Division of Molecular Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Indian Council of Medical Research, Mumbai, India.
Andrology. 2014 May;2(3):360-9. doi: 10.1111/j.2047-2927.2014.00183.x. Epub 2014 Feb 12.
Global rise in male infertility over the past decades as a result of falling sperm count and quality has been pointed out by different investigations. Therefore, it is important to understand the molecular mechanism of spermatogenesis and its regulation. Mammalian spermatogenesis, a streamlined process through which male germline cells divide and differentiate into mature spermatozoa, is strictly regulated by phase-specific gene expression which, in turn, is controlled by myriads of regulatory non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). Rapid advancement in genome mining technologies has identified role of ncRNAs including microRNAs, PIWI-interacting RNAs, endogenous small-interfering RNAs and long non-coding RNAs as controller of gene expression at transcriptional as well as post-transcriptional level in different biological context and disease processes. Here, we discuss the recent progress in our understanding about the involvement of these molecules in spermatogenesis. In addition, we describe here the possible roles of long non-coding RNAs in controlling this process which is not delved so far.
过去几十年来，由于精子数量和质量下降，男性不育症在全球范围内不断上升，这一点已被不同的研究指出。因此，了解精子发生的分子机制及其调控非常重要。哺乳动物精子发生是一个通过有丝分裂使雄性生殖细胞分裂和分化为成熟精子的过程，受到严格的阶段特异性基因表达调控，而这种表达又受到无数调控性非编码 RNA（ncRNA）的控制。基因组挖掘技术的快速发展已经确定了 ncRNA 的作用，包括 microRNAs、PIWI 相互作用 RNA、内源性小干扰 RNA 和长非编码 RNA，它们作为转录和转录后水平的基因表达控制器，在不同的生物学背景和疾病过程中发挥作用。在这里，我们讨论了在理解这些分子在精子发生中的作用方面的最新进展。此外，我们还描述了长非编码 RNA 在控制这一过程中的可能作用，目前尚未对此进行深入研究。
