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 200127, China.
Department of Andrology, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 100 Haining Road, Shanghai 200080, China.
Sci Rep. 2017 Apr 7;7:45298. doi: 10.1038/srep45298.
Sertoli cells are essential for regulating normal spermatogenesis. However, the mechanisms underlying human Sertoli cell development remain largely elusive. Here we examined the function and signaling pathways of BMP6 in regulating human Sertoli cells. RT-PCR, immunocytochemistry and Western blots revealed that BMP6 and its multiple receptors were expressed in human Sertoli cells. CCK-8 and EDU assays showed that BMP6 promoted the proliferation of Sertoli cells. Conversely, BMP6 siRNAs inhibited the division of these cells. Annexin V/PI assay indicated that BMP6 reduced the apoptosis in human Sertoli cells, whereas BMP6 knockdown assumed reverse effects. BMP6 enhanced the expression levels of ZO1, SCF, GDNF and AR in human Sertoli cells, and ELISA assay showed an increase of SCF by BMP6 and a reduction by BMP6 siRNAs. Notably, Smad2/3 phosphorylation and cyclin D1 were enhanced by BMP6 and decreased by BMP6 siRNAs in human Sertoli cells. The levels of DACH1 and TFAP2A were increased by BMP6 and reduced by BMP6 siRNAs, and the growth of human Sertoli cells was inhibited by these siRNAs. Collectively, these results suggest that BMP6 regulates the proliferation and apoptosis of human Sertoli cells via activating the Smad2/3/cyclin D1 and DACH1 and TFAP2A pathway.
支持细胞对于调节正常精子发生至关重要。然而,人类支持细胞发育的机制在很大程度上仍未被揭示。在这里,我们研究了 BMP6 在调节人类支持细胞中的功能和信号通路。RT-PCR、免疫细胞化学和 Western blot 显示 BMP6 及其多种受体在人类支持细胞中表达。CCK-8 和 EDU 测定表明 BMP6 促进支持细胞的增殖。相反,BMP6 siRNAs 抑制这些细胞的分裂。Annexin V/PI 测定表明 BMP6 减少了人支持细胞的凋亡,而 BMP6 敲低则产生相反的效果。BMP6 增强了人支持细胞中 ZO1、SCF、GDNF 和 AR 的表达水平,ELISA 测定显示 BMP6 增加了 SCF 的表达,而 BMP6 siRNAs 则减少了 SCF 的表达。值得注意的是,BMP6 增强了人支持细胞中 Smad2/3 的磷酸化和 cyclin D1 的表达,而 BMP6 siRNAs 则降低了它们的表达。DACH1 和 TFAP2A 的水平被 BMP6 上调,被 BMP6 siRNAs 下调,这些 siRNAs 抑制了人支持细胞的生长。总之,这些结果表明 BMP6 通过激活 Smad2/3/cyclin D1 和 DACH1 和 TFAP2A 通路来调节人支持细胞的增殖和凋亡。