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Search for other papers by Fan Zhou in
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Hunan Normal University School of Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, China
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Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are one of the most significant stem cells with the potentials of self-renewal, differentiation, transdifferentiation and dedifferentiation, and thus, they have important applications in reproductive and regenerative medicine. They can transmit the genetic and epigenetic information across generations, which highlights the importance of the correct establishment and maintenance of epigenetic marks. Accurate transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation is required to support the highly coordinated expression of specific genes for each step of spermatogenesis. Increasing evidence indicates that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs), play essential roles in controlling gene expression and fate determination of male germ cells. These ncRNA molecules have distinct characteristics and biological functions, and they independently or cooperatively modulate the proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation of SSCs. In this review, we summarized the features, biological function and fate of mouse and human SSCs, and we compared the characteristics of lncRNAs and circRNAs. We also addressed the roles and mechanisms of lncRNAs and circRNAs in regulating mouse and human SSCs, which would add novel insights into the epigenetic mechanisms underlying mammalian spermatogenesis and provide new approaches to treat male infertility.
Search for other papers by Wang Han-zheng in
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Search for other papers by Lu Shu-hua in
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Search for other papers by Shen Wei-xiong in
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Search for other papers by Zhou Wei in
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Search for other papers by Zhou Mei-rong in
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Summary. Cell suspensions were prepared from human corpora lutea obtained during the mid-luteal phase. Progesterone production was assessed after short-term incubation of luteal cell suspensions. Luteal cells were very sensitive to hCG, the concentration required for 50% maximum response being 0·01 i.u./ml, and the response was 5 times higher than the basal production.
Oestradiol (1–100 μm) induced a significant dose-related decrease in both basal and hCG-stimulated progesterone production. The A-nor steroidal compounds anordrin and AF-45 reduced hCG-stimulated progesterone production only at the high concentration of 100 μm. The ED50 values were approximately 3 μm, 75 μm and 100 μm for oestradiol, AF-45 and anordrin respectively. Anordrin showed no significant effects on basal progesterone production. In addition, oestradiol markedly inhibited the activity of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in luteal cells, expressed by the conversion of pregnenolone to progesterone, but the inhibitory effects of anordrin and AF-45 were negligible or relatively low.
The effects of anordrin and AF-45 were different from those of oestradiol on progesterone production by human luteal cells in vitro, indicating that neither substance is likely to be a useful luteolytic agent in women.
Keywords: A-nor steroid; oestradiol; luteal cells; progesterone; 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase; man
Search for other papers by Changle Zhao in
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Search for other papers by Jing Wei in
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Desert hedgehog (DHH) signaling has been reported to be involved in spermatogenesis and the self-renewal of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). However, the role of DHH in proliferation of spermatogonia including SSCs remains to be elucidated. Here, we report that Dhh from medaka (Oryizas latipes) (named as OlDhh) could directly mediate the proliferation of spermatogonia via Smoothened (Smo) signaling. Oldhh is 1362 bp in length and encodes 453 amino acid (aa) residues with more than 50% identity with the homologs in other species. It has expression predominantly restricted to testis. The soluble and tag-free 176-aa mature OlDhh (named as mOlDhh) were successfully obtained by fusing with the N-terminal tag of cleavable 6-histidine and small ubiquitin-related modifier and then removing the tag. Notably, mOlDhh significantly promoted the proliferation of SG3 (a spermatogonial stem cell line from medaka testis) in a dose-dependent manner and spermatogonia in testicular organ culture. Furthermore, the proliferation of SG3 in the presence of mOlDhh could be inhibited by Smo antagonist (cyclopamine) resulting in apoptosis. Additionally, mOlDhh significantly upregulated the expression of smo as well as the pluripotent-related genes bcl6b and sall4. These data suggest that Smo is an indispensable downstream component in the Dhh signaling pathway. In conclusion, our findings unambiguously demonstrate that Dhh could directly mediate the proliferation of spermatogonia through Smo signaling. This study provides new knowledge about the proliferation regulation of spermatogonia.
Gynaecology Research Centre, Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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Gynaecology Research Centre, Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
Search for other papers by Wei Zhou in
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Gynaecology Research Centre, Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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Gynaecology Research Centre, Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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Gynaecology Research Centre, Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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The Royal Women’s Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia
Melbourne IVF, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
Epworth HealthCare, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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The Royal Women’s Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia
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Faculty of Medicine Dentistry&Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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Gynaecology Research Centre, Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
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In brief
miR-23b-3p expression is increased in fertile endometrium during receptivity. This study investigates the function of miR-23b-3p on endometrial adhesion and its downstream targets.
Abstract
The human endometrium undergoes dramatic remodeling throughout the menstrual cycle that is essential for successful blastocyst attachment and implantation in the mid-secretory (receptive) phase. microRNA (miR) plays a role in the preparation of endometrial receptivity. miR-23b-3p expression is increased in fertile endometrium during receptivity. Here, we aimed to investigate miR-23b-3p function during receptivity. qPCR and in situ hybridization were used to investigate the expression and localization of miR-23b-3p in human endometrium, respectively. Ishikawa cells (endometrial epithelial cell line) and endometrial organoid-derived epithelial cells were transfected with miR-23b-3p mimic, and trophoblast progenitor spheroid (blastocyst surrogate) adhesion assay was used to determine effects on blastocyst adhesion to endometrial cells. We demonstrated that miR-23b-3p was significantly upregulated in the fertile endometrium of the receptive phase compared to the non-receptive, proliferative phase. No difference was identified for the expression of miR-23b-3p between fertile and infertile mid-secretory phase endometrium. miR-23b-3p localized to the epithelium and stroma in the mid-secretory phase but was undetectable in the proliferative phase of fertile endometrium. Functionally, miR-23-3p overexpression in Ishikawa cells and fertile endometrial organoid-derived epithelial cells significantly improved their adhesive capacity to trophoblast progenitor spheroids. miR-23b-3p overexpression in infertile endometrial organoid-derived epithelial cells did not improve adhesion. Among 10 miR-predicted gene targets examined, miR-23b-3p overexpression in Ishikawa cells significantly reduced the expression of MET, secreted frizzled-related protein 4 (SFRP4) and acyl-CoA dehydrogenase short/branched chain (ACADSB) compared to control. The reduction of SFRP4 after miR23b-3p overexpression was confirmed by immunoblotting in fertile organoid-derived epithelial cells. SFRP4 expression in fertile endometrium exhibited an inverse expression pattern compared to miR-23b-3p and was higher in the proliferative phase compared to the mid-secretory phase. Overall, miR-23b-3p is likely a critical regulator of endometrial epithelial adhesion and receptivity.
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Nerve growth factor (NGF) has been proved to play important roles in male reproductive physiology, but the molecular mechanisms of NGF action remain unclear. In this study, the effects of NGF on the growth of newborn bovine testicular Sertoli (NBS) cells and the related signaling pathways were investigated. The NBS cells were treated in vitro with NGF (100 ng/mL) for 18 h. The expression levels of cell proliferation related genes, INHBB, and cytoplasmic specialization related gene were determined using real-time PCR and Western blot. The roles of PI3K/AKT and MAPK/ERK pathways in NGF-induced cell proliferation were investigated. It was found that NGF regulates proliferation and function of NBS cells via its receptor NTRK1 by activating the PI3K/ATK and MAPK/ERK signaling pathways. The study will help to further understand the role of NGF in male reproduction and provide new therapeutic targets for reproductive dysfunctions in male animals.
Search for other papers by Jun Shao in
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Search for other papers by Bing Zhang in
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Search for other papers by Jia-Jun Yu in
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Search for other papers by Chun-Yan Wei in
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Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation of NPFPC, SIPPR, IRD, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
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Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine Related Diseases, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
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Search for other papers by Hui-Li Yang in
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Search for other papers by Li-Ping Jin in
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Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine Related Diseases, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
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Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation of NPFPC, SIPPR, IRD, Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine Related Diseases, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
Search for other papers by Ming-Qing Li in
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Macrophages play an important role in the origin and development of endometriosis. Estrogen promoted the growth of decidual stromal cells (DSCs) by downregulating the level of interleukin (IL)-24. The aim of this study was to clarify the role and mechanism of IL-24 and its receptors in the regulation of biological functions of endometrial stromal cells (ESCs) during endometriosis. The level of IL-24 and its receptors in endometrium was measured by immunohistochemistry. In vitro analysis was used to measure the level of IL-24 and receptors and the biological behaviors of ESCs. Here, we found that the expression of IL-24 and its receptors (IL-20R1 and IL-20R2) in control endometrium was significantly higher than that in eutopic and ectopic endometrium of women with endometriosis. Recombinant human IL-24 (rhIL-24) significantly inhibited the viability of ESCs in a dosage-dependent manner. Conversely, blocking IL-24 with anti-IL-24 neutralizing antibody promoted ESCs viability. In addition, rhIL-24 could downregulate the invasiveness of ESCs in vitro. After co-culture, macrophages markedly reduced the expression of IL-24 and IL-20R1 in ESCs, but not IL-22R1. Moreover, macrophages significantly restricted the inhibitory effect of IL-24 on the viability, invasion, the proliferation relative gene Ki-67, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and cyclooxygenase2 (COX-2), and the stimulatory effect on the tumor metastasis suppressor gene CD82 in ESCs. These results indicate that the abnormally low level of IL-24 in ESCs possibly induced by macrophages may lead to the enhancement of ESCs’ proliferation and invasiveness and contribute to the development of endometriosis.
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Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China
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Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China
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Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China
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Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China
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Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China
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Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China
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Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China
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Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China
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Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China
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Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China
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Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China
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Shanghai Key Laboratory of Embryo Original Diseases, Shanghai, China
Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
The Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Zhejiang University), Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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The number of children born after assisted reproductive technology (ART) is accumulating rapidly, and the health problems of the children are extensively concerned. This study aims to evaluate whether ART procedures alter behaviours in male offspring. Mouse models were utilized to establish three groups of offspring conceived by natural conception (NC), in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET), and frozen-thawed embryo transfer (IVF-FET), respectively. A battery of behaviour experiments for evaluating anxiety and depression levels, including the open field test (OFT), elevated plus maze (EPM) test, light/dark transition test (L/DTT), tail suspension test (TST), forced swimming test (FST), and sucrose preference test (SPT) was carried out. Aged (18 months old), but not young (3 months old), male offspring in the IVF-ET and IVF-FET groups, compared with those in the NC group, exhibited increased anxiety and depression-like behaviours. The protein expression levels of three neurotrophins in PFC or hippocampus in aged male offspring from the IVF-ET and IVF-FET groups reduced at different extent, in comparison to NC group. RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) was performed in the hippocampus of 18 months old offspring to further explore the gene expression profile changes in the three groups. KEGG analyses revealed the coexisted pathways, such as PI3K-Akt signalling pathway, which potentially reflected the similarity and divergence in anxiety and depression between the offspring conceived by IVF-ET and IVF-FET. Our research suggested the adverse effects of advanced age on the psychological health of children born after ART should be highlighted in the future.