The repertoire of testicular extracellular vesicle cargoes and their involvement in inter-compartmental communication associated with spermatogenesis

BMC Biology

Weiping Wang¹  Gangcai Xie²  Hao Chen²  Howard Chi Ho Yim³  Linxian Li⁴  William Lam⁵  Kathleen Hoi Kei Choy⁵  Sidney Siubun Yu⁵  Tin Yu Samuel Law⁵  Jing Jin⁵  Tingting Zheng⁵  Sze Yan Chan⁵  Ellis Kin Lam Fok⁵ 

[1] Dr. Li Dak-Sum Research Centre, University of Hong Kong;Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School, Nantong University;Microbiome Research Centre, St George and Sutherland Clinical School, The University of New South Wales;Ming Wai Lau Centre for Reparative Medicine, Karolinska Institute;School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong;

关键词: Spermatogenesis;    Extracellular vesicles;    Testis;    Sperm;    Male reproduction;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12915-022-01268-5

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Background Spermatogenesis is regulated by a complex network of intercellular communication processes. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are one of the important mediators in intercellular communication. Previous reports have demonstrated the involvement of EVs from the epididymis and prostate in sperm maturation and function. However, the presence of EVs in the testis and their potential involvement in spermatogenesis has not been explored. Here, we have established a testis dissociation protocol that allows the isolation and characterization of testicular EVs. Results We show that testicular EVs are specifically and efficiently taken up by somatic cells and germ cells, including the spermatozoa in the interstitial space and the seminiferous tubule compartments. We profiled the proteome of testicular EVs and probed the cell types that release them, revealing the potential contributions from the Leydig cells and testicular macrophages. Moreover, we sequenced the small RNA cargoes of testicular EVs and identified sets of small non-coding RNAs that were overlooked in the testis transcriptome. Selected miRNA candidates in testicular EVs were found in sperm RNA payload and demonstrated specific resistance towards ribonuclease A independent of the vesicle membrane. Small molecule inhibition of EV secretion perturbed spermatogenesis via inter-compartmental communication. Conclusions Together, our study provides a valuable resource on the repertoire of cargoes carried by testicular EVs and uncovers a physiological function of testicular EVs in inter-compartmental communication associated to spermatogenesis.

【 授权许可】

Unknown