Comparative proteomic analysis of round and elongated spermatids during spermiogenesis in mice.

Spermiogenesis in mammals is an exclusive process during which haploid round spermatids mature into spermatozoa in the testis. Any abnormality in the process of spermiogenesis may result in male infertility. The aim of the present study was to characterize the differentially expressed proteins between round and elongated spermatids in mice using label-free quantitative mass spectrometry. Of the 2411 proteins identified in this study, 333 were differentially expressed with a ≥10-fold change, including 208 upregulated proteins and 125 downregulated proteins in round spermatids relative to elongated spermatids. Gene Ontology analysis showed that these differentially expressed proteins were categorized into 10 types of subcellular localizations, 9 molecular functions, and were involved in 9 biological processes. All the identified proteins participated in 268 different pathways. In addition, ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis and the proteasome pathway, autophagy, lysosome, and apoptosis pathways were involved in the mechanism of spermiogenesis. Our data may provide valuable information for a better understanding of spermiogenesis and help improve the diagnosis and treatment of male factor infertility.

ß-Cyclodextrin-cholic acid-hyaluronic acid polymer coated Fe3O4-graphene oxide nanohybrids as local chemo-photothermal synergistic agents for enhanced liver tumor therapy.

Synergistic photochemical therapy with high performance and weak side effects is of great importance in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treatment, therefore ingenious construct of nano-based therapy agents with accurate drug delivery and high photothermal conversion efficiency is of critical to the cancer therapy. Herein, an organic-inorganic hybrid nanomaterial (MGO@CD-CA-HA) has been constructed successfully by coating the ß-cyclodextrin-cholic acid-hyaluronic acid polymer (CD-CA-HA) onto the Fe3O4-graphene oxide (MGO). The MGO@CD-CA-HA revealed satisfactory multiple-targeted features including the cholic acid supplied hepatic-target, CD44-receptor target of hyaluronic acid and magnetic target of Fe3O4. Meanwhile, the hydrophobic antitumor drug camptothecin (CPT) was easily loaded by MGO@CD-CA-HA to form the MGO@CD-CA-HA/CPT nanocomposite, and the maximum theoretical adsorption capacity can reach 847.4 mg/g. Based on the facile photothermal response of MGO, the near-infrared radiation (808 nm) induced local hyperthermia was directly generated the apoptosis of tumor cells while triggered the release of CPT. Comparing with other kinds of cancer cells and normal hepatocyte cells, this PCT system provides a significant inhibitory effect for the liver cancer cells in vitro. Furthermore, the synergistic photochemical therapy presented the strong antitumor effect (the tumor inhibition rate > 90 %) in vivo. Thus, this study provided a promising multiple-targeted nanocarrier for chemo-photothermal combination therapy of liver cancer.