Transforming growth factor beta-signaling in dendritic cells is required for immunotolerance to sperm in the epididymis
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ABSTRACT:
ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus
PROVIDER: GSE118262 | GEO | 2018/08/08
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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Project description:Background Chronic preconception paternal alcohol use modifies the sperm epigenome, inducing fetoplacental growth defects in the offspring of exposed males. A crucial outstanding question in the field of paternal epigenetic inheritance concerns the resilience of the male reproductive tract and the germline's capacity to recover and correct sperm-inherited epigenetic errors after stressor withdrawal. Objectives We set out to determine if measures of the sperm-inherited epigenetic program revert to match the control treatment one month after withdrawing daily alcohol treatments. Materials and Methods Using a voluntary access model, we exposed C57Bl6/J males to 10% alcohol for ten weeks, withdrew alcohol treatment for four weeks, and used RNA sequencing to examine gene expression patterns in the caput section of the epididymis. We then compared the abundance of sperm small RNA species between treatments. Results In the caput section of the epididymis, chronic alcohol exposures induced changes in the transcriptional control of genetic pathways related to mitochondrial function, oxidative phosphorylation, the generalized stress response (EIF2 signaling), and Sirtuin signaling. Subsequent analysis identified region-specific, alcohol-induced changes in mitochondrial DNA copy number across the epididymis, which correlated with increases in the mitochondrial DNA content of alcohol-exposed sperm. Notably, in the corpus section of the epididymis, increases in mitochondrial DNA copy number persisted one month after alcohol cessation. Analysis of sperm noncoding RNAs between Control and Alcohol-Exposed males one month after alcohol withdrawal revealed a ~100-fold increase in mir-196a, a microRNA induced as part of the Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor 2 (Nrf2)-driven cellular antioxidant response. Discussion and Conclusion Our data reveal that alcohol-induced epididymal mitochondrial dysfunction and differences in sperm noncoding RNA content persist after alcohol withdrawal. Further, differences in mir-196a and sperm mitochondrial DNA copy number may serve as viable biomarkers of adverse alterations in the sperm- inherited epigenetic program.
2023-06-17 | GSE234834 | GEO
Project description:Background Chronic preconception paternal alcohol use modifies the sperm epigenome, inducing fetoplacental growth defects in the offspring of exposed males. A crucial outstanding question in the field of paternal epigenetic inheritance concerns the resilience of the male reproductive tract and the germline's capacity to recover and correct sperm-inherited epigenetic errors after stressor withdrawal. Objectives We set out to determine if measures of the sperm-inherited epigenetic program revert to match the control treatment one month after withdrawing daily alcohol treatments. Materials and Methods Using a voluntary access model, we exposed C57Bl6/J males to 10% alcohol for ten weeks, withdrew alcohol treatment for four weeks, and used RNA sequencing to examine gene expression patterns in the caput section of the epididymis. We then compared the abundance of sperm small RNA species between treatments. Results In the caput section of the epididymis, chronic alcohol exposures induced changes in the transcriptional control of genetic pathways related to mitochondrial function, oxidative phosphorylation, the generalized stress response (EIF2 signaling), and Sirtuin signaling. Subsequent analysis identified region-specific, alcohol-induced changes in mitochondrial DNA copy number across the epididymis, which correlated with increases in the mitochondrial DNA content of alcohol-exposed sperm. Notably, in the corpus section of the epididymis, increases in mitochondrial DNA copy number persisted one month after alcohol cessation. Analysis of sperm noncoding RNAs between Control and Alcohol-Exposed males one month after alcohol withdrawal revealed a ~100-fold increase in mir-196a, a microRNA induced as part of the Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor 2 (Nrf2)-driven cellular antioxidant response. Discussion and Conclusion Our data reveal that alcohol-induced epididymal mitochondrial dysfunction and differences in sperm noncoding RNA content persist after alcohol withdrawal. Further, differences in mir-196a and sperm mitochondrial DNA copy number may serve as viable biomarkers of adverse alterations in the sperm-inherited epigenetic program.
2023-06-13 | GSE234535 | GEO
Project description:Sperm RNA can be modified by environmental factors and has been implicated in communicating signals about changes in a father's environment to the offspring. The RNA composition of sperm is influenced during its final stage of maturation in the epididymis by extracellular vesicles released by epididymal cells. We studied the effect of exposure to stress in postnatal life on the transcriptome of epididymal extracellular vesicles using a mouse model of transgenerational transmission. We found that the small RNA signature of epididymal extracellular vesicles, particularly miRNAs, is altered in adult males exposed to postnatal stress. miRNAs changes correlate with differences in the expression of their target genes in sperm and zygotes generated from that sperm. These results suggest that stressful experiences in early life can have persistent biological effects on the male reproductive tract that may in part be responsible for the transmission of the effects of exposure to the offspring.
2021-07-31 | GSE175976 | GEO
Project description:Between the testes and the vas deferens lies the epididymis, a highly convoluted tubule whose unique environmental characteristics are crucial for the functional maturation of spermatozoa. Within the epididymal epithelium, the secretory system releases small non-coding RNA molecules (sncRNAs) and proteins housed within extracellular vesicles (epididymosomes) that are destined for delivery to recipient sperm cells which play key roles in fertility success and act as major conduits of epigenetic information delivered to the oocyte. The epithelial cells of the epididymis have proven to be highly sensitive to environmental stressors which can influence the sperm epigenome. Utilizing a label-free mass spectrometry proteomic approach we sought to characterize an immortalized mouse caput epididymal epithelial cell line (mECap18) and sequenced >5,100 proteins. When compared to a previous in-vivo mouse caput epithelial proteomic profile, a significant overlap (>75%) and proportionally similar patterns of protein classification were observed. Furthermore, key pathways associated with protein synthesis (e.g. EIF2 signaling) and cellular protection in the male reproductive tract (e.g. sirtuin signaling) were enriched in both proteomes. Leveraging this comparison supports mECap18 cells as a promising in-vitro model for recapitulating the in-vivo environment, providing a platform for testing therapeutic invention.
2023-09-29 | PXD042082 | Pride
Project description:Parental dietary conditions can influence the metabolic traits of offspring. In mice, paternal consumption of low protein diet alters cholesterol and lipid metabolism of progeny. Here, we examine RNA species expressed in male reproductive tissues of mice. Protein restriction leads to altered levels of multiple small RNAs in mature sperm, as well as throughout the male reproductive tract, with decreased levels of let-7 family members and increased levels of 5â fragments of tRNA-Gly isoacceptors. Intriguingly, tRNA fragments are scarce in the testis, but their levels increase in sperm during post-testicular maturation in the epididymis. We find that epididymosomes â extracellular vesicles which fuse with sperm during epididymal transit â exhibit RNA payloads closely matching those of mature sperm, and can deliver tRNA fragments to immature sperm in vitro both in mouse and in bull. Finally, we show that tRNA-Gly-GCC fragments play a role in repressing genes associated with the endogenous retroelement MERVL, both in ES cells and in preimplantation embryos. Our results shed light on small RNA biogenesis during post-testicular sperm maturation, and link tRNA fragments to regulation of endogenous retroelements active in the early embryo. Zygotes were generated by ICSI from oocytes/females fed a Control diet and sperm/males fed either a Control or Low Protein diet. The sperm was isolated from either the Rete testis or the Cauda epididymis and injected either as a whole sperm or just the sperm head. Following fertilization by ICSI the zygotes developed for 28 hours (2C stage) and were harvested for single-embryo RNA-Seq.
2015-12-31 | E-GEOD-75769 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:Study question: Can region-specific transcriptional profiling of the epididymis from fertile and sub-fertile bulls predict the aetiology of fertility/subfertility in males? Summary answer:The highly regulated gene expression along the bovine epididymis is affected by the fertility status of bulls used for artificial insemination. What is known already: In mammals, sperm maturation and storage occur in the epididymis. Each epididymal segment has his own transcriptomic signature that modulates the intraluminal composition that governs sequential modifications of the maturing male gamete. Main results and the role of chance: Hierarchical clustering and Principal Component Analysis revealed a clear separation between caput, corpus and cauda epididymides. Some transcripts characterize a particular anatomical segment, whereas others are expressed in two out of three epididymal segments. GO analysis allowed deduction of specific functions played by each epididymal segment. The transcriptional profiles between fertile vs. sub-fertile conditions clustered most closely in the corpus and cauda segments, whereas the profiles in the caput segment were distinct between fertile and sub-fertile bulls. Of the differently expressed genes, ten (including AKAP4, SMCP, SPATA3, TCP11, ODF1, CTCFL, SPATA18, ADAM28, SORD and FAM161A) were found to exert functions related to reproductive systems and 5 genes (including DEAD, CYST11, DEFB119, DEFB124 and MX1) were found to be associated with the defence response. Limitations, reasons for caution: Further work is required to correlate these modulations of epididymal functions with sperm fertilizing ability in order to understand the aetiology of certain cases of idiopathic infertility in livestock and men. Wider implications of the findings: As fertility can be quantified in bulls used for artificial insemination, this species is a unique model to aid in the understanding of male fertility/subfertility in man.Our data provide a molecular characterization that will facilitate advances in understanding the involvement of epididymalphysiology in sub/infertility aetiology.
2017-03-31 | GSE96602 | GEO
Project description:The functional maturation of mammalian spermatozoa is accomplished as the cells descend through the highly specialized microenvironment of the epididymis. This dynamic environment is, in turn, created by the combined secretory and absorptive activity of the surrounding epithelium and displays an extraordinary level of regionalization. Although the regulatory network responsible for spatial coordination of epididymal function remains unclear, recent evidence has highlighted a novel role for the RNA interference pathway. Indeed, as noncanonical regulators of gene expression, small noncoding RNAs have emerged as key elements of the circuitry involved in regulating epididymal function and hence sperm maturation. Herein we have employed next generation sequencing technology to profile the genome-wide miRNA signatures of mouse epididymal cells and characterize segmental patterns of expression. An impressive profile of some 370 miRNAs were detected in the mouse epididymis, with a subset of these specifically identified within the epithelial cells that line the tubule (218). A majority of the latter miRNAs (75%) were detected at equivalent levels along the entire length of the mouse epididymis. We did however identify a small cohort of miRNAs that displayed highly regionalized patterns of expression, including miR-204-5p and miR-196b-5p, which were down- and up-regulated by approximately 39- and 45-fold between the caput/caudal regions, respectively. In addition we identified 79 miRNAs (representing ~ 21% of all miRNAs) as displaying conserved expression within all regions of the mouse, rat and human epididymal tissue. These included 8/14 members of let-7 family of miRNAs that have been widely implicated in the control of androgen signaling and the repression of cell proliferation and oncogenic pathways. Overall these data provide novel insights into the sophistication of the miRNA network that regulates the function of the male reproductive tract. Examination of the microRNA expression profile in the whole mouse epididymis and mouse epididymal epithelial cells using next generation sequencing in duplicate.
2015-07-29 | E-GEOD-70197 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:Normal epididymis development is the basis of male reproduction, and epididymis is a crucial site where sperm maturation occurs. Although epididymis has been studied through multiple omics methods, combined omics has not been used to present the differential genes in the epididymal cauda of yaks before and after sexual maturity. We here provided the landscape maps of differential genes and proteins obtained through RNA-seq and proteomics technology, and searched for potential key genes, including TGFBI, COL1A1, COL1A2, COL3A1, COL12A1, SULT2B1, KRT19, and NPC2, through integration analysis. In separate and combined enrichment analyses, genes mainly related to cell growth, differentiation and adhesion, sperm maturation, and immune defense were differentially expressed. The involved pathways included extracellular matrix (ECM)–receptor interaction, protein differentiation and absorption, lysosomes, and estrogen signaling pathway. When the sequencing results were verified through qRT-PCR and 4D-PRM, they were found to be consistent. In addition, after the key genes were identified, abnormal expression of these genes was found to possibly cause the retardation of cauda epididymis development and abnormal sperm function in yaks. In conclusion, we provide useful clues for the development of epididymal cauda of yak, sperm maturation, and screening of key genes involved in reproductive regulation of male yak through separate and combined analyses.
2023-02-04 | PXD039871 | iProX
Project description:Occludin (OCLN) is a tight junction protein and Ocln deletion mutation causes male infertility in mice. However, the role of OCLN in male reproductive system remains unknown. In this study, we found defective proximal epididymis in Ocln-null mice with impaired sperm motility and fertilization, but no defects in testicular spermatogenesis. Integrative omics analysis revealed the downregulation of gene clusters enriched in acid secretion and fatty acid metabolism in the Ocln-null epididymis, especially the enzymes related to the unsaturated arachidonic acid pathway. The number of proton-pump V-ATPase-expression clear cells, a key player of luminal acidification in the epididymis, declined drastically from prepubertal age before sperm arrival but not in the early postnatal-age. This was accompanied by clear cell apoptosis and increase in pH in the epididymal fluid of OCLN-deficient mice. The lipidomics results showed significantly increased levels of specific DAGs conjugated to unsaturated fatty acids in the Ocln-mutant. Immunofluorescent labeling showed that the arachidonic acid converting enzyme PTGDS and phospholipase PLA2g12a were prominently altered in the principal cells and luminal contents of the Ocln-mutant epididymis. Whereas the carboxylate ester lipase CES1, originally enriched in the WT basal cells, was found upregulated in the Ocln-mutant principal cells. Overall, this study demonstrates that OCLN is essential for maintaining the survival of acid-secreting clear cells and unsaturated fatty acid catabolism in the mouse epididymis, as well as ensuring sperm maturation and male fertility.
2022-11-07 | GSE166141 | GEO
Project description:Dicer1 is an endoribonuclease involved in the biogenesis of functional microRNAs (miRNAs). These small non-coding RNAs are important regulators of the posttranscriptional gene expression and participate to the control of male fertility. Knowing that 1) Dicer1-dependent factors are needed for proper sperm maturation in the epididymis, and that 2) miRNAs are potent mediators of intercellular communication in most biological systems, we investigated the role of Dicer1 dependent-miRNAs produced from the proximal epididymis (initial segment/caput) on the paracrine regulation of epididymal gene expression in the distal epididymis regions (i.e. corpus and cauda). To this aim, we performed comparative microarray and ANOVA analyses on control vs. Defb41iCre/wt;Dicer1fl/fl mice in which functional Dicer1 is absent from the principal cells of the proximal epididymis. We identified 21 and 16 transcripts, including Prostate And Testis Expressed 4 protein and the Zn-alpha 2-glycoprotein, that display significant expression level changes in the corpus and cauda regions, respectively (Fold change >2 or <-2; p<0.001). In addition, 154 miRNAs, including miR- 210, miR-672, miR-191 and miR-204, show a significantly impaired biogenesis in the absence of Dicer1 from the proximal epididymis (Fold change>2 or <-2; p<0.01). These miRNAs are secreted via extracellular vesicles derived from DC2 epididymal principal cell line, and their expression correlates with target transcripts involved in important biological pathways, as evidenced by in silico analysis. These observations suggest that Dicer1-dependent miRNAs could act as potent paracrine regulators of epididymal functions (i.e. control of sperm motility, ciliogenesis) and may contribute to the infertility phenotype observed in the Defb41iCre/wt;Dicer1fl/fl mouse model. These findings open new avenues for the identification of molecular targets important to male fertility control.
2016-09-19 | GSE77139 | GEO