and 10 μm PS-MPs to male Balb/c mice by gavage. RNA sequencing of testes was performed. After PS-MPs exposure, blood-testis barrier (BTB) integrity was impaired. Since cytoskeleton was closely related to BTB integrity maintenance, and cytoskeleton disorganization could be induced by PS-MPs exposure in the testis, which resulted in the truncation of actin filaments and disruption of BTB integrity. Such processes were attributed to the differential expression of Arp3 and Eps8 (two of the most important actin-binding proteins). According to the transcriptome sequencing results, we examined the oxidative stress level in the testes and Sertoli cells. We found that PS-MPs exposure induced increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, which destroyed the balance between mTORC1 and mTORC2 (the mTORC1 activity was increased, while the mTORC2 activity was decreased). In conclusion, PS-MPs induced the imbalance of mTORC1 and mTORC2 via the ROS burst, and altered the expression profile of actin-binding proteins, resulting in F-actin disorganization and reduced expression of junctional proteins in the BTB. Eventually PS-MPs led to BTB integrity disruption and spermatogenesis dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuexin Wei
- Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China; Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China
| | - Yu Zhou
- Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China; Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China
| | - Chunlan Long
- Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China
| | - Huan Wu
- Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China; Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China
| | - Yifan Hong
- Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China; Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China
| | - Yan Fu
- Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China; Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China
| | - Junke Wang
- Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China; Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China
| | - Yuhao Wu
- Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China; Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China
| | - Lianju Shen
- Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China.
| | - Guanghui Wei
- Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China
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159
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Gaynanova G, Vasileva L, Kashapov R, Kuznetsova D, Kushnazarova R, Tyryshkina A, Vasilieva E, Petrov K, Zakharova L, Sinyashin O. Self-Assembling Drug Formulations with Tunable Permeability and Biodegradability. Molecules 2021; 26:6786. [PMID: 34833877 PMCID: PMC8624506 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26226786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 11/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
This review focuses on key topics in the field of drug delivery related to the design of nanocarriers answering the biomedicine criteria, including biocompatibility, biodegradability, low toxicity, and the ability to overcome biological barriers. For these reasons, much attention is paid to the amphiphile-based carriers composed of natural building blocks, lipids, and their structural analogues and synthetic surfactants that are capable of self-assembly with the formation of a variety of supramolecular aggregates. The latter are dynamic structures that can be used as nanocontainers for hydrophobic drugs to increase their solubility and bioavailability. In this section, biodegradable cationic surfactants bearing cleavable fragments are discussed, with ester- and carbamate-containing analogs, as well as amino acid derivatives received special attention. Drug delivery through the biological barriers is a challenging task, which is highlighted by the example of transdermal method of drug administration. In this paper, nonionic surfactants are primarily discussed, including their application for the fabrication of nanocarriers, their surfactant-skin interactions, the mechanisms of modulating their permeability, and the factors controlling drug encapsulation, release, and targeted delivery. Different types of nanocarriers are covered, including niosomes, transfersomes, invasomes and chitosomes, with their morphological specificity, beneficial characteristics and limitations discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gulnara Gaynanova
- Arbuzov Institute of Organic and Physical Chemistry, FRC Kazan Scientific Center, Russian Academy of Sciences, Arbuzov Street 8, 420088 Kazan, Russia; (L.V.); (R.K.); (D.K.); (R.K.); (A.T.); (E.V.); (K.P.); (L.Z.); (O.S.)
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Kumaria A, Robertson IJA, Tolias CM. Autoimmunity following traumatic brain injury: hypopituitarism and beyond. Br J Neurosurg 2021; 35:796. [DOI: 10.1080/02688697.2019.1645300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ashwin Kumaria
- Department of Neurosurgery, Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK
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161
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Wu S, Frank I, Derby N, Martinelli E, Cheng CY. HIV-1 Establishes a Sanctuary Site in the Testis by Permeating the BTB Through Changes in Cytoskeletal Organization. Endocrinology 2021; 162:6338140. [PMID: 34343260 PMCID: PMC8407494 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqab156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Studies suggest that HIV-1 invades the testis through initial permeation of the blood-testis barrier (BTB). The selectivity of the BTB to antiretroviral drugs makes this site a sanctuary for the virus. Little is known about how HIV-1 crosses the BTB and invades the testis. Herein, we used 2 approaches to examine the underlying mechanism(s) by which HIV-1 permeates the BTB and gains entry into the seminiferous epithelium. First, we examined if recombinant Tat protein was capable of perturbing the BTB and making the barrier leaky, using the primary rat Sertoli cell in vitro model that mimics the BTB in vivo. Second, we used HIV-1-infected Sup-T1 cells to investigate the activity of HIV-1 infection on cocultured Sertoli cells. Using both approaches, we found that the Sertoli cell tight junction permeability barrier was considerably perturbed and that HIV-1 effectively permeates the BTB by inducing actin-, microtubule-, vimentin-, and septin-based cytoskeletal changes in Sertoli cells. These studies suggest that HIV-1 directly perturbs BTB function, potentially through the activity of the Tat protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siwen Wu
- The Second Affiliated Hospital & Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China
- Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, 1230 York Ave, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Ines Frank
- Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, 1230 York Ave, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Nina Derby
- Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, 1230 York Ave, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Center for Global Infectious Disease Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Elena Martinelli
- Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, 1230 York Ave, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - C Yan Cheng
- The Second Affiliated Hospital & Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China
- Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, 1230 York Ave, New York, NY 10065, USA
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162
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Meiosis initiation: a story of two sexes in all creatures great and small. Biochem J 2021; 478:3791-3805. [PMID: 34709374 PMCID: PMC8589329 DOI: 10.1042/bcj20210412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Meiosis facilitates diversity across individuals and serves as a major driver of evolution. However, understanding how meiosis begins is complicated by fundamental differences that exist between sexes and species. Fundamental meiotic research is further hampered by a current lack of human meiotic cells lines. Consequently, much of what we know relies on data from model organisms. However, contextualising findings from yeast, worms, flies and mice can be challenging, due to marked differences in both nomenclature and the relative timing of meiosis. In this review, we set out to combine current knowledge of signalling and transcriptional pathways that control meiosis initiation across the sexes in a variety of organisms. Furthermore, we highlight the emerging links between meiosis initiation and oncogenesis, which might explain the frequent re-expression of normally silent meiotic genes in a variety of human cancers.
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163
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Wang C, Jin C, Tu W, Jin Y. Maternal exposure of mice to sodium p-perfluorous nonenoxybenzene sulfonate causes endocrine disruption in both dams and offspring. Endocr J 2021; 68:1165-1177. [PMID: 33980773 DOI: 10.1507/endocrj.ej20-0781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The toxicity of certain novel perfluoroalkyl substances (PFCs) has attracted increasing attention. However, the toxic effects of sodium p-perfluorous nonenoxybenzene sulfonate (OBS) on the endocrine system have not been elucidated. In this study, OBS was added to the drinking water during the pregnancy and lactation of the healthy female mice at dietary levels of 0.0 mg/L (CON), 0.5 mg/L (OBS-L), and 5.0 mg/L (OBS-H). OBS exposure during the pregnancy and lactation resulted in the presence of OBS residues in the placenta and fetus. We also analyzed physiological and biochemical parameters and gene expression levels in mice of the F0 and F1 generations after maternal OBS exposure. The total serum cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels were significantly increased in female mice of the F0 generation. The androgen levels in the serum and the ovarian mRNA levels of androgen receptor (AR) also tended to increase after maternal OBS exposure in the F0 generation mice. Moreover, maternal OBS exposure altered the mRNA expression of endocrine-related genes in male mice of F1 generation. Notably, the serum TC and LDL-C levels were significantly increased in 8-weeks-old male mice of the F1 generation, and the serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels were decreased in 24-week-old male mice of the F1 generation. These results indicated that maternal OBS exposure can interfere with endocrine homeostasis in the F0 and F1 generations. Therefore, exposure to OBS during pregnancy and lactation has the potential toxic effects on the dams and male offspring, which cannot be overlooked.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caiyun Wang
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310032, China
| | - Cuiyuan Jin
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310032, China
| | - Wenqing Tu
- Research Institute of Poyang Lake, Jiangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanchang 330029, China
| | - Yuanxiang Jin
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310032, China
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164
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Chereshnev VA, Pichugova SV, Beikin YB, Chereshneva MV, Iukhta AI, Stroev YI, Churilov LP. Pathogenesis of Autoimmune Male Infertility: Juxtacrine, Paracrine, and Endocrine Dysregulation. PATHOPHYSIOLOGY 2021; 28:471-488. [PMID: 35366245 PMCID: PMC8830464 DOI: 10.3390/pathophysiology28040030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
According to global data, there is a male reproductive potential decrease. Pathogenesis of male infertility is often associated with autoimmunity towards sperm antigens essential for fertilization. Antisperm autoantibodies (ASAs) have immobilizing and cytotoxic properties, impairing spermatogenesis, causing sperm agglutination, altering spermatozoa motility and acrosomal reaction, and thus preventing ovum fertilization. Infertility diagnosis requires a mandatory check for the ASAs. The concept of the blood–testis barrier is currently re-formulated, with an emphasis on informational paracrine and juxtacrine effects, rather than simple anatomical separation. The etiology of male infertility includes both autoimmune and non-autoimmune diseases but equally develops through autoimmune links of pathogenesis. Varicocele commonly leads to infertility due to testicular ischemic damage, venous stasis, local hyperthermia, and hypoandrogenism. However, varicocelectomy can alter the blood–testis barrier, facilitating ASAs production as well. There are contradictory data on the role of ASAs in the pathogenesis of varicocele-related infertility. Infection and inflammation both promote ASAs production due to “danger concept” mechanisms and because of antigen mimicry. Systemic pro-autoimmune influences like hyperprolactinemia, hypoandrogenism, and hypothyroidism also facilitate ASAs production. The diagnostic value of various ASAs has not yet been clearly attributed, and their cut-levels have not been determined in sera nor in ejaculate. The assessment of the autoimmunity role in the pathogenesis of male infertility is ambiguous, so the purpose of this review is to show the effects of ASAs on the pathogenesis of male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeriy A. Chereshnev
- Institute of Immunology and Physiology, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 620049 Yekaterinburg, Russia; (V.A.C.); (S.V.P.); (M.V.C.)
| | - Svetlana V. Pichugova
- Institute of Immunology and Physiology, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 620049 Yekaterinburg, Russia; (V.A.C.); (S.V.P.); (M.V.C.)
- State Autonomous Healthcare Institution of the Sverdlovsk Region “Clinical and Diagnostic Center” (GAUZ SO “CDC” Clinical Diagnostic Center), 620144 Yekaterinburg, Russia;
| | - Yakov B. Beikin
- State Autonomous Healthcare Institution of the Sverdlovsk Region “Clinical and Diagnostic Center” (GAUZ SO “CDC” Clinical Diagnostic Center), 620144 Yekaterinburg, Russia;
| | - Margarita V. Chereshneva
- Institute of Immunology and Physiology, Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 620049 Yekaterinburg, Russia; (V.A.C.); (S.V.P.); (M.V.C.)
| | - Angelina I. Iukhta
- Laboratory of the Mosaics of Autoimmunity, Saint Petersburg State University, 199304 Saint Petersburg, Russia; (Y.I.S.); (L.P.C.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Yuri I. Stroev
- Laboratory of the Mosaics of Autoimmunity, Saint Petersburg State University, 199304 Saint Petersburg, Russia; (Y.I.S.); (L.P.C.)
| | - Leonid P. Churilov
- Laboratory of the Mosaics of Autoimmunity, Saint Petersburg State University, 199304 Saint Petersburg, Russia; (Y.I.S.); (L.P.C.)
- Saint Petersburg Research Institute of Phthisiopulmonology, 191036 Saint Petersburg, Russia
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165
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Ješeta M, Navrátilová J, Franzová K, Fialková S, Kempisty B, Ventruba P, Žáková J, Crha I. Overview of the Mechanisms of Action of Selected Bisphenols and Perfluoroalkyl Chemicals on the Male Reproductive Axes. Front Genet 2021; 12:692897. [PMID: 34646297 PMCID: PMC8502804 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.692897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Male fertility has been deteriorating worldwide for considerable time, with the greatest deterioration recorded mainly in the United States, Europe countries, and Australia. That is, especially in countries where an abundance of chemicals called endocrine disruptors has repeatedly been reported, both in the environment and in human matrices. Human exposure to persistent and non-persistent chemicals is ubiquitous and associated with endocrine-disrupting effects. This group of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC) can act as agonists or antagonists of hormone receptors and can thus significantly affect a number of physiological processes. It can even negatively affect human reproduction with an impact on the development of gonads and gametogenesis, fertilization, and the subsequent development of embryos. The negative effects of endocrine disruptors on sperm gametogenesis and male fertility in general have been investigated and repeatedly demonstrated in experimental and epidemiological studies. Male reproduction is affected by endocrine disruptors via their effect on testicular development, impact on estrogen and androgen receptors, potential epigenetic effect, production of reactive oxygen species or direct effect on spermatozoa and other cells of testicular tissue. Emerging scientific evidence suggests that the increasing incidence of male infertility is associated with the exposure to persistent and non-persistent endocrine-disrupting chemicals such as bisphenols and perfluoroalkyl chemicals (PFAS). These chemicals may impact men’s fertility through various mechanisms. This study provides an overview of the mechanisms of action common to persistent (PFAS) and nonpersistent (bisphenols) EDC on male fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Ješeta
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine Masaryk University and University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czechia.,Department of Veterinary Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czechia
| | - Jana Navrátilová
- RECETOX Centre, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Kateřina Franzová
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine Masaryk University and University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czechia
| | - Sandra Fialková
- RECETOX Centre, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Bartozs Kempisty
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.,Department of Anatomy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.,Department of Veterinary Medicine, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Torun, Poland.,Prestage Department of Poultry Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, United States
| | - Pavel Ventruba
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine Masaryk University and University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czechia
| | - Jana Žáková
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine Masaryk University and University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czechia
| | - Igor Crha
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine Masaryk University and University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czechia.,Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
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166
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Fu Y, Wei Y, Zhou Y, Wu H, Hong Y, Long C, Wang J, Wu Y, Wu S, Shen L, Wei G. Wnt5a Regulates Junctional Function of Sertoli cells Through PCP-mediated Effects on mTORC1 and mTORC2. Endocrinology 2021; 162:6334711. [PMID: 34338758 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqab149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The blood-testis barrier (BTB) and apical ectoplasmic specialization (ES), which are synchronized through the crosstalk of Sertoli cells and Sertoli germ cells, are required for spermatogenesis and sperm release. Here, we show that Wnt5a, a noncanonical Wnt signaling pathway ligand, is predominately expressed in both the BTB and apical ES and has a specific expression pattern during the seminiferous epithelium cycle. We employed siRNA to knockdown Wnt5a expression in testis and Sertoli cells, and then identified elongated spermatids that lost their polarity and were embedded in the seminiferous epithelium. Moreover, phagosomes were found near the tubule lumen. These defects were due to BTB and apical ES disruption. We also verified that the expression level and/or location of BTB-associated proteins, actin binding proteins (ABPs), and F-actin was changed after Wnt5a knockdown in vivo and in vitro. Additionally, we demonstrated that Wnt5a regulated actin dynamics through Ror2-mediated mTORC1 and mTORC2. This study clarified the molecular mechanism of Wnt5a in Sertoli cell junctions through the planar cell polarity (PCP) signaling pathway. Our findings could provide an experimental basis for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of male infertility caused by Sertoli cell junction impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Fu
- Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China
- Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders; National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders; China International Science and Technology Cooperation base of Child development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China
| | - Yuexin Wei
- Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China
- Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders; National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders; China International Science and Technology Cooperation base of Child development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China
| | - Yu Zhou
- Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China
- Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders; National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders; China International Science and Technology Cooperation base of Child development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China
| | - Huan Wu
- Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China
- Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders; National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders; China International Science and Technology Cooperation base of Child development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China
| | - Yifan Hong
- Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China
- Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders; National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders; China International Science and Technology Cooperation base of Child development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China
| | - Chunlan Long
- Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders; National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders; China International Science and Technology Cooperation base of Child development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China
| | - Junke Wang
- Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China
- Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders; National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders; China International Science and Technology Cooperation base of Child development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China
| | - Yuhao Wu
- Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China
- Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders; National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders; China International Science and Technology Cooperation base of Child development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China
| | - Shengde Wu
- Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders; National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders; China International Science and Technology Cooperation base of Child development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China
| | - Lianju Shen
- Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders; National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders; China International Science and Technology Cooperation base of Child development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China
| | - Guanghui Wei
- Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China
- Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders; National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders; China International Science and Technology Cooperation base of Child development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China
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167
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Thomas PA, Schafler ED, Ruff SE, Voisin M, Ha S, Logan SK. UXT in Sertoli cells is required for blood-testis barrier integrity†. Biol Reprod 2021; 103:880-891. [PMID: 32678429 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioaa121] [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: 01/16/2020] [Revised: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Spermatogenesis is a complex process that establishes male fertility and involves proper communication between the germline (spermatozoa) and the somatic tissue (Sertoli cells). Many factors that are important for spermatozoa production are also required for Sertoli cell function. Recently, we showed that the transcriptional cofactor ubiquitously expressed transcript (UXT) encodes a protein that is essential in germ cells for spermatogenesis and fertility. However, the role of UXT within Sertoli cells and how it affects Sertoli cell function was still unclear. Here we describe a novel role for UXT in the Sertoli cell's ability to support spermatogenesis. We find that the conditional deletion of Uxt in Sertoli cells results in smaller testis size and weight, which coincided with a loss of germ cells in a subset of seminiferous tubules. In addition, the deletion of Uxt has no impact on Sertoli cell abundance or maturity, as they express markers of mature Sertoli cells. Gene expression analysis reveals that the deletion of Uxt in Sertoli cells reduces the transcription of genes involved in the tight junctions of the blood-testis barrier (BTB). Furthermore, tracer experiments and electron microscopy reveal that the BTB is permeable in UXT KO animals. These findings broaden our understanding of UXT's role in Sertoli cells and its contribution to the structural integrity of the BTB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phillip A Thomas
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Eric D Schafler
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sophie E Ruff
- Department of Urology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.,Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Maud Voisin
- Department of Microbiology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Susan Ha
- Department of Urology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Susan K Logan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.,Department of Urology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
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168
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Lei WL, Li YY, Meng TG, Ning Y, Sun SM, Zhang CH, Gui Y, Wang ZB, Qian WP, Sun QY. Specific deletion of protein phosphatase 6 catalytic subunit in Sertoli cells leads to disruption of spermatogenesis. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:883. [PMID: 34580275 PMCID: PMC8476514 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-04172-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Protein phosphatase 6 (PP6) is a member of the PP2A-like subfamily, which plays significant roles in numerous fundamental biological activities. We found that PPP6C plays important roles in male germ cells recently. Spermatogenesis is supported by the Sertoli cells in the seminiferous epithelium. In this study, we crossed Ppp6cF/F mice with AMH-Cre mice to gain mutant mice with specific depletion of the Ppp6c gene in the Sertoli cells. We discovered that the PPP6C cKO male mice were absolutely infertile and germ cells were largely lost during spermatogenesis. By combing phosphoproteome with bioinformatics analysis, we showed that the phosphorylation status of β-catenin at S552 (a marker of adherens junctions) was significantly upregulated in mutant mice. Abnormal β-catenin accumulation resulted in impaired testicular junction integrity, thus led to abnormal structure and functions of BTB. Taken together, our study reveals a novel function for PPP6C in male germ cell survival and differentiation by regulating the cell-cell communication through dephosphorylating β-catenin at S552.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Long Lei
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, 518036, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
- Guangdong and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Male Reproductive Medicine and Genetics, Institute of Urology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen PKU-HKUST Medical Center, Shenzhen, 518036, China
| | - Yuan-Yuan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Tie-Gang Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- Fertility Preservation Lab, Guangdong-Hong Kong Metabolism & Reproduction Joint Laboratory, Reproductive Medicine Center, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, 510317, China
| | - Yan Ning
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Si-Min Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Chun-Hui Zhang
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, 518036, China
- Guangdong and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Male Reproductive Medicine and Genetics, Institute of Urology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen PKU-HKUST Medical Center, Shenzhen, 518036, China
| | - Yaoting Gui
- Guangdong and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Male Reproductive Medicine and Genetics, Institute of Urology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen PKU-HKUST Medical Center, Shenzhen, 518036, China
| | - Zhen-Bo Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
| | - Wei-Ping Qian
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, 518036, China.
- Guangdong and Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Male Reproductive Medicine and Genetics, Institute of Urology, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen PKU-HKUST Medical Center, Shenzhen, 518036, China.
| | - Qing-Yuan Sun
- Fertility Preservation Lab, Guangdong-Hong Kong Metabolism & Reproduction Joint Laboratory, Reproductive Medicine Center, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, 510317, China.
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169
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Gerez J, Gomes A, Erthal R, Fernandes G, Matos R, Verri W, Gloria E, Bracarense A. Effects of deoxynivalenol exposure at peripuberty over testicles of rats: structural and functional alterations. WORLD MYCOTOXIN J 2021. [DOI: 10.3920/wmj2020.2667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Deoxynivalenol (DON) is related to reduced reproductive performance in males and females in several species. Children and adolescents showed a high risk of exposure to DON, however, no study has evaluated reproductive effects of DON at puberty. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of DON at peripuberty on the testicles of pubertal rats. To achieve this, 10 Wistar rats (28 days old) were fed for 28 days with a DON-contaminated diet (9.4 mg/kg) or a control diet. After the experimental period, rats (56 days old) were euthanised and the following evaluations were performed in the testicles: dynamics of spermatogenesis, tubular morphometry, number of Sertoli cells and Leydig cells, analysis of caspase-3 expression, and the index of cell proliferation using the nucleolus organising regions (NOR) method. Ingestion of DON-contaminated diet induced a significant reduction in the number of Sertoli and Leydig cells and the number of seminiferous tubules in stage XIV. A significant increase in the number of NORs in seminiferous tubules in stage I-VI was observed in animals receiving the DON diet. No significant difference was noted in tubular morphometry or caspase-3 expression. Taken together, our results unravelled that the peripubertal exposure to DON compromised the testicular structure of pubertal rats, changing the dynamics of spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- J.R. Gerez
- Laboratory of Animal Pathology, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid, km 380, 86057-970, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - A.L.P.L. Gomes
- Laboratory of Animal Pathology, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid, km 380, 86057-970, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - R.P. Erthal
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Metabolic Reproductive Disorders, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid, km 380, 86057-970, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - G.S.A. Fernandes
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Metabolic Reproductive Disorders, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid, km 380, 86057-970, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - R.L.N. Matos
- Laboratory of Animal Pathology, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid, km 380, 86057-970, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - W.A. Verri
- Laboratory of Pain, Inflammation, Neuropathy and Cancer, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid, km 380, 86057-970, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - E.M. Gloria
- Department of Biological Sciences, Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - A.P.F.R.L. Bracarense
- Laboratory of Animal Pathology, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Rodovia Celso Garcia Cid, km 380, 86057-970, Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
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170
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Jenardhanan P, Panneerselvam M, Mathur PP. Use of Molecular Modeling to Study Spermatogenesis: An Overview Using Proteins in Sertoli Cells. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1288:205-214. [PMID: 34453738 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-77779-1_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Computational structure prediction and analysis helps in understanding the structure and function of varied proteins, which otherwise becomes implausible to understand by experimental procedures. Computational techniques prove to be instrumental in understanding the molecular mechanisms that underlies physiological processes and thereby also assist in identification of potent inhibitors. Spermatogenesis, being an important cellular process that decides the fate of the progeny, holds numerous molecular interaction data, which when identified and visualized with computational structural insights, might yield a cohesive and clear-cut perception to the functionality of several proteins involved. The present chapter deals with a few selected applications of computational structure prediction towards understanding the structure of proteins and highlights how these insights are useful in providing a better understanding of different processes in spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Manivel Panneerselvam
- Department of Biotechnology, BJM School of Biosciences, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India
| | - Premendu P Mathur
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Pondicherry University, Puducherry, India.
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171
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Ferrer P, Clement TM. A FAKtual Retelling of Blood-Testis Barrier and Cytoskeletal Regulation. Endocrinology 2021; 162:6255719. [PMID: 33905486 PMCID: PMC8294681 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqab086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Ferrer
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77845-4466, USA
- Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77845-4466, USA
| | - Tracy M Clement
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77845-4466, USA
- Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77845-4466, USA
- Correspondence: Tracy M. Clement, 4466 TAMU, College Station, TX 77845-4466, USA.
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172
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Hill MA, Kwon JH, Gerry B, Hardy WA, Walkowiak OA, Kavarana MN, Nadig SN, Rajab TK. Immune Privilege of Heart Valves. Front Immunol 2021; 12:731361. [PMID: 34447390 PMCID: PMC8383064 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.731361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune privilege is an evolutionary adaptation that protects vital tissues with limited regenerative capacity from collateral damage by the immune response. Classical examples include the anterior chamber of the eye and the brain. More recently, the placenta, testes and articular cartilage were found to have similar immune privilege. What all of these tissues have in common is their vital function for evolutionary fitness and a limited regenerative capacity. Immune privilege is clinically relevant, because corneal transplantation and meniscal transplantation do not require immunosuppression. The heart valves also serve a vital function and have limited regenerative capacity after damage. Moreover, experimental and clinical evidence from heart valve transplantation suggests that the heart valves are spared from alloimmune injury. Here we review this evidence and propose the concept of heart valves as immune privileged sites. This concept has important clinical implications for heart valve transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan Ashley Hill
- College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Jennie H Kwon
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Brielle Gerry
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - William A Hardy
- College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Olivia Agata Walkowiak
- College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Minoo N Kavarana
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - Satish N Nadig
- Division of Transplant Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
| | - T Konrad Rajab
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
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173
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Fathi M, Vakili K, Aliaghaei A, Nematollahi S, Peirouvi T, Shalizar-Jalali A. Coronavirus disease and male fertility: a systematic review. MIDDLE EAST FERTILITY SOCIETY JOURNAL 2021; 26:26. [PMID: 34421291 PMCID: PMC8365281 DOI: 10.1186/s43043-021-00073-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Based on the information from other SARS-CoV infections in the patients recovered from COVID-19, particularly cases in the reproductive age, gonadal function evaluation and andrological consultation comprising semen analysis are recommended. Main body Based on the COVID-19 infected patients' seminal fluid analyses, SARS-CoV-2 may employ the male reproductive system as a transmission pathway. It has been also demonstrated that angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) can be strongly expressed at the protein levels in the testicular cells. The high expression of ACE2 in testes suggests that testes in the COVID-19 infected males can have an important role in the viral persistence and this subject needs further investigations. Several researchers have examined males recovered from COVID-19, but still, large-scale experiments are needed to determine the effects of SARS-CoV-2 on the male reproductive system as well as viral transmission risk. Conclusion Comprehensive researches are required to figure out the presence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in seminal fluid as well as its sexual transmissibility and impact on sperm characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mobina Fathi
- Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Kimia Vakili
- Student Research Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Abbas Aliaghaei
- Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shahrzad Nematollahi
- Men's Health and Reproductive Health Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Tahmineh Peirouvi
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Ali Shalizar-Jalali
- Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran
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174
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Blockade of Autocrine CCL5 Responses Inhibits Zika Virus Persistence and Spread in Human Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells. mBio 2021; 12:e0196221. [PMID: 34399621 PMCID: PMC8406327 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01962-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) is a neurovirulent flavivirus that uniquely causes fetal microcephaly, is sexually transmitted, and persists in patients for up to 6 months. ZIKV persistently infects human brain microvascular endothelial cells (hBMECs) that form the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and enables viral spread to neuronal compartments. We found that CCL5, a chemokine with prosurvival effects on immune cells, was highly secreted by ZIKV-infected hBMECs. Although roles for CCL5 in endothelial cell (EC) survival remain unknown, the presence of the CCL5 receptors CCR3 and CCR5 on ECs suggested that CCL5 could promote ZIKV persistence in hBMECs. We found that exogenous CCL5 induced extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) phosphorylation in hBMECs and that ERK1/2 cell survival signaling was similarly activated by ZIKV infection. Neutralizing antibodies to CCL5, CCR3, or CCR5 inhibited persistent ZIKV infection of hBMECs. While knockout (KO) of CCL5 failed to prevent ZIKV infection of hBMECs, at 3 days postinfection (dpi), we observed a >90% reduction in ZIKV-infected CCL5-KO hBMECs and a multilog reduction in ZIKV titers. In contrast, the addition of CCL5 to CCL5-KO hBMECs dose-dependently rescued ZIKV persistence in hBMECs. Inhibiting CCL5 responses using CCR3 (UCB35625) and CCR5 (maraviroc) receptor antagonists reduced the number of ZIKV-infected hBMECs and ZIKV titers (50% inhibitory concentrations [IC50s] of 2.5 to 12 μM), without cytotoxicity (50% cytotoxic concentration [CC50] of >80 μM). These findings demonstrate that ZIKV-induced CCL5 directs autocrine CCR3/CCR5 activation of ERK1/2 survival responses that are required for ZIKV to persistently infect hBMECs. Our results establish roles for CCL5 in ZIKV persistence and suggest the potential for CCL5 receptor antagonists to therapeutically inhibit ZIKV spread and neurovirulence.
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175
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Abstract
The rapid spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has placed a global challenge on both healthcare and society. So far, studies have shown that men are more prone to become ill than women and are more likely to die compared to female patients. Higher rates of positive cases and fatality in men than women have drawn the attention of scientists to investigate the possible impacts of SARS-CoV-2 on the male reproductive system. In this review, we tried to summarise so far findings on the effect of the SARS-CoV-2 on the male reproductive function to further assess the potential risks of this novel coronavirus on male reproductive health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marziye Farsimadan
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran
| | - Mohammad Motamedifar
- Department of Bacteriology and Virology, Shiraz Medical School, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
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176
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Abstract
There is no nonhormonal contraceptive pill for men, although hundreds of genes have been identified to play roles during spermatogenesis and fertilization in the male reproductive tract. To address the absence of contraceptive drugs for men, we established a DNA-encoded chemistry technology (DEC-Tec) platform. Our drug discovery campaign on BRDT, a validated spermatogenic-specific contraceptive target, yielded rapid discovery of potent and specific inhibitors of the second bromodomain of BRDT that have unique binding characteristics to BRDT-BD2 relative to BRDT-BD1. Our study emphasizes the robustness and validation of the DEC-Tec platform where the obtained structure–affinity relationship data would allow us to identify specific protein binders immediately without performing exhaustive medicinal chemistry optimization of compounds with potential as male contraceptives. Bromodomain testis (BRDT), a member of the bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) subfamily that includes the cancer targets BRD2, BRD3, and BRD4, is a validated contraceptive target. All BET subfamily members have two tandem bromodomains (BD1 and BD2). Knockout mice lacking BRDT-BD1 or both bromodomains are infertile. Treatment of mice with JQ1, a BET BD1/BD2 nonselective inhibitor with the highest affinity for BRD4, disrupts spermatogenesis and reduces sperm number and motility. To assess the contribution of each BRDT bromodomain, we screened our collection of DNA-encoded chemical libraries for BRDT-BD1 and BRDT-BD2 binders. High-enrichment hits were identified and resynthesized off-DNA and examined for their ability to compete with JQ1 in BRDT and BRD4 bromodomain AlphaScreen assays. These studies identified CDD-1102 as a selective BRDT-BD2 inhibitor with low nanomolar potency and >1,000-fold selectivity over BRDT-BD1. Structure–activity relationship studies of CDD-1102 produced a series of additional BRDT-BD2/BRD4-BD2 selective inhibitors, including CDD-1302, a truncated analog of CDD-1102 with similar activity, and CDD-1349, an analog with sixfold selectivity for BRDT-BD2 versus BRD4-BD2. BROMOscan bromodomain profiling confirmed the great affinity and selectivity of CDD-1102 and CDD-1302 on all BET BD2 versus BD1 with the highest affinity for BRDT-BD2. Cocrystals of BRDT-BD2 with CDD-1102 and CDD-1302 were determined at 2.27 and 1.90 Å resolution, respectively, and revealed BRDT-BD2 specific contacts that explain the high affinity and selectivity of these compounds. These BD2-specific compounds and their binding to BRDT-BD2 are unique compared with recent reports and enable further evaluation of their nonhormonal contraceptive potential in vitro and in vivo.
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177
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Jing Y, Cao M, Zhang B, Long X, Wang X. cDC1 Dependent Accumulation of Memory T Cells Is Required for Chronic Autoimmune Inflammation in Murine Testis. Front Immunol 2021; 12:651860. [PMID: 34381443 PMCID: PMC8350123 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.651860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
As an immune privilege site, there are various types of immune cells in the testis. Previous research has been focused on the testicular macrophages, and much less is known about the T cells in the testis. Here, we found that T cells with memory phenotypes were the most abundant leukocyte in the testis except for macrophages. Our results showed that the proportion of testicular T cells increases gradually from birth to adulthood in mice and that the primary type of T cells changed from γδTCR+ T cells to αβTCR+ T cells. In addition, under homeostatic conditions, CD8+ T cells are the dominant subgroup and have different phenotypic characteristics from CD4+ T cells. We found that cDC1, but not cDC2, is necessary for the presence of T cells in the testis under physiological state. A significant decrease of T cells does not have a deleterious effect on the development of the testis or spermatogenesis. However, cDC1-dependent T cells play an indispensable role in chronic autoimmune orchitis of the testis. Collectively, our multifaceted data provide a comprehensive picture of the accumulation, localization, and function of testicular T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuchao Jing
- Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Min Cao
- Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Bei Zhang
- Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xuehui Long
- Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaoming Wang
- Department of Immunology, Key Laboratory of Immune Microenvironment and Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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Ma T, Zhou Y, Xia Y, Jin H, Wang B, Wu J, Ding J, Wang J, Yang F, Han X, Li D. Environmentally relevant perinatal exposure to DBP disturbs testicular development and puberty onset in male mice. Toxicology 2021; 459:152860. [PMID: 34280466 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2021.152860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) is considered as a potential modifier of puberty. However, different results indicate that DBP plays an accelerated, delayed, or neutral role in the initiation of puberty. Furthermore, whether the effect of DBP on puberty will disrupt the function of reproductive system in the adults is still ambiguous. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effect of maternal exposure to DBP on the onset of puberty in male offspring mice and the subsequent changes in the development of reproductive system. Here, pregnant mice were treated with 0 (control), 50, 250, or 500 mg/kg/day DBP in 1 mL/kg corn oil administered daily by oral gavage from gestation day (GD) 12.5 to parturition. Compared with the control group, the 50 mg/kg/day DBP group accelerated puberty onset and testicular development were quite remarkable in male offspring mice during early puberty. Furthermore, in 22-day male offspring mice, 50 mg/kg/day DBP induced increased levels of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and testosterone in serum, and promoted the expression of steroidogenesis-related genes in the testes. Testicular Leydig cells (LCs) were isolated from the testes of 3-week-old mice and treated with 0 (control), 0.1, 1 mM monobutyl phthalate (MBP, the active metabolite of DBP) for 24 h. Consistent with the in vivo results, the expression of steroidogenesis-related genes and testosterone production were increased in LCs following exposure to 0.1 mM MBP. In adulthood, testes of the male offspring mice exposed to all doses of DBP exhibited adverse morphology compared with the control group. These results demonstrated that maternal exposure to 50 mg/kg/day DBP induced earlier puberty and precocious development of the testis, and eventually damaged the reproductive system in the later life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tan Ma
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210093, China
| | - Yuan Zhou
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210093, China
| | - Yunhui Xia
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210093, China
| | - Haibo Jin
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210093, China
| | - Bo Wang
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210093, China; Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Jiang Wu
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210093, China
| | - Jie Ding
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210093, China
| | - Junli Wang
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, 533000, Guangxi, China
| | - Fenglian Yang
- School of Pharmacy, Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, 533000, Guangxi, China
| | - Xiaodong Han
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210093, China
| | - Dongmei Li
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210093, China.
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Yu J, Li S, Wang L, Dong Z, Si L, Bao L, Wu L. Pathogenesis of Brucella epididymoorchitis-game of Brucella death. Crit Rev Microbiol 2021; 48:96-120. [PMID: 34214000 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2021.1944055] [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] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Brucellosis is a worldwide zoonotic disease caused by Brucella spp. Human infection often results from direct contact with tissues from infected animals or by consumption of undercooked meat and unpasteurised dairy products, causing serious economic losses and public health problems. The male genitourinary system is a common involved system in patients with brucellosis. Among them, unilateral orchitis and epididymitis are the most common. Although the clinical and imaging aspect of orchi-epididymitis caused by brucellosis have been widely described, the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the damage and the immune response in testis and epididymis have not been fully elucidated. In this review, we first summarised the clinical characteristics of Brucella epididymo-orchitis and the composition of testicular and epididymal immune system. Secondly, with regard to the mechanism of Brucella epididymoorchitis, we mainly discussed the process of Brucella invading testis and epididymis in temporal and spatial order, including i) Brucella evades innate immune recognition of testicular PRRs;ii) Brucella overcomes the immune storm triggered by the invasion of testis through bacterial lipoproteins and virulence factors, and changes the secretion mode of cytokines; iii) Brucella breaks through the blood-testis barrier with the help of macrophages, and inflammatory cytokines promote the oxidative stress of Sertoli cells, damaging the integrity of BTB; iv) Brucella inhibits apoptosis of testicular phagocytes. Finally, we revealed the structure and sequence of testis invaded by Brucella at the tissue level. This review will enable us to better understand the pathogenesis of orchi-epididymitis caused by brucellosis and shed light on the development of new treatment strategies for the treatment of brucellosis and the prevention of transition to chronic form. Facing the testicle with immunity privilege, Brucella is like Bruce Lee in the movie Game of Death, winning is survival while losing is death.HIGHLIGHTSWe summarized the clinical features and pathological changes of Brucellaepididymoorchitis.Our research reveals the pathogenesis of Brucella epididymoorchitis, which mainly includes the subversion of testicular immune privilege by Brucella and a series of destructive reactions derived from it.As a basic framework and valuable resource, this study can promote the exploration of the pathogenesis of Brucella and provide reference for determining new therapeutic targets for brucellosis in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiuwang Yu
- Mongolian Medicine School, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, China
| | - Sha Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, China
| | - Lu Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, China
| | - Zhiheng Dong
- Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, China
| | - Lengge Si
- Mongolian Medicine School, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, China
| | - Lidao Bao
- Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, China
| | - Lan Wu
- Mongolian Medicine School, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, China
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180
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Moshrefi M, Ghasemi-Esmailabad S, Ali J, Findikli N, Mangoli E, Khalili MA. The probable destructive mechanisms behind COVID-19 on male reproduction system and fertility. J Assist Reprod Genet 2021; 38:1691-1708. [PMID: 33977466 PMCID: PMC8112744 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-021-02097-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The present study aims to summarize the current understanding of probable mechanisms and claims of adverse effects of SARS-CoV-2 on male fertility potential. METHODS Our search was including original articles, reviews, guidelines, letters to the editor, comments on guidelines, and editorials, regarding the male reproductive system. We used the words SARS-CoV-2, coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, "2019 ncov," testis, sperm, male factor infertility, fertility treatment, semen, assisted reproductive technology (ART), sexual transmission, and ACE2. RESULTS Data showed coronavirus affects men more than women because of more expression of 2019 nCoV receptors (ACE2 and TMPRSS2) in testicular cells. Also, "Bioinformatics Analysis" suggests that sperm production may be damaged, since "Pseudo Time Analysis" has shown disruption in spermatogenesis. "Gene Ontology" (GO) showed an increase in viral reproduction and a decrease in sperm production-related terms. Recently, SARS-COV-2 mRNA and protein were detected in the semen of patients that had recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection. Therefore, the probable disruption of blood-testis barrier (BTB) in febrile diseases is suspected in the acute phase of the disease enabling viral entry into the testes. Not only is spermatogenesis disturbed, but also disturbs gonadotropin, androgens, and testosterone secretion during SARS-CoV-2 infection. No sexual transmission has been reported yet; however, detection of the virus in semen still makes the sexual transmission an open question. CONCLUSION There is a concern that male fertility may be disturbed after the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Therefore, follow-up of the reproductive functions and male fertility may be necessary in recovered cases, especially in aged men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mojgan Moshrefi
- Research and Clinical Center for Infertility, Yazd Reproductive Science Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
- Department of Reproductive Biology, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
- Medical Nanotechnology & Tissue Engineering Research Center, Yazd Reproductive Science Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | | | - Jaffar Ali
- Synbios Media, www.synbiosmedia.com, P.O. Box 02042, GPO, Shah Alam, Selangor Malaysia
| | - Necati Findikli
- Bahceci Fulya Assisted Reproduction Center, Istanbul, Turkey
- Department of Bioengineering, Beykent University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Esmat Mangoli
- Research and Clinical Center for Infertility, Yazd Reproductive Science Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
- Department of Reproductive Biology, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ali Khalili
- Research and Clinical Center for Infertility, Yazd Reproductive Science Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
- Department of Reproductive Biology, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
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181
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Abstract
Spermatogenesis is a complex and elaborate differentiation process and is vital for male fertility. Sertoli cells play a major role in fertility and induce spermatogenesis by protecting, nourishing, and supporting germ cells. It has been speculated that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) could directly affect the male reproductive system, and therefore heredity and fertility. The similarity of SARS-CoV-2 to SARS-CoV could confirm this hypothesis because both viruses use angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE2) as the receptor to enter human cells. ACE2 is expressed by Sertoli cells and other testicular cells, therefore COVID-19 has the potential to impair fertility by destroying Sertoli cells. This hypothesis should be evaluated and confirmed by monitoring fertility in patients with COVID-19.
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182
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Zhu Y, Dong L, Wang J, Liu Q, Tong H, Li Y, Guan S. Semen Cuscutae-Fructus Lycii improves spermatogenic dysfunction by repairing the blood-testis barrier in rats according to in silico and in vitro methods. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2021; 274:114022. [PMID: 33741439 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2021.114022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Semen Cuscutae and Fructus Lycii (SC-FL) is a commonly used herbal pair for male infertility treatment. Studies have found that the mechanism of SC-FL treatment may be related to repairing the blood-testis barrier (BTB). The application of network pharmacology can be used to explore the correlation between medicines and diseases and predict the potential pharmacological mechanisms of SC-FL. AIM OF THE STUDY This study aimed to explore the specific effects and mechanisms of SC-FL in repairing the BTB and initially revealed the mechanism of Chinese medicine treating male infertility through network pharmacology and animal experiments. MATERIALS AND METHODS We searched databases using the network pharmacology method and performed mass spectrometry analysis. We analyzed and predicted the active ingredients, targets and key pathways of SC-FL in male infertility treatment. Then, we designed animal experiments to verify the results. Thirty-six Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into the normal control group (NC group), spermatogenic dysfunction group (SD group) and SC-FL treatment group (SCFL group). Glucosides of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. F (GTW) (40 mg/kg/d) was administered for 4 weeks to generate a spermatogenic dysfunction model. The rats in the SCFL group were given the SC-FL suspension (6 g/kg/d) daily. After 4 weeks of treatment, we detected the sperm quality of each group of rats and observed the cell morphology. Western blotting and qRT-PCR were used to detect the expression of BTB-related proteins in testicular tissues. RESULTS 213 chemical ingredients of SC and FL were retrieved from the TCMSP database, and 54 effective chemical ingredients were obtained. Mass spectrometry analysis showed the above results were credible. Then, we identified 44 potential targets for the treatment of male infertility, and we plotted a network diagram of the interaction network between the core targets and a diagram of herbal medicine-active ingredient-target-disease interactions. The target genes were enriched according to biological functions, and 22 biological processes, 49 cellular components, 1487 molecular functions, and 122 signaling pathways were obtained. The results of the animal experiments showed that the sperm concentration and motility of the SCFL group were significantly improved compared with those of the SD group. Compared with those in the SD group, the structure and morphology of the Sertoli cells and seminiferous tubules of rats in the SCFL group improved, and the number of spermatogenic cells increased significantly. Western blotting and qRT-PCR results showed that compared with that in the SD group, the expression of p38 MAPK decreased significantly, and the expression of c-Jun, Occludin, ZO-1 and connexin 43 increased significantly in the SCFL group. CONCLUSION We predicted that the active ingredients of SC-FL can treat male infertility by interacting with the core targets JUN, IL6, MAPK1, TP53, MYC, CCND1, AR, EGF, FOS, and MAPK8, and the possible mechanism is related to the MAPK signaling pathway. SC-FL can regulate the MAPK pathway and affect the expression of Occludin, ZO-1 and connexin 43 to repair damaged BTB and improve spermatogenic dysfunction induced by GTW, which may be one of the possible mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yutian Zhu
- TCM Department, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, 100191, China.
| | - Lei Dong
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China.
| | - Jingshang Wang
- TCM Department, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100026, China.
| | - Qiuning Liu
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China.
| | - Hongxuan Tong
- Institute of Basic Theory for Chinese Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China.
| | - Yanfeng Li
- Urology Department, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100700, China.
| | - Siqi Guan
- TCM Department, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100026, China.
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183
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Li Y, Zafar MI, Wang X, Ding X, Li H. Heat Stress and Pulsed Unfocused Ultrasound: The Viability of these Physical Approaches for Drug Delivery into Testicular Seminiferous Tubules. Curr Drug Deliv 2021; 17:438-446. [PMID: 32407274 DOI: 10.2174/1567201817666200514080811] [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: 12/03/2019] [Revised: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
AIM To investigate the application of Scrotal Heat Stress (SHS) and Pulsed Unfocused Ultrasound (PuFUS) to explore Blood-Testis Barrier (BTB) permeability in adult mice. BACKGROUND The BTB provides a stable microenvironment and a unique immune barrier for spermatogenesis. Meanwhile, it blocks macromolecular substances access, including therapeutic agents and antibodies, thereby it decreases the therapeutic or immunocontraception effects. OBJECTIVES To determine the viability of these physical approaches in delivering macromolecular substances into seminiferous tubules. MATERIALS & METHODS Mice were subjected to receive single SHS intervention at 39°C, 41°C, or 43°C for 30 min. Whereas, mice received the PuFUS intervention at 1.75w/cm2, 1.25w/cm2, and 2.5w/cm2 for 2 min, 5 min, and 10 min, respectively. The Biotin and macromolecular substances (IgG, IgM, and exosomes) were separately injected into the testicular interstitium at different times following SHS or PuFUS interventions, to observe their penetration through BTB into seminiferous tubules. RESULTS As detected by Biotin tracer, the BTB opening started from day-2 following the SHS and lasted for more than three days, whereas the BTB opening started from 1.5h following PuFUS and lasted up to 24h. Apparent penetration of IgG, IgM, and exosomes into seminiferous tubules was observed after five days of the SHS at 43°C, but none at 39°C, or any conditions tested with PuFUS. CONCLUSION The current results indicate that SHS at 43°C comparatively has the potential for delivering macromolecular substances into seminiferous tubules, whereas the PuFUS could be a novel, quick, and mild approach to open the BTB. These strategies might be useful for targeted drug delivery into testicular seminiferous tubules. However, further studies are warranted to validate our findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Li
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Mohammad Ishraq Zafar
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaotong Wang
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaofang Ding
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Honggang Li
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.,Wuhan Tongji Reproductive Medicine Hospital, Wuhan, China
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184
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Souza MR, Mazaro-Costa R, Rocha TL. Can nanomaterials induce reproductive toxicity in male mammals? A historical and critical review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 769:144354. [PMID: 33736249 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 12/05/2020] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The nanotechnology enabled the development of nanomaterials (NMs) with a variety of industrial, biomedical, and consumer applications. However, the mechanism of action (MoA) and toxicity of NMs remain unclear, especially in the male reproductive system. Thus, this study aimed to perform a bibliometric and systematic review of the literature on the toxic effects of different types of NMs on the male reproductive system and function in mammalian models. A series of 236 articles related to the in vitro and in vivo reproductive toxicity of NMs in mammalian models were analyzed. The data concerning the bioaccumulation, experimental conditions (types of NMs, species, cell lines, exposure period, and routes of exposure), and the MoA and toxicity of NMs were summarized and discussed. Results showed that this field of research began in 2005 and has experienced an exponential increase since 2012. Revised data confirmed that the NMs have the ability to cross the blood-testis barrier and bioaccumulate in several organs of the male reproductive system, such as testis, prostate, epididymis, and seminal vesicle. A similar MoA and toxicity were observed after in vitro and in vivo exposure to NMs. The NM reproductive toxicity was mainly related to ROS production, oxidative stress, DNA damage and apoptosis. In conclusion, the NM exposure induces bioaccumulation and toxic effects on male reproductive system of mammal models, confirming its potential risk to human and environmental health. The knowledge concerning the NM reproductive toxicity contributes to safety and sustainable use of nanotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maingredy Rodrigues Souza
- Laboratory of Physiology and Pharmacology of Reproduction, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiás, Brazil; Laboratory of Environmental Biotechnology and Ecotoxicology, Institute of Tropical Pathology and Public Health, Federal University of Goiás, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Renata Mazaro-Costa
- Laboratory of Physiology and Pharmacology of Reproduction, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Thiago Lopes Rocha
- Laboratory of Environmental Biotechnology and Ecotoxicology, Institute of Tropical Pathology and Public Health, Federal University of Goiás, Goiás, Brazil.
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185
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Li H, Liu S, Wu S, Li L, Ge R, Cheng CY. Bioactive fragments of laminin and collagen chains: lesson from the testis. Reproduction 2021; 159:R111-R123. [PMID: 31581125 DOI: 10.1530/rep-19-0288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2019] [Accepted: 10/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Recent studies have shown that the testis is producing several biologically active peptides, namely the F5- and the NC1-peptides from laminin-γ3 and collagen α3 (IV) chain, respectively, that promotes blood-testis barrier (BTB) remodeling and also elongated spermatid release at spermiation. Also the LG3/4/5 peptide from laminin-α2 chain promotes BTB integrity which is likely being used for the assembly of a 'new' BTB behind preleptotene spermatocytes under transport at the immunological barrier. These findings thus provide a new opportunity for investigators to better understand the biology of spermatogenesis. Herein, we briefly summarize the recent findings and provide a critical update. We also present a hypothetical model which could serve as the framework for studies in the years to come.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huitao Li
- The Second Affiliated Hospital & Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.,The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York, USA
| | - Shiwen Liu
- The Second Affiliated Hospital & Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.,The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York, USA
| | - Siwen Wu
- The Second Affiliated Hospital & Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.,The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York, USA
| | - Linxi Li
- The Second Affiliated Hospital & Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.,The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York, USA
| | - Renshan Ge
- The Second Affiliated Hospital & Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - C Yan Cheng
- The Second Affiliated Hospital & Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China.,The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York, USA
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186
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Aldahhan RA, Stanton PG. Heat stress response of somatic cells in the testis. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2021; 527:111216. [PMID: 33639219 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2021.111216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 02/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The testis is a temperature-sensitive organ that needs to be maintained 2-7 °C below core body temperature to ensure the production of normal sperm. Failure to maintain testicular temperature in mammals impairs spermatogenesis and leads to low sperm counts, poor sperm motility and abnormal sperm morphology in the ejaculate. This review discusses the recent knowledge on the response of testicular somatic cells to heat stress and, specifically, regarding the relevant contributions of heat, germ cell depletion and inflammatory reactions on the functions of Sertoli and Leydig cells. It also outlines mechanisms of testicular thermoregulation, as well as the thermogenic factors that impact testicular function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rashid A Aldahhan
- Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 2114, Dammam, 31541, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Peter G Stanton
- Centre for Reproductive Health, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Department of Molecular and Translational Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
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187
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Naidu ECS, Olojede SO, Lawal SK, Rennie CO, Azu OO. Nanoparticle delivery system, highly active antiretroviral therapy, and testicular morphology: The role of stereology. Pharmacol Res Perspect 2021; 9:e00776. [PMID: 34107163 PMCID: PMC8189564 DOI: 10.1002/prp2.776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The conjugation of nanoparticles (NPs) with antiretroviral drugs is a drug delivery approach with great potential for managing HIV infections. Despite their promise, recent studies have highlighted the toxic effects of nanoparticles on testicular tissue and their impact on sperm morphology. This review explores the role of stereological techniques in assessing the testicular morphology in highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) when a nanoparticle drug delivery system is used. Also, NPs penetration and pharmacokinetics concerning the testicular tissue and blood-testis barrier form the vital part of this review. More so, various classes of NPs employed in biomedical and clinical research to deliver antiretroviral drugs were thoroughly discussed. In addition, considerations for minimizing nanoparticle-drugs toxicity, ensuring enhanced permeability of nanoparticles, maximizing drug efficacy, ensuring adequate bioavailability, and formulation of HAART-NPs fabrication are well discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edwin Coleridge S. Naidu
- Discipline of Clinical AnatomySchool of Laboratory Medicine & Medical SciencesNelson R Mandela School of MedicineUniversity of KwaZulu‐NatalDurbanSouth Africa
| | - Samuel Oluwaseun Olojede
- Discipline of Clinical AnatomySchool of Laboratory Medicine & Medical SciencesNelson R Mandela School of MedicineUniversity of KwaZulu‐NatalDurbanSouth Africa
| | - Sodiq Kolawole Lawal
- Discipline of Clinical AnatomySchool of Laboratory Medicine & Medical SciencesNelson R Mandela School of MedicineUniversity of KwaZulu‐NatalDurbanSouth Africa
| | - Carmen Olivia Rennie
- Discipline of Clinical AnatomySchool of Laboratory Medicine & Medical SciencesNelson R Mandela School of MedicineUniversity of KwaZulu‐NatalDurbanSouth Africa
| | - Onyemaechi Okpara Azu
- Discipline of Clinical AnatomySchool of Laboratory Medicine & Medical SciencesNelson R Mandela School of MedicineUniversity of KwaZulu‐NatalDurbanSouth Africa
- Department of AnatomySchool of MedicineUniversity of NamibiaWindhoekNamibia
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188
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Jensen NB, Justesen SD, Larsen A, Ernst E, Pedersen LH. A systematic overview of the spermatotoxic and genotoxic effects of methotrexate, ganciclovir and mycophenolate mofetil. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2021; 100:1557-1580. [PMID: 33755191 DOI: 10.1111/aogs.14151] [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: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Immunosuppressant drugs are increasingly being used in the reproductive years. Theoretically, such medications could affect fetal health either through changes in the sperm DNA or through fetal exposure caused by a presence in the seminal fluid. This systematic overview summarizes existing literature on the spermatotoxic and genotoxic potentials of methotrexate (MTX), a drug widely used to treat rheumatic and dermatologic diseases, and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), which alone or supplemented with ganciclovir (GCV) may be crucial for the survival of organ transplants. MATERIAL AND METHODS The systematic overview was performed in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines: A systematic literature search of the MEDLINE and Embase databases was done using a combination of relevant terms to search for studies on spermatotoxic or genotoxic changes related to treatment with MTX, GCV or MMF. The search was restricted to English language literature, and to in vivo animal studies (mammalian species) and clinical human studies. RESULTS A total of 102 studies were identified, hereof 25 human and 77 animal studies. For MTX, human studies of immunosuppressive dosages show transient effect on sperm quality parameters, which return to reference values within 3 months. No human studies have investigated the sperm DNA damaging effect of MTX, but in other organs the genotoxic effects of immunosuppressive doses of MTX are fluctuating. In animals, immunosuppressive and cytotoxic doses of MTX adversely affect sperm quality parameters and show widespread genotoxic damages in various organs. Cytotoxic doses transiently change the DNA material in all cell stages of spermatogenesis in rodents. For GCV and MMF, data are limited and the results are indeterminate, for which reason spermatotoxic and genotoxic potentials cannot be excluded. CONCLUSIONS Data from human and animal studies indicate transient spermatotoxic and genotoxic potentials of immunosuppressive and cytotoxic doses of MTX. There are a limited number of studies investigating GCV and MMF.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Agnete Larsen
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Erik Ernst
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Laboratory for Reproduction, Institute of Anatomy, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Lars H Pedersen
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
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189
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Wang L, Li L, Wu X, Wong CKC, Perrotta A, Silvestrini B, Sun F, Cheng CY. mTORC1/rpS6 and p-FAK-Y407 signaling regulate spermatogenesis: Insights from studies of the adjudin pharmaceutical/toxicant model. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2021; 121:53-62. [PMID: 33867214 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2021.03.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
In rodents and humans, the major cellular events at spermatogenesis include self-renewal of spermatogonial stem cells and undifferentiated spermatogonia via mitosis, commitment of spermatogonia to differentiation and transformation to spermatocytes, meiosis, spermiogenesis, and the release of spermatozoa at spermiation. While details of the morphological changes during these cellular events have been delineated, knowledge gap exists between the morphological changes in the seminiferous epithelium and the underlying molecular mechanism(s) that regulate these cellular events. Even though many of the regulatory proteins and biomolecules that modulate spermatogenesis are known based on studies using genetic models, the underlying regulatory mechanism(s), in particular signaling pathways/proteins, remain unexplored since much of the information regarding the signaling regulation is unknown. Studies in the past decade, however, have unequivocally demonstrated that the testis is using several signaling proteins and/or pathways to regulate multiple cellular events to modulate spermatogenesis. These include mTORC1/rpS6/Akt1/2 and p-FAK-Y407. While selective inhibitors and/or agonists and antagonists are available to examine some of these signaling proteins, their use have limitations due to their specificities and also potential systemic cytotoxicity. On the other hand, the use of genetic models has had profound implications for our understanding of the molecular regulation of spermatogenesis, and these knockout (null) models have also revealed the factors that are critical for spermatogenesis. Nonetheless, additional studies using in vitro and in vivo models are necessary to unravel the signaling pathways involved in regulating seminiferous epithelial cycle. Emerging data from studies, such as the use of the adjudin pharmaceutical/toxicant model, have illustrated that this non-hormonal male contraceptive drug is utilizing specific signaling pathways/proteins to induce specific defects in spermatogenesis, yielding mechanistic insights on the regulation of spermatogenesis. We sought to review these recent data in this article, highlighting an interesting approach that can be considered for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingling Wang
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China; Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China
| | - Linxi Li
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China
| | - Xiaolong Wu
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China
| | - Chris K C Wong
- Croucher Institute for Environmental Sciences, Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Adolfo Perrotta
- Department of Translational & Precision Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Fei Sun
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China.
| | - C Yan Cheng
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China; Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China; The Population Council, Center for Biomedical Research, 1230 York Ave, New York, NY 10065, United States.
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190
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Abstract
Organoids are 3-dimensional (3D) structures grown in vitro that emulate the cytoarchitecture and functions of true organs. Therefore, testicular organoids arise as an important model for research on male reproductive biology. These organoids can be generated from different sources of testicular cells, but most studies to date have used immature primary cells for this purpose. The complexity of the mammalian testicular cytoarchitecture and regulation poses a challenge for working with testicular organoids, because, ideally, these 3D models should mimic the organization observed in vivo. In this review, we explore the characteristics of the most important cell types present in the testicular organoid models reported to date and discuss how different factors influence the regulation of these cells inside the organoids and their outcomes. Factors such as the developmental or maturational stage of the Sertoli cells, for example, influence organoid generation and structure, which affect the use of these 3D models for research. Spermatogonial stem cells have been a focus recently, especially in regard to male fertility preservation. The regulation of the spermatogonial stem cell niche inside testicular organoids is discussed in the present review, as this research area may be positively affected by recent progress in organoid generation and tissue engineering. Therefore, the testicular organoid approach is a very promising model for male reproductive biology research, but more studies and improvements are necessary to achieve its full potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalia de Lima e Martins Lara
- Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Sadman Sakib
- Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Ina Dobrinski
- Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Correspondence: Ina Dobrinski, DrMedVet, MVSc, PhD, Comparative Biology and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 404 HMRB, 3300 Hospital Dr NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada.
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191
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Jeon GH, Lee SH, Cheon YP, Choi D. Blood-Testis Barrier and Sperm Delayed in the Cauda Epididymis of the Reproductively Regressed Syrian Hamsters. Dev Reprod 2021; 25:1-14. [PMID: 33977170 PMCID: PMC8087257 DOI: 10.12717/dr.2021.25.1.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The Syrian (golden) hamsters are seasonal breeders whose reproductive functions
are active in summer and inactive in winter. In experimental facility mimicking
winter climate, short photoperiod (SP) induces gonadal regression. The
blood-testis barrier (BTB) of the sexually involuted animals have been reported
to be permeable, allowing developing germ cells to be engulfed or sloughed off
the epithelium of the seminiferous tubules. The expressions of genes related to
the tight junction composing of BTB were investigated in the reproductive active
and inactive testes. Claudin-11, occludin, and junctional adhesion molecule
(JAM) were definitely expressed in the active testes but not discernably
detected in the inactive testes. And spermatozoa (sperm) were observed in the
whole lengths of epididymides in the active testes. They were witnessed in only
cauda region of the epididymides but not in caput and corpus regions in animals
with the inactive testes. The results imply that the disorganization of BTB is
associated with the testicular regression. The developing germ cells are
swallowed into the Sertoli cells or travel into the lumen, as supported by the
presence of the sperm delayed in the last region of the epididymis. These
outcomes suggest that both apoptosis and desquamation are the processes that
eliminate the germ cells during the regressing stage in the Syrian hamsters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geon Hyung Jeon
- Dept. of Life Science, College of Public Health and Welfare Sciences, Yong-In University, Yongin 17092, Korea
| | - Sung-Ho Lee
- Dept. of Biotechnology, Sangmyung University, Seoul 03016, Korea
| | - Yong-Pil Cheon
- Division of Developmental Biology and Physiology, Dept. of Biotechnology, Sungshin University, Seoul 02844, Korea
| | - Donchan Choi
- Dept. of Life Science, College of Public Health and Welfare Sciences, Yong-In University, Yongin 17092, Korea
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Hu S, Zhu L, Song Y, Zhao X, Chen Q, Pan Y, Zhang J, Bai Y, Zhang H, Shao C. Radiation-induced abscopal reproductive effect is driven by TNF-α/p38 MAPK/Rac1 axis in Sertoli cells. Am J Cancer Res 2021; 11:5742-5758. [PMID: 33897879 PMCID: PMC8058717 DOI: 10.7150/thno.56853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Rationale: Radiotherapy has become a mainstay for tumor management, and more than 50% of patients with thoracic tumor need to be treated with radiotherapy. However, the potential adverse effects of thoracic radiotherapy on the reproductive system remain elusive. Methods: Western blot analysis, immunofluorescence assay and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis were performed to investigate the integrity of blood-testis barrier (BTB) in male mice after hypofractionated irradiation (IR) on the right thorax. RNA sequencing, co-immunoprecipitation (IP), Duolink PLA and inhibitor experiments were carried out to demonstrate the molecular mechanisms of the BTB dynamics changes and the subsequent reproductive effect. Results: It was found that the hypofractionated IR on right thorax evoked ultrastructural destruction in distant testes, and thus caused radiation-induced abscopal reproductive effect (RIARE) in male mice. Mechanistically, thoracic IR induced significant nuclear translocation of Rac Family Small GTPase 1 (Rac1) in abscopal Sertoli cells, which closely correlated with the activation of TNF-α/p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. Of note, YWHAZ, a critical polarity protein, was found to be co-localized with Rac1 in Sertoli cells, and this interaction was indispensable for thoracic IR-induced Rac1 nuclear translocation and subsequent degradation of BTB-associated proteins. Conclusions: Our findings imply for the first time that YWHAZ-mediated Rac1 nuclear translocation plays central roles in RIARE, and TNF-α/p38 MAPK/Rac1 axis can be employed as a therapeutic target against RIARE for young male patients receiving hypofractionated radiotherapy.
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The endocrine disrupting effects of sodium arsenite in the rat testis is not mediated through macrophage activation. Reprod Toxicol 2021; 102:1-9. [PMID: 33766721 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2021.03.005] [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: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Arsenic (As) is an endocrine disrupting chemical that can disturb the male reproductive system. In a previous study, it was suggested that testicular macrophages could display a role in endocrine disruption induced by As exposure. This work aimed to evaluate the effects of chronic As exposure in the testis function of Wistar rats and examine the participation of macrophage activation and inflammatory response in these processes. We examined gene expression of steroidogenic machinery and immunological markers by RT-QPCR, plasma testosterone concentrations, sperm count and morphology, and histomorphometrical parameters after 60-days exposure to 1 or 5 mg.kg-1.day-1 of sodium arsenite, combined or not with 50 μg.kg-1 of LPS administered one day before euthanasia. We have demonstrated that As exposure reduced the weight of androgen-dependent organs and induced changes in spermatogenesis, in particular at the highest dose. LPS and As co-exposure promoted a decrease in testosterone synthesis, but did not increase the overexpression of markers of macrophage activation seen in LPS-only rats. Our results suggest that As does not alter the testicular macrophage function, but under immunological challenges LPS and As can display a complex interaction, which could lead to endocrine disruption.
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Wu H, Wei Y, Zhou Y, Long C, Hong Y, Fu Y, Zhao T, Wang J, Wu Y, Wu S, Shen L, Wei G. Bisphenol S perturbs Sertoli cell junctions in male rats via alterations in cytoskeletal organization mediated by an imbalance between mTORC1 and mTORC2. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 762:144059. [PMID: 33360459 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Bisphenol S (BPS) is now used as an alternative of bisphenol A (BPA), but has been implicated in male reproductive dysfunction-including diminished sperm number and quality and altered hormonal concentrations. However, the mechanisms of action subserving these effects remains unclear. In the present study, BPS at doses of 50 mg/kg bw and 100 mg/kg bw caused defects in the integrity of the blood-testis barrier (BTB) and apical ectoplasmic specialization (ES), and we also delineated an underlying molecular mechanism of action. BPS induced F-actin and α-tubulin disorganization in seminiferous tubules, which in turn led to the truncation of actin filaments and microtubules. Additionally, BPS was found to perturb the expression of the actin-binding proteins Arp3 and Eps8, which are critical for the organization of the actin filaments. mTORC1 and mTORC2 manifest opposing roles in Sertoli cell junctional function, and we demonstrated that mTORC1/rpS6/Akt/MMP9 signaling was increased and that mTORC2/rictor activity was also attenuated. In summary, we showed that BPS-induced disruption of the BTB and apical ES perturbed normal spermatogenic function that was mediated by mTORC1 and mTORC2. The imbalance in mTORC1 and mTORC2, in turn, altered the expression of actin-binding proteins, resulting in the impairment of F-actin and MT organization, and inhibited the expression of junctional proteins at the BTB and apical ES.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Wu
- Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China
| | - Yuexin Wei
- Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China
| | - Yu Zhou
- Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China
| | - Chunlan Long
- Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China
| | - Yifan Hong
- Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China
| | - Yan Fu
- Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China
| | - Tianxin Zhao
- Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China
| | - Junke Wang
- Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China
| | - Yuhao Wu
- Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China
| | - Shengde Wu
- Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China
| | - Lianju Shen
- Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China.
| | - Guanghui Wei
- Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400014, PR China
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Gorga A, Rindone GM, Centola CL, Sobarzo CM, Pellizzari EH, Camberos MDC, Marín-Briggiler CI, Cohen DJ, Riera MF, Galardo MN, Meroni SB. Low Doses of Glyphosate/Roundup Alter Blood-Testis Barrier Integrity in Juvenile Rats. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2021; 12:615678. [PMID: 33776912 PMCID: PMC7992013 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.615678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
It has been postulated that glyphosate (G) or its commercial formulation Roundup (R) might lead to male fertility impairment. In this study, we investigated the possible effects of G or R treatment of juvenile male rats on blood-testis barrier function and on adult male sperm production. Pups were randomly assigned to the following groups: control group (C), receiving water; G2 and G50 groups, receiving 2 and 50 mg/kg/day G respectively; and R2 and R50 groups receiving 2 and 50 mg/kg/day R respectively. Treatments were performed orally from postnatal day (PND) 14 to 30, period of life that is essential to complete a functional blood-testis barrier. Evaluation was done on PND 31. No differences in body and testis weight were observed between groups. Testis histological analysis showed disorganized seminiferous epithelium, with apparent low cellular adhesion in treated animals. Blood-testis barrier permeability to a biotin tracer was examined. A significant increase in permeable tubules was observed in treated groups. To evaluate possible mechanisms that could explain the effects on blood-testis barrier permeability, intratesticular testosterone levels, androgen receptor expression, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and the expression of intercellular junction proteins (claudin11, occludin, ZO-1, connexin43, 46, and 50 which are components of the blood-testis barrier) were examined. No modifications in the above-mentioned parameters were detected. To evaluate whether juvenile exposure to G and R could have consequences during adulthood, a set of animals of the R50 group was allowed to grow up until PND 90. Histological analysis showed that control and R50 groups had normal cellular associations and complete spermatogenesis. Also, blood-testis barrier function was recovered and testicular weight, daily sperm production, and epididymal sperm motility and morphology did not seem to be modified by juvenile treatment. In conclusion, the results presented herein show that continuous exposure to low doses of G or R alters blood-testis barrier permeability in juvenile rats. However, considering that adult animals treated during the juvenile stage showed no differences in daily sperm production compared with control animals, it is feasible to think that blood-testis barrier impairment is a reversible phenomenon. More studies are needed to determine possible damage in the reproductive function of human juvenile populations exposed to low doses of G or R.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agostina Gorga
- Centro de Investigaciones Endocrinológicas “Dr. César Bergadá” (CEDIE) – Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) – Fundación Endocrinológica Infantil (FEI) – División de Endocrinología, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gustavo Marcelo Rindone
- Centro de Investigaciones Endocrinológicas “Dr. César Bergadá” (CEDIE) – Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) – Fundación Endocrinológica Infantil (FEI) – División de Endocrinología, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Cecilia Lucía Centola
- Centro de Investigaciones Endocrinológicas “Dr. César Bergadá” (CEDIE) – Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) – Fundación Endocrinológica Infantil (FEI) – División de Endocrinología, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Cristian M. Sobarzo
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (INBIOMED), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Eliana Herminia Pellizzari
- Centro de Investigaciones Endocrinológicas “Dr. César Bergadá” (CEDIE) – Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) – Fundación Endocrinológica Infantil (FEI) – División de Endocrinología, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María del Carmen Camberos
- Centro de Investigaciones Endocrinológicas “Dr. César Bergadá” (CEDIE) – Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) – Fundación Endocrinológica Infantil (FEI) – División de Endocrinología, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Clara Isabel Marín-Briggiler
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Debora J. Cohen
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Maria Fernanda Riera
- Centro de Investigaciones Endocrinológicas “Dr. César Bergadá” (CEDIE) – Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) – Fundación Endocrinológica Infantil (FEI) – División de Endocrinología, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Maria Noel Galardo
- Centro de Investigaciones Endocrinológicas “Dr. César Bergadá” (CEDIE) – Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) – Fundación Endocrinológica Infantil (FEI) – División de Endocrinología, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Silvina Beatriz Meroni
- Centro de Investigaciones Endocrinológicas “Dr. César Bergadá” (CEDIE) – Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) – Fundación Endocrinológica Infantil (FEI) – División de Endocrinología, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Tirpák F, Greifová H, Lukáč N, Stawarz R, Massányi P. Exogenous Factors Affecting the Functional Integrity of Male Reproduction. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:213. [PMID: 33803103 PMCID: PMC8001766 DOI: 10.3390/life11030213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural processes along with increased industrial production and the irresponsible behavior of mankind have resulted in environmental pollution. Environmental pollutants can be categorized based on their characteristics and appearance into the following groups: physical, biological, and chemical. Every single one of them represents a serious threat to the male reproductive tract despite the different modes of action. Male gonads and gametes are especially vulnerable to the effect of exogenous factors; therefore, they are considered a reliable indicator of environmental pollution. The impact of xenobiotics or radiation leads to an irreversible impairment of fertility displayed by histological changes, modulated androgen production, or compromised spermatozoa (or germ cells) quality. The present article reviews the exogenous threats, male reproductive system, the mode of action, and overall impact on the reproductive health of humans and animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filip Tirpák
- AgroBioTech Research Centre, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra, Slovakia
| | - Hana Greifová
- Department of Animal Physiology, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra, Slovakia; (H.G.); (N.L.)
| | - Norbert Lukáč
- Department of Animal Physiology, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra, Slovakia; (H.G.); (N.L.)
| | - Robert Stawarz
- Institute of Biology, Pedagogical University of Krakow, Podchorazych 2, 30-084 Krakow, Poland;
| | - Peter Massányi
- Department of Animal Physiology, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra, Slovakia; (H.G.); (N.L.)
- Institute of Biology, Pedagogical University of Krakow, Podchorazych 2, 30-084 Krakow, Poland;
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Characterization of Estrogenic Activity and Site-Specific Accumulation of Bisphenol-A in Epididymal Fat Pad: Interfering Effects on the Endocannabinoid System and Temporal Progression of Germ Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22052540. [PMID: 33802611 PMCID: PMC7961766 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22052540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The objective of this work has been to characterize the estrogenic activity of bisphenol-A (BPA) and the adverse effects on the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in modulating germ cell progression. Male offspring exposed to BPA during the foetal-perinatal period at doses below the no-observed-adverse-effect-level were used to investigate the exposure effects in adulthood. Results showed that BPA accumulates specifically in epididymal fat rather than in abdominal fat and targets testicular expression of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and cytochrome P450 aromatase, thus promoting sustained increase of estrogens and a decrease of testosterone. The exposure to BPA affects the expression levels of some ECS components, namely type-1 (CB1) and type-2 cannabinoid (CB2) receptor and monoacylglycerol-lipase (MAGL). Furthermore, it affects the temporal progression of germ cells reported to be responsive to ECS and promotes epithelial germ cell exfoliation. In particular, it increases the germ cell content (i.e., spermatogonia while reducing spermatocytes and spermatids), accelerates progression of spermatocytes and spermatids, promotes epithelial detachment of round and condensed spermatids and interferes with expression of cell–cell junction genes (i.e., zonula occcludens protein-1, vimentin and β-catenin). Altogether, our study provides evidence that early exposure to BPA produces in adulthood sustained and site-specific BPA accumulation in epididymal fat, becoming a risk factor for the reproductive endocrine pathways associated to ECS.
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The role of different compounds on the integrity of blood-testis barrier: A concise review based on in vitro and in vivo studies. Gene 2021; 780:145531. [PMID: 33631249 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2021.145531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Sertoli cells are "nurturing cells'' in the seminiferous tubules of the testis which have essential roles in the development, proliferation and differentiation of germ cells. These cells also divide the seminiferous epithelium into a basal and an adluminal compartment and establish the blood-testis barrier (BTB). BTB shields haploid germ cells from recognition by the innate immune system. Moreover, after translocation of germ cells into the adluminal compartment their nutritional source is separated from the circulatory system being only supplied by the Sertoli cells. The integrity of BTB is influenced by several organic/ organometallic, hormonal and inflammatory substances. Moreover, several environmental contaminants such as BPA have hazardous effects on the integrity of BTB. In the current review, we summarize the results of studies that assessed the impact of these agents on the integrity of BTB. These studies have implications in understanding the molecular mechanism of male infertility and also in the male contraception.
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199
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Lu Y, Liu M, Tursi NJ, Yan B, Cao X, Che Q, Yang N, Dong X. Uropathogenic Escherichia coli Infection Compromises the Blood-Testis Barrier by Disturbing mTORC1-mTORC2 Balance. Front Immunol 2021; 12:582858. [PMID: 33679734 PMCID: PMC7933507 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.582858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The structural and functional destruction of the blood-testis barrier (BTB) following uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) infection may be a critical component of the pathologic progress of orchitis. Recent findings indicate that the mammalian target of the rapamycin (mTOR)-signaling pathway is implicated in the regulation of BTB assembly and restructuring. To explore the mechanisms underlying BTB damage induced by UPEC infection, we analyzed BTB integrity and the involvement of the mTOR-signaling pathway using in vivo and in vitro UPEC-infection models. We initially confirmed that soluble virulent factors secreted from UPEC trigger a stress response in Sertoli cells and disturb adjacent cell junctions via down-regulation of junctional proteins, including occludin, zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), F-actin, connexin-43 (CX-43), β-catenin, and N-cadherin. The BTB was ultimately disrupted in UPEC-infected rat testes, and blood samples from UPEC-induced orchitis in these animals were positive for anti-sperm antibodies. Furthermore, we herein also demonstrated that mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) over-activation and mTORC2 suppression contributed to the disturbance in the balance between BTB "opening" and "closing." More importantly, rapamycin (a specific mTORC1 inhibitor) significantly restored the expression of cell-junction proteins and exerted a protective effect on the BTB during UPEC infection. We further confirmed that short-term treatment with rapamycin did not aggravate spermatogenic degeneration in infected rats. Collectively, this study showed an association between abnormal activation of the mTOR-signaling pathway and BTB impairment during UPEC-induced orchitis, which may provide new insights into a potential treatment strategy for testicular infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongning Lu
- Reproductive Medicine Centre, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Miao Liu
- Reproductive Medicine Centre, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Nicholas J. Tursi
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Bin Yan
- Reproductive Medicine Centre, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiang Cao
- Reproductive Medicine Centre, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Qi Che
- Reproductive Medicine Centre, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Nianqin Yang
- Reproductive Medicine Centre, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xi Dong
- Reproductive Medicine Centre, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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Rokade S, Upadhya M, Bhat DS, Subhedar N, Yajnik CS, Ghose A, Rath S, Bal V. Transient systemic inflammation in adult male mice results in underweight progeny. Am J Reprod Immunol 2021; 86:e13401. [PMID: 33576153 DOI: 10.1111/aji.13401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
PROBLEM While the testes represent an immune-privileged organ, there is evidence that systemic inflammation is accompanied by local inflammatory responses. We therefore examined whether transient systemic inflammation caused any inflammatory and functional consequences in murine testes. METHOD OF STUDY Using a single systemic administration of Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists [lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or peptidoglycan (PG) or polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (polyIC)] in young adult male mice, we assessed testicular immune-inflammatory landscape and reproductive functionality. RESULTS Our findings demonstrated a significant induction of testicular TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 transcripts within 24 h of TLR agonist injection. By day 6, these cytokine levels returned to baseline. While there was no change in caudal sperm counts at early time points, eight weeks later, twofold decrease in sperm count and reduced testicular testosterone levels were evident. When these mice were subjected to mating studies, no differences in mating efficiencies or litter sizes were observed compared with controls. Nonetheless, the neonatal weights of progeny from LPS/PG/polyIC-treated sires were significantly lower than controls. Postnatal weight gain up to three weeks was also slower in the progeny of LPS/polyIC-treated sires. Placental weights at 17.5 days post-coitum were significantly lower in females mated to LPS- and polyIC-treated males. Given this likelihood of an epigenetic effect, we found lower testicular levels of histone methyltransferase enzyme, mixed-lineage leukaemia-1, in mice given LPS/PG/polyIC 8 weeks earlier. CONCLUSION Exposure to transient systemic inflammation leads to transient local inflammation in the testes, with persistent sperm-mediated consequences for foetal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sushama Rokade
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune, India
| | - Manoj Upadhya
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune, India
| | | | | | | | - Aurnab Ghose
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune, India
| | - Satyajit Rath
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune, India.,KEM Hospital Research Centre, Pune, India
| | - Vineeta Bal
- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune, India
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