A single-nucleus transcriptomic atlas of primate testicular aging reveals exhaustion of the spermatogonial stem cell reservoir and loss of Sertoli cell homeostasis.
Daoyuan Huang, Yuesheng Zuo, Chen Zhang, Guoqiang Sun, Ying Jing, Jinghui Lei, Shuai Ma, Shuhui Sun, Huifen Lu, Yusheng Cai, Weiqi Zhang, Fei Gao, Andy Peng Xiang, Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte, Guang-Hui Liu, Jing Qu, Si Wang
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引用次数: 6
Abstract
The testis is pivotal for male reproduction, and its progressive functional decline in aging is associated with infertility. However, the regulatory mechanism underlying primate testicular aging remains largely elusive. Here, we resolve the aging-related cellular and molecular alterations of primate testicular aging by establishing a single-nucleus transcriptomic atlas. Gene-expression patterns along the spermatogenesis trajectory revealed molecular programs associated with attrition of spermatogonial stem cell reservoir, disturbed meiosis and impaired spermiogenesis along the sequential continuum. Remarkably, Sertoli cell was identified as the cell type most susceptible to aging, given its deeply perturbed age-associated transcriptional profiles. Concomitantly, downregulation of the transcription factor Wilms' Tumor 1 (WT1), essential for Sertoli cell homeostasis, was associated with accelerated cellular senescence, disrupted tight junctions, and a compromised cell identity signature, which altogether may help create a hostile microenvironment for spermatogenesis. Collectively, our study depicts in-depth transcriptomic traits of non-human primate (NHP) testicular aging at single-cell resolution, providing potential diagnostic biomarkers and targets for therapeutic interventions against testicular aging and age-related male reproductive diseases.
期刊介绍:
Protein & Cell is a monthly, peer-reviewed, open-access journal focusing on multidisciplinary aspects of biology and biomedicine, with a primary emphasis on protein and cell research. It publishes original research articles, reviews, and commentaries across various fields including biochemistry, biophysics, cell biology, genetics, immunology, microbiology, molecular biology, neuroscience, oncology, protein science, structural biology, and translational medicine. The journal also features content on research policies, funding trends in China, and serves as a platform for academic exchange among life science researchers.