Gong Daoyuan, Zhang Chunfu, Li Tao, Zhang Jiahui, Zhang Nannan, Tao Zehua, Zhu Wei, Sun Xiaochun
School of Stomatology, Foshan University 5# Hebing Road, Foshan 528000, Guangdong, P. R. China.
The Second People's Hospital of Kunshan 42 Zhongshan Road, Kunshan, Jiangsu 215300, P. R. China.
Am J Transl Res. 2017 Mar 15;9(3):1067-1074. eCollection 2017.
Sertoli cells (SCs) are a major component of testis which secrete a variety of cytokines and immunosuppressive factors, providing nutritional support and immune protection for sperm growth and development. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between SCs and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in order to provide a theoretical basis for better application of SCs.
We used the adherence method to isolate Sprague-Dawley rat SCs and BMSCs. Cells surface markers were detected by flow cytometry. The capacity of cells to differentiate was determined by osteogenic and adipogenic induction. Assessment of cell proliferation was performed by MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide] assay. Changes in the nucleus were analyzed by Hoechst nuclear staining. Cell aging was observed with β-galactosidase, which is a biological marker of senescence. RT-PCR was employed to detect the expression of cytokines.
From the aforementioned experiments, we found that the surface markers of SCs and BMSCs were almost exactly the same. Proliferation of SCs, as well as osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation, were weaker than in BMSCs. Compared with BMSCs, Hoechst nuclear staining showed that the chromatin of SCs began to aggregate and was slightly larger. β-galactosidase staining showed that SCs were in a slightly aging state. The secretion of cytokines from SCs was slightly less than the secretion from BMSCs.
SCs are a kind of mesenchymal stem cells which have begun the process of differentiation.
支持细胞（SCs）是睾丸的主要组成部分，可分泌多种细胞因子和免疫抑制因子，为精子的生长发育提供营养支持和免疫保护。本研究旨在探讨支持细胞与骨髓间充质干细胞（BMSCs）之间的关系，以便为更好地应用支持细胞提供理论依据。
我们采用贴壁法分离Sprague-Dawley大鼠的支持细胞和骨髓间充质干细胞。通过流式细胞术检测细胞表面标志物。通过成骨和成脂诱导来确定细胞的分化能力。采用MTT [3-(4,5-二甲基噻唑-2-基)-2,5-二苯基-2-H-溴化四唑] 法评估细胞增殖。通过Hoechst核染色分析细胞核的变化。用衰老的生物学标志物β-半乳糖苷酶观察细胞衰老情况。采用RT-PCR检测细胞因子的表达。
从上述实验中，我们发现支持细胞和骨髓间充质干细胞的表面标志物几乎完全相同。支持细胞的增殖以及成骨和成脂分化能力均弱于骨髓间充质干细胞。与骨髓间充质干细胞相比，Hoechst核染色显示支持细胞的染色质开始聚集且稍大。β-半乳糖苷酶染色显示支持细胞处于轻度衰老状态。支持细胞分泌的细胞因子略少于骨髓间充质干细胞分泌的细胞因子。
支持细胞是一种已开始分化过程的间充质干细胞。
