PTN from Leydig cells activates SDC2 and modulates human spermatogonial stem cell proliferation and survival via GFRA1.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are essential for the maintenance and initiation of male spermatogenesis. Despite the advances in understanding SSC biology in mouse models, the mechanisms underlying human SSC development remain elusive.

Results

Here, we analyzed the signaling pathways involved in SSC regulation by testicular somatic cells using single-cell sequencing data (GEO datasets: GSE149512 and GSE112013) and identified that Leydig cells communicate with SSCs through pleiotrophin (PTN) and its receptor syndecan-2 (SDC2). Immunofluorescence, STRING prediction, and protein immunoprecipitation assays confirmed the interaction between PTN and SDC2 in spermatogonia, but their co-localization was observed only in approximately 50% of the cells. The knockdown of S

SUBMITTER: Zhao X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11406790 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature