Regulation of the germ stem cell niche as the foundation for adult spermatogenesis: a role for miRNAs?
Within the testis the spermatogonial stem cells reside in a unique microenvironment, or 'niche', which includes the surrounding somatic cells. The regulation of the balance between self-renewal and differentiation of spermatogonial stem cells determines the lifelong supply of spermatozoa by maintaining a population of undifferentiated spermatogonial stem cells and ensuring that adequate numbers of spermatogonia undergo spermatogenesis. Mouse models have been instrumental in determining a large number of factors involved in regulating the spermatogonial stem cell self-renewal and/or differentiation. However, the precise mechanisms controlling regulation of the germ cell niche remain to be elucidated. Recently the discovery of microRNAs, which regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level, has provided new insight into testis biology, spermatogenesis and germ stem cell regulation. In this review we summarize the main factors involved in the regulation of the germ stem cell niche and describe the role of microRNA signaling in this regulation.
MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK. Electronic address: s.vandendriesche@ed.ac.uk.
Sander
S
van den Driesche
MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK.
Richard M
RM
Sharpe
MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK.
Philippa T K
PT
Saunders
MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK.
Rod T
RT
Mitchell
D053687:Adult Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases / Q000235:genetics; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics*; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D043244:Ribonuclease III / Q000235:genetics; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D013093:Spermatogonia / Q000166:cytology; D055153:Stem Cell Niche / Q000235:genetics*
D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D035683:MicroRNAs; C509781:Dicer1 protein, mouse; D043244:Ribonuclease III; D053487:DEAD-box RNA Helicases
MicroRNA; Niche; Self-renewal; Sertoli cell; Spermatogonial stem cell; Testis