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Llavanera M, Mateo-Otero Y, Delgado-Bermúdez A, Recuero S, Olives S, Barranco I, Yeste M. Deactivation of the JNK Pathway by GSTP1 Is Essential to Maintain Sperm Functionality. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:627140. [PMID: 33732696 PMCID: PMC7959831 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.627140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 11/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Fifty percent of male subfertility diagnosis is idiopathic and is usually associated with genetic abnormalities or protein dysfunction, which are not detectable through the conventional spermiogram. Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are antioxidant enzymes essential for preserving sperm function and maintaining fertilizing ability. However, while the role of GSTP1 in cell signaling regulation via the inhibition of c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK) has been enlightened in somatic cells, it has never been investigated in mammalian spermatozoa. In this regard, a comprehensive approach through immunoblotting, immunofluorescence, computer-assisted sperm assessment (CASA), and flow cytometry analysis was used to characterize the molecular role of the GSTP1–JNK heterocomplex in sperm physiology, using the pig as a model. Immunological assessments confirmed the presence and localization of GSTP1 in sperm cells. The pharmacological dissociation of the GSTP1–JNK heterocomplex resulted in the activation of JNK, which led to a significant decrease in sperm viability, motility, mitochondrial activity, and plasma membrane stability, as well as to an increase of intracellular superoxides. No effects in intracellular calcium levels and acrosome membrane integrity were observed. In conclusion, the present work has demonstrated, for the first time, the essential role of GSTP1 in deactivating JNK, which is crucial to maintain sperm function and has also set the grounds to understand the relevance of the GSTP1–JNK heterocomplex for the regulation of mammalian sperm physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Llavanera
- Biotechnology of Animal and Human Reproduction (TechnoSperm), Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology, University of Girona, Girona, Spain.,Unit of Cell Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Yentel Mateo-Otero
- Biotechnology of Animal and Human Reproduction (TechnoSperm), Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology, University of Girona, Girona, Spain.,Unit of Cell Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Ariadna Delgado-Bermúdez
- Biotechnology of Animal and Human Reproduction (TechnoSperm), Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology, University of Girona, Girona, Spain.,Unit of Cell Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Sandra Recuero
- Biotechnology of Animal and Human Reproduction (TechnoSperm), Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology, University of Girona, Girona, Spain.,Unit of Cell Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Samuel Olives
- Biotechnology of Animal and Human Reproduction (TechnoSperm), Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology, University of Girona, Girona, Spain.,Unit of Cell Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Isabel Barranco
- Biotechnology of Animal and Human Reproduction (TechnoSperm), Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology, University of Girona, Girona, Spain.,Unit of Cell Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Marc Yeste
- Biotechnology of Animal and Human Reproduction (TechnoSperm), Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology, University of Girona, Girona, Spain.,Unit of Cell Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
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Llavanera M, Delgado-Bermúdez A, Olives S, Mateo-Otero Y, Recuero S, Bonet S, Fernández-Fuertes B, Yeste M, Barranco I. Glutathione S-Transferases Play a Crucial Role in Mitochondrial Function, Plasma Membrane Stability and Oxidative Regulation of Mammalian Sperm. Antioxidants (Basel) 2020; 9:antiox9020100. [PMID: 31991648 PMCID: PMC7070295 DOI: 10.3390/antiox9020100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [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: 12/29/2019] [Revised: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are essential sperm antioxidant enzymes involved in cell protection against oxidative stress and toxic chemicals, preserving sperm function and fertilising ability. Artificial insemination (AI) in pigs is commonly carried out through the use of liquid-stored semen at 17 °C, which not only reduces sperm metabolic activity but also sperm quality and AI-farrowing rates within the 72 h of storage. While one may reasonably suggest that such enzymes are implicated in the physiology and maintenance of mammalian sperm function during liquid-storage, no previous studies conducted on any species have addressed this hypothesis. Therefore, the objective of the present work was to characterise the presence and function of sperm GSTs in mammalian sperm, using the pig as a model. In this regard, inhibition of such enzymes by ethacrynic acid (EA) during semen storage at 17 °C was performed to evaluate the effects of GSTs in liquid-preserved boar sperm by flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, and immunoblotting analysis. The results of this study have shown, for the first time in mammalian species, that the inhibition of GSTs reduces sperm quality and functionality parameters during their storage at 17 °C. These findings highlight the key role of such enzymes, especially preserving mitochondrial function and maintaining plasma membrane stability. In addition, this study has identified and localised GSTM3 in the tail and equatorial subdomain of the head of boar sperm. Finally, this study has set grounds for future investigations testing supplementation of semen extenders with GSTs, as this may improve fertility outcomes of swine AIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Llavanera
- Biotechnology of Animal and Human Reproduction (TechnoSperm), Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology, University of Girona, E-17003 Girona Spain; (M.L.); (A.D.-B.); (Y.M.-O.); (S.R.); (S.B.); (B.F.-F.)
- Unit of Cell Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Girona, E-17003 Girona, Spain;
| | - Ariadna Delgado-Bermúdez
- Biotechnology of Animal and Human Reproduction (TechnoSperm), Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology, University of Girona, E-17003 Girona Spain; (M.L.); (A.D.-B.); (Y.M.-O.); (S.R.); (S.B.); (B.F.-F.)
- Unit of Cell Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Girona, E-17003 Girona, Spain;
| | - Samuel Olives
- Unit of Cell Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Girona, E-17003 Girona, Spain;
| | - Yentel Mateo-Otero
- Biotechnology of Animal and Human Reproduction (TechnoSperm), Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology, University of Girona, E-17003 Girona Spain; (M.L.); (A.D.-B.); (Y.M.-O.); (S.R.); (S.B.); (B.F.-F.)
- Unit of Cell Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Girona, E-17003 Girona, Spain;
| | - Sandra Recuero
- Biotechnology of Animal and Human Reproduction (TechnoSperm), Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology, University of Girona, E-17003 Girona Spain; (M.L.); (A.D.-B.); (Y.M.-O.); (S.R.); (S.B.); (B.F.-F.)
- Unit of Cell Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Girona, E-17003 Girona, Spain;
| | - Sergi Bonet
- Biotechnology of Animal and Human Reproduction (TechnoSperm), Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology, University of Girona, E-17003 Girona Spain; (M.L.); (A.D.-B.); (Y.M.-O.); (S.R.); (S.B.); (B.F.-F.)
- Unit of Cell Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Girona, E-17003 Girona, Spain;
| | - Beatriz Fernández-Fuertes
- Biotechnology of Animal and Human Reproduction (TechnoSperm), Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology, University of Girona, E-17003 Girona Spain; (M.L.); (A.D.-B.); (Y.M.-O.); (S.R.); (S.B.); (B.F.-F.)
- Unit of Cell Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Girona, E-17003 Girona, Spain;
| | - Marc Yeste
- Biotechnology of Animal and Human Reproduction (TechnoSperm), Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology, University of Girona, E-17003 Girona Spain; (M.L.); (A.D.-B.); (Y.M.-O.); (S.R.); (S.B.); (B.F.-F.)
- Unit of Cell Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Girona, E-17003 Girona, Spain;
- Correspondence: (M.Y.); (I.B.); Tel.: +34-972-419514 (M.Y. & I.B.)
| | - Isabel Barranco
- Biotechnology of Animal and Human Reproduction (TechnoSperm), Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology, University of Girona, E-17003 Girona Spain; (M.L.); (A.D.-B.); (Y.M.-O.); (S.R.); (S.B.); (B.F.-F.)
- Unit of Cell Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Girona, E-17003 Girona, Spain;
- Correspondence: (M.Y.); (I.B.); Tel.: +34-972-419514 (M.Y. & I.B.)
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