CXCR4-SF1 bifunctional adipose-derived stem cells benefit for the treatment of Leydig cell dysfunction-related diseases

The effect of Fumaria parviflora on the expression of sexual hormones along with their receptors in testicles of adult rats induced by varicocele

Varicocele (VCL) is a pathological dilation of the venous pampiniform plexus of the spermatic cord and is also classified as male factor infertility. The current experiment aimed to examine the protective effect of Fumaria parviflora (FP), as a powerful antioxidant, against reproductive damage induced by VCL. In this experimental study, 32 male rats were randomly allocated into four groups, namely sham (simple laparotomy without additional intervention), FP (healthy rats administered 250 mg/kg FP), VCL + FP (underwent VCL and received 250 mg/kg FP), VCL (underwent VCL without receiving any treatment). The results showed that the number of Sertoli and germ cells were markedly reduced in the VCL group in comparison to the FP-treated and sham groups. The VCl + FP group had significantly higher serum levels of testosterone (T), FSH, and LH hormones than the VCL group. The quality and motility of spermatozoa were reduced in the VCL group compared with other groups (p ≤ 0.05). Moreover, our findings demonstrated that the administration of FP considerably enhanced the mRNA levels of CatSper-1 and -2, SF-1, 3β-HSD, 17β-HSD3, LHCGR, and FSHR (p ≤ 0.05). Based on the obtained results, treatment with FP is capable of preventing testicular dysfunction and elevating the concentration of hormones and some crucial genes, such as CatSper1 and 2, SF-1, 3β-HSD, 17β-HSD3, LHCGR, and FSHR that contribute to the spermatogenesis process.

Is It Possible to Treat Infertility with Stem Cells?

Infertility is a major health problem, and despite improved treatments over the years, there are still some conditions that cannot be treated successfully using a conventional approach. Therefore, new options are being considered and one of them is cell therapy using stem cells. Stem cell treatments for infertility can be divided into two major groups, the first one being direct transplantation of stem cells or their paracrine factors into reproductive organs and the second one being in vitro differentiation into germ cells or gametes. In animal models, all of these approaches were able to improve the reproductive potential of tested animals, although in humans there is still too little evidence to suggest successful use. The reasons for lack of evidence are unavailability of proper material, the complexity of explored biological processes, and ethical considerations. Despite all of the above-mentioned hurdles, researchers were able to show that in women, it seems to be possible to improve some conditions, but in men, no similar clinically important improvement was achieved. To conclude, the data presented in this review suggest that the treatment of infertility with stem cells seems plausible, because some types of treatments have already been tested in humans, achieving live births, while others show great potential only in animal studies, for now.

CXCR4-SF1 bifunctional adipose-derived stem cells benefit for the treatment of Leydig cell dysfunction-related diseases

Stem cell transplantation is a candidate method for the treatment of Leydig cell dysfunction-related diseases. However, there are still many problems that limit its clinical application. Here, we report the establishment of CXCR4-SF1 bifunctional adipose-derived stem cells (CXCR4-SF1-ADSCs) and their reparative effect on Leydig cell dysfunction. CD29⁺ CD44⁺ CD34^- CD45^- ADSCs were isolated from adipose tissue and purified by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). Infection with lentiviruses carrying the CXCR4 and SF1 genes was applied to construct CXCR4-SF1-ADSCs. The CXCR4-SF1-ADSCs exhibited enhanced migration and had the ability to differentiate into Leydig-like cells in vitro. Furthermore, the bifunctional ADSCs were injected into BPA-mediated Leydig cell damage model mice via the tail vein. We found that the CXCR4-SF1-ADSCs were capable of homing to the injured testes, differentiating into Leydig-like cells and repairing the deficiency in reproductive function caused by Leydig cell dysfunction. Moreover, we investigated the mechanism underlying SF1-mediated differentiation and testosterone synthesis in Leydig cells, and the B-box and SPRY Domain Containing Protein (BSPRY) gene was proposed to be involved in this process. This study provides insight into the treatment of Leydig cell dysfunction-related diseases.