Effects of Leydig cell elimination on testicular interstitial cell populations: characterization by scRNA-seq and immunocytochemical techniques.

Background: The mammalian testicular interstitial cells are not well-defined. The present study characterized the interstitial cell types and their turnover dynamics in adult rats. Additionally, the heterogeneity of the mesenchymal population and the effects of Leydig cell elimination on interstitial homeostasis were further analyzed by scRNA-seq datasets and immunocytochemical techniques.

Food additive salicylates inhibit human and rat placental 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase: 3D-QSAR and in silico analysis.

The use of salicylates as flavoring agents in food and beverages is common, but their potential to disrupt the endocrine system remains unclear. Human placental 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (h3β-HSD1) plays a role in progesterone synthesis and is the potential target. This study evaluated the inhibition of 13 salicylates on h3β-HSD1, structure-activity relationship (SAR) and compared with rat placental homolog r3β-HSD4.

Integrative bioinformatics analysis to identify ferroptosis-related genes in non-obstructive azoospermia.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to discern ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs) linked to non-obstructive azoospermia and investigate the associated molecular mechanisms.

Method: A dataset related to azoospermia was retrieved from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, and FRGs were sourced from GeneCards. Ferroptosis-related differentially expressed genes (FRDEGs) were discerned.

Characterization of ovarian progenitor cells for their potential to generate steroidogenic theca cells in vitro.

In Brief: Progenitor cells with ovulation-related tissue repair activity were identified with defined markers (LGR5, EPCR, LY6A, and PDGFRA), but their potentials to form steroidogenic cells were not known. This study shows that the cells can generate progenies with different steroidogenic activities.

Abstract: Adult mammalian ovaries contain stem/progenitor cells necessary for folliculogenesis and ovulation-related tissue rupture repair.

Transcriptomic characterization of interactions between sodium selenite and coenzyme Q10 on preventing cadmium-induced testicular defects.

The effect of heavy metal cadmium (Cd) on testicular function is recognized. However, the mechanism involved is not well-established. In the present study, we analyzed the testicular transcriptomic changes induced by acute Cd exposure of adult rats with and without supplementation of antioxidants selenium (Se) and/or coenzyme Q10 (CoQ).

Integrated single-cell RNA-seq analysis revealed podocyte injury through activation of the BMP7/AMPK/mTOR mediated autophagy pathway.

Background: Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is a chronic kidney disease mainly caused by impaired podocytes, ultimately resulting in massive proteinuria or even end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

Methods: The objective of this study was to explore the potential pathogenesis of NS caused by podocyte injury, and further explore the underlying mechanism through data mining, bioinformatics analysis, and experimental verification. The integrated analyses including Seurat, CellChat, gene ontology (GO), and molecular docking were performed based on the single-cell RNA-seq data (scRNA-seq).

Effects of aging and macrophages on mice stem Leydig cell proliferation and differentiation .

Background: Testosterone plays a critical role in maintaining reproductive functions and well-beings of the males. Adult testicular Leydig cells (LCs) produce testosterone and are generated from stem Leydig cells (SLCs) during puberty through adulthood. In addition, macrophages are critical in the SLC regulatory niche for normal testicular function.

The protective roles of allicin on type 1 diabetes mellitus through AMPK/mTOR mediated autophagy pathway.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is one of the most common endocrine and metabolic diseases in children. Pancreatic β cells are thought to be critical cells involved in the progression of T1DM, and their injury would directly lead to impaired insulin secretion. To investigate the protective effects of allicin on pancreatic β cell injury and elucidate the underlying mechanism.

Bone-marrow derived cells do not contribute to new beta-cells in the inflamed pancreas.

The contribution of bone-marrow derived cells (BMCs) to a newly formed beta-cell population in adults is controversial. Previous studies have only used models of bone marrow transplantation from sex-mismatched donors (or other models of genetic labeling) into recipient animals that had undergone irradiation. This approach suffers from the significant shortcoming of the off-target effects of irradiation.

Isolation of Leydig cells from adult rat testes by magnetic-activated cell sorting protocol based on prolactin receptor expression.

Background: The primary function of testicular Leydig cells (LCs) is to produce testosterone (T). In vitro culture of the cells represents a very important approach to study androgen production and its regulations. Various methods have been developed for the enrichment of the cells from the testes.

Role of angiogenesis in beta-cell epithelial-mesenchymal transition in chronic pancreatitis-induced diabetes.

Clinical evidence suggests that patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP) are prone to development of diabetes (chronic pancreatitis-related diabetes; CPRD), whereas the underlying mechanisms are not fully determined. Recently, we showed that the gradual loss of functional beta-cells in a mouse model for CPRD, partial pancreatic duct ligation (PDL), results from a transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1)-triggered beta-cell epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), rather than from apoptotic beta-cell death. Here, the role of angiogenesis in CPRD-associated beta-cell EMT was addressed.

Pancreatic Duct Infusion: An Effective and Selective Method of Drug and Viral Delivery.

The pancreas is a bifunctional organ with both endocrine and exocrine components. A number of pathologies can afflict the pancreas, including diabetes, pancreatitis, and pancreatic cancer. All three of these diseases mark active areas of study, not only to develop immediate therapy, but also to better understand their pathophysiology.

Effects of bis(2-butoxyethyl) phthalate exposure in utero on the development of fetal Leydig cells in rats.

Phthalates are plasticizers widely found in the environment. They are potential endocrine disruptors. Bis(2-butoxyethyl) phthalate (BBOP) is a unique phthalate that contains oxygen atoms in the carbon backbone.

Establishment of an induced pluripotent stem cell line from a Noonan syndrome patient with the heterozygote mutation p.S257L (c.770C > T) in RAF1 gene.

Noonan Syndrome (NS) is an inherited autosome dominant disorder syndrome, which can be caused by the mutations of serine/threonine kinase rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma 1 (RAF1) gene. Here, an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line named WMUi022-A derived from urine cells (UCs) of a 9-year-old male NS patient with the heterozygote RAF1 gene mutation p.S257L (c.

Establishment of a human induced pluripotent stem cell line (WMUi031-A) from a Lowe syndrome patient carrying a OCRL gene mutation (c.2626dupA).

Lowe Syndrome (LS) is a rare X-linked multisystemic disorder syndrome, which can be caused by the gene mutations of OCRL. In present study, the urine cells (UCs) derived from a 12-year-old male LS patient with the hemizygote OCRL gene mutation p.M876N (c.

Generation of a human induced pluripotent stem cell line (WMUi021-A) from a Gitelman syndrome patient carrying a SLC12A3 gene mutation (c.179C > T).

Gitelman Syndrome (GS) is an inherited autosome recessive disorder syndrome, which can be caused by the gene mutations of solute carrier family 12 member 3 gene (SLC12A3). In present study, the urine cells (UCs) of a 7-year-old male GS patient with the homozygote SLC12A3 gene mutation p.T60M (c.

Establishment of an induced pluripotent stem cell line from a Antley-Bixler Syndrome (ABS) patient with the homozygote mutation p.R457H (c.1370G>A) in POR gene.

Antley-Bixler syndrome (ABS) is a rare inherited autosome recessive malformation syndrome, which can be caused by the gene mutations of cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase (POR). In this study, the urine cells (UCs) derived from a 5-year-old female ABS patient with the homozygote POR gene mutation p.R457H (c.

Generation of an induced pluripotent stem cell line from a Bartter syndrome patient with the homozygote mutation p.A244D (c.731C>A) in SLC12A1 gene.

Bartter Syndrome (BS) is a group of rare inherited autosome-recessive disease, which can be caused by the gene mutations of sodium-potassium-chloride cotransporter gene (SLC12A1). Here, the urine cells (UCs) derived from a 4-year-old female BS patient with the homozygote SLC12A1 gene mutation p.A244D (c.

Establishment of an induced pluripotent stem cell line (WMUi016-A) from a patient with X-linked Dent disease (X-Dent) carrying the hemizygote mutation p.R718* (c.2152C > T) in the CLCN5 gene.

The gene mutations of the chloride channel gene (CLCN5) can lead to the inherited X-linked Dent disease (X-Dent). The urine cells of a 4-year-old male X-Dent patient with the hemizygous CLCN5 gene mutation p.R718* (c.

Generation of a human induced pluripotent stem cell line with Cas9 driven by Tet-on operator via AAVS1 safe harbor gene-editing.

Human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells expressing Cas9 protein are valuable for the pathogenic mechanism study and drug discovery. These cells can be efficiently induced to differentiate into disease cell models with specific mutations through adding designed sgRNAs. Here, we generated a human gene-editable iPS cell line by gene editing method that Cas9 gene driven by Tet-on operator was perfectly integrated into the human AAVS1 safe harbor locus.

Generation of an urine-derived induced pluripotent stem cell line from a 5-year old X-linked Alport syndrome (X-LAS) patient.

The gene mutations of the collagen type IV alpha 5 chain (COL4A5) can lead to the inherited haematuria to end-stage renal disease X-linked Alport syndrome (X-LAS). The urine cells of a 5-year-old male X-LAS patient carrying a hemizygous COL4A5 gene mutation p.G1433V (c.

5-FU blocks shuttling of HuR mediated by PKCδ in gastric cancer cells.

Background: 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is a common chemotherapy drug for gastric cancer. Human antigen R (HuR) is an RNA-binding protein that is also known as ELAV like RNA binding protein 1 (ELAVL1) regulates gene expression by binding to target genes 3' UTR region and is highly expressed in tumor tissues. However, the regulatory mechanisms of HuR in 5-FU mediated chemotherapy in stomach cancer are not well understood.

Evidence of a developmental origin for β-cell heterogeneity using a dual lineage-tracing technology.

The Cre/loxP system has been used extensively in mouse models with a limitation of one lineage at a time. Differences in function and other properties among populations of adult β-cells is termed β-cell heterogeneity, which was recently associated with diabetic phenotypes. Nevertheless, the presence of a developmentally derived β-cell heterogeneity is unclear.

Chronic hyperglycemia regulates microglia polarization through ERK5.

Diabetic patients are prone to developing Alzheimer's disease (AD), in which microglia play a critical role. However, the direct effect of high glucose (HG) on microglia and the role of extracellular-signal-regulated kinase 5 (ERK5) signaling in this interaction have not been examined before. Here, these questions were addressed in microglia cultured in HG versus normal glucose (NG) conditions.