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Yang S, Tang X, Yan F, Yang H, Xu L, Jian Z, Deng H, He Q, Zhu G, Wang Q. A time-course transcriptome analysis revealing the potential molecular mechanism of early gonadal differentiation in the Chinese giant salamander. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY. PART D, GENOMICS & PROTEOMICS 2024; 50:101200. [PMID: 38320446 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2024.101200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
The Chinese giant salamander (CGS) Andrias davidianus is the largest extant amphibian and has recently become an important species for aquaculture with high economic value. Meanwhile, its wild populations and diversity are in urgent need of protection. Exploring the mechanism of its early gonadal differentiation will contribute to the development of CGS aquaculture and the recovery of its wild population. In this study, transcriptomic and phenotypic research was conducted on the critical time points of early gonadal differentiation of CGS. The results indicate that around 210 days post-hatching (dph) is the critical window for female CGS's gonadal differentiation, while 270 dph is that of male CGS. Besides, the TRPM1 gene may be the crucial gene among many candidates determining the sex of CGS. More importantly, in our study, key genes involved in CGS's gonadal differentiation and development are identified and their potential pathways and regulatory models at early stage are outlined. This is an initial exploration of the molecular mechanisms of CGS's early gonadal differentiation at multiple time points, providing essential theoretical foundations for its captive breeding and offering unique insights into the conservation of genetic diversity in wild populations from the perspective of sex development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shijun Yang
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China
| | - Xiong Tang
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China
| | - Fan Yan
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China
| | - Han Yang
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China
| | - Lishan Xu
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China
| | - Zhijie Jian
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Huidan Deng
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Qu He
- School of Foreign Languages, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 611731, China
| | - Guangxiang Zhu
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China.
| | - Qin Wang
- College of Life Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, China.
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2
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Kang Y, Laprocina K, Zheng HS, Huang CCJ. Current insight into the transient X-zone in the adrenal gland cortex. VITAMINS AND HORMONES 2023; 124:297-339. [PMID: 38408801 PMCID: PMC11023618 DOI: 10.1016/bs.vh.2023.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Mouse models have been widely used in the study of adrenal gland development and diseases. The X-zone is a unique structure of the mouse adrenal gland and lineage-tracing studies show that the X-zone is a remnant of the fetal adrenal cortex. Although the X-zone is considered analogous to the fetal zone in the human adrenal cortex, the functional significance of the X-zone has remained comparatively more obscure. The X-zone forms during the early postnatal stages of adrenal development and regresses later in a remarkable sexually dimorphic fashion. The formation and regression of the X-zone can be different in mice with different genetic backgrounds. Mouse models with gene mutations, hormone/chemical treatments, and/or gonadectomy can also display an aberrant development of the X-zone or alternatively a dysregulated X-zone regression. These models have shed light on the molecular mechanisms regulating the development and regression of these unique adrenocortical cells. This review paper briefly describes the development of the adrenal gland including the formation and regression processes of the X-zone. It also summarizes and lists mouse models that demonstrate different X-zone phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Kang
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology & Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States
| | - Karly Laprocina
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology & Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States
| | - Huifei Sophia Zheng
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology & Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States
| | - Chen-Che Jeff Huang
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology & Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, United States.
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3
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Nicol B, Estermann MA, Yao HHC, Mellouk N. Becoming female: Ovarian differentiation from an evolutionary perspective. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:944776. [PMID: 36158204 PMCID: PMC9490121 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.944776] [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: 05/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Differentiation of the bipotential gonadal primordium into ovaries and testes is a common process among vertebrate species. While vertebrate ovaries eventually share the same functions of producing oocytes and estrogens, ovarian differentiation relies on different morphogenetic, cellular, and molecular cues depending on species. The aim of this review is to highlight the conserved and divergent features of ovarian differentiation through an evolutionary perspective. From teleosts to mammals, each clade or species has a different story to tell. For this purpose, this review focuses on three specific aspects of ovarian differentiation: ovarian morphogenesis, the evolution of the role of estrogens on ovarian differentiation and the molecular pathways involved in granulosa cell determination and maintenance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Nicol
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States,*Correspondence: Barbara Nicol,
| | - Martin A. Estermann
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Humphrey H-C Yao
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Namya Mellouk
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, Jouy en Josas, France
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4
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Mo JY, Yan YS, Lin ZL, Liu R, Liu XQ, Wu HY, Yu JE, Huang YT, Sheng JZ, Huang HF. Gestational diabetes mellitus suppresses fetal testis development in mice. Biol Reprod 2022; 107:148-156. [PMID: 35774031 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioac138] [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: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is increasing rapidly. In addition to the metabolic disease risks, GDM might increase the risks of cryptorchidism in children. However, its mechanism involved in abnormalities of the male reproductive system is still unclear. The purpose of this study was to study the effects of GDM on the development of mouse fetal Leydig and Sertoli cells. Pregnant mice were treated on gestational day (GD) 6.5 and 12.5 with streptozotocin (STZ, 100 mg/kg) or vehicle (sodium citrate buffer). Leydig and Sertoli cell development and functions were evaluated by investigating serum testosterone levels, cell number and distribution, genes, and protein expression. GDM decreased serum testosterone levels, the anogenital distance, and the level of DHH in Sertoli cells of testes of male offspring. Fetal Leydig cell number was also decreased in testes of GDM offspring by delaying the commitment of stem Leydig cells into the Leydig cell lineage. RNA-seq showed that FOXL2, RSPO1/β-Catenin signaling was activated and Gsk3β signaling was inhibited in GDM offspring testis. In conclusion, GDM disrupted reproductive tract and testis development in mouse male offspring via altering genes related to development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Ying Mo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, International Institutes of Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, Zhejiang, China.,The Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Zhejiang University), Ministry of Education, Zhejiang university school of medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yi-Shang Yan
- The Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Zhejiang University), Ministry of Education, Zhejiang university school of medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhong-Liang Lin
- The Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Zhejiang University), Ministry of Education, Zhejiang university school of medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Rui Liu
- The Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Zhejiang University), Ministry of Education, Zhejiang university school of medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xuan-Qi Liu
- The Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Zhejiang University), Ministry of Education, Zhejiang university school of medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Hai-Yan Wu
- The Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Zhejiang University), Ministry of Education, Zhejiang university school of medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jia-En Yu
- The Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Zhejiang University), Ministry of Education, Zhejiang university school of medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yu-Tong Huang
- The Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Zhejiang University), Ministry of Education, Zhejiang university school of medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jian-Zhong Sheng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, International Institutes of Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, Zhejiang, China.,Research Units of Embryo Original Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China.,The Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Zhejiang University), Ministry of Education, Zhejiang university school of medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - He-Feng Huang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, International Institutes of Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, Zhejiang, China.,Research Units of Embryo Original Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Shanghai, China.,The Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Zhejiang University), Ministry of Education, Zhejiang university school of medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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5
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Pervasive male-biased expression throughout the germline-specific regions of the sea lamprey genome supports key roles in sex differentiation and spermatogenesis. Commun Biol 2022; 5:434. [PMID: 35538209 PMCID: PMC9090840 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03375-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Sea lamprey undergo programmed genome rearrangement (PGR) in which ∼20% of the genome is jettisoned from somatic cells during embryogenesis. Although the role of PGR in embryonic development has been studied, the role of the germline-specific region (GSR) in gonad development is unknown. We analysed RNA-sequence data from 28 sea lamprey gonads sampled across life-history stages, generated a genome-guided de novo superTranscriptome with annotations, and identified germline-specific genes (GSGs). Overall, we identified 638 GSGs that are enriched for reproductive processes and exhibit 36x greater odds of being expressed in testes than ovaries. Next, while 55% of the GSGs have putative somatic paralogs, the somatic paralogs are not differentially expressed between sexes. Further, putative orthologs of some the male-biased GSGs have known functions in sex determination or differentiation in other vertebrates. We conclude that the GSR of sea lamprey plays an important role in testicular differentiation and potentially sex determination. RNA-sequencing of sea lamprey gonads at different life-history stage identifies germline-specific genes which are highly expressed in males during spermatogenesis. This suggests a link between male-biased germline expression and sex differentiation in the sea lamprey.
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6
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Warr N, Siggers P, May J, Chalon N, Pope M, Wells S, Chaboissier MC, Greenfield A. Gadd45g is required for timely Sry expression independently of RSPO1 activity. Reproduction 2022; 163:333-340. [PMID: 35315790 PMCID: PMC9066659 DOI: 10.1530/rep-21-0443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Sex determination in mammals is controlled by the dominance of either pro-testis (SRY-SOX9-FGF9) or pro-ovary (RSPO1-WNT4-FOXL2) genetic pathways during early gonad development in XY and XX embryos, respectively. We have previously shown that early, robust expression of mouse Sry is dependent on the nuclear protein GADD45g. In the absence of GADD45g, XY gonadal sex reversal occurs, associated with a major reduction of Sry levels at 11.5 dpc. Here, we probe the relationship between Gadd45g and Sry further, using gain- and loss-of-function genetics. First, we show that transgenic Gadd45g overexpression can elevate Sry expression levels at 11.5 dpc in the B6.YPOS model of sex reversal, resulting in phenotypic rescue. We then show that the zygosity of pro-ovarian Rspo1 is critical for the degree of gonadal sex reversal observed in both B6.YPOS and Gadd45g-deficient XY gonads, in contrast to that of Foxl2. Phenotypic rescue of sex reversal is observed in XY gonads lacking both Gadd45g and Rspo1, but this is not associated with rescue of Sry expression levels at 11.5 dpc. Instead, Sox9 levels are rescued by around 12.5 dpc. We conclude that Gadd45g is absolutely required for timely expression of Sry in XY gonads, independently of RSPO1-mediated WNT signalling, and discuss these data in light of our understanding of antagonistic interactions between the pro-testis and pro-ovary pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nick Warr
- Mammalian Genetics Unit, Medical Research Council, Harwell Institute, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Pam Siggers
- Mammalian Genetics Unit, Medical Research Council, Harwell Institute, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Joel May
- Mammalian Genetics Unit, Medical Research Council, Harwell Institute, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Nicolas Chalon
- Mammalian Genetics Unit, Medical Research Council, Harwell Institute, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Madeleine Pope
- Mammalian Genetics Unit, Medical Research Council, Harwell Institute, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Sara Wells
- The Mary Lyon Centre, Medical Research Council, Harwell Institute, Oxfordshire, UK
| | | | - Andy Greenfield
- Mammalian Genetics Unit, Medical Research Council, Harwell Institute, Oxfordshire, UK
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7
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Abstract
In 46,XY men, testis is determined by a genetic network(s) that both promotes testis formation and represses ovarian development. Disruption of this process results in a lack of testis-determination and affected individuals present with 46,XY gonadal dysgenesis (GD), a part of the spectrum of Disorders/Differences of Sex Development/Determination (DSD). A minority of all cases of GD are associated with pathogenic variants in key players of testis-determination, SRY, SOX9, MAP3K1 and NR5A1. However, most of the cases remain unexplained. Recently, unbiased exome sequencing approaches have revealed new genes and loci that may cause 46,XY GD. We critically evaluate the evidence to support causality of these factors and describe how functional studies are continuing to improve our understanding of genotype-phenotype relationships in genes that are established causes of GD. As genomic data continues to be generated from DSD cohorts, we propose several recommendations to help interpret the data and establish causality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maëva Elzaiat
- Human Developmental Genetics, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Ken McElreavey
- Human Developmental Genetics, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Anu Bashamboo
- Human Developmental Genetics, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
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8
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Wang H, Liu L, Liu C, Wang L, Chen J, Wang H, Heng D, Zeng M, Liu C, Zhou Z, Ye X, Wan Y, Li H, Liu L. Induction of meiosis by embryonic gonadal somatic cells differentiated from pluripotent stem cells. Stem Cell Res Ther 2021; 12:607. [PMID: 34930450 PMCID: PMC8686525 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-021-02672-4] [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: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Depletion of oocytes leads to ovarian aging-associated infertility, endocrine disruption and related diseases. Excitingly, unlimited oocytes can be generated by differentiation of primordial germ cell like cells (PGCLCs) from pluripotent stem cells. Nevertheless, development of oocytes and follicles from PGCLCs relies on developmentally matched gonadal somatic cells, only available from E12.5 embryos in mice. It is therefore imperative to achieve an in vitro source of E12.5 gonadal somatic cells. Methods We explored to identify small molecules, which can induce female embryonic stem cells (ESCs) into gonadal somatic cell like cells. Results Using RNA-sequencing, we identified signaling pathways highly upregulated in E12.5_gonadal somatic cells (E12.5_GSCs). Through searching for the activators of these pathways, we identified small-molecule compounds Vitamin C (Vc) and AM580 in combination (V580) for inducing differentiation of female embryonic stem cells (ESCs) into E12.5_GSC-like cells (E12.5_GSCLCs). After V580 treatment for 6 days and sorted by a surface marker CD63, the cell population yielded a transcriptome profile similar to that of E12.5_GSCs, which promoted meiosis progression and folliculogenesis of primordial germ cells. This approach will contribute to the study of germ cell and follicle development and oocyte production and have implications in potentially treating female infertility. Conclusion ESCs can be induced into embryonic gonadal somatic cell like cells by small molecules. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13287-021-02672-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiying Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China.,Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, College of Life Sciences; The Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials Ministry of Education, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Linlin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China.,Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, College of Life Sciences; The Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials Ministry of Education, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Chang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China.,Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, College of Life Sciences; The Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials Ministry of Education, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Lingling Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China.,Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, College of Life Sciences; The Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials Ministry of Education, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Jiyu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China.,Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, College of Life Sciences; The Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials Ministry of Education, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Huasong Wang
- Department of Cell Biology, College of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Dai Heng
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China.,Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, College of Life Sciences; The Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials Ministry of Education, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Ming Zeng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Key Laboratory for Major Obstetric Diseases of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China.,Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, College of Life Sciences; The Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials Ministry of Education, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Zhongcheng Zhou
- Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510655, China
| | - Xiaoying Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China.,Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, College of Life Sciences; The Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials Ministry of Education, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Yajuan Wan
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Huiyu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China.,Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, College of Life Sciences; The Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials Ministry of Education, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Lin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China. .,Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, College of Life Sciences; The Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials Ministry of Education, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China. .,The Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, 94 Weijin Road, Tianjin, 300071, China.
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9
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Ridnik M, Schoenfelder S, Gonen N. Cis-Regulatory Control of Mammalian Sex Determination. Sex Dev 2021; 15:317-334. [PMID: 34710870 PMCID: PMC8743899 DOI: 10.1159/000519244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex determination is the process by which an initial bipotential gonad adopts either a testicular or ovarian cell fate. The inability to properly complete this process leads to a group of developmental disorders classified as disorders of sex development (DSD). To date, dozens of genes were shown to play roles in mammalian sex determination, and mutations in these genes can cause DSD in humans or gonadal sex reversal/dysfunction in mice. However, exome sequencing currently provides genetic diagnosis for only less than half of DSD patients. This points towards a major role for the non-coding genome during sex determination. In this review, we highlight recent advances in our understanding of non-coding, cis-acting gene regulatory elements and discuss how they may control transcriptional programmes that underpin sex determination in the context of the 3-dimensional folding of chromatin. As a paradigm, we focus on the Sox9 gene, a prominent pro-male factor and one of the most extensively studied genes in gonadal cell fate determination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meshi Ridnik
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
- Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Stefan Schoenfelder
- Epigenetics Programme, The Babraham Institute, Babraham Research Campus, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Nitzan Gonen
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
- Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
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10
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Planells B, Gómez-Redondo I, Sánchez JM, McDonald M, Cánovas Á, Lonergan P, Gutiérrez-Adán A. Gene expression profiles of bovine genital ridges during sex determination and early differentiation of the gonads†. Biol Reprod 2021; 102:38-52. [PMID: 31504197 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioz170] [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: 05/29/2019] [Revised: 08/02/2019] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Most current knowledge of sex determination in mammals has emerged from mouse and human studies. To investigate the molecular regulation of the sex determination process in cattle, we used an RNA sequencing strategy to analyze the transcriptome landscape of male and female bovine fetal gonads collected in vivo at key developmental stages: before, during, and after SRY gene activation on fetal days D35 (bipotential gonad formation), D39 (peak SRY expression), and D43 (early gonad differentiation). Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in male vs. female germinal ridges and among group genes showing similar expression profiles during the three periods. There were 143, 96, and 658 DEG between males and female fetuses at D35, D39, and D43, respectively. On D35, genes upregulated in females were enriched in translation, nuclear export, RNA localization, and mRNA splicing events, whereas those upregulated in males were enriched in cell proliferation regulation and male sex determination terms. In time-course experiments, 767 DEGs in males and 545 DEGs in females were identified between D35 vs. D39, and 3157 DEGs in males and 2008 in females were identified between D39 vs. D43. Results highlight unique aspects of sex determination in cattle, such as the expression of several Y chromosome genes (absent in mice and humans) before SRY expression and an abrupt increase in the nuclear expression of SOX10 (instead of SOX9 expression in the Sertoli cell cytoplasm as observed in mice) during male determination and early differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamín Planells
- Departamento de Reproducción Animal, INIA, Madrid, Spain.,School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - José María Sánchez
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Michael McDonald
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Ángela Cánovas
- Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Patrick Lonergan
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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11
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Sinha A, Fan VB, Ramakrishnan AB, Engelhardt N, Kennell J, Cadigan KM. Repression of Wnt/β-catenin signaling by SOX9 and Mastermind-like transcriptional coactivator 2. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:7/8/eabe0849. [PMID: 33597243 PMCID: PMC7888933 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abe0849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Wnt/β-catenin signaling requires inhibition of a multiprotein destruction complex that targets β-catenin for proteasomal degradation. SOX9 is a potent antagonist of the Wnt pathway and has been proposed to act through direct binding to β-catenin or the β-catenin destruction complex. Here, we demonstrate that SOX9 promotes turnover of β-catenin in mammalian cell culture, but this occurs independently of the destruction complex and the proteasome. This activity requires SOX9's ability to activate transcription. Transcriptome analysis revealed that SOX9 induces the expression of the Notch coactivator Mastermind-like transcriptional activator 2 (MAML2), which is required for SOX9-dependent Wnt/β-catenin antagonism. MAML2 promotes β-catenin turnover independently of Notch signaling, and MAML2 appears to associate directly with β-catenin in an in vitro binding assay. This work defines a previously unidentified pathway that promotes β-catenin degradation, acting in parallel to established mechanisms. SOX9 uses this pathway to restrict Wnt/β-catenin signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhishek Sinha
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Biological Sciences Building, 1105 North University Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Vinson B Fan
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Biological Sciences Building, 1105 North University Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Aravinda-Bharathi Ramakrishnan
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Biological Sciences Building, 1105 North University Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Nicole Engelhardt
- Department of Biology, Vassar College, 124 Raymond Ave, Poughkeepsie, NY 12604, USA
| | - Jennifer Kennell
- Department of Biology, Vassar College, 124 Raymond Ave, Poughkeepsie, NY 12604, USA
| | - Ken M Cadigan
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Biological Sciences Building, 1105 North University Avenue, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
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12
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Bagheri-Fam S, Combes AN, Ling CK, Wilhelm D. Heterozygous deletion of Sox9 in mouse mimics the gonadal sex reversal phenotype associated with campomelic dysplasia in humans. Hum Mol Genet 2020; 29:3781-3792. [PMID: 33305798 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddaa259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Revised: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Heterozygous mutations in the human SOX9 gene cause the skeletal malformation syndrome campomelic dysplasia which in 75% of 46, XY individuals is associated with male-to-female sex reversal. Although studies in homozygous Sox9 knockout mouse models confirmed that SOX9 is critical for testis development, mice heterozygous for the Sox9-null allele were reported to develop normal testes. This led to the belief that the SOX9 dosage requirement for testis differentiation is different between humans, which often require both alleles, and mice, in which one allele is sufficient. However, in prior studies, gonadal phenotypes in heterozygous Sox9 XY mice were assessed only by either gross morphology, histological staining or analyzed on a mixed genetic background. In this study, we conditionally inactivated Sox9 in somatic cells of developing gonads using the Nr5a1-Cre mouse line on a pure C57BL/6 genetic background. Section and whole-mount immunofluorescence for testicular and ovarian markers showed that XY Sox9 heterozygous gonads developed as ovotestes. Quantitative droplet digital PCR confirmed a 50% reduction of Sox9 mRNA as well as partial sex reversal shown by an upregulation of ovarian genes. Our data show that haploinsufficiency of Sox9 can perturb testis development in mice, suggesting that mice may provide a more accurate model of human disorders/differences of sex development than previously thought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Bagheri-Fam
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Alexander N Combes
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia.,Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Cheuk K Ling
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Dagmar Wilhelm
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
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13
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Nagahama Y, Chakraborty T, Paul-Prasanth B, Ohta K, Nakamura M. Sex determination, gonadal sex differentiation, and plasticity in vertebrate species. Physiol Rev 2020; 101:1237-1308. [PMID: 33180655 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00044.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
A diverse array of sex determination (SD) mechanisms, encompassing environmental to genetic, have been found to exist among vertebrates, covering a spectrum from fixed SD mechanisms (mammals) to functional sex change in fishes (sequential hermaphroditic fishes). A major landmark in vertebrate SD was the discovery of the SRY gene in 1990. Since that time, many attempts to clone an SRY ortholog from nonmammalian vertebrates remained unsuccessful, until 2002, when DMY/dmrt1by was discovered as the SD gene of a small fish, medaka. Surprisingly, however, DMY/dmrt1by was found in only 2 species among more than 20 species of medaka, suggesting a large diversity of SD genes among vertebrates. Considerable progress has been made over the last 3 decades, such that it is now possible to formulate reasonable paradigms of how SD and gonadal sex differentiation may work in some model vertebrate species. This review outlines our current understanding of vertebrate SD and gonadal sex differentiation, with a focus on the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved. An impressive number of genes and factors have been discovered that play important roles in testicular and ovarian differentiation. An antagonism between the male and female pathway genes exists in gonads during both sex differentiation and, surprisingly, even as adults, suggesting that, in addition to sex-changing fishes, gonochoristic vertebrates including mice maintain some degree of gonadal sexual plasticity into adulthood. Importantly, a review of various SD mechanisms among vertebrates suggests that this is the ideal biological event that can make us understand the evolutionary conundrums underlying speciation and species diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshitaka Nagahama
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Japan.,South Ehime Fisheries Research Center, Ehime University, Ainan, Japan.,Faculty of Biological Science and Technology, Kanazawa University, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Tapas Chakraborty
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Japan.,South Ehime Fisheries Research Center, Ehime University, Ainan, Japan.,Laboratory of Marine Biology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukouka, Japan.,Karatsu Satellite of Aqua-Bioresource Innovation Center, Kyushu University, Karatsu, Japan
| | - Bindhu Paul-Prasanth
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki, Japan.,Centre for Nanosciences and Molecular Medicine, Amrita Vishwa Vidapeetham, Kochi, Kerala, India
| | - Kohei Ohta
- Laboratory of Marine Biology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University, Fukouka, Japan
| | - Masaru Nakamura
- Sesoko Station, Tropical Biosphere Research Center, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan.,Research Center, Okinawa Churashima Foundation, Okinawa, Japan
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14
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Nicol B, Rodriguez K, Yao HHC. Aberrant and constitutive expression of FOXL2 impairs ovarian development and functions in mice. Biol Reprod 2020; 103:966-977. [PMID: 32945847 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioaa146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Revised: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Development and functions of the ovary rely on appropriate signaling and communication between various ovarian cell types. FOXL2, a transcription factor that plays a key role at different stages of ovarian development, is associated with primary ovarian insufficiency and ovarian cancer as a result of its loss-of-function or mutations. In this study, we investigated the impact of aberrant, constitutive expression of FOXL2 in somatic cells of the ovary. Overexpression of FOXL2 that started during fetal life resulted in defects in nest breakdown and consequent formation of polyovular follicles. Granulosa cell differentiation was impaired and recruitment and differentiation of steroidogenic theca cells was compromised. As a consequence, adult ovaries overexpressing FOXL2 exhibited defects in compartmentalization of granulosa and theca cells, significant decreased steroidogenesis and lack of ovulation. These findings demonstrate that fine-tuned expression of FOXL2 is required for proper folliculogenesis and fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Nicol
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Karina Rodriguez
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Humphrey H-C Yao
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
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15
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Richardson N, Gillot I, Gregoire EP, Youssef SA, de Rooij D, de Bruin A, De Cian MC, Chaboissier MC. Sox8 and Sox9 act redundantly for ovarian-to-testicular fate reprogramming in the absence of R-spondin1 in mouse sex reversals. eLife 2020; 9:53972. [PMID: 32450947 PMCID: PMC7250573 DOI: 10.7554/elife.53972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In mammals, testicular differentiation is initiated by transcription factors SRY and SOX9 in XY gonads, and ovarian differentiation involves R-spondin1 (RSPO1) mediated activation of WNT/β-catenin signaling in XX gonads. Accordingly, the absence of RSPO1/Rspo1 in XX humans and mice leads to testicular differentiation and female-to-male sex reversal in a manner that does not requireSry or Sox9 in mice. Here we show that an alternate testis-differentiating factor exists and that this factor is Sox8. Specifically, genetic ablation of Sox8 and Sox9 prevents ovarian-to-testicular reprogramming observed in XX Rspo1 loss-of-function mice. Consequently, Rspo1 Sox8 Sox9 triple mutant gonads developed as atrophied ovaries. Thus, SOX8 alone can compensate for the loss of SOX9 for Sertoli cell differentiation during female-to-male sex reversal. In humans, mice and other mammals, genetic sex is determined by the combination of sex chromosomes that each individual inherits. Individuals with two X chromosomes (XX) are said to be chromosomally female, while individuals with one X and one Y chromosome (XY) are chromosomally males. One of the major differences between XX and XY individuals is that they have different types of gonads (the organs that make egg cells or sperm). In mice, for example, before males are born, a gene called Sox9 triggers a cascade of events that result in the gonads developing into testes. In females, on the other hand, another gene called Rspo1 stimulates the gonads to develop into ovaries. Loss of Sox9 in XY embryos, or Rspo1 in XX embryos, leads to mice developing physical characteristics that do not match their genetic sex, a phenomenon known as sex reversal. For example, in XX female mice lacking Rspo1, cells in the gonads reprogram into testis cells known as Sertoli cells just before birth and form male structures known as testis cords. The gonads of female mice missing both Sox9 and Rspo1 (referred to as “double mutants”) also develop Sertoli cells and testis cords, suggesting another gene may compensate for the loss of Sox9. Previous studies suggest that a gene known as Sox8, which is closely related to Sox9, may be able to drive sex reversal in female mice. However, it was not clear whether Sox8 is able to stimulate testis to form in female mice in the absence of Sox9. To address this question, Richardson et al. studied mutant female mice lacking Rspo1, Sox8 and Sox9, known as “triple mutants”. Just before birth, the gonads in the triple mutant mice showed some characteristics of sex reversal but lacked the Sertoli cells found in the double mutant mice. After the mice were born, the gonads of the triple mutant mice developed as rudimentary ovaries without testis cords, unlike the more testis-like gonads found in the double mutant mice. The findings of Richardson et al. show that Sox8 is able to trigger sex reversal in female mice in the absence of Rspo1 and Sox9. Differences in sexual development in humans affect the appearance of individuals and often cause infertility. Identifying Sox8 and other similar genes in mice may one day help to diagnose people with such conditions and lead to the development of new therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Sameh A Youssef
- Department of Pathobiology, Dutch Molecular Pathology Center, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands.,Department Pediatrics, Divisions Molecular Genetics, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Dirk de Rooij
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Division of Developmental Biology, Reproductive Biology Group, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Alain de Bruin
- Department of Pathobiology, Dutch Molecular Pathology Center, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands.,Department Pediatrics, Divisions Molecular Genetics, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
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16
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Tang F, Richardson N, Albina A, Chaboissier MC, Perea-Gomez A. Mouse Gonad Development in the Absence of the Pro-Ovary Factor WNT4 and the Pro-Testis Factor SOX9. Cells 2020; 9:cells9051103. [PMID: 32365547 PMCID: PMC7291083 DOI: 10.3390/cells9051103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [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: 04/06/2020] [Revised: 04/25/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The transcription factors SRY and SOX9 and RSPO1/WNT4/β-Catenin signaling act as antagonistic pathways to drive testis and ovary development respectively, from a common gonadal primordium in mouse embryos. In this work, we took advantage of a double knockout mouse model to study gonadal development when Sox9 and Wnt4 are both mutated. We show that the XX gonad mutant for Wnt4 or for both Wnt4 and Sox9 develop as ovotestes, demonstrating that ectopic SOX9 function is not required for the partial female-to-male sex reversal caused by a Wnt4 mutation. Sox9 deletion in XY gonads leads to ovarian development accompanied by ectopic WNT/β-catenin signaling. In XY Sox9 mutant gonads, SRY-positive supporting precursors adopt a female-like identity and develop as pre-granulosa-like cells. This phenotype cannot be fully prevented by the deletion of Wnt4 or Rspo1, indicating that SOX9 is required for the early determination of the male supporting cell identity independently of repressing RSPO1/WNT4/β-Catenin signaling. However, in XY Sox9 Wnt4 double mutant gonads, pre-granulosa cells are not maintained, as they prematurely differentiate as mature granulosa cells and then trans-differentiate into Sertoli-like cells. Together, our results reveal the dynamics of the specific and independent actions of SOX9 and WNT4 during gonadal differentiation: SOX9 is essential in the testis for early specification of male-supporting cells whereas WNT4 functions in the ovary to maintain female-supporting cell identity and inhibit male-specific vascular and steroidogenic cell differentiation.
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17
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Askari M, Rastari M, Seresht-Ahmadi M, McElreavey K, Bashamboo A, Razzaghy-Azar M, Totonchi M. A missense mutation in NR5A1 causing female to male sex reversal: A case report. Andrologia 2020; 52:e13585. [PMID: 32271476 DOI: 10.1111/and.13585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2020] [Revised: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Testicular disorder of sex development (TDSD) is a rare condition, characterised by a female karyotype, male phenotype, small testes and cryptorchidism. Only a few studies have investigated the genetic causes of male sex reversal. This is the clinical report of an Iranian 46,XX patient presented with TDSD and associated with hypospadias. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) of the patient ascertained the heterozygous missense variant (c.274C>T) in the NR5A1 gene, resulting in a substitution of arginine with tryptophan. The arginine 92 residue was located in a highly conserved region of steroidogenic factor 1 (SF1), which is crucial for its interaction with DNA. Our finding is in line with previous reports, which highlighted the role of p.(Arg92Trp) variant in TDSD individuals. As far as we are aware, this is the first report of TDSD with p.(Arg92Trp) variant in the Iranian population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masomeh Askari
- Department of Genetics, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mandana Rastari
- Department of Genetics, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Basic Science and Advanced Technologies in Biology, University of Science and Culture, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehrshad Seresht-Ahmadi
- Department of Genetics, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Basic Science and Advanced Technologies in Biology, University of Science and Culture, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Anu Bashamboo
- Human Developmental Genetics, Institute Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Maryam Razzaghy-Azar
- Metabolic Disorders Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Molecular-Cellular Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehdi Totonchi
- Department of Genetics, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
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18
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Disorders of Sex Development-Novel Regulators, Impacts on Fertility, and Options for Fertility Preservation. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21072282. [PMID: 32224856 PMCID: PMC7178030 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21072282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Revised: 03/09/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Disorders (or differences) of sex development (DSD) are a heterogeneous group of congenital conditions with variations in chromosomal, gonadal, or anatomical sex. Impaired gonadal development is central to the pathogenesis of the majority of DSDs and therefore a clear understanding of gonadal development is essential to comprehend the impacts of these disorders on the individual, including impacts on future fertility. Gonadal development was traditionally considered to involve a primary 'male' pathway leading to testicular development as a result of expression of a small number of key testis-determining genes. However, it is increasingly recognized that there are several gene networks involved in the development of the bipotential gonad towards either a testicular or ovarian fate. This includes genes that act antagonistically to regulate gonadal development. This review will highlight some of the novel regulators of gonadal development and how the identification of these has enhanced understanding of gonadal development and the pathogenesis of DSD. We will also describe the impact of DSDs on fertility and options for fertility preservation in this context.
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19
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Capel B. WOMEN IN REPRODUCTIVE SCIENCE: To be or not to be a testis. Reproduction 2019; 158:F101-F111. [PMID: 31265995 PMCID: PMC9945370 DOI: 10.1530/rep-19-0151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Work that established the testis as the driver of male development, and the Y chromosome as the bearer of the male-determining gene, established a working model, and set the stage for the molecular age of mammalian sex determination. The discovery and characterization of Sry/SRY at the top of the hierarchy in mammals launched the field in two major directions. The first was to identify the downstream transcription factors and other molecular players that drive the bifurcation of Sertoli and granulosa cell differentiation. The second major direction was to understand organogenesis of the early bipotential gonad, and how divergence of its two distinct morphogenetic pathways (testis and ovary) is regulated at the cellular level. This review will summarize the early discoveries soon after Sry was identified and focus on my study of the gonad as a model of organogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blanche Capel
- 1Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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20
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Wang Y, Yang W, Liu T, Bai G, Liu M, Wang W. Over-expression of SOX8 predicts poor prognosis in colorectal cancer: A retrospective study. Medicine (Baltimore) 2019; 98:e16237. [PMID: 31277140 PMCID: PMC6635174 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000016237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrant expression of SRY-box 8 (SOX8) is closely correlated with the development and progression of many types of cancers in human. Limited studies report the relationship between SOX8 expression and overall survival in colorectal cancer (CRC). This study aimed to collect the pathological tissues and clinical data in order to analyze the relationship between SOX8 expression and clinicopathological parameters and prognosis of CRC patients. Tissue microarrays were constructed from 424 primary CRC patients with clinicopathological information and follow-up data. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed on tissue microarrays to explore the relationship between SOX8 expression and clinicopathological information and patient's prognosis. The expression of SOX8 was higher in CRC tissues than that in non-tumor adjacent tissues (NATs, P <.001). High expression of SOX8 was associated with tumor stage (P = .04) and shorter overall survival (OS) after operation of patients (P = .004). Subsequently, univariate COX analysis identified that high expression of SOX8 (P = .004), differentiation (P = .006), distant metastasis (P <.001), tumor stage (P = .003), and higher rate of lymph node metastasis (P <.001), all significantly predicted decrease in OS. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that distant metastasis (P <.001), high SOX8 expression, (P = .013) and lymph node metastasis (P <.001) were independent poor prognostic factors in CRC patients. This study showed that SOX8 is over-expressed in patients with high T stage, which affects the outcome of prognosis in CRC patients. High expression of SOX8 usually has a poor independent prognostic factor for CRC.
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21
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Deciphering Cell Lineage Specification during Male Sex Determination with Single-Cell RNA Sequencing. Cell Rep 2019; 22:1589-1599. [PMID: 29425512 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.01.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2017] [Revised: 11/21/2017] [Accepted: 01/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The gonad is a unique biological system for studying cell-fate decisions. However, major questions remain regarding the identity of somatic progenitor cells and the transcriptional events driving cell differentiation. Using time-series single-cell RNA sequencing on XY mouse gonads during sex determination, we identified a single population of somatic progenitor cells prior to sex determination. A subset of these progenitors differentiates into Sertoli cells, a process characterized by a highly dynamic genetic program consisting of sequential waves of gene expression. Another subset of multipotent cells maintains their progenitor state but undergoes significant transcriptional changes restricting their competence toward a steroidogenic fate required for the differentiation of fetal Leydig cells. Our findings confirm the presence of a unique multipotent progenitor population in the gonadal primordium that gives rise to both supporting and interstitial lineages. These also provide the most granular analysis of the transcriptional events occurring during testicular cell-fate commitment.
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22
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Grabek A, Dolfi B, Klein B, Jian-Motamedi F, Chaboissier MC, Schedl A. The Adult Adrenal Cortex Undergoes Rapid Tissue Renewal in a Sex-Specific Manner. Cell Stem Cell 2019; 25:290-296.e2. [PMID: 31104943 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2019.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2018] [Revised: 03/13/2019] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Evolution has resulted in profound differences between males and females that extend to non-reproductive organs and are reflected in the susceptibility and progression of diseases. However, the cellular and molecular basis for these differences remains largely unknown. Here we report that adrenal gland tissue renewal is highly active and sexually dimorphic, with female mice showing a 3-fold higher turnover than males. Moreover, in males, homeostasis relies on proliferation of cells within the steroidogenic zone, but females employ an additional stem and/or progenitor compartment situated in the adrenal capsule. Using lineage tracing, sex reversal models, gonadectomy, and dihydrotestosterone treatments, we further show that sex-specific stem cell activity is driven by male hormones that repress recruitment of Gli1+ stem cells from the capsule and cell proliferation. Taken together, our findings provide a molecular and cellular basis for adrenal sex dimorphism that may contribute to the increased incidence of adrenal diseases in females.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bastien Dolfi
- Université Côte d'Azur, INSERM, CNRS, iBV, Nice, France
| | - Bryan Klein
- Université Côte d'Azur, INSERM, CNRS, iBV, Nice, France
| | | | | | - Andreas Schedl
- Université Côte d'Azur, INSERM, CNRS, iBV, Nice, France; Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer.
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23
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24
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Miura K, Harikae K, Nakaguchi M, Imaimatsu K, Hiramatsu R, Tomita A, Hirate Y, Kanai-Azuma M, Kurohmaru M, Ogura A, Kanai Y. Molecular and genetic characterization of partial masculinization in embryonic ovaries grafted into male nude mice. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0212367. [PMID: 30840652 PMCID: PMC6402656 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0212367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Accepted: 01/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
In most of mammalian embryos, gonadal sex differentiation occurs inside the maternal uterus before birth. In several fetal ovarian grafting experiments using male host mice, an experimental switch from the maternal intrauterine to male-host environment gradually induces partial masculinization of the grafted ovaries even under the wild-type genotype. However, either host-derived factors causing or molecular basis underlying this masculinization of the fetal ovaries are not clear. Here, we demonstrate that ectopic appearance of SOX9-positive Sertoli cell-like cells in grafted ovaries was mediated by the testosterone derived from the male host. Neither Sox8 nor Amh activity in the ovarian tissues is essential for such ectopic appearance of SOX9-positive cells. The transcriptome analyses of the grafted ovaries during this masculinization process showed early downregulation of pro-ovarian genes such as Irx3, Nr0b1/Dax1, Emx2, and Fez1/Lzts1 by days 7–10 post-transplantation, and subsequent upregulation of several pro-testis genes, such as Bhlhe40, Egr1/2, Nr4a2, and Zc3h12c by day 20, leading to a partial sex reversal with altered expression profiles in one-third of the total numbers of the sex-dimorphic pre-granulosa and Sertoli cell-specific genes at 12.5 dpc. Our data imply that the paternal testosterone exposure is partially responsible for the sex-reversal expression profiles of certain pro-ovarian and pro-testis genes in the fetal ovaries in a temporally dependent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kento Miura
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
- RIKEN BioResovurce Research Center, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Kyoko Harikae
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mayu Nakaguchi
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kenya Imaimatsu
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ryuji Hiramatsu
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ayako Tomita
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshikazu Hirate
- Center for Experimental Animals, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masami Kanai-Azuma
- Center for Experimental Animals, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masamichi Kurohmaru
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Atsuo Ogura
- RIKEN BioResovurce Research Center, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
- RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research, Wako, Saitama, Japan
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Yoshiakira Kanai
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan
- * E-mail:
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25
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Riel JM, Yamauchi Y, Ruthig VA, Malinta QU, Blanco M, Moretti C, Cocquet J, Ward MA. Rescue of Sly Expression Is Not Sufficient to Rescue Spermiogenic Phenotype of Mice with Deletions of Y Chromosome Long Arm. Genes (Basel) 2019; 10:genes10020133. [PMID: 30759861 PMCID: PMC6409976 DOI: 10.3390/genes10020133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Revised: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Mice with deletions of the Y-specific (non-PAR) region of the mouse Y chromosome long arm (NPYq) have sperm defects and fertility problems that increase proportionally to deletion size. Mice with abrogated function of NPYq-encoded gene Sly (sh367 Sly-KD) display a phenotype similar to that of NPYq deletion mutants but less severe. The milder phenotype can be due to insufficient Sly knockdown, involvement of another NPYq gene, or both. To address this question and to further elucidate the role of Sly in the infertile phenotype of mice with NPYq deletions, we developed an anti-SLY antibody specifically recognizing SLY1 and SLY2 protein isoforms and used it to characterize SLY expression in NPYq- and Sly-deficient mice. We also carried out transgene rescue by adding Sly1/2 transgenes to mice with NPYq deletions. We demonstrated that SLY1/2 expression in mutant mice decreased proportionally to deletion size, with ~12% of SLY1/2 retained in shSLY sh367 testes. The addition of Sly1/2 transgenes to mice with NPYq deletions rescued SLY1/2 expression but did not ameliorate fertility and testicular/spermiogenic defects. Together, the data suggest that Sly deficiency is not the sole underlying cause of the infertile phenotype of mice with NPYq deletions and imply the involvement of another NPYq gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan M Riel
- Institute for Biogenesis Research, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, 1960 East-West Rd, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA.
| | - Yasuhiro Yamauchi
- Institute for Biogenesis Research, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, 1960 East-West Rd, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA.
| | - Victor A Ruthig
- Institute for Biogenesis Research, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, 1960 East-West Rd, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA.
| | - Qushay U Malinta
- Institute for Biogenesis Research, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, 1960 East-West Rd, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA.
| | - Mélina Blanco
- INSERM, U1016, Institut Cochin, 75013 Paris, France.
- CNRS, UMR8104, 75014 Paris, France.
- Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Faculté de Médecine, Paris 75014, France.
| | - Charlotte Moretti
- INSERM, U1016, Institut Cochin, 75013 Paris, France.
- CNRS, UMR8104, 75014 Paris, France.
- Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Faculté de Médecine, Paris 75014, France.
| | - Julie Cocquet
- INSERM, U1016, Institut Cochin, 75013 Paris, France.
- CNRS, UMR8104, 75014 Paris, France.
- Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Faculté de Médecine, Paris 75014, France.
| | - Monika A Ward
- Institute for Biogenesis Research, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, 1960 East-West Rd, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA.
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26
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Nef S, Stévant I, Greenfield A. Characterizing the bipotential mammalian gonad. Curr Top Dev Biol 2019; 134:167-194. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2019.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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27
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Zhang K, Xu J, Zhang Z, Huang Y, Ruan Z, Chen S, Zhu F, You X, Jia C, Meng Q, Gu R, Lin X, Xu J, Xu P, Zhang Z, Shi Q. A comparative transcriptomic study on developmental gonads provides novel insights into sex change in the protandrous black porgy (Acanthopagrus schlegelii). Genomics 2018; 111:277-283. [PMID: 30439483 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2018.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2018] [Revised: 10/31/2018] [Accepted: 11/09/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Protandrous black porgy (Acanthopagrus schlegelii) is a popular and valuable commercial marine fish in China and East Asian countries. Controlling and managing its breeding has been an imperative step towards obtaining a sustainable supply of this fish in aquaculture production systems. Therefore, study on the molecular mechanisms of sex change in black porgy has both scientific and commercial importance. Previously, we identified some candidate genes related to sex determination and differentiation from a high-quality genome assembly of the black porgy. In the present study, transcriptome sequencing of developmental gonads (including testis, ovotestis and ovary) of black porgy was performed to further investigate the sex-change mechanisms. Our results showed that the highly expressed male-related genes (dmrt1, piwi1, piwi2, sox9, sox30 and amh) at the male phase were significantly down-regulated to a substantial degree at the intersexual stage, and the female-related genes (jnk1, vasa, wnt4, figla and foxl2) were distinctly up-regulated when the fish grows into a female adult, suggesting the potential roles of these genes in sex change of the black porgy. These data also support a previous hypothesis that the femaleness will be switched on when the testis is entering the degenerated stage through the diminished dmrt1 expression. Our transcriptome data provide a very useful genomic resource for future studies on sex change and practical aquaculture in the black porgy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Zhang
- School of Animal and Technology, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou 510225, China; Shenzhen Key Lab of Marine Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Molecular Breeding in Marine Economic Animals, BGI Academy of Marine Sciences, BGI Marine, BGI, Shenzhen 518083, China.
| | - Jin Xu
- Jiangsu Marine Fishery Research Institute, Nantong, Jiangsu 226007, China
| | - Zhiwei Zhang
- Jiangsu Marine Fishery Research Institute, Nantong, Jiangsu 226007, China
| | - Yu Huang
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Marine Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Molecular Breeding in Marine Economic Animals, BGI Academy of Marine Sciences, BGI Marine, BGI, Shenzhen 518083, China.
| | - Zhiqiang Ruan
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Marine Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Molecular Breeding in Marine Economic Animals, BGI Academy of Marine Sciences, BGI Marine, BGI, Shenzhen 518083, China.
| | - Shuyin Chen
- Jiangsu Marine Fishery Research Institute, Nantong, Jiangsu 226007, China
| | - Fei Zhu
- Jiangsu Marine Fishery Research Institute, Nantong, Jiangsu 226007, China
| | - Xinxin You
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Marine Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Molecular Breeding in Marine Economic Animals, BGI Academy of Marine Sciences, BGI Marine, BGI, Shenzhen 518083, China.
| | - Chaofeng Jia
- Jiangsu Marine Fishery Research Institute, Nantong, Jiangsu 226007, China
| | - Qian Meng
- Jiangsu Marine Fishery Research Institute, Nantong, Jiangsu 226007, China
| | - Ruobo Gu
- BGI-Zhenjiang Institute of Hydrobiology, BGI Marine, Zhenjiang 212000, China.
| | - Xueqiang Lin
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Marine Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Molecular Breeding in Marine Economic Animals, BGI Academy of Marine Sciences, BGI Marine, BGI, Shenzhen 518083, China; Hainan BGI Marine Science and Technology Co. Ltd., BGI Marine, Wenchang 571327, China.
| | - Junmin Xu
- BGI-Zhenjiang Institute of Hydrobiology, BGI Marine, Zhenjiang 212000, China; School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu 069-8501, Japan.
| | - Pao Xu
- Freshwater Fishery Research Center, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214081, China.
| | - Zhiyong Zhang
- Jiangsu Marine Fishery Research Institute, Nantong, Jiangsu 226007, China.
| | - Qiong Shi
- Shenzhen Key Lab of Marine Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Molecular Breeding in Marine Economic Animals, BGI Academy of Marine Sciences, BGI Marine, BGI, Shenzhen 518083, China; BGI-Zhenjiang Institute of Hydrobiology, BGI Marine, Zhenjiang 212000, China.
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28
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Rotgers E, Jørgensen A, Yao HHC. At the Crossroads of Fate-Somatic Cell Lineage Specification in the Fetal Gonad. Endocr Rev 2018; 39:739-759. [PMID: 29771299 PMCID: PMC6173476 DOI: 10.1210/er.2018-00010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2018] [Accepted: 05/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The reproductive endocrine systems are vastly different between males and females. This sexual dimorphism of the endocrine milieu originates from sex-specific differentiation of the somatic cells in the gonads during fetal life. Most gonadal somatic cells arise from the adrenogonadal primordium. After separation of the adrenal and gonadal primordia, the gonadal somatic cells initiate sex-specific differentiation during gonadal sex determination with the specification of the supporting cell lineages: Sertoli cells in the testis vs granulosa cells in the ovary. The supporting cell lineages then facilitate the differentiation of the steroidogenic cell lineages, Leydig cells in the testis and theca cells in the ovary. Proper differentiation of these cell types defines the somatic cell environment that is essential for germ cell development, hormone production, and establishment of the reproductive tracts. Impairment of lineage specification and function of gonadal somatic cells can lead to disorders of sexual development (DSDs) in humans. Human DSDs and processes for gonadal development have been successfully modeled using genetically modified mouse models. In this review, we focus on the fate decision processes from the initial stage of formation of the adrenogonadal primordium in the embryo to the maintenance of the somatic cell identities in the gonads when they become fully differentiated in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmi Rotgers
- Reproductive Developmental Biology Group, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Anne Jørgensen
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,International Research and Research Training Center in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Humphrey Hung-Chang Yao
- Reproductive Developmental Biology Group, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, North Carolina
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29
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Zhang D, Xie D, Lin X, Ma L, Chen J, Zhang D, Wang Y, Duo S, Feng Y, Zheng C, Jiang B, Ning Y, Han C. The transcription factor SOX30 is a key regulator of mouse spermiogenesis. Development 2018; 145:145/11/dev164723. [PMID: 29848638 DOI: 10.1242/dev.164723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2018] [Accepted: 04/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The postmeiotic development of male germ cells, also known as spermiogenesis, features the coordinated expression of a large number of spermatid-specific genes. However, only a limited number of key transcription factors have been identified and the underlying regulatory mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, we report that SOX30, the most-divergent member of the Sry-related high-motility group box (SOX) family of transcription factors, is essential for mouse spermiogenesis. The SOX30 protein was predominantly expressed in spermatids, while its transcription was regulated by retinoic acid and by MYBL1 before and during meiosis. Sox30 knockout mice arrested spermiogenesis at step 3 round spermatids, which underwent apoptosis and abnormal chromocenter formation. We also determined that SOX30 regulated the expression of hundreds of spermatid-specific protein-coding and long non-coding RNA genes. SOX30 bound to the proximal promoter of its own gene and activated its transcription. These results reveal SOX30 as a novel key regulator of spermiogenesis that regulates its own transcription to enforce and activate this meiotic regulatory pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daoqin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Dan Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xiwen Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Longfei Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jian Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Daoqi Zhang
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China
| | - Yang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Shuguang Duo
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Yanmin Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Chunwei Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Binjie Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yan Ning
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Chunsheng Han
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
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30
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Tao W, Chen J, Tan D, Yang J, Sun L, Wei J, Conte MA, Kocher TD, Wang D. Transcriptome display during tilapia sex determination and differentiation as revealed by RNA-Seq analysis. BMC Genomics 2018; 19:363. [PMID: 29764377 PMCID: PMC5952695 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-018-4756-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2018] [Accepted: 05/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The factors determining sex in teleosts are diverse. Great efforts have been made to characterize the underlying genetic network in various species. However, only seven master sex-determining genes have been identified in teleosts. While the function of a few genes involved in sex determination and differentiation has been studied, we are far from fully understanding how genes interact to coordinate in this process. Results To enable systematic insights into fish sexual differentiation, we generated a dynamic co-expression network from tilapia gonadal transcriptomes at 5, 20, 30, 40, 90, and 180 dah (days after hatching), plus 45 and 90 dat (days after treatment) and linked gene expression profiles to both development and sexual differentiation. Transcriptomic profiles of female and male gonads at 5 and 20 dah exhibited high similarities except for a small number of genes that were involved in sex determination, while drastic changes were observed from 90 to 180 dah, with a group of differently expressed genes which were involved in gonadal differentiation and gametogenesis. Weighted gene correlation network analysis identified changes in the expression of Borealin, Gtsf1, tesk1, Zar1, Cdn15, and Rpl that were correlated with the expression of genes previously known to be involved in sex differentiation, such as Foxl2, Cyp19a1a, Gsdf, Dmrt1, and Amh. Conclusions Global gonadal gene expression kinetics during sex determination and differentiation have been extensively profiled in tilapia. These findings provide insights into the genetic framework underlying sex determination and sexual differentiation, and expand our current understanding of developmental pathways during teleost sex determination. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-018-4756-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Tao
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development (Ministry of Education), Key Laboratory of Aquatic Science of Chongqing, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Jinlin Chen
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development (Ministry of Education), Key Laboratory of Aquatic Science of Chongqing, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Dejie Tan
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development (Ministry of Education), Key Laboratory of Aquatic Science of Chongqing, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Jing Yang
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development (Ministry of Education), Key Laboratory of Aquatic Science of Chongqing, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Lina Sun
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development (Ministry of Education), Key Laboratory of Aquatic Science of Chongqing, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Jing Wei
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development (Ministry of Education), Key Laboratory of Aquatic Science of Chongqing, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China
| | - Matthew A Conte
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Thomas D Kocher
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
| | - Deshou Wang
- Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development (Ministry of Education), Key Laboratory of Aquatic Science of Chongqing, School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400715, China.
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31
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Portnoi MF, Dumargne MC, Rojo S, Witchel SF, Duncan AJ, Eozenou C, Bignon-Topalovic J, Yatsenko SA, Rajkovic A, Reyes-Mugica M, Almstrup K, Fusee L, Srivastava Y, Chantot-Bastaraud S, Hyon C, Louis-Sylvestre C, Validire P, de Malleray Pichard C, Ravel C, Christin-Maitre S, Brauner R, Rossetti R, Persani L, Charreau EH, Dain L, Chiauzzi VA, Mazen I, Rouba H, Schluth-Bolard C, MacGowan S, McLean WHI, Patin E, Rajpert-De Meyts E, Jauch R, Achermann JC, Siffroi JP, McElreavey K, Bashamboo A. Mutations involving the SRY-related gene SOX8 are associated with a spectrum of human reproductive anomalies. Hum Mol Genet 2018; 27:1228-1240. [PMID: 29373757 PMCID: PMC6159538 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddy037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2017] [Revised: 12/14/2017] [Accepted: 01/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
SOX8 is an HMG-box transcription factor closely related to SRY and SOX9. Deletion of the gene encoding Sox8 in mice causes reproductive dysfunction but the role of SOX8 in humans is unknown. Here, we show that SOX8 is expressed in the somatic cells of the early developing gonad in the human and influences human sex determination. We identified two individuals with 46, XY disorders/differences in sex development (DSD) and chromosomal rearrangements encompassing the SOX8 locus and a third individual with 46, XY DSD and a missense mutation in the HMG-box of SOX8. In vitro functional assays indicate that this mutation alters the biological activity of the protein. As an emerging body of evidence suggests that DSDs and infertility can have common etiologies, we also analysed SOX8 in a cohort of infertile men (n = 274) and two independent cohorts of women with primary ovarian insufficiency (POI; n = 153 and n = 104). SOX8 mutations were found at increased frequency in oligozoospermic men (3.5%; P < 0.05) and POI (5.06%; P = 4.5 × 10-5) as compared with fertile/normospermic control populations (0.74%). The mutant proteins identified altered SOX8 biological activity as compared with the wild-type protein. These data demonstrate that SOX8 plays an important role in human reproduction and SOX8 mutations contribute to a spectrum of phenotypes including 46, XY DSD, male infertility and 46, XX POI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-France Portnoi
- APHP Département de Génétique Médicale, Hôpital Armand Trousseau, Paris
75012, France
- UPMC, University Paris 06, INSERM UMR_S933, Hôpital Armand Trousseau,
Paris 75012, France
| | | | - Sandra Rojo
- Human Developmental Genetics, CNRS UMR3738, Institut Pasteur, Paris
75724, France
| | - Selma F Witchel
- Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh
of UPMC, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA
| | - Andrew J Duncan
- Genetics and Genomic Medicine, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of
Child Health, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Caroline Eozenou
- Human Developmental Genetics, CNRS UMR3738, Institut Pasteur, Paris
75724, France
| | | | - Svetlana A Yatsenko
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences,
Magee-Women’s Research Institute
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of
Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine,
Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Aleksandar Rajkovic
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences,
Magee-Women’s Research Institute
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of
Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine,
Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Miguel Reyes-Mugica
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences,
Magee-Women’s Research Institute
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of
Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine,
Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Kristian Almstrup
- University Department of Growth and Reproduction, Rigshospitalet,
DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Leila Fusee
- Human Developmental Genetics, CNRS UMR3738, Institut Pasteur, Paris
75724, France
| | - Yogesh Srivastava
- Genome Regulation Laboratory, Drug Discovery Pipeline, South China
Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of
Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510530, China
- Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, South China Institute for Stem
Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health,
Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510530, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative
Medicine, South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou
Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510530,
China
| | - Sandra Chantot-Bastaraud
- APHP Département de Génétique Médicale, Hôpital Armand Trousseau, Paris
75012, France
- UPMC, University Paris 06, INSERM UMR_S933, Hôpital Armand Trousseau,
Paris 75012, France
| | - Capucine Hyon
- APHP Département de Génétique Médicale, Hôpital Armand Trousseau, Paris
75012, France
- UPMC, University Paris 06, INSERM UMR_S933, Hôpital Armand Trousseau,
Paris 75012, France
| | | | - Pierre Validire
- Département d’Anatomie Pathologique, Institut Mutualiste Montsouris,
Paris 75014, France
| | | | - Celia Ravel
- Biology of Reproduction, CHU Rennes, Rennes 35033, France
| | - Sophie Christin-Maitre
- UPMC, University Paris 06, INSERM UMR_S933, Hôpital Armand Trousseau,
Paris 75012, France
- Service d'Endocrinologie, Diabétologie et Endocrinologie de la
Reproduction, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, Paris 75012, France
| | - Raja Brauner
- Université Paris Descartes and Pediatric Endocrinology Unit, Fondation
Ophtalmologique Adolphe de Rothschild, Paris 75019, France
| | - Raffaella Rossetti
- Department of Clinical Sciences & Community Health, University of
Milan, Milan 20122, Italy
- Laboratory of Endocrine & Metabolic Research and Division of
Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan 20149,
Italy
| | - Luca Persani
- Department of Clinical Sciences & Community Health, University of
Milan, Milan 20122, Italy
- Laboratory of Endocrine & Metabolic Research and Division of
Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan 20149,
Italy
| | - Eduardo H Charreau
- Centro Nacional de Genética Médica, Administración Nacional de
Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud (ANLIS) Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán, Buenos Aires C1428ADN,
Argentina
- Department of Physiology, Instituto de Biología y Medicina
Experimental, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (IBYME-CONICET),
Buenos Aires C1428ADN, Argentina
| | - Liliana Dain
- Centro Nacional de Genética Médica, Administración Nacional de
Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud (ANLIS) Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán, Buenos Aires C1428ADN,
Argentina
- Department of Physiology, Instituto de Biología y Medicina
Experimental, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (IBYME-CONICET),
Buenos Aires C1428ADN, Argentina
| | - Violeta A Chiauzzi
- Centro Nacional de Genética Médica, Administración Nacional de
Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud (ANLIS) Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán, Buenos Aires C1428ADN,
Argentina
- Department of Physiology, Instituto de Biología y Medicina
Experimental, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (IBYME-CONICET),
Buenos Aires C1428ADN, Argentina
| | - Inas Mazen
- Department of Clinical Genetics, National Research Centre, Cairo 12622,
Egypt
| | - Hassan Rouba
- Human Genetics Unit, Institut Pasteur of Morocco, Casablanca 20250,
Morocco
| | | | - Stuart MacGowan
- Centre for Dermatology and Genetic Medicine, School of Life Sciences,
University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - W H Irwin McLean
- Centre for Dermatology and Genetic Medicine, School of Life Sciences,
University of Dundee, Dundee DD1 5EH, UK
| | - Etienne Patin
- Human Evolutionary Genetics, Institut Pasteur, Paris 75724,
France
| | - Ewa Rajpert-De Meyts
- University Department of Growth and Reproduction, Rigshospitalet,
DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ralf Jauch
- Genome Regulation Laboratory, Drug Discovery Pipeline, South China
Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of
Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510530, China
- Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, South China Institute for Stem
Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health,
Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510530, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative
Medicine, South China Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou
Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510530,
China
| | - John C Achermann
- Genetics and Genomic Medicine, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of
Child Health, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Jean-Pierre Siffroi
- APHP Département de Génétique Médicale, Hôpital Armand Trousseau, Paris
75012, France
- UPMC, University Paris 06, INSERM UMR_S933, Hôpital Armand Trousseau,
Paris 75012, France
| | - Ken McElreavey
- Human Developmental Genetics, CNRS UMR3738, Institut Pasteur, Paris
75724, France
| | - Anu Bashamboo
- Human Developmental Genetics, CNRS UMR3738, Institut Pasteur, Paris
75724, France
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32
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Liu J, Liu T, Niu J, Wu X, Zhai J, Zhang Q, Qi J. Expression pattern and functional analysis of R-spondin1 in tongue sole Cynoglossus semilaevis. Gene 2017; 642:453-460. [PMID: 29155330 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2017.11.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2017] [Revised: 10/16/2017] [Accepted: 11/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
R-spondin 1 (Rspo1) is a potential female-determining gene in mammals that could regulate the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. The deletion of Rspo1 causes sex reversal in females. To investigate sexual determination and differentiation, we cloned and analyzed the Rspo1 gene in Cynoglossus semilaevis. Phylogenetic and gene structure analyses revealed that Rspo1 gene exhibited high sequence conservation and contained an N-terminal signal peptide, two furin-like cysteine-rich domains (FU1 and FU2), a thrombospondin type 1 repeat, and a C-terminal region enriched with basic charged amino acids. qRT-PCR revealed that Rspo1 expressed sexual dimorphism in gonad, with higher expression levels in the ovary than in the testis, thus, suggesting the involvement of Rspo1 in gonad differentiation. In situ hybridization results demonstrated that Rspo1 was expressed in premature germ cells, including spermatogonia and spermatocytes in the testis and stage II and stage III oocytes in the ovary. The methylation levels in two CpG sites of Rspo1 promoter significantly differed among females, males, and pseudomales. After 30days of exposure to high temperature, the expression of Rspo1 significantly decreased in female individuals, some of which were prone to males. However, no difference of Rspo1 gene expression was observed between the control group and high-temperature group in males. These preliminary findings suggested that Rspo1 played a crucial role in sex determination and development. This study laid the groundwork for further sex control breeding techniques in C. semilaevis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinxiang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, 266003 Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Tiantian Liu
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, 266003 Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Jingjing Niu
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, 266003 Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Xiaolong Wu
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, 266003 Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Jieming Zhai
- LaizhouMingbo Aquatic CO., Ltd., Laizhou, 261418, Shandong, China
| | - Quanqi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, 266003 Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Jie Qi
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, 266003 Qingdao, Shandong, China.
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Meyers-Wallen VN, Boyko AR, Danko CG, Grenier JK, Mezey JG, Hayward JJ, Shannon LM, Gao C, Shafquat A, Rice EJ, Pujar S, Eggers S, Ohnesorg T, Sinclair AH. XX Disorder of Sex Development is associated with an insertion on chromosome 9 and downregulation of RSPO1 in dogs (Canis lupus familiaris). PLoS One 2017; 12:e0186331. [PMID: 29053721 PMCID: PMC5650465 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0186331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2017] [Accepted: 09/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Remarkable progress has been achieved in understanding the mechanisms controlling sex determination, yet the cause for many Disorders of Sex Development (DSD) remains unknown. Of particular interest is a rare XX DSD subtype in which individuals are negative for SRY, the testis determining factor on the Y chromosome, yet develop testes or ovotestes, and both of these phenotypes occur in the same family. This is a naturally occurring disorder in humans (Homo sapiens) and dogs (C. familiaris). Phenotypes in the canine XX DSD model are strikingly similar to those of the human XX DSD subtype. The purposes of this study were to identify 1) a variant associated with XX DSD in the canine model and 2) gene expression alterations in canine embryonic gonads that could be informative to causation. Using a genome wide association study (GWAS) and whole genome sequencing (WGS), we identified a variant on C. familiaris autosome 9 (CFA9) that is associated with XX DSD in the canine model and in affected purebred dogs. This is the first marker identified for inherited canine XX DSD. It lies upstream of SOX9 within the canine ortholog for the human disorder, which resides on 17q24. Inheritance of this variant indicates that XX DSD is a complex trait in which breed genetic background affects penetrance. Furthermore, the homozygous variant genotype is associated with embryonic lethality in at least one breed. Our analysis of gene expression studies (RNA-seq and PRO-seq) in embryonic gonads at risk of XX DSD from the canine model identified significant RSPO1 downregulation in comparison to XX controls, without significant upregulation of SOX9 or other known testis pathway genes. Based on these data, a novel mechanism is proposed in which molecular lesions acting upstream of RSPO1 induce epigenomic gonadal mosaicism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vicki N. Meyers-Wallen
- Baker Institute for Animal Health, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States of America
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Adam R. Boyko
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States of America
| | - Charles G. Danko
- Baker Institute for Animal Health, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States of America
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States of America
| | - Jennifer K. Grenier
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States of America
| | - Jason G. Mezey
- Department of Biological Statistics and Computational Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States of America
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Jessica J. Hayward
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States of America
| | - Laura M. Shannon
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States of America
| | - Chuan Gao
- Department of Biological Statistics and Computational Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States of America
| | - Afrah Shafquat
- Department of Biological Statistics and Computational Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States of America
| | - Edward J. Rice
- Baker Institute for Animal Health, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States of America
| | - Shashikant Pujar
- Baker Institute for Animal Health, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States of America
| | - Stefanie Eggers
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Thomas Ohnesorg
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Andrew H. Sinclair
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Rahmoun M, Lavery R, Laurent-Chaballier S, Bellora N, Philip GK, Rossitto M, Symon A, Pailhoux E, Cammas F, Chung J, Bagheri-Fam S, Murphy M, Bardwell V, Zarkower D, Boizet-Bonhoure B, Clair P, Harley VR, Poulat F. In mammalian foetal testes, SOX9 regulates expression of its target genes by binding to genomic regions with conserved signatures. Nucleic Acids Res 2017; 45:7191-7211. [PMID: 28472341 PMCID: PMC5499551 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkx328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2016] [Accepted: 04/17/2017] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
In mammalian embryonic gonads, SOX9 is required for the determination of Sertoli cells that orchestrate testis morphogenesis. To identify genetic networks directly regulated by SOX9, we combined analysis of SOX9-bound chromatin regions from murine and bovine foetal testes with sequencing of RNA samples from mouse testes lacking Sox9. We found that SOX9 controls a conserved genetic programme that involves most of the sex-determining genes. In foetal testes, SOX9 modulates both transcription and directly or indirectly sex-specific differential splicing of its target genes through binding to genomic regions with sequence motifs that are conserved among mammals and that we called ‘Sertoli Cell Signature’ (SCS). The SCS is characterized by a precise organization of binding motifs for the Sertoli cell reprogramming factors SOX9, GATA4 and DMRT1. As SOX9 biological role in mammalian gonads is to determine Sertoli cells, we correlated this genomic signature with the presence of SOX9 on chromatin in foetal testes, therefore equating this signature to a genomic bar code of the fate of foetal Sertoli cells. Starting from the hypothesis that nuclear factors that bind to genomic regions with SCS could functionally interact with SOX9, we identified TRIM28 as a new SOX9 partner in foetal testes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massilva Rahmoun
- Institute of Human Genetics, CNRS-University of Montpellier UMR9002, 34396 Montpellier cedex 5, France
| | - Rowena Lavery
- The Hudson Institute of Medical Research and Department of Anatomy, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Sabine Laurent-Chaballier
- Institut de Recherche en Cancérologie de Montpellier, IRCM, INSERM U1194, Université de Montpellier, Institut régional du Cancer de Montpellier, Montpellier F-34298, France
| | - Nicolas Bellora
- Instituto Andino Patagónico de Tecnologías Biológicas y Geoambientales (IPATEC), Universidad Nacional del Comahue - CONICET, Bariloche, Argentina
| | - Gayle K Philip
- VLSCI, LAB-14, 700 Swanston Street, Carlton 3053, Victoria, Australia
| | - Moïra Rossitto
- Institute of Human Genetics, CNRS-University of Montpellier UMR9002, 34396 Montpellier cedex 5, France
| | - Aleisha Symon
- The Hudson Institute of Medical Research and Department of Anatomy, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Eric Pailhoux
- INRA Biologie du Développement et Reproduction, Domaine de Vilvert, 78352 Jouy-en-Josas Cedex, France
| | - Florence Cammas
- Institut de Recherche en Cancérologie de Montpellier, IRCM, INSERM U1194, Université de Montpellier, Institut régional du Cancer de Montpellier, Montpellier F-34298, France
| | - Jessica Chung
- VLSCI, LAB-14, 700 Swanston Street, Carlton 3053, Victoria, Australia
| | - Stefan Bagheri-Fam
- The Hudson Institute of Medical Research and Department of Anatomy, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Mark Murphy
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, 6-160 Jackson hall, 321 Church St, SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Vivian Bardwell
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, 6-160 Jackson hall, 321 Church St, SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - David Zarkower
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, 6-160 Jackson hall, 321 Church St, SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Brigitte Boizet-Bonhoure
- Institute of Human Genetics, CNRS-University of Montpellier UMR9002, 34396 Montpellier cedex 5, France
| | - Philippe Clair
- University of Montpellier, Montpellier GenomiX, bat 24, Place Eugène Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier cedex 5, France
| | - Vincent R Harley
- The Hudson Institute of Medical Research and Department of Anatomy, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Francis Poulat
- Institute of Human Genetics, CNRS-University of Montpellier UMR9002, 34396 Montpellier cedex 5, France
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Chen H, Xiao G, Chai X, Lin X, Fang J, Teng S. Transcriptome analysis of sex-related genes in the blood clam Tegillarca granosa. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0184584. [PMID: 28934256 PMCID: PMC5608214 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0184584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2017] [Accepted: 08/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Blood clams (Tegillarca granosa) are one of the most commercial shellfish in China and South Asia with wide distribution in Indo-Pacific tropical to temperate estuaries. However, recent data indicate a decline in the germplasm of this species. Furthermore, the molecular mechanisms underpinning reproductive regulation remain unclear and information regarding genetic diversity is limited. Understanding the reproductive biology of shellfish is important in interpreting their embryology development, reproduction and population structure. Transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) rapidly obtains genetic sequence information from almost all transcripts of a particular tissue and currently represents the most prevalent and effective method for constructing genetic expression profiles. RESULTS Non-reference RNA-seq, an Illumina HiSeq2500 Solexa system, and de novo assembly were used to construct a gonadal expression profile of the blood clam. A total of 63.75 Gb of clean data, with at least 89.46% of Quality30 (Q30), were generated which was then combined into 214,440 transcripts and 125,673 unigenes with a mean length of 1,122.63 and 781.30 base pairs (bp). In total, 27,325 genes were annotated by comparison with public databases. Of these, 2,140 and 2,070 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained (T05 T08 vs T01 T02 T04, T06 T07 vs T01 T02 T04; in which T01-T04 and T05-T08 represent biological replicates of individual female and male clams, respectively) and classified into two groups according to the evaluation of biological replicates. Then 35 DEGs and 5 sex-related unigenes, in other similar species, were investigated using qRT-PCR, the results of which were confirmed to data arising from RNA-seq. Among the DEGs, sex-related genes were identified, including forkhead box L2 (Foxl2), sex determining region Y-box (Sox), beta-catenin (β-catenin), chromobox homolog (CBX) and Sex-lethal (Sxl). In addition, 6,283 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) and 614,710 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified from the RNA-seq results. CONCLUSIONS This study provided the first complete gonadal transcriptome data for the blood clam and allowed us to search many aspects of gene sequence information, not limited to gender. This data will improve our understanding of the transcriptomics and reproductive biology of the blood clam. Furthermore, molecular markers such as SSRs and SNPs will be useful in the analysis of genetic evolution, bulked segregant analysis (BSA) and genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Our transcriptome data will therefore provide important genetic information for the breeding and conservation of germplasm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heng Chen
- Zhejiang Mariculture Research Institute, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Exploitation and Preservation of Coastal Bio-resource, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Engineering Research Center for Marine Bivalves, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Guoqiang Xiao
- Zhejiang Mariculture Research Institute, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Exploitation and Preservation of Coastal Bio-resource, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Engineering Research Center for Marine Bivalves, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xueliang Chai
- Zhejiang Mariculture Research Institute, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Exploitation and Preservation of Coastal Bio-resource, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Engineering Research Center for Marine Bivalves, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xingguan Lin
- Zhejiang Mariculture Research Institute, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Exploitation and Preservation of Coastal Bio-resource, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Engineering Research Center for Marine Bivalves, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jun Fang
- Zhejiang Mariculture Research Institute, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Exploitation and Preservation of Coastal Bio-resource, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Engineering Research Center for Marine Bivalves, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shuangshuang Teng
- Zhejiang Mariculture Research Institute, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Exploitation and Preservation of Coastal Bio-resource, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Engineering Research Center for Marine Bivalves, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- * E-mail:
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Ghosh S, Klein RS. Sex Drives Dimorphic Immune Responses to Viral Infections. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2017; 198:1782-1790. [PMID: 28223406 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1601166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 145] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2016] [Accepted: 10/24/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
New attention to sexual dimorphism in normal mammalian physiology and disease has uncovered a previously unappreciated breadth of mechanisms by which females and males differentially exhibit quantitative phenotypes. Thus, in addition to the established modifying effects of hormones, which prenatally and postpubertally pattern cells and tissues in a sexually dimorphic fashion, sex differences are caused by extragonadal and dosage effects of genes encoded on sex chromosomes. Sex differences in immune responses, especially during autoimmunity, have been studied predominantly within the context of sex hormone effects. More recently, immune response genes have been localized to sex chromosomes themselves or found to be regulated by sex chromosome genes. Thus, understanding how sex impacts immunity requires the elucidation of complex interactions among sex hormones, sex chromosomes, and immune response genes. In this Brief Review, we discuss current knowledge and new insights into these intricate relationships in the context of viral infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soumitra Ghosh
- Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Robyn S Klein
- Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110; .,Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110; and.,Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110
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37
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Vertebrate sex determination: evolutionary plasticity of a fundamental switch. Nat Rev Genet 2017; 18:675-689. [DOI: 10.1038/nrg.2017.60] [Citation(s) in RCA: 253] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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Schindler AJ, Watanabe A, Howell SB. LGR5 and LGR6 in stem cell biology and ovarian cancer. Oncotarget 2017; 9:1346-1355. [PMID: 29416699 PMCID: PMC5787443 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.20178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2017] [Accepted: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Wnt signaling plays a fundamental role in patterning of the embryo and maintenance of stem cells in numerous epithelia. Epithelial stem cells are closeted in niches created by surrounding differentiated cells that express secreted Wnt and R-spondin proteins that influence proliferation rate and fate determination of stem cell daughters. R-spondins act through the LGR receptors to enhance Wnt signaling. This close association of stem cells with more differentiated regulatory cells expressing Wnt-pathway ligands is a feature replicated in all of the epithelial stem cell systems thus far examined. How the stem cell niche operates through these short-range interactions is best understood for the crypts of the gastrointestinal epithelium and skin. Less well understood are the stem cells that function in the ovarian surface epithelium (OSE) and fallopian tube epithelium (FTE). While the cuboidal OSE appears to be made up of a single cell type, the cells of the FTE progress through a life cycle that involves differentiation into ciliated and secretory subtypes that are eventually shed into the lumen in a manner similar to the gastrointestinal epithelium. Available evidence suggests that high grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) originates most often from stem cells in the FTE and that Wnt signaling augmented by LGR6 supports tumor development and progression. This review summarizes current information on LGR5 and LGR6 in the OSE and FTE and how their niches are organized relative to that of the gastrointestinal epithelium and skin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam J Schindler
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Arisa Watanabe
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Stephen B Howell
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego, CA, USA
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He Y, Fang J, Xue L, Wu J, Dawar FU, Mei J. Potential contributions of heat shock proteins and related genes in sexual differentiation in yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco). FISH PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY 2017; 43:465-475. [PMID: 28243861 DOI: 10.1007/s10695-016-0303-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2016] [Accepted: 10/12/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Sex determination and differentiation in ectotherms are very complicated affairs and usually affected by both genetic and environmental factors. Because of their temperature-sensitive expression, heat shock proteins (HSPs) are good candidates for temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD). Similar to most thermosensitive fish species, the male to female ratio increases with temperature in yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco). Yellow catfish is also a type of sexual size dimorphic fish, and the male individuals grow much faster than females of the same age. Therefore, research of sex differentiation in yellow catfish is important in aquiculture. In this attempt, a total of seven HSPs and related genes were identified from transcriptomes of yellow catfish by 454 pyrosequencing and Solexa sequencing that we did previously, including five genes with complete open reading frame (ORF). Phylogenetically, all these genes were compared with their counterparts from other vertebrates. All these genes were sex-biased expressed in gonads. Hspa5, Hip, and Cdc37 were expressed more highly in ovary than in testis, whereas Hsp90α, Hspb2, Hspb8, and Hspbp1 were expressed more highly in testis than in ovary. Additionally, the expression of these genes was assessed after 17α-methyltestosterone (MT) and 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2) treatment, respectively. Our result showed that working as co-chaperones, these HSPs and related genes may regulate sex steroid receptor activities to influence gonad development in yellow catfish. Our work would help in the understanding of the mechanism of sexual differentiation in teleosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan He
- College of Fisheries, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Freshwater Aquaculture Collaborative Innovation Center of Hubei Province, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.
| | - Jie Fang
- College of Fisheries, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Freshwater Aquaculture Collaborative Innovation Center of Hubei Province, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Liyao Xue
- College of Fisheries, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Freshwater Aquaculture Collaborative Innovation Center of Hubei Province, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Junjie Wu
- College of Fisheries, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Freshwater Aquaculture Collaborative Innovation Center of Hubei Province, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Farman Ullah Dawar
- College of Fisheries, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Freshwater Aquaculture Collaborative Innovation Center of Hubei Province, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Jie Mei
- College of Fisheries, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Freshwater Aquaculture Collaborative Innovation Center of Hubei Province, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.
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Abstract
The process of sexual differentiation is central for reproduction of almost all metazoan and therefore for maintenance of practically all multicellular organisms. In sex development we can distinguish two different processes: First, sex determination is the developmental decision that directs the undifferentiated embryo into a sexually dimorphic individual. In mammals, sex determination equals gonadal development. The second process known as sex differentiation takes place once the sex determination decision has been made through factors produced by the gonads that determine the development of the phenotypic sex. Most of the knowledge on the factors involved in sexual development came from animal models and from studies of cases in whom the genetic or the gonadal sex does not match the phenotypical sex, i.e., patients affected by disorders of sex development (DSD). Generally speaking, factors influencing sex determination are transcriptional regulators, whereas factors important for sex differentiation are secreted hormones and their receptors. This review focuses on the factors involved in gonadal determination, and whenever possible, references on the "prismatic" clinical cases are given.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Biason-Lauber
- Department of Medicine, University of Fribourg, Chemin du Musée 5, 1700, Fribourg, Switzerland.
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Pannetier M, Chassot AA, Chaboissier MC, Pailhoux E. Involvement of FOXL2 and RSPO1 in Ovarian Determination, Development, and Maintenance in Mammals. Sex Dev 2016; 10:167-184. [PMID: 27649556 DOI: 10.1159/000448667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In mammals, sex determination is a process through which the gonad is committed to differentiate into a testis or an ovary. This process relies on a delicate balance between genetic pathways that promote one fate and inhibit the other. Once the gonad is committed to the female pathway, ovarian differentiation begins and, depending on the species, is completed during gestation or shortly after birth. During this step, granulosa cell precursors, steroidogenic cells, and primordial germ cells start to express female-specific markers in a sex-dimorphic manner. The germ cells then arrest at prophase I of meiosis and, together with somatic cells, assemble into functional structures. This organization gives the ovary its definitive morphology and functionality during folliculogenesis. Until now, 2 main genetic cascades have been shown to be involved in female sex differentiation. The first is driven by FOXL2, a transcription factor that also plays a crucial role in folliculogenesis and ovarian fate maintenance in adults. The other operates through the WNT/CTNNB1 canonical pathway and is regulated primarily by R-spondin1. Here, we discuss the roles of FOXL2 and RSPO1/WNT/ CTNNB1 during ovarian development and homeostasis in different models, such as humans, goats, and rodents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maëlle Pannetier
- UMR BDR, INRA, ENVA, Université Paris Saclay, Jouy en Josas, France
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Windley SP, Wilhelm D. Signaling Pathways Involved in Mammalian Sex Determination and Gonad Development. Sex Dev 2016; 9:297-315. [PMID: 26905731 DOI: 10.1159/000444065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of any organ system requires a complex interplay of cellular signals to initiate the differentiation and development of the heterogeneous cell and tissue types required to carry out the organs' functions. In this way, an extracellular stimulus is transmitted to an intracellular target through an array of interacting protein intermediaries, ultimately enabling the target cell to elicit a response. Surprisingly, only a small number of signaling pathways are implicated throughout embryogenesis and are used over and over again. Gonadogenesis is a unique process in that 2 morphologically distinct organs, the testes and ovaries, arise from a common precursor, the bipotential genital ridge. Accordingly, most of the signaling pathways observed throughout embryogenesis also have been shown to be important for mammalian sex determination and gonad development. Here, we review the mechanisms of signal transduction within these pathways and the importance of these pathways throughout mammalian gonad development, mainly concentrating on data obtained in mouse but including other species where appropriate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon P Windley
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic., Australia
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43
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Carré GA, Greenfield A. The Gonadal Supporting Cell Lineage and Mammalian Sex Determination: The Differentiation of Sertoli and Granulosa Cells. Results Probl Cell Differ 2016; 58:47-66. [PMID: 27300175 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-31973-5_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The supporting cell lineage plays a crucial role in nurturing the development of germ cells in the adult gonad. Sertoli cells in the testis support the progression of spermatogonial stem cells through meiosis to the production of motile spermatozoa. Granulosa cells, meanwhile, are a critical component of the ovarian follicle that produces the mature oocyte. It is a distinctive feature of the embryonic gonad that at least some of the supporting cells are derived from a single sexually bipotential precursor lineage. It is the commitment of this somatic lineage to either the Sertoli or granulosa cell fate that defines sex determination. In this chapter we review what is known about the key molecules responsible for this lineage decision in the developing mammalian gonads, relying primarily on data from studies of mice and humans. We focus on recent advances in our understanding of the mutually antagonistic interactions of testis- and ovary-determining pathways and their complexity as revealed by genetic analyses. For the sake of simplicity, we will deal with supporting cells in testis and ovary development in separate sections, but numerous points of contact exist between these accounts of gonadogenesis in male and female embryos, primarily due to the aforementioned mutual antagonisms. The final section will offer a brief synthesis of these organ-specific overviews and a summary of the key themes that emerge in this review of supporting cell differentiation in mammalian sex determination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gwenn-Aël Carré
- Mammalian Genetics Unit, Medical Research Council, Harwell, Oxfordshire, OX11 0RD, UK
| | - Andy Greenfield
- Mammalian Genetics Unit, Medical Research Council, Harwell, Oxfordshire, OX11 0RD, UK.
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44
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Romereim SM, Cupp AS. Mesonephric Cell Migration into the Gonads and Vascularization Are Processes Crucial for Testis Development. Results Probl Cell Differ 2016; 58:67-100. [PMID: 27300176 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-31973-5_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Testis morphogenesis requires the integration and reorganization of multiple cell types from several sources, one of the more notable being the mesonephric-derived cell population. One of the earliest sex-specific morphogenetic events in the gonad is a wave of endothelial cell migration from the mesonephros that is crucial for (1) partitioning the gonad into domains for testis cords, (2) providing the vasculature of the testis, and (3) signaling to cells both within the gonad and beyond it to coordinately regulate testis development. In addition to endothelial cell migration, there is evidence that precursors of peritubular myoid cells migrate from the mesonephros, an event which is also important for testis cord architecture. Investigation of the mesonephric cell migration event has utilized histology, lineage tracing with mouse genetic markers, and many studies of the signaling molecules/pathways involved. Some of the more well-studied signaling molecules involved include vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and neurotrophins. In this chapter, the morphogenetic events, relevant signaling pathways, mechanisms underlying the migration, and the role of the migratory cells within the testis will be discussed. Overall, the migration of mesonephric cells into the early testis is indispensable for its development and future functionality.
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45
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Understanding sex determination in the mouse: genetics, epigenetics and the story of mutual antagonisms. J Genet 2015; 94:585-90. [DOI: 10.1007/s12041-015-0565-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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46
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Rossitto M, Philibert P, Poulat F, Boizet-Bonhoure B. Molecular events and signalling pathways of male germ cell differentiation in mouse. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2015; 45:84-93. [PMID: 26454096 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2015.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2015] [Accepted: 09/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Germ cells, the precursors of gametes, represent a unique cell lineage that is able to differentiate into spermatozoa or oocytes depending on the chromosomal sex of the organism. In the mammalian embryonic gonad, commitment to oogenesis involves pre-meiotic DNA replication and entry into the first meiotic division; whereas, commitment to spermatogenesis involves inhibition of meiotic initiation, suppression of pluripotency, mitotic arrest and expression of specific markers that will control the development of the male germ cells. The crucial decision made by the germ line to commit to either a male or a female fate has been partially explained by genetic and ex vivo studies in mice which have implicated a complex network of regulatory genes, numerous factors and pathways. Besides the reproductive failure that may follow a deregulation of this complex network, the germ cells may, in view of their proliferative and pluripotent nature, act as precursors of potential malignant transformation and as putative targets for exogenous environmental compounds. Our review summarizes and discusses recent developments that have improved our understanding on how germ cell precursors are committed to a male or a female cell fate in the mouse gonad.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moïra Rossitto
- Genetic and Development Department, Institute of Human Genetics, CNRS UPR1142, Montpellier, France.
| | - Pascal Philibert
- Genetic and Development Department, Institute of Human Genetics, CNRS UPR1142, Montpellier, France.
| | - Francis Poulat
- Genetic and Development Department, Institute of Human Genetics, CNRS UPR1142, Montpellier, France.
| | - Brigitte Boizet-Bonhoure
- Genetic and Development Department, Institute of Human Genetics, CNRS UPR1142, Montpellier, France.
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47
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Bashamboo A, McElreavey K. Human sex-determination and disorders of sex-development (DSD). Semin Cell Dev Biol 2015; 45:77-83. [DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2015.10.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2015] [Revised: 10/19/2015] [Accepted: 10/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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48
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Biason-Lauber A, Chaboissier MC. Ovarian development and disease: The known and the unexpected. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2015; 45:59-67. [DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2015.10.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2015] [Revised: 10/13/2015] [Accepted: 10/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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49
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She ZY, Yang WX. SOX family transcription factors involved in diverse cellular events during development. Eur J Cell Biol 2015; 94:547-63. [PMID: 26340821 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2015.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2015] [Revised: 08/11/2015] [Accepted: 08/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In metazoa, SOX family transcription factors play many diverse roles. In vertebrate, they are well-known regulators of numerous developmental processes. Wide-ranging studies have demonstrated the co-expression of SOX proteins in various developing tissues and that they occur in an overlapping manner and show functional redundancy. In particular, studies focusing on the HMG box of SOX proteins have revealed that the HMG box regulates DNA-binding properties, and mediates both the nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of SOX proteins and their physical interactions with partner proteins. Posttranslational modifications are further implicated in the regulation of the transcriptional activities of SOX proteins. In this review, we discuss the underlying molecular mechanisms involved in the SOX-partner factor interactions and the functional modes of SOX-partner complexes during development. We particularly emphasize the representative roles of the SOX group proteins in major tissues during developmental and physiological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen-Yu She
- The Sperm Laboratory, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yu Hang Tang Road, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Wan-Xi Yang
- The Sperm Laboratory, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yu Hang Tang Road, Hangzhou 310058, China.
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50
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Nicol B, Yao HHC. Gonadal Identity in the Absence of Pro-Testis Factor SOX9 and Pro-Ovary Factor Beta-Catenin in Mice. Biol Reprod 2015; 93:35. [PMID: 26108792 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.115.131276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2015] [Accepted: 06/10/2015] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex-reversal cases in humans and genetic models in mice have revealed that the fate of the bipotential gonad hinges upon the balance between pro-testis SOX9 and pro-ovary beta-catenin pathways. Our central query was: if SOX9 and beta-catenin define the gonad's identity, then what do the gonads become when both factors are absent? To answer this question, we developed mouse models that lack either Sox9, beta-catenin, or both in the somatic cells of the fetal gonads and examined the morphological outcomes and transcriptome profiles. In the absence of Sox9 and beta-catenin, both XX and XY gonads progressively lean toward the testis fate, indicating that expression of certain pro-testis genes requires the repression of the beta-catenin pathway, rather than a direct activation by SOX9. We also observed that XY double knockout gonads were more masculinized than their XX counterpart. To identify the genes responsible for the initial events of masculinization and to determine how the genetic context (XX vs. XY) affects this process, we compared the transcriptomes of Sox9/beta-catenin mutant gonads and found that early molecular changes underlying the XY-specific masculinization involve the expression of Sry and 21 SRY direct target genes, such as Sox8 and Cyp26b1. These results imply that when both Sox9 and beta-catenin are absent, Sry is capable of activating other pro-testis genes and drive testis differentiation. Our findings not only provide insight into the mechanism of sex determination, but also identify candidate genes that are potentially involved in disorders of sex development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Nicol
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
| | - Humphrey H-C Yao
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
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