TCF21⁺ mesenchymal cells contribute to testis somatic cell development, homeostasis, and regeneration in mice.

ABSTRACT: Testicular development and function rely on interactions between somatic cells and the germline, but similar to other organs, regenerative capacity declines in aging and disease. Whether the adult testis maintains a reserve progenitor population remains uncertain. Here, we characterize a recently identified mouse testis interstitial population expressing the transcription factor Tcf21. We found that TCF21^lin cells are bipotential somatic progenitors present in fetal testis and ovary, maintain adult testis homeostasis during aging, and act as potential reserve somatic progenitors following injury. In vitro, TCF21^lin cells are multipotent mesenchymal progenitors which form multiple somatic lineages including Leydig and myoid cells. Additionally, TCF21⁺ cells

SUBMITTER: Shen YC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8222243 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature