1. Aging, inflammation and DNA damage in the somatic testicular niche with idiopathic germ cell aplasia.
- Author
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Alfano M, Tascini AS, Pederzoli F, Locatelli I, Nebuloni M, Giannese F, Garcia-Manteiga JM, Tonon G, Amodio G, Gregori S, Agresti A, Montorsi F, and Salonia A
- Subjects
- Aging genetics, Cell Communication, Chemokines, Gene Expression Profiling, Germ Cells, Humans, Leydig Cells, Male, Phenotype, Sequence Alignment, Spermatogenesis genetics, Spermatogenesis physiology, Spermatogonia metabolism, Transcriptome, Aging physiology, DNA Damage, Inflammation pathology, Testis metabolism
- Abstract
Molecular mechanisms associated with human germ cell aplasia in infertile men remain undefined. Here we perform single-cell transcriptome profiling to highlight differentially expressed genes and pathways in each somatic cell type in testes of men with idiopathic germ cell aplasia. We identify immaturity of Leydig cells, chronic tissue inflammation, fibrosis, and senescence phenotype of the somatic cells, as well markers of chronic inflammation in the blood. We find that deregulated expression of parentally imprinted genes in myoid and immature Leydig cells, with relevant changes in the ratio of Lamin A/C transcripts and an active DNA damage response in Leydig and peritubular myoid cells are also indicative of senescence of the testicular niche. This study offers molecular insights into the pathogenesis of idiopathic germ cell aplasia., (© 2021. The Author(s).)
- Published
- 2021
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