Short-type PB-cadherin promotes self-renewal of spermatogonial stem cells via multiple signaling pathways.
Stem cells represent a unique population of cells with self-renewal capacity. However, the molecular control of self-renewal and differentiation of stem cells has remained enigmatic. Here, we show that short-type PB-cadherin (STPB-C) promoted self-renewal of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) via activating Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) and phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3-K)/Akt, and blocking transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 signaling. These data were obtained with varied approaches, including the use of RNA interference (RNAi), SSC cultures infected by STPB-C retroviral vector, bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation assay, and other techniques. These findings have important implications for germ cell biology and create the possibility of using SSCs for biotechnology and medicine. They are also critical in understanding tissue homeostasis, the aging process, tumor formation and degenerative diseases.
Wu
Ji
J
School of Life Science and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China. jiwu@sjtu.edu.cn
Zhang
Yong
Y
Tian
Geng G
GG
Zou
Kang
K
Lee
Clement M
CM
Yu
Qingsheng
Q
Yuan
Zhe
Z
D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism*; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D053612:Janus Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D050791:STAT Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013093:Spermatogonia / Q000166:cytology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
D015820:Cadherins; D018797:Cell Cycle Proteins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; C485185:RBBP9 protein, human; D050791:STAT Transcription Factors; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; D053612:Janus Kinases; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt