Department of Endocrine Neoplasia, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.
Reproduction. 2019 Mar;157(3):R95-R107. doi: 10.1530/REP-18-0239.
Sertoli cells regulate male germ cell proliferation and differentiation and are a critical component of the spermatogonial stem cell (SSC) niche, where homeostasis is maintained by the interplay of several signaling pathways and growth factors. These factors are secreted by Sertoli cells located within the seminiferous epithelium, and by interstitial cells residing between the seminiferous tubules. Sertoli cells and peritubular myoid cells produce glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), which binds to the RET/GFRA1 receptor complex at the surface of undifferentiated spermatogonia. GDNF is known for its ability to drive SSC self-renewal and proliferation of their direct cell progeny. Even though the effects of GDNF are well studied, our understanding of the regulation its expression is still limited. The purpose of this review is to discuss how GDNF expression in Sertoli cells is modulated within the niche, and how these mechanisms impact germ cell homeostasis.
支持细胞调节雄性生殖细胞的增殖和分化,是精原干细胞(SSC)龛的关键组成部分,龛内的多种信号通路和生长因子相互作用维持着其体内平衡。这些因子由生精上皮内的支持细胞以及生精小管之间的间质细胞分泌。支持细胞和小管周围肌样细胞产生胶质细胞源性神经营养因子(GDNF),它与未分化精原细胞表面的 RET/GFRA1 受体复合物结合。GDNF 以其促进 SSC 自我更新和其直接细胞后代增殖的能力而闻名。尽管 GDNF 的作用已经得到了很好的研究,但我们对其表达调控的理解仍然有限。本文的目的是讨论支持细胞内 GDNF 的表达如何在龛内被调节,以及这些机制如何影响生殖细胞的体内平衡。