The Role of MicroRNA 143 and MicroRNA 206 in The Regulation of Apoptosis in Mouse Lukemia Cancer Cells and Spermatogonial Cells.

OBJECTIVE: In cancer treatments, smart gene delivery via nanoparticles (NPs) can be targeted for cancer cells, while concurrently minimizing damage to healthy cells. This study assessed the efficiency of poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA)-miR 143/206 transfection on apoptosis in mouse leukemia cancer cells (El4) and spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this experimental study, neonatal mouse spermatogonia cells and EL4 cancer cell lines were used. MicroRNA-PLGA NPs were prepared, characterized, and targeted with folate. Several doses were evaluated to obtain a suitable miR dose that can induce appropriate apoptosis in EL4 cells, while not harming SSCs. Cells were treated separately at 3 doses of each miR (for miR 143, doses of 25, 50 and 75 nmol and for miR 206, doses of 50, 100 and 150 nmol). The experiments were performed at 24, 48 and 72 hours. Viability and apoptosis were investigated by MTT and Annexin Kits. RESULTS: Based on MTT assay results, the optimal dose of miR 143 was 75 nmol (59.87 ± 2.85 % SSC and 35.3 ± 0.78 % EL4) (P≤0.05), and for miR 206, the optimal dose was 150 nmol (54.82 ± 6.7 % SSC and 33.92 ± 3.01% EL4) (P≤0.05). The optimal time was 48 hours. At these doses, the survival rate of the EL4 cells was below the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) and SSC survival was above 50%. Annexin V staining also confirmed the selected doses (for miR 143 total apoptosis was 6.62% ± 1.8 SSC and 37.4% ± 4.2 EL4 (P≤0.05), and miR 206 was (10.98% ± 1.5 SSC and 36.4% ± 3.7 EL4, P≤0.05). CONCLUSION: Using intelligent transfection by NPs, we were able to induce apoptosis on EL4 cells and maintain acceptable SSC survival rates.

Artificial testis: a testicular tissue extracellular matrix as a potential bio-ink for 3D printing.

Testicular scaffolds may be an option for fertility preservation. The aim was to develop various procedures for the decellularization of testicular tissue and to design a bio-ink to construct a bioartificial testis. Ram testicular tissue fragments were decellularized using NaCl buffer, NaCl buffer-Triton, SDS and SDS-Triton. The removal of the cells from the tissues was confirmed by DAPI and H & E staining, as well as the evaluation of the DNA content. Alcian blue, Orcein and Masson's trichrome staining methods were also used to confirm that T-ECM was preserved intact. Then, the optimal decellularization protocol was selected to determine the parameters of the bio-ink and printing of the scaffold. The extracted T-ECM was used to print the hydrogel scaffold in combination with alginate-gelatin. The printability, morphological, mechanical and biological properties of the printed hydrogels were characterized. Decellularization of testicular tissue fragments using the NaCl buffer-Triton protocol was significantly more efficient than other decellularization methods in removing the cellular debris and preserving the T-ECM compounds. The 3D printed scaffold with 5% T-ECM showed a uniform surface morphology with high cell attachment and cyto-biocompatibility properties for spermatogonia stem cells in vitro and in vivo compared to other groups. It is concluded that T-ECM can be used as a biomimetic material to make an artificial testis with possible in vitro sperm production.

Male Factors: the Role of Sperm in Preimplantation Embryo Quality.

Few studies have been conducted on the paternal effects on embryogenesis as compared with studies on maternal effects. The fertility potential of sperm decreases with genomic material abnormalities. Damaged DNA of sperm has been correlated with poor fertilization, reduced implantation and pregnancy rates, and increased production of aneuploid embryos. Evidence suggests that the role of sperm in embryogenesis goes beyond genomic material transfer, and centrosomes, sperm-derived cytoplasmic factors, paternal mRNA, and small RNAs are essential for early embryonic development. Epigenetic factors like histone modification and DNA methylation participate in the regulation of gene expression in sperm. The etiology of sperm chromatin abnormalities is important in male fertility and may affect reproductive outcomes. Success in implantation depends on the quality of the fertilized sperm and oocyte as well as the type of assisted reproductive techniques. Therefore, male factors affecting development of embryo can play a role in the failure of assisted reproductive techniques. Further studies are needed to evaluate clinical aspects and the risks of transmitting genetic or epigenetic disorders to provide safe therapies for infertility.

The epigenetic alterations of human sperm cells caused by heroin use disorder.

The molecular mechanisms of drug use on sexual health are largely unknown. We investigated, the relationship between heroin use disorder and epigenetic factors influencing histone acetylation in sperm cells. The volunteers included twenty-four 20- to 50-year-old men with a normal spermogram who did not consume any drugs and twenty-four age- to BMI-matched men who consume only the drug heroin for more than last four months. HDAC1 and HDAC11 mRNA expression levels in spermatozoa and miR-34c-5p and miR-125b-5p expression levels in seminal plasma were measured. The heroin-user group showed significantly increased white blood cell counts and decreased sperm motility and survival rates (8.61 ± 1.73, 21.50 ± 3.11, 69.90 ± 4.69 respectively) as compared to the control group (1.49 ± 0.32, 38.82 ± 3.05, 87.50 ± 0.99 respectively) (p ≤ .001). An increase in DNA fragmentation index (DFI) (heroin-user group: 41.93 ± 6.59% and control group: 10.14 ± 1.43%, p = .003), a change in frequency of HDAC1 (heroin-user group: 1.69 ± 0.55 and control group: 0.45 ± 0.14, p = .045) and HDAC11 (heroin-user group: 0.29 ± 0.13 and control group: 2.36 ± 0.76, p = .019) in spermatozoa and a significant decrease in seminal miR-125b-5p abundance (heroin-user group: 0.37 ± 0.11 and control group: 1.59 ± 0.47, p = .028) were reported in heroin consumers. Heroin use can lead to male infertility by causing leukocytospermia, asthenozoospermia, DFI elevation in sperm cells and alterations in seminal RNA profile.

Intra-articular Administration of Allogeneic Adipose Derived MSCs Reduces Pain and Lameness in Dogs With Hip Osteoarthritis: A Double Blinded, Randomized, Placebo Controlled Pilot Study.

This study was conducted to investigate the therapeutic effect of allogeneic adipose-derived MSCs on dogs with hip osteoarthritis (OA). Twenty dogs with bilateral osteoarthritis of the coxofemoral (hip) joint, diagnosed by a veterinarian through physical examination and radiographs were randomly allocated into four groups. Group 1 served as a placebo control and were injected with 0.9% sodium chloride (saline) (n = 4). Group 2 were injected with a single dose of 5 million MSCs (n = 5). Group 3 received a single dose of 25 million MSCs (n = 6) and Group 4 received a single dose of 50 million MSCs (n = 5). Intra-articular administration of allogeneic MSCs into multiple joints did not result in any serious adverse events. The average lameness score of the dogs in the placebo control group (-0.31) did not show improvement after 90 days of intra-articular saline administration. However, the average lameness score of the all MSC-treated dogs was improved 2.11 grade at this time point (P < 0.001). Overall, sixty five percent (65%) of the dogs that received various doses of MSCs showed improvement in lameness scores 90 days after intra-articular MSC administration. Our results showed that intra-articular administration of allogeneic adipose derived MSCs was well-tolerated and improved lameness scores and reduced pain in dogs associated with hip OA. All doses of MSCs were effective. Subsequent studies with more animals per group are needed to make a conclusion about the dose response. The improved lameness effect was present up to 90 days post-injection. Serum interleukin 10 was increased in a majority of the dogs that received MSCs and that also had improved lameness.

Correlation Between Protamine-2 and miRNA-122 in Sperm from Heroin-addicted Men: A Case-Control Study.

PURPOSE: Recreational use of illicit drugs is one of the main factors affecting male fertility. However, the mechanisms of heroin smoke-associated damage to mature spermatozoa are still completely unknown. The aim of this study was to concomitantly examine the levels of protamine-2 gene and protein concentrations, the amount of miRNA-122 in seminal plasma and semen analysis findings in heroin-addicted men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a case control study, twenty-four fertile men that lacked any recreational drug abuse were considered as the healthy group, and 24 addicted men who used only heroin for at least four months were selected as the addicted group. Semen samples were gathered by masturbation after 2 - 5 days of sexual abstinence. Following the preparation of a semen analysis by computer-assisted sperm analysis according to WHO (2010), the level of protamine-2 gene expression in sperm and miRNA-122 in seminal plasma was measured using real-time sqPCR. Also, protamine-2 protein concentrations were quantified by nuclear protein extraction, SDS-Page and western blotting. RESULTS: Among the studied variables, body mass index (27.75±0.88 vs. 22.30±0.36, p=0.001), seminal pH (7.79±0.06 vs. 7.58±0.06, p=0.003), white blood cell count in semen (1.69±0.41 vs. 8.61±1.73, p=0.001), motility (65.51±2.57 vs. 41.96±3.58, p=0.001) and survival rate (87.41±1.00 vs. 71.50±4.59, p=0.002) of sperm cells was significantly different between the healthy and addicted groups. In addition, the levels of protamine-2 gene and protein expression in the addicted group (0.05±0.02 and 0.10±0.02, respectively) were significantly lower than the healthy group (3.59±0.94 and 0.27±0.06, respectively) (p=0.002 and p=0.017, respectively). Seminal miRNA-122 levels in addicted men (3.51±0.73) were statistically higher than in healthy men (1.52±0.54) (p=0.034). However, there were some significant relationship between the studied parameters and addiction (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This is one study on human infertility that evaluates the effects of heroin on protamine deficiency and seminal small RNAs expression levels. Heroin abuse may lead to male infertility by causing leukocytospermia, asthenozoospermia, protamine deficiency, and seminal plasma miRNA profile alteration.

Adipose stem cell side population in the mouse.

Adipose tissue has become a reliable source of adult stem cells, which appear to possess a yet-undetermined degree of plasticity. With the difficulties associated with harvesting adult bone marrow stem cells, adipose tissue may represent a valuable and easily acquired source of stem cells. Stem cells have been identified using the DNA binding dye Hoechst 33342 and flow cytometry in various tissues known as the side population (SP). The present study shows, for the first time, the presence of side population stem cells in adult adipose tissues. Flow cytometric identification and isolation of this subpopulation of stem cells revealed that in the mouse there are 2.5% of adipose SP cells within the stromal vascular fraction of adipose tissue. In culture, mouse adipose SP cells showed the capacity to undergo in vitro differentiation into osteogenic, chondrogenic and adipogenic lineages. In NOD/SCID mice, freshly sorted mouse adipose SP cells were able to engraft and assist in wound healing. This animal model study showed that adipose SP cells were able to regenerate epithelial layers and connective tissue with minor scar formation. The ability of this novel cell population within adipose tissue to undergo directional differentiation in vitro and to regenerate skin in vivo has potential impact for uses in surgical dermal applications.

Phenotypic and molecular characterization of spermatogonial stem cells in adult primate testes.

BACKGROUND: Knowledge about the identity and characteristics of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) in human is very limited. Here, Rhesus monkey was used as an animal model to investigate molecular and phenotypic characteristics of SSCs in the adult testes. METHODS: A variety of immunohistological, molecular biological and functional assays were used to study different populations of SSCs in the adult testes. RESULTS: In adult primate testes, there are distinct populations of CD90+ CD49f+ CD117- (Triple Stained) cells and a small population of stage-specific embryonic antigen-4 (SSEA-4)+ cells which both localized at the basement membrane of seminiferous tubules. Both SSEA-4+ and Triple Stained cells express germ cell and SSC-specific markers and show high telomerase activity; however, only adult Rhesus monkey SSEA-4+ testis cells appear to contain functional and actively dividing SSCs that can repopulate recipient mouse testes following spermatogonial transplantation. DNA analysis of these populations showed that SSEA-4+ cells contain a DNA profile similar to the actively dividing cells, whereas Triple Stained cells showed an accumulated number of cells arrested in the S phase of the cell cycle. SSEA-4+ cells also showed significantly higher proliferation activity, as shown by proliferating cell nuclear antigen staining, than Triple Stained cells (P < 0.01). Interestingly, SSEA-4+ cells expressed a significantly higher level of promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger, a factor required for SSC self-renewal, than Triple Stained cells (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that Triple Stained cells may represent a quiescent population of SSCs, whereas SSEA-4 might be expressed on a subpopulation of actively dividing SSCs.