Hai Yanan, Hou Jingmei, Liu Yun, Liu Yang, Yang Hao, Li Zheng, He Zuping
State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji-Med X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai Cancer Institute, 1630 Dongfang Road, Shanghai 200127, China.
Department of Urology, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai Institute of Andrology, Shanghai Human Sperm Bank, 145 Shangdong Road, Shanghai 200001, China.
Semin Cell Dev Biol. 2014 May;29:66-75. doi: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2014.04.007. Epub 2014 Apr 6.
Spermatogenesis is a complex process by which spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) self-renew and differentiate into spermatozoa under the elaborate coordination of testicular microenvironment, namely, niche. Sertoli cells, which locate around male germ cells, are the most critical component of the niche. Significant progress has recently been made by peers and us on uncovering the effects of Sertoli cells on regulating fate determinations of SSCs. Here we addressed the roles and regulation of Sertoli cells in normal and abnormal spermatogenesis. Specifically, we summarized the biological characteristics of Sertoli cells, and we emphasized the roles of Sertoli cells in mediating the self-renewal, differentiation, apoptosis, de-differentiation, and trans-differentiation of SSCs. The association between abnormal function of Sertoli cells and impaired spermatogenesis was discussed. Finally, we highlighted several issues to be addressed for further investigation on the effects and mechanisms of Sertoli cells in spermatogenesis. Since Sertoli cells are the key supportive cells for SSCs and they are very receptive to modification, a better understanding of the roles and regulation of Sertoli cells in SSC biology and spermatogenesis would make it feasible to identify novel targets for gene therapy of male infertility as well as seek more efficient and safer strategies for male contraception.
精子发生是一个复杂的过程，在此过程中，精原干细胞（SSCs）在睾丸微环境（即小生境）的精心协调下自我更新并分化为精子。位于雄性生殖细胞周围的支持细胞是小生境中最关键的组成部分。最近，同行和我们在揭示支持细胞对精原干细胞命运决定的调节作用方面取得了重大进展。在这里，我们探讨了支持细胞在正常和异常精子发生中的作用及调节机制。具体而言，我们总结了支持细胞的生物学特性，并强调了支持细胞在介导精原干细胞自我更新、分化、凋亡、去分化和转分化中的作用。讨论了支持细胞功能异常与精子发生受损之间的关联。最后，我们强调了在进一步研究支持细胞在精子发生中的作用和机制时需要解决的几个问题。由于支持细胞是精原干细胞的关键支持细胞，并且它们非常易于修饰，因此更好地理解支持细胞在精原干细胞生物学和精子发生中的作用及调节机制，将使确定男性不育基因治疗的新靶点以及寻求更有效、更安全的男性避孕策略成为可能。
