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Piryaei F, Mehta P, Mozdarani H, Hamzehlooy F, Barati M, Piryaei Z, Gilani MAS, Alemi M, Singh R. Testicular piRNA Analysis Identified Dysregulated piRNAs in Non-obstructive Azoospermia. Reprod Sci 2024; 31:1246-1255. [PMID: 38133767 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-023-01433-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Male infertility has remained idiopathic in a remarkable proportion of all cases. Gonadal expression of PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) has been shown to be vital to normal spermatogenesis, as they are expressed in almost all types of testicular germ cells. These molecules and their related Piwi proteins strictly regulate transposable elements' activity and gene expression. We aimed to identify dysregulated piRNAs in idiopathic non-obstructive azoospermic (NOA) testis by global expression analysis. Testis tissue samples from 18 azoospermic patients (ten NOA and eight OA) were studied by small RNA sequencing. To validate high-throughput sequencing data, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reactions for two differentially altered piRNAs were performed. Bioinformatics analyses were undertaken to identify pathways affected by piRNA dysregulation. In the NOA group, 1328 piRNAs were identified to be differentially expressed, of which 1322 were downregulated and 6 were upregulated. Bioinformatics analysis corroborated the involvement of dysregulated piRNA in spermatogenesis. We also identified 64 clusters of differentially expressed piRNAs, of which 42 clusters had a minimum of ten absolute piRNA hits. Our study suggests that piRNAs show significant dysregulation in infertility. Their target genes play a role in their self-biogenesis, probably by regulating their own production through a feedback mechanism. The downregulated piRNAs may find value as biomarkers for the presence of spermatozoa in the testis of azoospermic individuals, while the upregulated piRNAs are great candidates for further investigation of their precise functions in spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fahimeh Piryaei
- Research Center for Molecular Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
| | - Poonam Mehta
- Male Reproductive Biology Laboratory, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
| | - Hossein Mozdarani
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Hamzehlooy
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahmoud Barati
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Zeynab Piryaei
- Department of Bioinformatics, Kish International Campus, University of Tehran, Kish, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ali Sadighi Gilani
- Department of Andrology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohsen Alemi
- Urology and Nephrology Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Rajender Singh
- Male Reproductive Biology Laboratory, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India
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Wei J, Dai J, Shi X, Zhao R, Fu G, Li R, Xia C, Zhang L, Zhou T, Wang H, Shi Y. Cadmium disrupts spermatogenic cell cycle via piRNA-DQ717867/p53 pathway. Reprod Toxicol 2024; 125:108554. [PMID: 38331007 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2024.108554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) is a harmful environmental pollutant that disrupts public health, including respiratory, digestive, and reproductive systems. In this study, male rats were exposed to CdCl2 at a dose of 3 mg/kg by oral for 28 days to investigate the impact on spermatogenesis. Testis tissue samples were collected after sacrifice, and piRNA expression levels were measured using piRNA microarray and qPCR. PiRNAs, specialized molecules involved in spermatogenesis, were examined. CdCl2 exposure led to disrupted piRNA expression, particularly in piRNA-DQ759395 in rats. This piRNA was found to have a binding site with p53, and a similar piRNA-DQ717867 was discovered in mice. In GC-2spd cells, CdCl2 exposure increased piRNA-DQ717867 expression, which resulted in cell cycle arrest and abnormal expression of cell cycle-related proteins. The activation of p53-related pathways and disruptions in cell cycle regulation were also observed. Antagomir-717867 transfections and PFT-a pretreatment in GC-2spd cells supported the involvement of piRNA-DQ717867 in regulating cell cycle-related proteins. This study suggests that Cd exposure induces abnormal expression of piRNA-DQ759395 in rat testis and that piRNA-DQ717867 may regulate p53, causing cell cycle abnormalities in GC-2spd cells. These findings help understand the mechanisms of male reproductive toxicity caused by Cd exposure and emphasize the role of piRNAs in cell cycle regulation and male reproductive health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaoyang Wei
- School of Public Health, Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, China
| | - Juan Dai
- Wuhan centers for Disease Prevention and Control, China
| | - Xiaofan Shi
- Qinghai centers for Disease Prevention and Control, China
| | - Ruixue Zhao
- School of Public Health, Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, China
| | | | - Rui Li
- Central China Normal University, China
| | - Chao Xia
- Ezhou centers for Disease Prevention and Control, China
| | - Ling Zhang
- School of Public Health, Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, China
| | - Ting Zhou
- School of Public Health, Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, China
| | - Huaiji Wang
- Wuhan centers for Disease Prevention and Control, China.
| | - Yuqin Shi
- School of Public Health, Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Occupational Hazard Identification and Control, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, China.
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Garcia-Borja E, Siegl F, Mateu R, Slaby O, Sedo A, Busek P, Sana J. Critical appraisal of the piRNA-PIWI axis in cancer and cancer stem cells. Biomark Res 2024; 12:15. [PMID: 38303021 PMCID: PMC10836005 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-024-00563-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Small noncoding RNAs play an important role in various disease states, including cancer. PIWI proteins, a subfamily of Argonaute proteins, and PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) were originally described as germline-specific molecules that inhibit the deleterious activity of transposable elements. However, several studies have suggested a role for the piRNA-PIWI axis in somatic cells, including somatic stem cells. Dysregulated expression of piRNAs and PIWI proteins in human tumors implies that, analogously to their roles in undifferentiated cells under physiological conditions, these molecules may be important for cancer stem cells and thus contribute to cancer progression. We provide an overview of piRNA biogenesis and critically review the evidence for the role of piRNA-PIWI axis in cancer stem cells. In addition, we examine the potential of piRNAs and PIWI proteins to become biomarkers in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Garcia-Borja
- Laboratory of Cancer Cell Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Experimental Oncology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, U Nemocnice 478/5, Prague 2, 128 53, Czech Republic
| | - Frantisek Siegl
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, Brno, 625 00, Czech Republic
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Rosana Mateu
- Laboratory of Cancer Cell Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Experimental Oncology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, U Nemocnice 478/5, Prague 2, 128 53, Czech Republic
| | - Ondrej Slaby
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, Brno, 625 00, Czech Republic
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Aleksi Sedo
- Laboratory of Cancer Cell Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Experimental Oncology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, U Nemocnice 478/5, Prague 2, 128 53, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Busek
- Laboratory of Cancer Cell Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Experimental Oncology, First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, U Nemocnice 478/5, Prague 2, 128 53, Czech Republic.
| | - Jiri Sana
- Central European Institute of Technology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, Brno, 625 00, Czech Republic.
- Department of Comprehensive Cancer Care, Masaryk Memorial Cancer Institute, Brno, Czech Republic.
- Department of Pathology, University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.
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Kaldis P, Zhao LN. Molecular basis of the reaction mechanism of the methyltransferase HENMT1. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0293243. [PMID: 38198468 PMCID: PMC10781085 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0293243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are important for ensuring the integrity of the germline. 3'-terminal 2'-O-methylation is essential for piRNA maturation and to protect them from degradation. HENMT1 (HEN Methyltransferase 1) carries out the 2'-O-methylation, which is of key importance for piRNA stability and functionality. However, neither the structure nor the catalytic mechanism of mammalian HENMT1 have been studied. We have constructed a catalytic-competent HENMT1 complex using computational approaches, in which Mg2+ is primarily coordinated by four evolutionary conserved residues, and is further auxiliary coordinated by the 3'-O and 2'-O on the 3'-terminal nucleotide of the piRNA. Our study suggests that metal has limited effects on substrate and cofactor binding but is essential for catalysis. The reaction consists of deprotonation of the 2'-OH to 2'-O and a methyl transfer from SAM to the 2'-O. The methyl transfer is spontaneous and fast. Our in-depth analysis suggests that the 2'-OH may be deprotonated before entering the active site or it may be partially deprotonated at the active site by His800 and Asp859, which are in a special alignment that facilitates the proton transfer out of the active site. Furthermore, we have developed a detailed potential reaction scenario indicating that HENMT1 is Mg2+ utilizing but is not a Mg2+ dependent enzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Kaldis
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Malmö, Skåne, Sweden
- Lund University Diabetes Centre, Lund University, Malmö, Skåne, Sweden
| | - Li Na Zhao
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Malmö, Skåne, Sweden
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Hekim N, Gunes S, Ergun S, Asci R. Insertional Variations of Human Endogenous Virus K6 and K11 in Normozoospermic Men. Reprod Sci 2024; 31:267-274. [PMID: 37710087 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-023-01346-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
Male infertility is a multifactorial heterogeneous reproductive disorder in which genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors play a role in the development of disease. Recent studies have shown that retrotransposon expression alterations may be related to impairment of spermatogenesis. Therefore, in this pilot study, we aimed to investigate whether HERV-K6 and HERV-K11 insertional variations have a role in idiopathic infertility among normozoospermic men. Genomic DNA isolated from the blood samples of 41 infertile normozoospermic and 45 fertile normozoospermic men were analyzed by inter-retrotransposon polymorphism polymerase chain reaction. HERV-K6 variation rates in the infertile and the fertile group were 0-58.3% and 0-53.4%, respectively. The variation rates of HERV-K11 were 0-75.0% in infertile and 0-77.8% in fertile men. The HERV-K6 and HERV-K11 insertion rates of the fertile group were higher than the infertile group (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.007, respectively). The findings of the study suggest that HERV-K6 and HERV-K11 retrotransposon insertion show variation among individuals, and their insertions might be associated with male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neslihan Hekim
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Biology, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, 55139, Turkey.
| | - Sezgin Gunes
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Biology, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, 55139, Turkey
- Graduate Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey
| | - Sercan Ergun
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Biology, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, 55139, Turkey
- Graduate Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey
| | - Ramazan Asci
- Graduate Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Urology, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey
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Tanaka M, Inaba Y, Yariyama A, Nakatani Y, Kunimoto K, Kaminaka C, Yamamoto Y, Makino K, Fukushima S, Jinnin M. Expression of collagen-related piRNA is dysregulated in cultured dermal fibroblasts derived from patients with scleroderma. Intractable Rare Dis Res 2023; 12:241-245. [PMID: 38024581 PMCID: PMC10680164 DOI: 10.5582/irdr.2023.01056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA) is a class of recently discovered small non-coding RNAs. piRNAs derive from an initial transcript encompassing a piRNA cluster via a unique biosynthesis process, interact with PIWI proteins, bind to specific targets, and recruit chromatin modifiers to enable transcriptional repression. Abnormal expression of PIWI proteins and piRNAs has been reported in some human cancers, with participation of some PIWI/piRNAs complexes in tumorigenesis and association with cancer prognosis. Their expression in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) has not been widely elucidated. PIWI/piRNAs and their role in the pathogenesis of collagen accumulation in SSc was therefore investigated; no difference was found in the PIWIL1-4 levels between normal and cultured SSc dermal fibroblasts. Among piRNAs predicted to target SSc-related molecules, we first found significant piR-32364 up-regulation in SSc dermal fibroblasts, likely due to intrinsic TGF-β signaling. Forced piR-32364 overexpression in normal fibroblasts significantly reduced COL1A1 expression both at mRNA and protein levels, but not COL1A2. Thus, piR-32364 overexpression in SSc fibroblasts may be the negative feedback against collagen up-regulation, which could suggest the potential of piRNAs as a therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minako Tanaka
- Department of Dermatology, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan
| | - Yutaka Inaba
- Department of Dermatology, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan
| | - Azusa Yariyama
- Department of Dermatology, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan
| | - Yumi Nakatani
- Department of Dermatology, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan
| | - Kayo Kunimoto
- Department of Dermatology, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan
| | - Chikako Kaminaka
- Department of Dermatology, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan
| | - Yuki Yamamoto
- Department of Dermatology, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan
| | - Katsunari Makino
- Department of Dermatology and Plastic Surgery, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Satoshi Fukushima
- Department of Dermatology and Plastic Surgery, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Masatoshi Jinnin
- Department of Dermatology, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan
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Yang R, Zhang B, Zhu W, Zhu C, Chen L, Zhao Y, Wang Y, Zhang Y, Riaz A, Tang B, Zhang X. Expression of Phospholipase D Family Member 6 in Bovine Testes and Its Molecular Characteristics. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:12172. [PMID: 37569546 PMCID: PMC10418416 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241512172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are the only primitive spermatogonial cells in males that can naturally transmit genetic information to their offspring and replicate throughout their lives. Phospholipase D family member 6 (PLD6) has recently been found to be a surface marker for SSCs in mice and boars; however, it has not been validated in cattle. The results of reversed transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) found that the relative expression of the PLD6 gene in the testicular tissues of two-year-old Simmental calves was significantly higher than that of six-month-old calves. Immunofluorescent staining further verified the expression of PLD6 protein in bovine spermatogenic cells like germ cell marker DEAD box helicase 4 (DDX4, also known as VASA). Based on multiple bioinformatic databases, PLD6 is a conservative protein which has high homology with mouse Q5SWZ9 protein. It is closely involved in the normal functioning of the reproductive system. Molecular dynamics simulation analyzed the binding of PLD6 as a phospholipase to cardiolipin (CL), and the PLD6-CL complex showed high stability. The protein interaction network analysis showed that there is a significant relationship between PLD6 and piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA) binding protein. PLD6 acts as an endonuclease and participates in piRNA production. In addition, PLD6 in bovine and mouse testes has a similar expression pattern with the spermatogonium-related genes VASA and piwi like RNA-mediated gene silencing 2 (PIWIL2). In conclusion, these analyses imply that PLD6 has a relatively high expression in bovine testes and could be used as a biomarker for spermatogenic cells including SSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China; (R.Y.); (B.Z.); (W.Z.); (C.Z.); (B.T.)
| | - Boyang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China; (R.Y.); (B.Z.); (W.Z.); (C.Z.); (B.T.)
| | - Wenqian Zhu
- State Key Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China; (R.Y.); (B.Z.); (W.Z.); (C.Z.); (B.T.)
| | - Chunling Zhu
- State Key Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China; (R.Y.); (B.Z.); (W.Z.); (C.Z.); (B.T.)
| | - Lanxin Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China; (R.Y.); (B.Z.); (W.Z.); (C.Z.); (B.T.)
| | - Yansen Zhao
- State Key Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China; (R.Y.); (B.Z.); (W.Z.); (C.Z.); (B.T.)
| | - Yueqi Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China; (R.Y.); (B.Z.); (W.Z.); (C.Z.); (B.T.)
| | - Yan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China; (R.Y.); (B.Z.); (W.Z.); (C.Z.); (B.T.)
| | - Amjad Riaz
- Department of Theriogenolog and University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore 54000, Pakistan;
| | - Bo Tang
- State Key Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China; (R.Y.); (B.Z.); (W.Z.); (C.Z.); (B.T.)
| | - Xueming Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Zoonotic Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China; (R.Y.); (B.Z.); (W.Z.); (C.Z.); (B.T.)
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Cao M, Wang X, Guo S, Kang Y, Pei J, Guo X. F1 Male Sterility in Cattle-Yak Examined through Changes in Testis Tissue and Transcriptome Profiles. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12192711. [PMID: 36230452 PMCID: PMC9559613 DOI: 10.3390/ani12192711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Cattle-yak, a crossbreed of cattle and yak, has evident heterosis but F1 male cattle-yak is unable to generate sperm and is sterile, which limits the fixation of heterosis. This study analyzed the differences in testicular tissue development between four-year-old yak and cattle-yak from the perspective of histomorphological changes and sequenced the testicular tissue of the two using RNA-seq technology, examining the differential gene expression related to spermatogenesis and apoptosis. These findings offer a theoretical explanation for the sterility in F1 male cattle-yak that can help yak hybridization. Abstract Male-derived sterility in cattle-yaks, a hybrid deriving from yak and cattle, is a challenging problem. This study compared and analyzed the histomorphological differences in testis between sexually mature yak and cattle-yak, and examined the transcriptome differences employing RNA-seq. The study found that yak seminiferous tubules contained spermatogenic cells at all levels, while cattle-yak seminiferous tubules had reduced spermatogonia (SPG) and primary spermatocyte (Pri-SPC), fewer secondary spermatocytes (Sec-SPC), an absence of round spermatids (R-ST) and sperms (S), and possessed large vacuoles. All of these conditions could have significantly reduced the volume and weight of cattle-yak testis compared to that of yak. RNA-seq analysis identified 8473 differentially expressed genes (DEGs; 3580 upregulated and 4893 downregulated). GO (Gene Ontology) and KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) enrichment evaluations for DEGs found their relation mostly to spermatogenesis and apoptosis. Among the DEGs, spermatogonia stem cell (SSCs) marker genes (Gfra1, CD9, SOHLH1, SALL4, ID4, and FOXO1) and genes involved in apoptosis (Fas, caspase3, caspase6, caspase7, caspase8, CTSK, CTSB and CTSC) were significantly upregulated, while differentiation spermatogenic cell marker genes (Ccna1, PIWIL1, TNP1, and TXNDC2) and meiosis-related genes (TEX14, TEX15, MEIOB, STAG3 and M1AP) were significantly downregulated in cattle-yak. Furthermore, the alternative splicing events in cattle-yak were substantially decreased than in yak, suggesting that the lack of protein subtypes could be another reason for spermatogenic arrest in cattle-yak testis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengli Cao
- Key Laboratory of Yak Breeding Engineering of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding on Tibetan Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou 730050, China
| | - Xingdong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Yak Breeding Engineering of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding on Tibetan Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou 730050, China
| | - Shaoke Guo
- Key Laboratory of Yak Breeding Engineering of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding on Tibetan Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou 730050, China
| | - Yandong Kang
- Key Laboratory of Yak Breeding Engineering of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding on Tibetan Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou 730050, China
| | - Jie Pei
- Key Laboratory of Yak Breeding Engineering of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding on Tibetan Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou 730050, China
| | - Xian Guo
- Key Laboratory of Yak Breeding Engineering of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding on Tibetan Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou 730050, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-18993037854
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Xue R, Zhou J, Wu J, Meng Q, Gong J, Shen L. P-element-Induced Wimpy-Testis-Like Protein 1 Regulates the Activation of Pancreatic Stellate Cells Through the PI3K/AKT/mTOR Signaling Pathway. Dig Dis Sci 2022. [PMID: 36002675 DOI: 10.1007/s10620-022-07605-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
AIM Pancreatic fibrosis is the main pathological characteristic of chronic pancreatitis (CP) and pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) play a critical role in pancreatic fibrosis. Any targets that may have an impact on the activation of PSCs could become potential treatment candidates for CP and pancreatic cancer. Our goal was to investigate the effect of P-element-induced wimpy-testis (PIWI) protein 1 (PIWIL1) on PSC activation. METHODS Lentivirus-based RNA interference (RNAi) and overexpression vector construction were used to knock down and over-express the PIWIL1 protein. Immunocytofluorescent staining, western blotting, wound healing assay, transwell assay, and phalloidin staining were used to investigate the effects of PIWIL1 on the secretion of extracellular matrix components (EMC), actin cytoskeleton, and on the invasion and migration abilities of primary PSCs isolated from C57BL/6 mice. Moreover, pancreatic fibrosis was induced by L-arginine in C57BL/6 mice. The expression of PIWIL1 and collagen deposition in vivo were tested by western blotting and Sirius red staining. RESULTS Expression levels of collagen I, collagen III, and α-smooth muscle actin were significantly decreased in the LV-PIWIL1 group. Compared with the si-PIWIL1 group, significant differences were observed in the expression of desmin, p-PI3K, p-AKT, and p-mTOR in the LV-PIWIL1 group. Furthermore, PIWIL1 suppressed the PSCs' invasion and migration abilities. In a rescue experiment, the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway was found to be the underlying mechanism in PSCs activation mediated by PIWIL1. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that PIWIL1 inhibits the activation of PSCs via the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. PIWIL1 is a potential therapeutic target for pancreatic fibrosis.
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Zheng Y, Meng XW, Yang JP. Exploring Potential Regulatory Anesthetic Drugs Based on RNA Binding Protein and Constructing CESC Prognosis Model: A Study Based on TCGA Database. Front Surg 2022; 9:823566. [PMID: 35449547 PMCID: PMC9018109 DOI: 10.3389/fsurg.2022.823566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective To investigate the differential expression of RBPs in cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CESC), analyze the regulatory effect of narcotic drugs on RBPs, and establish the prognostic risk model of CESC patients. Methods RNA-SEQ data and clinical case data of cancer and normal samples from CESC patients were obtained from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) database. Differentially expressed RBPs were screened by R language and enriched. The CMAP database is used to predict the anesthetic drugs that regulate the differential expression of RBPs. The prognostic risk score model was constructed by COX regression analysis. Risk score of each CESC patient was calculated and divided into high-risk group and low-risk group according to the median risk score. The prediction efficiency of prognostic risk model was evaluated by Kaplan-Meier (KM) analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and the correlation between prognostic risk model and clinical characteristics was analyzed. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of RNASEH2A and HENMT1 in tissues. Results There were 65 differentially expressed RBPs in CESC. Five anesthetics, including benzocaine, procaine, pentoxyverine, and tetracaine were obtained to regulate RBPs. Survival analysis showed that seven genes were related to the prognosis of patients, and the CESC risk score model was constructed by COX regression. The risk score can be used as an independent prognostic factor. RNASEH2A and HENMT1 are up-regulated in tumors, which can effectively distinguish normal tissues from tumor tissues. Conclusion It is found that different anesthetic drugs have different regulatory effects on the differential expression of RBPs. Based on the differentially expressed RBPs, the prognostic risk score model of CESC patients was constructed. To provide ideas for the formulation of individualized precise anesthesia scheme and cancer pain analgesia scheme, which is helpful to improve the perioperative survival rate of cancer patients.
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Hanusek K, Poletajew S, Kryst P, Piekiełko-Witkowska A, Bogusławska J. piRNAs and PIWI Proteins as Diagnostic and Prognostic Markers of Genitourinary Cancers. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12020186. [PMID: 35204687 PMCID: PMC8869487 DOI: 10.3390/biom12020186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
piRNAs (PIWI-interacting RNAs) are small non-coding RNAs capable of regulation of transposon and gene expression. piRNAs utilise multiple mechanisms to affect gene expression, which makes them potentially more powerful regulators than microRNAs. The mechanisms by which piRNAs regulate transposon and gene expression include DNA methylation, histone modifications, and mRNA degradation. Genitourinary cancers (GC) are a large group of neoplasms that differ by their incidence, clinical course, biology, and prognosis for patients. Regardless of the GC type, metastatic disease remains a key therapeutic challenge, largely affecting patients’ survival rates. Recent studies indicate that piRNAs could serve as potentially useful biomarkers allowing for early cancer detection and therapeutic interventions at the stage of non-advanced tumour, improving patient’s outcomes. Furthermore, studies in prostate cancer show that piRNAs contribute to cancer progression by affecting key oncogenic pathways such as PI3K/AKT. Here, we discuss recent findings on biogenesis, mechanisms of action and the role of piRNAs and the associated PIWI proteins in GC. We also present tools that may be useful for studies on the functioning of piRNAs in cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Hanusek
- Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 01-813 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Sławomir Poletajew
- Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, II Department of Urology, 01-813 Warsaw, Poland; (S.P.); (P.K.)
| | - Piotr Kryst
- Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, II Department of Urology, 01-813 Warsaw, Poland; (S.P.); (P.K.)
| | - Agnieszka Piekiełko-Witkowska
- Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 01-813 Warsaw, Poland;
- Correspondence: (A.P.-W.); (J.B.)
| | - Joanna Bogusławska
- Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 01-813 Warsaw, Poland;
- Correspondence: (A.P.-W.); (J.B.)
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12
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Merkerova MD, Krejcik Z. Transposable elements and Piwi‑interacting RNAs in hemato‑oncology with a focus on myelodysplastic syndrome (Review). Int J Oncol 2021; 59:105. [PMID: 34779490 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2021.5285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Our current understanding of hematopoietic stem cell differentiation and the abnormalities that lead to leukemogenesis originates from the accumulation of knowledge regarding protein‑coding genes. However, the possible impact of transposable element (TE) mobilization and the expression of P‑element‑induced WImpy testis‑interacting RNAs (piRNAs) on leukemogenesis has been beyond the scope of scientific interest to date. The expression profiles of these molecules and their importance for human health have only been characterized recently due to the rapid progress of high‑throughput sequencing technology development. In the present review, current knowledge on the expression profile and function of TEs and piRNAs was summarized, with specific focus on their reported involvement in leukemogenesis and pathogenesis of myelodysplastic syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Zdenek Krejcik
- Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, 128 20 Prague, Czech Republic
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13
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Giebler M, Greither T, Handke D, Seliger G, Behre HM. Lower Spermatozoal PIWI-LIKE 1 and 2 Transcript Levels Are Significantly Associated with Higher Fertilization Rates in IVF. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:11320. [PMID: 34768750 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222111320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The four human PIWI-LIKE gene family members PIWI-LIKE 1–4 play a pivotal role in stem cell maintenance and transposon repression in the human germline. Therefore, dysregulation of these genes negatively influences the genetic stability of the respective germ cell and subsequent development and maturation. Recently, we demonstrated that a lower PIWI-LIKE 2 mRNA expression in ejaculated spermatozoa is more frequent in men with oligozoospermia. In this study, we analysed how PIWI-LIKE 1–4 mRNA expression in ejaculated spermatozoa predicts ART outcome. From 160 IVF or ICSI cycles, portions of swim-up spermatozoa used for fertilization were collected, and the total RNA was isolated. PIWI-LIKE 1–4 mRNA expression was measured by qPCR using TaqMan probes with GAPDH as a reference gene. PIWI-LIKE 1 and 2 transcript levels in the spermatozoa of the swim-up fraction were positively correlated to each other (rS = 0.78; p < 0.001). Moreover, lower PIWI-LIKE 2 mRNA levels, as well as lower PIWI-LIKE 1 mRNA levels, in these spermatozoa were positively associated with a fertilization rate ≥ 50% in the respective ART cycles (p = 0.02 and p = 0.0499, Mann–Whitney U-Test). When separately analysing IVF and ICSI cycles, PIWI-LIKE 1 and 2 transcript levels were only significantly associated to increased fertilization rates in IVF, yet not in ICSI cycles. Spermatozoal PIWI-LIKE 3 and 4 transcript levels were not significantly associated to fertilization rates in ART cycles. In conclusion, lower levels of spermatozoal PIWI-LIKE 1 and 2 mRNA levels are positively associated with a higher fertilization rate in IVF cycles.
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Nakhaei-Nejad M, Trinity L, Jabbari H, Pasdar M, Jahroudi N. In Silico Analysis to Explore Lineage-Independent and -Dependent Transcriptional Programs Associated with the Process of Endothelial and Neural Differentiation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells. J Clin Med 2021; 10:4161. [PMID: 34575270 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10184161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 09/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite a major interest in understanding how the endothelial cell phenotype is established, the underlying molecular basis of this process is not yet fully understood. We have previously reported the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) from human umbilical vein endothelial cells and differentiation of the resulting HiPS back to endothelial cells (Ec-Diff), as well as neural (Nn-Diff) cell lineage that contained both neurons and astrocytes. Furthermore, the identities of these cell lineages were established by gene array analysis. Here, we explored the same arrays to gain insight into the gene alteration processes that accompany the establishment of endothelial vs. non-endothelial neural cell phenotypes. We compared the expression of genes that code for transcription factors and epigenetic regulators when HiPS is differentiated into these endothelial and non-endothelial lineages. Our in silico analyses have identified cohorts of genes that are similarly up- or downregulated in both lineages, as well as those that exhibit lineage-specific alterations. Based on these results, we propose that genes that are similarly altered in both lineages participate in priming the stem cell for differentiation in a lineage-independent manner, whereas those that are differentially altered in endothelial compared to neural cells participate in a lineage-specific differentiation process. Specific GATA family members and their cofactors and epigenetic regulators (DNMT3B, PRDM14, HELLS) with a major role in regulating DNA methylation were among participants in priming HiPS for lineage-independent differentiation. In addition, we identified distinct cohorts of transcription factors and epigenetic regulators whose alterations correlated specifically with the establishment of endothelial vs. non-endothelial neural lineages.
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15
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Puzuka A, Alksere B, Gailite L, Erenpreiss J. Idiopathic Infertility as a Feature of Genome Instability. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:628. [PMID: 34209597 DOI: 10.3390/life11070628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Genome instability may play a role in severe cases of male infertility, with disrupted spermatogenesis being just one manifestation of decreased general health and increased morbidity. Here, we review the data on the association of male infertility with genetic, epigenetic, and environmental alterations, the causes and consequences, and the methods for assessment of genome instability. Male infertility research has provided evidence that spermatogenic defects are often not limited to testicular dysfunction. An increased incidence of urogenital disorders and several types of cancer, as well as overall reduced health (manifested by decreased life expectancy and increased morbidity) have been reported in infertile men. The pathophysiological link between decreased life expectancy and male infertility supports the notion of male infertility being a systemic rather than an isolated condition. It is driven by the accumulation of DNA strand breaks and premature cellular senescence. We have presented extensive data supporting the notion that genome instability can lead to severe male infertility termed “idiopathic oligo-astheno-teratozoospermia.” We have detailed that genome instability in men with oligo-astheno-teratozoospermia (OAT) might depend on several genetic and epigenetic factors such as chromosomal heterogeneity, aneuploidy, micronucleation, dynamic mutations, RT, PIWI/piRNA regulatory pathway, pathogenic allelic variants in repair system genes, DNA methylation, environmental aspects, and lifestyle factors.
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Liu WS, Lu C, Mistry BV. Subcellular localization of the mouse PRAMEL1 and PRAMEX1 reveals multifaceted roles in the nucleus and cytoplasm of germ cells during spermatogenesis. Cell Biosci 2021; 11:102. [PMID: 34074333 PMCID: PMC8170798 DOI: 10.1186/s13578-021-00612-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Preferentially expressed antigen in melanoma (PRAME) is a cancer/testis antigen (CTA) that is predominantly expressed in normal gametogenic tissues and a variety of tumors. Members of the PRAME gene family encode leucine-rich repeat (LRR) proteins that provide a versatile structural framework for the formation of protein-protein interactions. As a nuclear receptor transcriptional regulator, PRAME has been extensively studied in cancer biology and is believed to play a role in cancer cell proliferation by suppressing retinoic acid (RA) signaling. The role of the PRAME gene family in germline development and spermatogenesis has been recently confirmed by a gene knockout approach. To further understand how PRAME proteins are involved in germ cell development at a subcellular level, we have conducted a systematic immunogold electron microscopy (IEM) analysis on testis sections of adult mice with gene-specific antibodies from two members of the mouse Prame gene family: Pramel1 and Pramex1. Pramel1 is autosomal, while Pramex1 is X-linked, both genes are exclusively expressed in the testis. RESULTS Our IEM data revealed that both PRAMEL1 and PRAMEX1 proteins were localized in various cell organelles in different development stages of spermatogenic cells, including the nucleus, rER, Golgi, mitochondria, germ granules [intermitochondrial cement (IMC) and chromatoid body (CB)], centrioles, manchette, and flagellum. Unlike other germ cell-specific makers, such as DDX4, whose proteins are evenly distributed in the expressed-organelle(s), both PRAMEL1 and PRAMEX1 proteins tend to aggregate together to form clusters of protein complexes. These complexes were highly enriched in the nucleus and cytoplasm (especially in germ granules) of spermatocytes and spermatids. Furthermore, dynamic distribution of the PRAMEL1 protein complexes were observed in the microtubule-based organelles, such as acroplaxome, manchette, and flagellum, as well as in the nuclear envelope and nuclear pore. Dual staining with PRAMEL1 and KIF17B antibodies further revealed that the PRAMEL1 and KIF17B proteins were co-localized in germ granules. CONCLUSION Our IEM data suggest that the PRAMEL1 and PRAMEX1 proteins are not only involved in transcriptional regulation in the nucleus, but may also participate in nucleocytoplasmic transport, and in the formation and function of germ cell-specific organelles during spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wan-Sheng Liu
- Department of Animal Science, Center for Reproductive Biology and Health (CRBH), College of Agricultural Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, 324 Henning Building, University Park, PA 16802 USA
| | - Chen Lu
- Department of Animal Science, Center for Reproductive Biology and Health (CRBH), College of Agricultural Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, 324 Henning Building, University Park, PA 16802 USA
- Present Address: Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Bhavesh V. Mistry
- Department of Animal Science, Center for Reproductive Biology and Health (CRBH), College of Agricultural Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, 324 Henning Building, University Park, PA 16802 USA
- Present Address: Department of Comparative Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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Dong P, Xiong Y, Konno Y, Ihira K, Xu D, Kobayashi N, Yue J, Watari H. Critical Roles of PIWIL1 in Human Tumors: Expression, Functions, Mechanisms, and Potential Clinical Implications. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:656993. [PMID: 33718392 PMCID: PMC7952444 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.656993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
P-element-induced wimpy testis (PIWI)-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNA molecules that are 24-31 nucleotides in length. PiRNAs are thought to bind to PIWI proteins (PIWL1-4, a subfamily of Argonaute proteins), forming piRNA/PIWI complexes that influence gene expression at the transcriptional or post-transcriptional levels. However, it has been recently reported that the interaction of PIWI proteins with piRNAs does not encompass the entire function of PIWI proteins in human tumor cells. PIWIL1 (also called HIWI) is specifically expressed in the testis but not in other normal tissues. In tumor tissues, PIWIL1 is frequently overexpressed in tumor tissues compared with normal tissues. Its high expression is closely correlated with adverse clinicopathological features and shorter patient survival. Upregulation of PIWIL1 drastically induces tumor cell proliferation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), invasion, cancer stem-like properties, tumorigenesis, metastasis and chemoresistance, probably via piRNA-independent mechanisms. In this article, we summarize the current existing literature on PIWIL1 in human tumors, including its expression, biological functions and regulatory mechanisms, providing new insights into how the dysregulation of PIWIL1 contributes to tumor initiation, development and chemoresistance through diverse signaling pathways. We also discuss the most recent findings on the potential clinical applications of PIWIL1 in cancer diagnosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peixin Dong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Ying Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Department of Gynecology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yosuke Konno
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Kei Ihira
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Daozhi Xu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Noriko Kobayashi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Junming Yue
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
- Center for Cancer Research, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Hidemichi Watari
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hokkaido University School of Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
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Lee E, Lokman NA, Oehler MK, Ricciardelli C, Grutzner F. A Comprehensive Molecular and Clinical Analysis of the piRNA Pathway Genes in Ovarian Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 13:cancers13010004. [PMID: 33374923 PMCID: PMC7792616 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13010004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Although ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the most lethal gynecological cancers, its development and progression remain poorly understood. The piRNA pathway is important for transposon defense and genome stability. piRNA maturation and function involve a number of genes known as the piRNA pathway genes. These genes have recently been implicated in cancer development and progression but information about their role in OC is limited. Our work aimed to provide a better understanding of the roles of piRNA pathway genes in OC. Through analyzing changes in the abundance of 10 piRNA pathway genes, we discovered gene expression differences in benign vs. cancer, chemosensitive vs. chemoresistant and post hormone treatment in OC samples and cells. Furthermore, we observed the differential effects of these genes on patient survival and OC cell invasion. Overall, this work supports a role of the piRNA pathway genes in OC progression and encourages further study of their clinical relevance. Abstract Ovarian cancer (OC) is one of the most lethal gynecological malignancies, yet molecular mechanisms underlying its origin and progression remain poorly understood. With increasing reports of piRNA pathway deregulation in various cancers, we aimed to better understand its role in OC through a comprehensive analysis of key genes: PIWIL1-4, DDX4, HENMT1, MAEL, PLD6, TDRD1,9 and mutants of PIWIL1 (P1∆17) and PIWIL2 (PL2L60). High-throughput qRT-PCR (n = 45) and CSIOVDB (n = 3431) showed differential gene expression when comparing benign ovarian tumors, low grade OC and high grade serous OC (HGSOC). Significant correlation of disparate piRNA pathway gene expression levels with better progression free, post-progression free and overall survival suggests a complex role of this pathway in OC. We discovered PIWIL3 expression in chemosensitive but not chemoresistant primary HGSOC cells, providing a potential target against chemoresistant disease. As a first, we revealed that follicle stimulating hormone increased PIWIL2 expression in OV-90 cells. PIWIL1, P1∆17, PIWIL2, PL2L60 and MAEL overexpression in vitro and in vivo decreased motility and invasion of OVCAR-3 and OV-90 cells. Interestingly, P1∆17 and PL2L60, induced increased motility and invasion compared to PIWIL1 and PIWIL2. Our results in HGSOC highlight the intricate role piRNA pathway genes play in the development of malignant neoplasms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eunice Lee
- Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia;
| | - Noor A. Lokman
- Discipline of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Robinson Research Institute, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (N.A.L.); (M.K.O.)
- Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095, Australia
| | - Martin K. Oehler
- Discipline of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Robinson Research Institute, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (N.A.L.); (M.K.O.)
- Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095, Australia
- Department of Gynaecological Oncology, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
| | - Carmela Ricciardelli
- Discipline of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Robinson Research Institute, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia; (N.A.L.); (M.K.O.)
- Correspondence: (C.R.); (F.G.); Tel.: +61-8-8313-8255 (C.R.); +61-8-8313-4812 (F.G.)
| | - Frank Grutzner
- Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia;
- Correspondence: (C.R.); (F.G.); Tel.: +61-8-8313-8255 (C.R.); +61-8-8313-4812 (F.G.)
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Testicular germ cell tumours (TGCTs) exhibit, in contrast to other cancer types, a relatively low mutational burden. However, numerous epigenetic alterations have been shown to impact TGCT. In this review, we summarize the most relevant findings of the past 2 years. RECENT FINDINGS Recent studies focused on the functions of microRNAs and the impact of aberrant DNA methylation. Moreover, several epigenetic drugs with antineoplastic effects in TGCTs were identified. SUMMARY Aberrant DNA methylation and differentially expressed microRNAs have an important effect on TGCT pathogenesis. Moreover, differential DNA methylation patterns were found to be specific for different TGCT subtypes. Various microRNAs, such as miR-371a-3p, were found to be highly sensitive and specific biomarkers for TGCT. The epigenetic drugs guadecitabine, animacroxam, and JQ1 showed promising effects on TGCT in preclinical in-vivo and in-vitro studies.
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Ye M, Chen Y. Zebrafish as an emerging model to study gonad development. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2020; 18:2373-2380. [PMID: 32994895 PMCID: PMC7498840 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2020.08.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Revised: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The zebrafish (Danio rerio) has emerged as a popular model organism in developmental biology and pharmacogenetics due to its attribute of pathway conservation. Coupled with the availability of robust genetic and transgenic tools, transparent embryos and rapid larval development, studies of zebrafish allow detailed cellular analysis of many dynamic processes. In recent decades, the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the process of gonad development have been the subject of intense research using zebrafish models. In this mini-review, we give a brief overview of these studies, and highlight the essential genes involved in sex determination and gonad development in zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengling Ye
- Division of Medical Genetics and Genomics, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University and Department of Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ye Chen
- Division of Medical Genetics and Genomics, The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.,Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University and Department of Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
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Tutak K, Rozwadowska N. Discrete roles of RNA helicases in human male germline and spermatogenesis. J Appl Genet 2020; 61:415-9. [PMID: 32328902 DOI: 10.1007/s13353-020-00558-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Revised: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
RNA helicases are known from their ability to bind and unwind double-stranded RNA initiating RNA processing events. These evolutionary conserved RNA binding proteins are broadly expressed in a variety of tissues; however, we can distinguish those, which represent tissue-specific expression pattern and play unique roles in certain cell lineages. For instance, some RNA helicases mediate transcriptomic changes triggering cell differentiation which results in specification and establishment of germline in a developing embryo. Others act as safeguards responsible for maintenance of DNA integrity in germ cell. In this article, we focus on selected DEAD/DEAH-box RNA helicases involved in germline development and spermatogenesis presenting their diverse functions and implications for male fertility.
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22
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Giebler M, Greither T, Müller L, Mösinger C, Behre HM. Altered PIWI-LIKE 1 and PIWI-LIKE 2 mRNA expression in ejaculated spermatozoa of men with impaired sperm characteristics. Asian J Androl 2019; 20:260-264. [PMID: 29286006 PMCID: PMC5952480 DOI: 10.4103/aja.aja_58_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
In about half the cases of involuntary childlessness, a male infertility factor is involved. The PIWI-LIKE genes, a subclade of the Argonaute protein family, are involved in RNA silencing and transposon control in the germline. Knockout of murine Piwi-like 1 and 2 homologs results in complete infertility in males. The aim of this study was to analyze whether the mRNA expression of human PIWI-LIKE 1-4 genes is altered in ejaculated spermatozoa of men with impaired sperm characteristics. Ninety male participants were included in the study, among which 47 were with normozoospermia, 36 with impaired semen characteristics according to the World Health Organization (WHO) manual, 5th edition, and 7 with azoospermia serving as negative control for the PIWI-LIKE 1-4 mRNA expression in somatic cells in the ejaculate. PIWI-LIKE 1-4 mRNA expression in the ejaculated spermatozoa of the participants was measured by quantitative real-time PCR. In nonazoospermic men, PIWI-LIKE 1-4 mRNA was measurable in ejaculated spermatozoa in different proportions. PIWI-LIKE 1 (100.0%) and PIWI-LIKE 2 (49.4%) were more frequently expressed than PIWI-LIKE 3 (9.6%) and PIWI-LIKE 4 (15.7%). Furthermore, a decreased PIWI-LIKE 2 mRNA expression showed a significant correlation with a decreased sperm count (P = 0.022) and an increased PIWI-LIKE 1 mRNA expression with a decreased progressive motility (P = 0.048). PIWI-LIKE 1 and PIWI-LIKE 2 mRNA expression exhibited a significant association with impaired sperm characteristics and may be a useful candidate for the evaluation of the impact of PIWI-LIKE 1-4 mRNA expression on male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Giebler
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale) 06120, Germany
| | - Thomas Greither
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale) 06120, Germany
| | - Lisa Müller
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale) 06120, Germany
| | - Carina Mösinger
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale) 06120, Germany
| | - Hermann M Behre
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale) 06120, Germany
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Renault S, Genty M, Gabori A, Boisneau C, Esnault C, Dugé de Bernonville T, Augé-Gouillou C. The epigenetic regulation of HsMar1, a human DNA transposon. BMC Genet 2019; 20:17. [PMID: 30764754 DOI: 10.1186/s12863-019-0719-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2018] [Accepted: 01/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Both classes of transposable elements (DNA and RNA) are tightly regulated at the transcriptional level leading to the inactivation of transposition via epigenetic mechanisms. Due to the high copies number of these elements, the hypothesis has emerged that their regulation can coordinate a regulatory network of genes. Herein, we investigated whether transposition regulation of HsMar1, a human DNA transposon, differs in presence or absence of endogenous HsMar1 copies. In the case where HsMar1 transposition is regulated, the number of repetitive DNA sequences issued by HsMar1 and distributed in the human genome makes HsMar1 a good candidate to regulate neighboring gene expression by epigenetic mechanisms. RESULTS A recombinant active HsMar1 copy was inserted in HeLa (human) and CHO (hamster) cells and its genomic excision monitored. We show that HsMar1 excision is blocked in HeLa cells, whereas CHO cells are competent to promote HsMar1 excision. We demonstrate that de novo HsMar1 insertions in HeLa cells (human) undergo rapid silencing by cytosine methylation and apposition of H3K9me3 marks, whereas de novo HsMar1 insertions in CHO cells (hamster) are not repressed and enriched in H3K4me3 modifications. The overall analysis of HsMar1 endogenous copies in HeLa cells indicates that neither full-length endogenous inactive copies nor their Inverted Terminal Repeats seem to be specifically silenced, and are, in contrast, devoid of epigenetic marks. Finally, the setmar gene, derived from HsMar1, presents H3K4me3 modifications as expected for a human housekeeping gene. CONCLUSIONS Our work highlights that de novo and old HsMar1 are not similarly regulated by epigenetic mechanisms. Old HsMar1 are generally detected as lacking epigenetic marks, irrespective their localisation relative to the genes. Considering the putative existence of a network associating HsMar1 old copies and SETMAR, two non-mutually exclusive hypotheses are proposed: active and inactive HsMar1 copies are not similarly regulated or/and regulations concern only few loci (and few genes) that cannot be detected at the whole genome level.
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Abstract
Nm (2'-O-methylation) is one of the most common modifications in the RNA world. It has the potential to influence the RNA molecules in multiple ways, such as structure, stability, and interactions, and to play a role in various cellular processes from epigenetic gene regulation, through translation to self versus non-self recognition. Yet, building scientific knowledge on the Nm matter has been hampered for a long time by the challenges in detecting and mapping this modification. Today, with the latest advancements in the area, more and more Nm sites are discovered on RNAs (tRNA, rRNA, mRNA, and small non-coding RNA) and linked to normal or pathological conditions. This review aims to synthesize the Nm-associated human diseases known to date and to tackle potential indirect links to some other biological defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dilyana G Dimitrova
- Sorbonne Université, Institut de Biologie Paris Seine, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Transgenerational Epigenetics & Small RNA Biology, Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement, 75005 Paris, France.
| | - Laure Teysset
- Sorbonne Université, Institut de Biologie Paris Seine, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Transgenerational Epigenetics & Small RNA Biology, Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement, 75005 Paris, France.
| | - Clément Carré
- Sorbonne Université, Institut de Biologie Paris Seine, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Transgenerational Epigenetics & Small RNA Biology, Laboratoire de Biologie du Développement, 75005 Paris, France.
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25
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Gomes Fernandes M, He N, Wang F, Van Iperen L, Eguizabal C, Matorras R, Roelen BAJ, Chuva De Sousa Lopes SM. Human-specific subcellular compartmentalization of P-element induced wimpy testis-like (PIWIL) granules during germ cell development and spermatogenesis. Hum Reprod 2019; 33:258-269. [PMID: 29237021 PMCID: PMC5850288 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dex365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2017] [Accepted: 11/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION What is the dynamics of expression of P-element induced wimpy testis-like (PIWIL) proteins in the germline during human fetal development and spermatogenesis? SUMMARY ANSWER PIWIL1, PIWIL2, PIWIL3 and PIWIL4 were expressed in a sex-specific fashion in human germ cells (GC) during development and adulthood. PIWILs showed a mutually exclusive pattern of subcellular localization. PIWILs were present in the intermitochondrial cement and a single large granule in meiotic GC and their expression was different from that observed in mice, highlighting species-differences. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY In mice, PIWIL proteins play prominent roles in male infertility. PIWIL mouse mutants show either post-meiotic arrest at the round spermatid stage (PIWIL1) or arrest at the zygotene-pachytene stage of meiosis I (PIWIL2 and PIWIL4) in males, while females remain fertile. Recent studies have reported a robust piRNA pool in human fetal ovary. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION This is a qualitative analysis of PIWILs expression in paraffin-embedded fetal human male (N = 8), female gonads (N = 6) and adult testes (N = 5), and bioinformatics analysis of online available single-cell transcriptomics data of human fetal germ cells (n = 242). PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Human fetal gonads from elective abortion without medical indication and adult testes biopsies were donated for research with informed consent. Samples were fixed, paraffin-embedded and analyzed by immunofluorescence to study the temporal and cellular localization of PIWIL1, PIWIL2, PIWIL3 and PIWIL4. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE PIWIL1, PIWIL2 and PIWIL4 showed a mutually exclusive pattern of subcellular localization, particularly in female oocytes. To our surprise, PIWIL1 immunostaining revealed the presence of a single dense paranuclear body, resembling the chromatoid body of haploid spermatocytes, in meiotic oocytes. Moreover, in contrast to mice, PIWIL4, but not PIWIL2, localized to the intermitochondrial cement. PIWIL3 was not expressed in GC during development. The upregulation of PIWIL transcripts correlated with the transcription of markers associated with piRNAs biogenesis like the TDRDs and HENMT1 in fetal GC. LARGE SCALE DATA Non-applicable. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION This study is limited by the restricted number of samples and consequently stages analyzed. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS In the germline, PIWILs ensure the integrity of the human genome protecting it from ‘parasitic sequences’. This study offers novel insights on the expression dynamics of PIWILs during the window of epigenetic remodeling and meiosis, and highlights important differences between humans and mice, which may prove particularly important to understand causes of infertility and improve both diagnosis and treatment in humans. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) M.G.F. was funded by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) [SFRH/BD/78689/2011]; N.H. by China Scholarship Council (CSC) [No. 201307040026] and F.W. by Medical Personnel Training Abroad Project of Henan Province [No. 2015022] and S.M.C.d.S.L. by the Netherlands Organization of Scientific Research (NWO) [ASPASIA 015.007.037] and the Interuniversity Attraction Poles-Phase VII [IUAP/PAI P7/14]. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Gomes Fernandes
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, Einthovenweg 20, Leiden2333 ZC, The Netherlands
| | - Nannan He
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, Einthovenweg 20, Leiden2333 ZC, The Netherlands
| | - Fang Wang
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, Einthovenweg 20, Leiden 2333 ZC, The Netherlands.,Reproductive Medical Centre, First Affiliated Hospital Zhengzhou University, No.1 Jianshe east road, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - Liesbeth Van Iperen
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, Einthovenweg 20, Leiden2333 ZC, The Netherlands
| | - Cristina Eguizabal
- Cell Therapy and Stem Cells Group, Basque Centre for Blood Transfusion and Human Tissues, Barrio Labeaga s/n, Galdakao 48960, Spain
| | - Roberto Matorras
- Human Reproduction Unit, Cruces University Hospital, University of the Basque Country, Plaza de Cruces s/n, Barakaldo 48903, Spain
| | - Bernard A J Roelen
- Department of Farm Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 104, Utrecht3584 CM, The Netherlands
| | - Susana M Chuva De Sousa Lopes
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Leiden University Medical Center, Einthovenweg 20, Leiden 2333 ZC, The Netherlands.,Department for Reproductive Medicine, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, Ghent 9000, Belgium
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Milardi D, Grande G, Vincenzoni F, Pierconti F, Pontecorvi A. Proteomics for the Identification of Biomarkers in Testicular Cancer-Review. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2019; 10:462. [PMID: 31354629 PMCID: PMC6639829 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2019.00462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
A large number of biomarkers have been proposed for the diagnosis of testicular cancer, representing putative molecular targets for anticancer treatments. However, no conclusive data have been provided. Proteomics represents a research field recently developed. It evaluates the large-scale analysis of the full protein components of a single cell, of a specific tissue, or of biological fluids. In the last decades, proteomics has been applied in clinical fields, thanks to modern technology and new bioinformatic tools, to identify novel molecular markers of diseases. The aim of this review is to argue the findings of recent studies in the discoveries of putative prognostic and diagnostic markers of testis cancer by proteomic techniques. We present here a panel of proteins identified by proteomics which might be used after validation for early detection and the prognostic evaluation of testicular tumors. In addition, the molecular mechanisms revealed by these proteomic studies might also guide the development of novel treatments in future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Domenico Milardi
- International Scientific Institute “Paul VI”, Rome, Italy
- Division of Endocrinology, Fondazione Policlinico'A. Gemelli' IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Grande
- International Scientific Institute “Paul VI”, Rome, Italy
- Division of Endocrinology, Fondazione Policlinico'A. Gemelli' IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- *Correspondence: Giuseppe Grande
| | - Federica Vincenzoni
- School of Medicine, Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry Institute, Catholic University of Rome, Rome, Italy
- Department of Laboratory Diagnostic and Infectious Diseases, Fondazione Policlinico'A. Gemelli' IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Pierconti
- Division of Anatomic Pathology and Histology, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Alfredo Pontecorvi
- International Scientific Institute “Paul VI”, Rome, Italy
- Division of Endocrinology, Fondazione Policlinico'A. Gemelli' IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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