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Winkler I, Tolkachov A, Lammers F, Lacour P, Daugelaite K, Schneider N, Koch ML, Panten J, Grünschläger F, Poth T, Ávila BMD, Schneider A, Haas S, Odom DT, Gonçalves Â. The cycling and aging mouse female reproductive tract at single-cell resolution. Cell 2024; 187:981-998.e25. [PMID: 38325365 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.01.021] [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: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
The female reproductive tract (FRT) undergoes extensive remodeling during reproductive cycling. This recurrent remodeling and how it shapes organ-specific aging remains poorly explored. Using single-cell and spatial transcriptomics, we systematically characterized morphological and gene expression changes occurring in ovary, oviduct, uterus, cervix, and vagina at each phase of the mouse estrous cycle, during decidualization, and into aging. These analyses reveal that fibroblasts play central-and highly organ-specific-roles in FRT remodeling by orchestrating extracellular matrix (ECM) reorganization and inflammation. Our results suggest a model wherein recurrent FRT remodeling over reproductive lifespan drives the gradual, age-related development of fibrosis and chronic inflammation. This hypothesis was directly tested using chemical ablation of cycling, which reduced fibrotic accumulation during aging. Our atlas provides extensive detail into how estrus, pregnancy, and aging shape the organs of the female reproductive tract and reveals the unexpected cost of the recurrent remodeling required for reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivana Winkler
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division of Somatic Evolution and Early Detection, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Alexander Tolkachov
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division of Regulatory Genomics and Cancer Evolution, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Fritjof Lammers
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division of Regulatory Genomics and Cancer Evolution, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Perrine Lacour
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division of Somatic Evolution and Early Detection, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Heidelberg University, Faculty of Biosciences, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Klaudija Daugelaite
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division of Regulatory Genomics and Cancer Evolution, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Heidelberg University, Faculty of Biosciences, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nina Schneider
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division of Somatic Evolution and Early Detection, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marie-Luise Koch
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division of Regulatory Genomics and Cancer Evolution, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jasper Panten
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division of Regulatory Genomics and Cancer Evolution, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Heidelberg University, Faculty of Biosciences, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany; German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division of Computational Genomics and Systems Genetics, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Florian Grünschläger
- Heidelberg University, Faculty of Biosciences, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany; German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Division of Stem Cells and Cancer, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine (HI-STEM gGmbH), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Tanja Poth
- CMCP - Center for Model System and Comparative Pathology, Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Augusto Schneider
- Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Faculdade de Nutrição, 96010-610 Pelotas, RS, Brazil
| | - Simon Haas
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Division of Stem Cells and Cancer, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine (HI-STEM gGmbH), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany; Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, 10115 Berlin, Germany; German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Department of Hematology, Oncology and Cancer Immunology, 10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Duncan T Odom
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division of Regulatory Genomics and Cancer Evolution, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; Cancer Research UK - Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Ângela Gonçalves
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division of Somatic Evolution and Early Detection, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
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Cavalcante MB, Sampaio OGM, Câmara FEA, Schneider A, de Ávila BM, Prosczek J, Masternak MM, Campos AR. Ovarian aging in humans: potential strategies for extending reproductive lifespan. GeroScience 2023; 45:2121-2133. [PMID: 36913129 PMCID: PMC10651588 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-023-00768-8] [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: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Ovarian reserve is a term used to estimate the total number of immature follicles present in the ovaries. Between birth and menopause, there is a progressive decrease in the number of ovarian follicles. Ovarian aging is a continuous physiological phenomenon, with menopause being the clinical mark of the end of ovarian function. Genetics, measured as family history for age at the onset of menopause, is the main determinant. However, physical activity, diet, and lifestyle are important factors that can influence the age of menopause. The low estrogen levels after natural or premature menopause increased the risk for several diseases, resulting in increased mortality risk. Besides that, the decreasing ovarian reserve is associated to reduced fertility. In women with infertility undergoing in vitro fertilization, reduced markers of ovarian reserve, including antral follicular count and anti-Mullerian hormone, are the main indicators of reduced chances of becoming pregnant. Therefore, it becomes clear that the ovarian reserve has a central role in women's life, affecting fertility early in life and overall health later in life. Based on this, the ideal strategy for delaying ovarian aging should have the following characteristics: (1) be initiated in the presence of good ovarian reserve; (2) maintained for a long period; (3) have an action on the dynamics of primordial follicles, controlling the rate of activation and atresia; and (4) safe use in pre-conception, pregnancy, and lactation. In this review, we therefore discuss some of these strategies and its feasibility for preventing a decline in the ovarian reserve.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo Borges Cavalcante
- Postgraduate Program in Medical Sciences, University of Fortaleza (UNIFOR), Fortaleza, CE, 60.811-905, Brazil.
| | - Olga Goiana Martins Sampaio
- Postgraduate Program in Medical Sciences, University of Fortaleza (UNIFOR), Fortaleza, CE, 60.811-905, Brazil
| | | | - Augusto Schneider
- Nutrition College, Federal University of Pelotas (UFPel), Pelotas, RS, 96010-610, Brazil
| | | | - Juliane Prosczek
- Nutrition College, Federal University of Pelotas (UFPel), Pelotas, RS, 96010-610, Brazil
| | - Michal M Masternak
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando FL, USA
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Adriana Rolim Campos
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
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