Cells and Development最新文献

Sir John Gurdon and the rise of molecular developmental biology 约翰·戈登爵士和分子发育生物学的兴起

IF 2 4区生物学

Cells and Development Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2025-10-31 DOI: 10.1016/j.cdev.2025.204056

Edward M. De Robertis

{"title":"Sir John Gurdon and the rise of molecular developmental biology","authors":"Edward M. De Robertis","doi":"10.1016/j.cdev.2025.204056","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cdev.2025.204056","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>John B. Gurdon was one of the most beloved developmental biologists of our times, who enjoyed a long life completely immersed in science. Blessed with a very important discovery at age 25, he used his distinguished position for the common good of other biologists. John's life epitomizes the Golden Rule of Western Civilization – love your neighbor as yourself – to the great benefit of his field. As a graduate student, he demonstrated that somatic cells retained the complete gene repertoire to differentiate into all cell types. He developed the <em>Xenopus</em> oocyte as a living test tube for molecular biology. His microinjection studies provided the first vertebrate system to translate mRNA, transcribe DNA, and express cloned genes. He investigated the reprogramming of somatic nuclei to the gene expression pattern of oocytes for many decades. His discoveries were foundational to the use of stem cells for tissue therapies and were recognized with the 2012 Nobel prize for Medicine. He was responsible, more than any other person, for introducing <em>Xenopus</em> as a research organism for molecular biology. He was a wonderful mentor who taught by example and built new research institutes. His tireless support for scientific societies organized by scientists independently of governments led him to deliver incomparable lectures throughout the world, inspiring generations of developmental biologists. His secret weapon was to never stop working at the bench with his beloved oocytes and embryos. Above all, he was a good man. Sir John passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his family at age 92.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36123,"journal":{"name":"Cells and Development","volume":"185 ","pages":"Article 204056"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147420738","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Small molecules induces dorsal root ganglion satellite glial cells to differentiate into sensory neuron-like cells 小分子诱导背根神经节卫星胶质细胞向感觉神经元样细胞分化。

IF 2 4区生物学

Cells and Development Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2026-02-12 DOI: 10.1016/j.cdev.2026.204073

Xiaohua Weng , Jinwei Yang , Wei Ma , Liyan Li

{"title":"Small molecules induces dorsal root ganglion satellite glial cells to differentiate into sensory neuron-like cells","authors":"Xiaohua Weng , Jinwei Yang , Wei Ma , Liyan Li","doi":"10.1016/j.cdev.2026.204073","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cdev.2026.204073","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The inability of damaged neurons to regenerate poses a significant challenge in the repair of peripheral nerve injuries. Exogenous cell therapies, such as those involving neural stem cells or induced pluripotent stem cells, are limited by immune rejection and ethical concerns. Somatic cells offer a promising alternative, as they can be reprogrammed and differentiated into neuron-like cells, thereby promoting nerve repair. Satellite glial cells (SGCs) within the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) have the capacity to differentiate into multiple cell types. In this study, chemical small molecules were used to replace transcription factors and induce DRG-derived SGCs to differentiate into sensory neuron-like cells. Subsequently, cell viability, morphology, and functionality were evaluated using CCK-8 assays, immunocytochemistry, qRT-PCR, ELISA, confocal calcium imaging, and ultra-high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The induced cells expressed key sensory neuron markers, including CGRP, PSD95, Synapsin, PRPH, TrkA, TrkB, TrkC, Ret, AnkyrinG, and Brn3a. Moreover, they displayed gene expression patterns associated with sensory neuron development, such as those of <em>Avil</em>, <em>TrkA</em>, <em>Brn3a</em>, <em>Isl1</em>, <em>Runx3</em>, and <em>Shox2</em>. Importantly, these cells exhibited calcium transients in response to KCl, BayK, and capsaicin stimulation. Capsaicin treatment also resulted in increased levels of CGRP and substance P, suggesting that the induced cells exhibit characteristics of mature neurons, including synaptic structures, functional calcium channels, and active signaling pathways. Our findings demonstrate that DRG-derived SGCs can be chemically induced to differentiate into sensory neuron-like cells, representing a novel approach for neuronal cell fate acquisition and a potential cell source for peripheral nerve repair.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36123,"journal":{"name":"Cells and Development","volume":"185 ","pages":"Article 204073"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146197983","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Transient versican expression is required for β1-integrin accumulation during podocyte layer morphogenesis in amphibian developing kidney 在两栖动物肾脏发育过程中足细胞层形态发生过程中β1-整合素的积累需要瞬时型表达。

IF 2 4区生物学

Cells and Development Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2025-12-13 DOI: 10.1016/j.cdev.2025.204062

Isabelle Buisson , Jean-François Riou , Muriel Umbhauer , Ronan Le Bouffant , Valérie Bello

{"title":"Transient versican expression is required for β1-integrin accumulation during podocyte layer morphogenesis in amphibian developing kidney","authors":"Isabelle Buisson , Jean-François Riou , Muriel Umbhauer , Ronan Le Bouffant , Valérie Bello","doi":"10.1016/j.cdev.2025.204062","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cdev.2025.204062","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The functional organization of the vertebrate nephron is remarkably conserved, yet the morphogenetic processes underlying nephrogenesis vary across species and kidney types. The <em>Xenopus</em> larval kidney, the pronephros, is a non-integrated nephron where plasma filtrates are first released into a coelomic compartment, the nephrocoel, before entering the tubular compartment through ciliated nephrostomes. Mechanisms of pronephros morphogenesis, especially the role of the extracellular matrix (ECM), remain poorly understood. This study investigates the function of the ECM component versican (vcan) in the development of the pronephric kidney in <em>X. laevis</em>, focusing on non-integrated nephron features: the glomus, nephrocoel, and nephrostomes. Vcan is dynamically expressed in the ECM surrounding the developing tubule and the podocyte layer of the glomus, with transient presence in the differentiating podocyte region prior to the formation of the concave podocyte pocket that accumulates β1-integrin. Morpholino-mediated vcan depletion leads to fusion of proximal tubule branches, tubular dilation, and loss of proximal convolutions, without affecting nephrostomes. Glomus morphogenesis is severely disrupted, the podocyte layer fails to form its characteristic C-shaped structure, and β1-integrin fails to accumulate, although the podocyte differentiation marker <em>nphs2</em> remains expressed. Other ECM components, including fibrillin, laminin, and fibronectin, remain correctly localized, indicating that the phenotype is not due to general ECM disorganization. Together, these findings identify a specific and temporally regulated role for vcan in glomus morphogenesis, likely by enabling β1-integrin accumulation and promoting cell–ECM interactions essential for proper podocyte layer assembly, thereby refining our understanding of ECM dynamics in kidney development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36123,"journal":{"name":"Cells and Development","volume":"185 ","pages":"Article 204062"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145764203","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Tissue-resident macrophages contribute to ear hole regeneration of early postnatal mice 组织常驻巨噬细胞促进早期产后小鼠耳孔再生。

IF 2 4区生物学

Cells and Development Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2025-10-28 DOI: 10.1016/j.cdev.2025.204055

René Fernando Abarca-Buis , Blanca Alicia Barredo-Prieto , David Garciadiego-Cázares , María Elena Contreras-Figueroa , Edgar Krötzsch

{"title":"Tissue-resident macrophages contribute to ear hole regeneration of early postnatal mice","authors":"René Fernando Abarca-Buis , Blanca Alicia Barredo-Prieto , David Garciadiego-Cázares , María Elena Contreras-Figueroa , Edgar Krötzsch","doi":"10.1016/j.cdev.2025.204055","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cdev.2025.204055","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Healing of ear holes made in early postnatal mice represents an accessible model for the study of the regeneration of multiple tissues in mammals. This regenerative process involves three phases: wound healing, blastema formation, and re-differentiation. Classical models for regeneration studies have implicated macrophages as key cells for regeneration progression. In this study macrophage distribution and macrophage depletion experiments were conducted to evaluate whether these cells have a role during ear hole regeneration in early postnatal mice. Using the pan-macrophage markers CD68 and F4/80, we discriminate infiltrating from tissue-resident macrophages. In addition to expressing F4/80, tissue-resident macrophages also showed the presence of iNOS, a marker of pro-inflammatory macrophages. Unexpectedly, depletion of macrophages by clodronate liposomes administration during the wound healing stage of ear hole regeneration of early postnatal-age mice resulted in an increased number of infiltrating CD68+ cells and a deletion of F4/80+ macrophages with the subsequent delay in re-epithelialization and blastema formation. Under this experimental condition, IL10 was not affected during the wound healing phase, but its levels decreased when the re-population of F4/80+ tissue-resident macrophages was evident in the regenerating tissues. In addition, the administration of clodronate liposomes during the re-differentiation stage accelerated the maturation of regenerating elastic cartilage. These results indicate that F4/80+ tissue-resident macrophages control the infiltration of determined immune cells and are the main macrophage subpopulation that contributes to the regeneration of ear holes made in early postnatal mice.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36123,"journal":{"name":"Cells and Development","volume":"185 ","pages":"Article 204055"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145410184","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Sialoglycoproteins and sialyltransferases: Key regulators of blastocyst formation 唾液糖蛋白和唾液转移酶：囊胚形成的关键调节因子。

IF 2 4区生物学

Cells and Development Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2025-11-20 DOI: 10.1016/j.cdev.2025.204057

Pélagie Douchez , Ingrid Fliniaux , Yoshiko Takeda-Uchimura , Matthieu Marin , Alain Martoriati , Anne Harduin-Lepers , Katia Cailliau

引用次数: 0

Signalling molecules and microenvironment modulation in skin regeneration of chronic wound repair: A cellular perspective 信号分子和微环境调节在皮肤再生的慢性伤口修复：一个细胞的观点。

IF 2 4区生物学

Cells and Development Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2025-09-30 DOI: 10.1016/j.cdev.2025.204053

Keren Celestina Mendonce , Naveen Palani , P. Monisha , Parthasarathy Surya , Suriyaprakash Rajadesingu

{"title":"Signalling molecules and microenvironment modulation in skin regeneration of chronic wound repair: A cellular perspective","authors":"Keren Celestina Mendonce , Naveen Palani , P. Monisha , Parthasarathy Surya , Suriyaprakash Rajadesingu","doi":"10.1016/j.cdev.2025.204053","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cdev.2025.204053","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Tissue repair is an intricate biological process involving cellular and molecular mechanisms. These mechanisms coordinate the repair of damaged tissue, relying on the function of several signalling molecules. Growth factors, cytokines, and hormones perform a fundamental role in tissue regeneration, especially in skin regeneration. On the other hand, in case of diabetes or chronic wounds, the synthesis and regulation of these signalling molecules may be disrupted. Despite advances in medical science, chronic, non-healing wounds remain a continuous challenge, often characterized by reduced angiogenesis, impaired epithelialization, irregular granulation tissue formation, and elevated inflammation. This highlights the need to explore their therapeutic applications and the possibility of external production or stimulation for improved healing. The cellular intricacies are revealed within the wounded environment, explaining the functions of each signalling molecule, thus providing a roadmap for therapeutic exploration. It scrutinizes the complexities of venous and arterial ulcers, diabetic wounds, and complex burn wounds, which indicates the urgency of coming up with innovative interventions. From the modulation of wound microenvironments will arise new treatment modalities that spur tissue restoration with efficacy. Scientists have explored the wound healing properties of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, Platelet Derived Growth Factor, Transforming Growth Factor-β, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, estradiol benzoate, thyroxine, and erythropoietin. This review article acts as a guide for better treatments that can improve wound healing.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36123,"journal":{"name":"Cells and Development","volume":"185 ","pages":"Article 204053"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145213934","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

A novel role of Mef2a in mitochondrial homeostasis and muscle regeneration during sarcopenia Mef2a在肌肉减少症期间线粒体稳态和肌肉再生中的新作用。

IF 2 4区生物学

Cells and Development Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2025-12-11 DOI: 10.1016/j.cdev.2025.204063

Xin Tao , Suhong Zhang , Yue Li, Gongbing Tu, Dianfu Zhang, Liping Yin

{"title":"A novel role of Mef2a in mitochondrial homeostasis and muscle regeneration during sarcopenia","authors":"Xin Tao , Suhong Zhang , Yue Li, Gongbing Tu, Dianfu Zhang, Liping Yin","doi":"10.1016/j.cdev.2025.204063","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cdev.2025.204063","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sarcopenia, characterized by an age-related decline in skeletal muscle mass and function, is closely associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. This study aimed to explore the role of myocyte enhancer factor 2A (<em>MEF2A</em>) in alleviating sarcopenia, focusing on its regulatory effect on mitochondrial homeostasis. AAV9-<em>MEF2A</em> was administered to 24-month-old male SAMP8 mice, and their endurance capacity and muscle histology were assessed. In vitro, <em>MEF2A</em> was overexpressed in C2C12 cells to examine its impact on myoblast proliferation and differentiation. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), luciferase assays, and rescue experiments were conducted to identify downstream targets and validate the <em>MEF2A</em>-regulated signaling pathway. MEF2A overexpression significantly enhanced endurance performance, with a 1.17-fold increase in muscle mass, a 2.4 to 4.9-fold decrease in muscle atrophy markers compared to the AAV9-NC group, and a nearly 2 to 3-fold increase in mitochondrial biogenesis and antioxidant enzyme expression in aged mice. In C2C12 cells, <em>MEF2A</em> stimulated proliferation (1.8 fold increase in EdU-positive cells vs vector group) and differentiation (2 to 3-fold increase in differentiation markers vs vector group) while improving mitochondrial function through 1.5 to 2-fold increases in both OxPhos complex proteins and mitochondrial biogenesis genes compared to vector control. Mechanistically, <em>MEF2A</em> directly activated the PGC-1α/NRF2 axis, as validated by ChIP and reporter assays. Rescue experiments further verified the critical role of this pathway in <em>MEF2A</em>-mediated effects. These findings demonstrate that <em>MEF2A</em> mitigates sarcopenia by improving mitochondrial function and promoting muscle regeneration via activation of the PGC-1α/NRF2 signaling axis. <em>MEF2A</em> represents a promising therapeutic target for combating age-related muscle degeneration.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36123,"journal":{"name":"Cells and Development","volume":"185 ","pages":"Article 204063"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145752132","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Physiological effect of cytokines on adult neurogenesis: a focus on in vivo knock-out studies 细胞因子对成人神经发生的生理作用：体内敲除研究的焦点。

IF 2 4区生物学

Cells and Development Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2026-02-03 DOI: 10.1016/j.cdev.2026.204072

Narjess Haidar , Laure Salvon, Amnah Al-Sayyar, Oussama Kassem, Audrey Romano, Rejane Rua

{"title":"Physiological effect of cytokines on adult neurogenesis: a focus on in vivo knock-out studies","authors":"Narjess Haidar , Laure Salvon, Amnah Al-Sayyar, Oussama Kassem, Audrey Romano, Rejane Rua","doi":"10.1016/j.cdev.2026.204072","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cdev.2026.204072","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cytokines, central mediators of immune signaling, have emerged as pivotal regulators of neural stem cell (NSC) biology. Once regarded as immune-privileged, the central nervous system is now recognized as a dynamic site of immune-neural interaction, where meningeal and parenchymal immune cells modulate neurogenesis and brain plasticity through cytokine release. This review synthesizes current quantitative evidence on the effects of key cytokines including IL-6, FGF2, IL-15, IL-22, IL-10, and TNF-α on mouse NSCs studied exclusively in knockout models <em>in vivo</em>. This approach allows for a clearer understanding of their physiological roles, minimizing artefacts associated with <em>in vitro</em> systems, overexpression models, or inflammatory contexts, and focusing instead on their homeostatic functions. Collectively, these studies demonstrate that cytokine signaling profoundly influences NSC fate, proliferation, and differentiation. Importantly, by mapping cytokine expression within the dentate gyrus, the subventricular zone neurogenic niches, and the meninges, we put forward the provocative idea that brain borders are major sources of these factors, rather than the dentate gyrus itself. Understanding how immune-derived cues shape the NSC niche is critical for uncovering mechanisms underlying brain function, plasticity, and repair, with potential implications for neurodevelopmental, neuropsychiatric, and neurodegenerative disorders.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36123,"journal":{"name":"Cells and Development","volume":"185 ","pages":"Article 204072"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146126815","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Extracellular vesicles: A complex array of particles involved in cell-to-cell communication for tissue homeostasis 细胞外囊泡：一种复杂的粒子阵列，参与组织内稳态的细胞间通讯。

IF 2 4区生物学

Cells and Development Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2025-10-24 DOI: 10.1016/j.cdev.2025.204054

Natayme Rocha Tartaglia , Lorena Martin-Jaular , Alain Joliot , Clotilde Théry

{"title":"Extracellular vesicles: A complex array of particles involved in cell-to-cell communication for tissue homeostasis","authors":"Natayme Rocha Tartaglia , Lorena Martin-Jaular , Alain Joliot , Clotilde Théry","doi":"10.1016/j.cdev.2025.204054","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cdev.2025.204054","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Communication between cells is an inescapable feature of every multicellular organism, from the coordination of development during embryogenesis to the maintenance of homeostasis throughout adulthood. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are new and central players in intercellular communication processes, by carrying multiple signals at once and acting in concert with well-described soluble effectors released in the environment. These membrane-enclosed particles are released by all cells in their environment. Their lipid bilayer protects their internal content while exposing surface determinants, allowing EVs to interact with target cells and/or surrounding extracellular matrix. EVs can also escape to blood or lymph circulation and reach further away organs. By carrying multiple signals, locally or at a distance, EVs are increasingly considered as players in the coordination of physiological processes within and across tissues. Here, we briefly summarize the many studies describing physiological functions of EVs, and discuss their actual demonstration <em>in vivo</em>. In addition, we discuss this knowledge in light of our current understanding on the heterogeneity of EVs, the complex composition of EV-containing preparations and the consequences to unravel the specific activities of EVs, including subtypes of EVs such as exosomes, and of other extracellular particles (EPs).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36123,"journal":{"name":"Cells and Development","volume":"185 ","pages":"Article 204054"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145459633","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

LSM14A, an LSM family protein, is dispensable for spermatogenesis and male fertility in mice LSM14A是LSM家族的一种蛋白，在小鼠的精子发生和雄性生育中是必不可少的。

IF 2 4区生物学

Cells and Development Pub Date : 2026-03-01 Epub Date: 2025-11-12 DOI: 10.1016/j.cdev.2025.204058

Xu Fan, Ling Yang, Xiao Wang, Nana Li, Zhengpin Wang

{"title":"LSM14A, an LSM family protein, is dispensable for spermatogenesis and male fertility in mice","authors":"Xu Fan, Ling Yang, Xiao Wang, Nana Li, Zhengpin Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.cdev.2025.204058","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cdev.2025.204058","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The LSM (Like-Smith) family comprises RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) that are key regulators of RNA metabolism. LSM14A, a member of this family (designated <em>Lsm14a</em> in mice), participates in RNA processing within cytoplasmic processing bodies (P-bodies). The mouse <em>Lsm14a</em> gene is localized to chromosome 7qB1, spans 48.67 kilobases (kb), and encodes a 462-amino-acid protein that exhibits 94.53 % amino acid identity with human LSM14A. However, the expression profile of LSM14A in male reproductive organs and its functional relevance to male fertility remain uncharacterized. In this study, we report that LSM14A is expressed in the mouse testis and localizes to the cytoplasm of germ cells, from spermatogonia to elongating spermatids. To investigate LSM14A function, we generated germ cell-specific <em>Lsm14a</em> conditional knockout (cKO) mice. <em>Lsm14a</em> cKO male mice displayed normal growth, development, and fertility. Histological examination of <em>Lsm14a</em> cKO testes revealed preserved spermatogenesis and seminiferous tubule structure. <em>Lsm14a</em> cKO sperm exhibited normal morphology, acrosome integrity, and motility. The loss of <em>Lsm14a</em> in the testes did not significantly affect P-body formation, suggesting that genetic compensation by other LSM family members may have been activated upon <em>Lsm14a</em> knockout, thereby compensating for its loss of function. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that LSM14A is dispensable for spermatogenesis and male fertility in mice.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":36123,"journal":{"name":"Cells and Development","volume":"185 ","pages":"Article 204058"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145524318","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0