UHRF1 establishes crosstalk between somatic and germ cells in male reproduction.

ABSTRACT: Sertoli cells (SCs) support and nourish germ cells (GCs) through their crosstalk during spermatogenesis. However, the underlying epigenetic mechanism that ensures SCs' functions in this process remains unclear. Here, we report that UHRF1, a critical epigenetic regulator, is mainly expressed in human and mouse pre-mature SCs, and is essential for establishing Sertoli-Germ cell crosstalk. SC-specific UHRF1 knockout mice exhibit complete sterility with Sertoli cell (SC) proliferation and differentiation aberrance, blood-testis barrier (BTB) disruption, and immature germ cell (GC) sloughing. RNA sequencing and Whole Genome Bisulfite Sequencing (WGBS) revealed that many extracellular matrix (ECM)-related genes (e.g., Timp1, Trf, and Spp1) appeared upregulated with the DNA hypomethylation status

SUBMITTER: Wu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9018721 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature