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Transcriptome analysis reveals conditions for culturing human primitive undifferentiated spermatogonia

ABSTRACT: Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are essential for the generation of sperm and have potential therapeutic value for male infertility, which afflicts >100 million men world-wide. To devise SSC therapy approaches, it is critical to first develop methods to culture human SSCs in vitro. Here, we report on a transcriptome approach to address this question. Using single-cell RNA-seq (scRNAseq), immunofluorescence, and germ-cell xenograft transplantation analyses, we identified a cell-surface protein, PLPPR3, that purifies human primitive undifferentiated spermatogonia (uSPG) enriched for SSCs. Comparative RNAseq analysis of PLPPR3+ cells (primitive uSPG) with KIT+ cells (enriched for differentiating [d] SPG) revealed that these two stages differentially express a remarkably large number of genes, including genes encoding key components in the TGF, GDNF, AKT, and JAK-STAT signaling pathways. Using scRNAseq analysis and conventional approaches, we tested the effect of manipulating these signaling pathways on cultured human SPG. This revealed that GDNF and BMP8B broadly support the culture of SPG, Activin A supports more advanced SPG, and one condition—AKT pathway inhibition—had the unique ability to selectively support primitive uSPG. These findings have implications for methods to culture and expand human SSCs for therapeutic uses in the future.

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

PROVIDER: GSE144085 | GEO | 2020/06/29

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Insight into mechanisms controlling gene expression in the spermatogonial stem cell (SSC) will improve our understanding of the processes regulating spermatogenesis and aid in treating problems associated with male infertility. In this study we explored the global gene expression profiles of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) regulated transcription factors, Ets variant gene 5 (Etv5), B-cell CLL/lymphoma 6, member B (Bcl6b) and POU domain, class-3 transcription factor-1 (Pou3f1). We reasoned that these three factors may function as a core-set of transcription factors, regulating genes responsible for maintaining the SSC population. Using transient short-interfering RNA oligonucleotides (siRNA) to individually target Etv5, Bcl6b and Pou3f1 within mouse SSC cultures, we examined changes to the global gene expression profiles associated with these transcription factors. While there were only modest overlaps in the target genes regulated by the three factors, ETV5 was found to be a critical downstream regulator of GDNF signaling that mediated the expression of several known SSC self-renewal related genes including, Bcl6b and LIM homeobox 1 (Lhx1). Notably, ETV5 was identified as a regulator of Brachyury and CXC chemokine Receptor, type 4 (Cxcr4), and we show that ETV5 binding to the Brachyury gene promoter region is associated with an active state of transcription. Moreover, in vivo transplantation of SSCs following silencing of Brachyury significantly reduced the number of donor cell-derived colonies formed within recipient mouse testes. These results suggest Brachury is of biological importance, and functions as part of GDNF/ETV5 signaling to promote self-renewal of mouse SSCs cultured in vitro. Microarray gene expression analysis was conducted with Affymetrix Mouse 430 2.0 GeneChips (Affymetrix Inc.).Following with gene knockdown, total RNA from spermatogonial stem cells was converted to cDNA. There are total 16 samples (Four groups and four samples per group) Negative control (N), Bcl6b Knockdown (B), Etv5 knockdown (E), and Pou3f1 knockdown (O), respectively.

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Transcriptome analysis reveals conditions for culturing human primitive undifferentiated spermatogonia

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