The dynamic expression of SOX17 in germ cells from human female foetus and adult ovaries after specification

Frontiers in Endocrinology

Endocrinology

Can-Quan Zhou¹  Ming-Yi Liang¹  Bing Cai¹  Xiu Zhou¹  Qing-Yun Mai¹  Hui-Ying Jie¹  Ke-Jun Huang²  Ying-Yi Luo³ 

[1] Reproductive Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China;Reproductive Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China;Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, Guangzhou, China;Reproductive Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China;Reproductive Medicine Center, The First People’s Hospital of Foshan, Foshan, China;

关键词: SOX17;    germ cells;    VASA;    mitosis;    meiosis;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fendo.2023.1124143

 received in 2022-12-14, accepted in 2023-04-14,  发布年份 2023

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundSOX17 has been identified as a critical factor in specification of human primordial germ cells, but whether SOX17 regulates development of germ cells after sex differentiation is poorly understood. MethodsWe collected specimens of gonadal ridge from an embryo (n=1), and ovaries of foetuses (n=23) and adults (n=3). Germ cells were labelledwith SOX17, VASA (classic germ cells marker), phosphohistone H3 (PHH3, mitosis marker) and synaptonemal complex protein 3 (SCP3, meiosis marker). ResultsSOX17 was detected in both cytoplasm and nucleus of oogonia and oocytes of primordial and primary follicles from 15 to 28 gestational weeks (GW). However, it was exclusively expressed in cytoplasm of oogonia at 7 GW, and in nucleus of oocytes in secondary follicles. Co-expression rates of SOX17 in VASA+ germ cells ranged from 81.29% to 97.81% in foetuses. Co-staining rates of SOX17 and PHH3 or SCP3 were 0%-34% and 0%-57%, respectively. Interestingly, we distinguished a subpopulation of SOX17+VASA- germ cells in fetal ovaries. These cells clustered in the cortex and could be co-stained with the mitosis marker PHH3 but not the meiosis marker SCP3.ConclusionsThe dynamic expression of SOX17 was detected in human female germ cells. We discovered a population of SOX17+ VASA- germ cells clustering at the cortex of ovaries. We could not find a relationship between mitosis or meiosis and SOX17 or VASA staining in germ cells. Our findings provide insight into the potential role of SOX17 involving germ cells maturation after specification, although the mechanism is unclear and needs further investigation.

【 授权许可】

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Copyright © 2023 Luo, Jie, Huang, Cai, Zhou, Liang, Zhou and Mai