Retinoic Acid Receptors Control Spermatogonia Cell-Fate and Induce Expression of the SALL4A Transcription Factor.

All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) is instrumental to male germ cell differentiation, but its mechanism of action remains elusive. To address this question, we have analyzed the phenotypes of mice lacking, in spermatogonia, all rexinoid receptors (RXRA, RXRB and RXRG) or all ATRA receptors (RARA, RARB and RARG). We demonstrate that the combined ablation of RXRA and RXRB in spermatogonia recapitulates the set of defects observed both upon ablation of RAR in spermatogonia. We also show that ATRA activates RAR and RXR bound to a conserved regulatory region to increase expression of the SALL4A transcription factor in spermatogonia. Our results reveal that this major pluripotency gene is a target of ATRA signaling and that RAR/RXR heterodimers are the functional units driving its expression in spermatogonia. They add to the mechanisms through which ATRA promote expression of the KIT tyrosine kinase receptor to trigger a critical step in spermatogonia differentiation. Importantly, they indicate also that meiosis eventually occurs in the absence of a RAR/RXR pathway within germ cells and suggest that instructing this process is either ATRA-independent or requires an ATRA signal originating from Sertoli cells.

Arterial calcifications and increased expression of vitamin D receptor targets in mice lacking TIF1alpha.

Calcification of arteries is a major risk factor for cardiovascular mortality in humans. Using genetic approaches, we demonstrate here that the transcriptional intermediary factor 1alpha (TIF1alpha), recently shown to function as a tumor suppressor in murine hepatocytes, also participates in a molecular cascade that prevents calcifications in arterioles and medium-sized arteries. We further provide genetic evidence that this function of TIF1alpha is not exerted in hepatocytes. The sites of ectopic calcifications in mutant mice lacking TIF1alpha resemble those seen in mice carrying an activating mutation of the calcium sensor receptor (Casr) gene and, in TIF1alpha-deficient kidneys, Casr expression is increased together with that of many other vitamin D receptor (VDR) direct target genes, namely Car2, Cyp24a1, Trpv5, Trpv6, Calb1, S100g, Pthlh, and Spp1. Thus, our data indicate that TIF1alpha represses the VDR pathway in kidney and suggest that an up-regulation of Casr expression in this organ could account for ectopic calcifications generated upon TIF1alpha deficiency. Interestingly, the calcifying arteriopathy of TIF1alpha-null mutant mice shares features with the human age-related Mönckeberg's disease and, overall, the TIF1alpha-null mutant pathological phenotype supports the hypothesis that aging is promoted by increased activity of the vitamin D signaling pathway.

Expression of Sox9 in granulosa cells lacking the estrogen receptors, ERalpha and ERbeta.

Ovaries from adult mice lacking both estrogen receptors ERalpha and ERbeta (ERalphabetaKO mice) contain abnormal cells sharing morphologic features with Sertoli cells, which are located mainly in the interstitial compartment. We show here that these cells express the Sertoli cell markers TIF1beta, TIF2, and Sox9. In ERalphabetaKO ovaries, Sox9 is expressed by granulosa cells before the morphologic appearance of Sertoli cells, but neither by granulosa cell precursors nor by non-Sertolian interstitial cells. These findings suggest that functional Sertoli cells can transdifferentiate from mature granulosa cells devoid of estrogen receptors as a result of Sox9 expression.

The function of TIF2/GRIP1 in mouse reproduction is distinct from those of SRC-1 and p/CIP.

Human TIF2 (hTIF2) is a member of the p160 family of nuclear receptor coactivators, which includes SRC-1 and p/CIP. Although the functions of hTIF2 and of its mouse homolog (GRIP1 or mTIF2) have been clearly established in vitro, their physiological role remains elusive. Here, we have generated mice lacking mTIF2/GRIP1 and examined their phenotype with a particular emphasis on reproductive functions. TIF2(-/-) mice are viable, but the fertility of both sexes is impaired. Male hypofertility is due to defects in both spermiogenesis (teratozoospermia) and age-dependent testicular degeneration, and TIF2 expression appears to be essential for adhesion of Sertoli cells to germ cells. Female hypofertility is due to a placental hypoplasia that most probably reflects a requirement for maternal TIF2 in decidua stromal cells that face the developing placenta. We conclude that TIF2 plays a critical role in mouse reproductive functions, whereas previous reports have not revealed serious fertility impairment in SRC-1(-/-) or p/CIP(-/-) mutants. Thus, even though the three p160 coactivators exhibit strong sequence homology and similar activity in assays in vitro, they play distinct physiological roles in vivo, as their genetic eliminations result in distinct pathologies.