Li Shuhao, Kong Liang, Liang Jingyan, Ma Tan
Institute of Translational Medicine, Yangzhou University Medical College, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine for Prevention and Treatment of Senile Diseases, Yangzhou 225009, Jiangsu Province, China.
Zhejiang Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban. 2025 Mar 25;54(2):257-265. doi: 10.3724/zdxbyxb-2024-0346.
Sertoli cells play an important role in the process of spermatogenesis, and the abnormalities in spermatogenesis are closely related to disruptions in glycolipid metabolism. The metabolic environment of Sertoli cells is hypoxic, with glycolysis and fatty acid β-oxidation being the primary metabolic pathways. In Sertoli cells, glycolysis produces lactate to provide energy for spermatogenic cells, while fatty acid β-oxidation generates ATP. Currently, the relationship between glycolipid metabolism in Sertoli cells and spermatogenic cell development, as well as the interplay between glucose and lipid metabolism remain unclear. Various hormones, including sex hormones, can affect glucose metabolism in Sertoli cells by endocrine regulation. The activation or inhibition of signaling pathways such as AMPK, mTOR, and Akt can alter the expression levels of glycolysis-related transporter genes and the synthesis of fatty acids, thereby affecting glycolipid metabolism in Sertoli cells. Some transcription factors such as PPARγ can regulate downstream fatty acid metabolism-related genes by directly binding to their response elements and promoting the oxidation of fatty acids in Sertoli cells. In this article we elaborate on the key factors influencing glycolipid metabolism in Sertoli cells and their interconnections, as well as their potential clinical implications, offering new insights for precisely targeted treatments of male infertility.
支持细胞在精子发生过程中发挥着重要作用，而精子发生异常与糖脂代谢紊乱密切相关。支持细胞的代谢环境是低氧的，糖酵解和脂肪酸β氧化是主要的代谢途径。在支持细胞中，糖酵解产生乳酸为生精细胞提供能量，而脂肪酸β氧化则产生ATP。目前，支持细胞中的糖脂代谢与生精细胞发育之间的关系，以及葡萄糖代谢和脂质代谢之间的相互作用仍不清楚。包括性激素在内的各种激素可通过内分泌调节影响支持细胞中的葡萄糖代谢。AMPK、mTOR和Akt等信号通路的激活或抑制可改变糖酵解相关转运蛋白基因的表达水平以及脂肪酸的合成，从而影响支持细胞中的糖脂代谢。一些转录因子如PPARγ可通过直接结合其反应元件来调节下游脂肪酸代谢相关基因，并促进支持细胞中脂肪酸的氧化。在本文中，我们阐述了影响支持细胞糖脂代谢的关键因素及其相互联系，以及它们潜在的临床意义，为男性不育症的精准靶向治疗提供了新的见解。
