精原干细胞自我更新和分化的调控

精原干细胞（spermatogonial stem cells,SSCs）是体内自然状态下惟一能将遗传信息传至子代的成体干细胞,它们能通过维持自我更新和分化的稳定从而保证雄性生命过程中精子发生的持续进行。了解SSCs自我更新和分化的调节机制有助于阐明精子发生机理,并为探究其他组织中成体干细胞增殖分化的调节机制提供依据。然而目前对于SSCs自我更新和分化的调控机制所知甚少。SSCs的更新与分化遵循特定模式,受以睾丸支持细胞为主要成分的微环境及各种内分泌因素如胶质细胞源神经营养因子（GDNF）、维生素、Ets转录因子ERM/Etv5等的调控。本文评述了SSCs更新与分化的模式以及上述因素对其更新、分化的调控,探讨了其中可能涉及的信号通路,以期为本领域及其他成体干细胞相关研究提供借鉴。     

精原干细胞分离、鉴定、培养及其应用进展

雄性哺乳动物睾丸内持续的精子发生是维持其生殖能力的必备条件。精原干细胞(SSCs)是精子发生的基础,是永久分化成精子的克隆源,它既可以自我更新维持体内干细胞的数量,又可以增殖分化形成各阶段的生精细胞直至成熟精子。现对SSCs分离、鉴定与培养等技术及其应用的进展进行综述,发现两步酶消化、差异贴壁、磁珠分选等方法是体外分离与纯化SSCs的常用方法。特异性标志物的研究一直在推进SSCs的纯化与鉴定,并仍将是SSCs技术的研究重点之一。培养基、血清、生长因子和饲养层在SSCs体外培养中至关重要,但长期培养中血清可引起SSCs分化的问题有待解决。在基础与临床方面的应用中,SSCs体外培养系统为研究精子发生过程、遗传学、雄性辅助生殖和细胞再生治疗等开辟了新的道路。     

维甲酸诱导精原干细胞分化过程中DNA甲基转移酶表达研究

精原干细胞(spermatogonial stem cells,SSCs)是雄性哺乳动物体内能进行自我更新并通过精子发生将亲代遗传信息传递给子代的一类细胞。多项研究表明,维甲酸(retinoic acid,RA)可诱导SSCs分化,启动减数分裂。目前,关于维甲酸诱导SSCs体外分化的分子机制已取得一定进展,但此过程的DNA甲基化调控机制尚未探索。DNA甲基转移酶(DNA methyltransferases,Dnmts)催化DNA甲基化,研究SSCs分化前后Dnmts的表达变化将有助于本研究从表观遗传层面理解维甲酸诱导的SSCs分化过程。因此,在本研究中,首先通过两步酶消化法和免疫磁珠法从小鼠睾丸组织中分离纯化SSCs并建立细胞系。该细胞系在体外传代超过60代,并且表达Oct4、Plzf、Etv5、Dazl和Mvh等标志物。然后,本研究通过探索维甲酸诱导条件,建立了SSCs的体外分化体系。经维甲酸处理后,对SSCs自我更新起决定作用的转录因子Plzf及其共表达基因Oct4的表达下降,而分化相关基因(Stra8,c-Kit)表达上调。最后,本研究对SSCs分化前后Dnmts表达进行检测。检测显示与正常组SSCs比较,维甲酸处理组SSCs中Dnmt1、Dnmt3a表达下调。该发现初步表明Dnmt1、Dnmt3a在维甲酸诱导SSCs体外分化过程中起调控作用,为阐述维甲酸如何诱导SSCs分化的分子机制提供了新的证据。     

哺乳动物精原干细胞自我更新调控的研究进展

精原干细胞（spermatogonial stem cells,SSCs）具有自我更新和分化的功能,这两种功能的平衡协调不仅能维持其自身数量的稳定,还能满足雄性动物精子生成的需要。近几年,由于细胞培养技术、基因工程技术、生殖细胞移植技术的建立和完善,使SSCs自我更新调控机制的研究取得了许多突破,主要体现在蛋白调控因子和微小RNA分子以及DNA甲基化新作用的发现等方面。该文将着重围绕调控SSCs自我更新的外源性细胞因子和内源性转录因子等蛋白因子进行综述,以期为哺乳动物SSCs的深入研究提供借鉴。     

哺乳动物精原干细胞的分子标记及调控

精原干细胞(spermatogonial stem cells,SSCs)是一群生活在睾丸特殊微环境中并能自我更新和具有多向分化潜能的细胞,是精子发生的基础。近年来,通过对SSCs表面的α6-和β1-整合素、CD9、GFRA1等主要标记分子,以及对GDNF、Plzf、泛素、LIF等决定SSCs自我更新和分化的多种细胞因子和基因的研究发现,目前在SSCs的分离、鉴定和生物学特性方面已获得新的成果。本文简述了目前哺乳动物SSCs主要的标记分子及自我更新与分化的调控机理,以期为该领域及其他干细胞研究提供一定的借鉴。     

哺乳动物精原干细胞的增殖分化及其移植技术的应用

精原干细胞(spermatogonial stem cells,SSCs)是指位于睾丸生精小管基膜上既能自我更新以维持自身群体数量恒定,又能定向分化形成精母细胞,最终形成精子的一类成体干细胞.鉴于其独具的生物学特性,SSCs的研究在干细胞生物学、医学、畜牧业等领域均具有重要意义.通过其建立转基因动物模型,对研究精子的发生机制、重建不育个体的生精功能等都有着重要意义.综述了哺乳动物SSCs的形态特性,增殖分化特性及其调控因素,简述了SSCs移植技术的应用.     

睾丸支持细胞对精原干细胞发育的调节

精原干细胞(spermatogonial stem cells,SSCs)是位于睾丸曲精小管基膜上既能自我更新,又能定向分化的一类原始精原细胞.鉴于其独具的生物学特性,SSCs研究在干细胞生物学、医学、畜牧业等领域均具有重要意义,但目前有关其更新、分化的调控机制仍不清楚.干细胞的发育受其外部特定发育环境及其内在因素的综合调控.最近以睾丸支持细胞为主要结构组分的发育环境对SSCs行为的调控研究备受关注且取得快速进展.综合相关报道,主要就哺乳动物睾丸支持细胞对SSCs更新、分化的调节进行了评述,以期为本领域及其他干细胞研究提供借鉴.     

精原干细胞微环境研究进展

精原干细胞(spermatogonia stem cells, SSCs)是一类在睾丸中具有长期自我更新和分化潜能的生殖细胞(germ cells, GCs),即位于基底膜上的组织干细胞,其自我更新和分化受到周围微环境的调控。近年来对SSCs的研究取得了一系列重要进展,为临床治疗部分男性不育患者带来了曙光。其中,微环境对SSCs的调节功能的研究尤为重要,微环境负责整合不同类型的细胞成分、细胞外基质、细胞外调节分子及激素等对SSCs的作用,从而调节SSCs命运。关于SSCs微环境的研究已开始逐步成为干细胞研究的主要内容之一。本文主要对小鼠(Mus musculus)SSCs微环境的细胞组成、调控因子以及特点等研究现状进行了综述,为深入研究SSCs微环境的结构和功能提供背景资料,希望在未来能够通过多种研究模式复用,发现更为丰富的细胞表型和微环境因子。     

哺乳动物精原干细胞体外分离培养研究进展

精原干细胞(spermatogonial stem cells,SSCs)作为成体干细胞的一种,具有高度自我更新和分化潜能。近几年研究发现,SSCs的体外培养是表观遗传基础研究、精子发生机制深入探索以及治疗雄性不育的基础条件。本文根据国内外SSCs相关研究,对哺乳动物SSCs的生物学特性、体外分离培养和鉴定等作一综述,以期为哺乳动物SSCs和其他干细胞的长期体外培养以及建系提供一定的借鉴。     

精原干细胞的生物学特性

精原干细胞(spermatogonialstemcells,SSCs)是雄性生殖系干细胞,位于睾丸曲细精管基膜上,既具有自我更新潜能,又具有定向分化潜能,是自然状态下出生后动物体内在整个生命期间进行自我更新并能将基因传递至子代的唯一成体干细胞。自SSCs移植技术建立以来,有关其分离、鉴定、培养、冻存、转基因操作及移植等方面均已取得长足进步,使人们对其生物学特性有了更深入的了解。根据最近的相关进展,系统评述了SSCs的相关生物学特性,以期为该领域及其他干细胞研究提供借鉴。     

Differentiation of spermatogonial stem cell-like cells from murine testicular tissue into haploid male germ cells in vitro

In vitro differentiation of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) promotes the understanding of the mechanism of spermatogenesis. The purpose of this study was to isolate spermatogonial stem cell-like cells from murine testicular tissue, which then were induced into haploid germ cells by retinoic acid (RA). The spermatogonial stem cell-like cells were purified and enriched by a two-step plating method based on different adherence velocities of SSCs and somatic cells. Cell colonies were present after culture in M1-medium for 3 days. Through alkaline phosphatase, RT-PCR and indirect immunofluorescence cell analysis, cell colonies were shown to be SSCs. Subsequently, cell colonies of SSCs were cultured in M2-medium containing RA for 2 days. Then the cell colonies of SSCs were again cultured in M1-medium for 6–8 days, RT-PCR and indirect immunofluorescence cell analysis were chosen to detect haploid male germ cells. It could be demonstrated that 10⁻⁷ mol l⁻¹ of RA effectively induced the SSCs into haploid male germ cells in vitro.     

Spermatogonial stem cells, infertility and testicular cancer

The spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are responsible for the transmission of genetic information from an individual to the next generation. SSCs play critical roles in understanding the basic reproductive biology of gametes and treatments of human infertility. SSCs not only maintain normal spermatogenesis, but also sustain fertility by critically balancing both SSC self-renewal and differentiation. This self-renewal and differentiation in turn is tightly regulated by a combination of intrinsic gene expression within the SSC as well as the extrinsic gene signals from the niche. Increased SSCs self-renewal at the expense of differentiation result in germ cell tumours, on the other hand, higher differentiation at the expense of self-renewal can result in male sterility. Testicular germ cell cancers are the most frequent cancers among young men in industrialized countries. However, understanding the pathogenesis of testis cancer has been difficult because it is formed during foetal development. Recent studies suggest that SSCs can be reprogrammed to become embryonic stem (ES)-like cells to acquire pluripotency. In the present review, we summarize the recent developments in SSCs biology and role of SSC in testicular cancer. We believe that studying the biology of SSCs will not only provide better understanding of stem cell regulation in the testis, but eventually will also be a novel target for male infertility and testicular cancers.     

Stem cell-based therapies for fertility preservation in males: Current status and future prospects

With the decline in male fertility in recent years, strategies for male fertility preservation have received increasing attention. In this study, by reviewing current treatments and recent publications, we describe research progress in and the future directions of stem cell-based therapies for male fertility preservation, focusing on the use of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs), SSC niches, SSC-based testicular organoids, other stem cell types such as mesenchymal stem cells, and stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles. In conclusion, a more comprehensive understanding of the germ cell microenvironment, stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles, and testicular organoids will play an important role in achieving male fertility preservation.     

Is there a clinical future for spermatogonial stem cells?

Like every other adult stem cell in the human body, spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) have the capacity to either renew themselves or to start the differentiation process, namely, spermatogenesis. Due to the continuation of the stem cell population in the testis, several possible options for preservation and re-establishment of the reproductive potential exist. Currently, spermatogonial stem cell transplantation (SSCT) is considered the most promising tool for fertility restoration in young cancer patients. This technique involves the injection of a testicular cell suspension from a fertile donor into the testis of an infertile recipient. Although, SSCT could prove important for fertility preservation, this technique is not without any risk. Testicular cell suspensions from cancer patients may be contaminated with cancerous cells. It is obvious that reintroduction of malignant cells into an otherwise cured patient must be omitted. Decontamination strategies to solve this problem are discussed. Another alternative to preserve male fertility could be in-vitro culture of SSCs. This approach may be applied to generate spermatozoa in-vitro from cultured spermatogonial stem cells, which, in turn, could be used for intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Xenogeneic transplantation and xenografting are two other hypothetical methods to preserve fertility. However, because of the ethical and biological concerns inherent to these approaches, xenogeneic transplantation and xenografting should be limited to research. When SSCT or SSC culture becomes available for clinical use, efficient protocols for the cryopreservation of SSCs and testicular tissue will be of great benefit. The search for an optimal freezing protocol is discussed. Apart from fertility preservation, SSC studies are useful for other applications as well, such as transgenerational gene therapy and cell-based organ regeneration therapy.     

Sertoli cell-derived exosomal MicroRNA-486-5p regulates differentiation of spermatogonial stem cell through PTEN in mice

Self-renewal and differentiation of spermatogonial stem cell (SSC) are critical for male fertility and reproduction, both of which are highly regulated by testicular microenvironment. Exosomal miRNAs have emerged as new components in intercellular communication. However, their roles in the differentiation of SSC remain unclear. Here, we observed miR-486-5p enriched in Sertoli cell and Sertoli cell-derived exosomes. The exosomes mediate the transfer of miR-486-5p from Sertoli cells to SSCs. Exosomes release miR-486-5p, thus up-regulate expression of Stra8 (stimulated by retinoic acid 8) and promote differentiation of SSC. And PTEN was identified as a target of miR-486-5p. Overexpression of miR-486-5p in SSCs down-regulates PTEN expression, which up-regulates the expression of STRA8 and SYCP3, promotes SSCs differentiation. In addition, blocking the exosome-mediated transfer of miR-486-5p inhibits differentiation of SSC. Our findings demonstrate that miR-486-5p acts as a communication molecule between Sertoli cells and SSCs in modulating differentiation of SSCs. This provides a new insight on molecular mechanisms that regulates SSC differentiation and a basis for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of male infertility.     

浅谈精原干细胞研究进展

精原干细胞是雄性动物体内精子发生过程中起重要作用的精原细胞类型,不但具有干细胞特性,还能定向分化为雄性配子将自身基因传递给后代。除此之外,体外培养和鉴定精原干细胞为移植和转基因提供了基础。我们对精原干细胞的生物学特性、分离培养、鉴定、移植及精原干细胞介导的转基因进行简要概述。     

E-cadherin as a novel surface marker of spermatogonial stem cells

Spermatogenesis is a fundamental biological process that ensures the transition of a gene from one ganeration to another via male gametes. This process relies on a rare population of testicular cells called spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs), which self-renew throughout adult male life and differentiate into mature gametes. Despite the longstanding study of SSCs, their biological properties remain largely unknown, which is partly due to the very limited availability of these cells. Here, we show that cell adhesion protein E-cadherin is a highly specific surface marker of mouse SSCs that can be successfully used to enrich them.     

Bmi1基因研究进展

Bmi1是PcG(Polycomb group)家族重要的调控基因,该基因与干细胞的增殖和肿瘤的发生密切相关,中枢神经系统干细胞、末梢神经系统干细胞和造血干细胞都依赖该基因进行自我更新。另外,在小鼠精原干细胞中也检测到该基因的表达,表明该基因对精原干细胞的自增殖也有一定的影响。简要综述了该基因的结构、作用原理、信号通路及对细胞增殖影响的相关研究进展。     

睾丸组织块和精原干细胞异种移植的发展及现状

精原干细胞是精子发生的前提和基础,精原干细胞的存在为男性保存和恢复生育能力提供了可能.精原干细胞和睾丸组织移植技术已经被用来研究生精细胞的增殖与分化,这项技术对恢复无精子症或睾丸肿瘤患者的生育能力等有着重要的应用前景.综述了睾丸组织块和精原干细胞的移植技术的发展、现状及在医学领域的应用前景.