Comparative expression profiling of testis-enriched genes regulated during the development of spermatogonial cells

Abstract

The testis has been identified as the organ in which a large number of tissue-enriched genes are present. However, a large portion of transcripts related to each stage or cell type in the testis still remains unknown. In this study, databases combined with confirmatory measurements were used to investigate testis-enriched genes, localization in the testis, developmental regulation, gene expression profiles of testicular disease, and signaling pathways. Our comparative analysis of GEO DataSets showed that 24 genes are predominantly expressed in testis. Cellular locations of 15 testis-enriched proteins in human testis have been identified and most of them were located in spermatocytes and round spermatids. Real-time PCR revealed that expressions of these 15 genes are significantly increased during testis development. Also, an analysis of GEO DataSets indicated that expressions of these 15 genes were significantly decreased in teratozoospermic patients and polyubiquitin knockout mice, suggesting their involvement in normal testis development. Pathway analysis revealed that most of those 15 genes are implicated in various sperm-related cell processes and disease conditions. This approach provides effective strategies for discovering novel testis-enriched genes and their expression patterns, paving the way for future characterization of their functions regarding infertility and providing new biomarkers for specific stages of spematogenesis.

Comprehensive analysis of genome‐wide DNA methylation and transcriptomics between ovary and testis in Monopterus albus

“…We found that the expression level of hypomethylated sox30 in the testis of ricefield eel is up-regulated, in line with mouse and tilapia. In human and mouse, the Tcfl5 transcript was detected only in testis, with the highest expression level in primary spermatocytes and round spermatids (Ahn et al, 2017;Maruyama et al, 1998;Shi et al, 2013;Siep et is one homolog of protein inhibitor of activated STAT (PIAS) like proteins, which functions as a coregulatory of the androgen receptor (Beliakoff & Sun, 2006;Sharma et al, 2003). During mouse gonadal development, Zmiz1 gene expression is sexually dimorphic and localized to the somatic cells of male gonads, but is not detected in adult testis (Rodríguez-Magadán et al, 2010).…”

Differential expression of miR-23a/b-3p and its target genes in male patients with subfertility

“…SPATA6 is required for normal assembly of the sperm connecting piece and tight head-tail conjunction in the mouse, probably through interaction with myosin subunits and myosin-based microfilament transport (34). Its expression was also found to be enriched in the acrosome or cytoplasmic region of late-stage spermatids (35). SPATA6 might be implicated in male sterility, and at least in mice, as its inactivation leads to abnormal morphology including round spermatids and acephalic spermatozoa (34,35).…”

“…Its expression was also found to be enriched in the acrosome or cytoplasmic region of late-stage spermatids (35). SPATA6 might be implicated in male sterility, and at least in mice, as its inactivation leads to abnormal morphology including round spermatids and acephalic spermatozoa (34,35). Testis-expressed protein 15 (TEX15) is expressed in testes, predominantly in the spermatogenic germ line of the testis (36).…”

“…In total, 115 men who presented themselves to an infertility clinic were included in this study, as described below. A total of 66 men were recruited into the study (mean age AE SD, 25.09 AE 3.84 year; range, [20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35], including 33 subfertile (oligoasthenozoospermia) men who attended the IVF lab for infertility treatment and 33 age-matched donor men with normal semen parameters (normozoospermia), and were analyzed by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR).…”

Control of human testis-specific gene expression

“…Finally, focus on a population of tissue specific genes as described here is interpreted to support the view that this is an attractive way to further our understanding of development and cell differentiation processes. For instance, testis-specific genes have been identified in both mouse and Drosophila with most mouse genes similar to those found in humans [40, 41]. It would be of interest to know whether the regulatory control elements are also similar in mouse.…”