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Kong X, Wang X, Xia Q, Hu Q, Yu W, Huang Q, Li J, Wang C, Lin Z, Liu Y, Qi Y, Tan X, Zheng B, Yu J. Unveiling the nexus between environmental exposures and testicular damages: revelations from autophagy and oxidative stress imbalance. Cell Death Discov 2025; 11:258. [PMID: 40442097 PMCID: PMC12122914 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-025-02543-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2025] [Accepted: 05/22/2025] [Indexed: 06/02/2025] Open
Abstract
Recent evidence consolidates the deleterious impact of environmental exposure on testicular damage. Environmental exposures can instigate testicular toxicity, causing damage to the Sertoli-Sertoli cell-mediated blood-testis barrier (BTB) integrity, alterations in hormone levels orchestrated by aberrant Leydig cells, and disruption of spermatogenesis. Despite diverse study designs and methodologies, a consensus is emerging on how environmental factors induce oxidative stress by elevating ROS levels, affecting autophagy through pathways such as the ROS-mediated mTOR signaling pathway, ultimately culminating in testicular damage. This review synthesizes existing literature on how environmental exposures, including metals, air pollutants, industrial contaminants, and pesticides, disturb testicular homeostasis via autophagy-mediated oxidative stress, highlighting recent significant advancements. It also explores interventions like antioxidant support and autophagy regulation to alleviate testicular damage. These findings underscore the importance of elucidating the mechanisms of autophagy influenced by environmental exposures in disrupting the equilibrium of oxidative stress, identifying potential drug targets, and establishing a groundwork for enhancing future treatments and clinical management of testicular injuries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuwen Kong
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory in University for Inflammation and Molecular Drug Target, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
- Reproductive medicine Center, Affiliated Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Xinda Wang
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory in University for Inflammation and Molecular Drug Target, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Qiushi Xia
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory in University for Inflammation and Molecular Drug Target, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Qingqing Hu
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory in University for Inflammation and Molecular Drug Target, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Wenqian Yu
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory in University for Inflammation and Molecular Drug Target, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Qiuru Huang
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory in University for Inflammation and Molecular Drug Target, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Jiaxin Li
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory in University for Inflammation and Molecular Drug Target, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Chenyu Wang
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory in University for Inflammation and Molecular Drug Target, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Ziwen Lin
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory in University for Inflammation and Molecular Drug Target, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Yiheng Liu
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory in University for Inflammation and Molecular Drug Target, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Yujuan Qi
- Clinical Center of Reproductive Medicine, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Southeast University Affiliated Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou Clinical School of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, 221000, China.
| | - Xiaofang Tan
- Reproductive medicine Center, Affiliated Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.
| | - Bo Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Center for Reproduction and Genetics, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, 215002, China.
| | - Jun Yu
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory in University for Inflammation and Molecular Drug Target, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.
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