Androgen-responsive microRNAs in mouse Sertoli cells.
Although decades of research have established that androgen is essential for spermatogenesis, androgen's mechanism of action remains elusive. This is in part because only a few androgen-responsive genes have been definitively identified in the testis. Here, we propose that microRNAs--small, non-coding RNAs--are one class of androgen-regulated trans-acting factors in the testis. Specifically, by using androgen suppression and androgen replacement in mice, we show that androgen regulates the expression of several microRNAs in Sertoli cells. Our results reveal that several of these microRNAs are preferentially expressed in the testis and regulate genes that are highly expressed in Sertoli cells. Because androgen receptor-mediated signaling is essential for the pre- and post-meiotic germ cell development, we propose that androgen controls these events by regulating Sertoli/germ cell-specific gene expression in a microRNA-dependent manner.
Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America.
Subbarayalu
S
Panneerdoss
Yao-Fu
YF
Chang
Kalyan C
KC
Buddavarapu
Hung-I Harry
HI
Chen
Gunapala
G
Shetty
Huizhen
H
Wang
Yidong
Y
Chen
T Rajendra
TR
Kumar
Manjeet K
MK
Rao
D000728:Androgens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D051187:Desmocollins; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000235:genetics; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D000728:Androgens; D051187:Desmocollins; C489910:Dsc1 protein, mouse; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C489562:Foxd1 protein, mouse; C502463:Foxs1 protein, mouse; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D035683:MicroRNAs; D014157:Transcription Factors; D013739:Testosterone