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The molecular signature of human testicular peritubular cells revealed by single-cell analysis

ABSTRACT: Peritubular cells of the human testis form a small compartment surrounding the seminiferous tubules. It contrast to rodents, it is composed of several cell layers and extracellular matrix. Peritubular cells are crucial for sperm transport and emerge as contributors to the spermatogonial stem cell niche, yet testicular peritubular cells are among the least known cell types of the human body. We employed single-cell RNA sequencing of cultured human testicular peritubular cells (HTPCs) isolated from testicular samples of donors with normal spermatogenesis and compared our data with recently published ex vivo data and, if available, with immunohistochemical data of the Human Protein Atlas. We observed a significant overlap between our results and genes expressed in vivo. Based on expression of a set of smooth muscle markers, HTPCs can be classified as smooth muscle cells. Small differences between in vivo/in vitro expressed genes may be due to plasticity/phenotypic switching. Plasticity was also shown upon addition of FCS to the culture medium. Based on transcriptome similarities four cellular states were observed. Characteristics of mesenchymal stromal cells and Leydig stem cells were noted, yet differentiation attempts into fat cells, bone cells or mature Leydig cells were not successful. Further analyses confirmed known stem cell niche-relevant factors (e.g. GDNF) and identified unknown functions e.g. the ability to produce retinoic acid. The results reveal that HTPCs upon isolation and culture are a highly adequate cellular model as they retain major characteristics. They therefore allow us to define the signature and functions of human testicular peritubular cells. The data may serve as a resource for future studies to better understand male (in)fertility.

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

PROVIDER: GSE212944 | GEO | 2022/12/12

REPOSITORIES: GEO

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Project description:Infertility affects approximately 15% of couples, and in couples where a male factor is present 15% of these males lack production of any sperm. In order to derive novel regenerative therapies, we must first have an improved understanding of the cell-type-specific function in normal and infertile human testes that regulate spermatogenesis must be achieved. This understanding requires the ability to isolate and functionally characterize each human testis cell type in isolation and in combination within the spermatogenic niche. Similar to other human organ systems, lack of availability to obtain biopsies with viable cells to subsequently, isolate and propagate specific cell types, has stifled human spermatogenesis research. Previous researchers have utilized engineering human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) to generate various organ specific cell types for use as in vitro models. In the human testis, previous groups have derived Leydig cells, Sertoli cells, spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs), macrophages and endothelial cells via this method. However, peritubular myoid cells (PTMs) which serve critical roles in human testis cytoarchitecture and spermatogenic regulation, remain to be derived. Therefore, this study set forth to generate hiPSC-derived PTMs to serve as a tool to model and study human PTM function and in vitro spermatogenic modelling by deriving the final missing somatic cell type ofin the human testis. PTMs and Leydig cells arise from a common progenitor, so it was hypothesized that PTMs could be derived by modifying an existing differentiation protocol for Leydig cell differentiation from hiPSCs. These hiPSC-derived cells, or hPTMs, were characterized and compared to hiPSC-derived Leydig cells (hLCs) and primary PTMs. Results show that the substitution of the molecular patterning factor Platelet-Derived Growth Factor Subunit B (PDGFBB) for Platelet-Derived Growth Factor Subunit A (PDGFAA) in a molecule-based differentiation protocol for deriving Leydig-like cells is sufficient to derive cells with peritubular myoid-like transcriptomes and smooth muscle protein expression in an hiPSC line primed for a mesoderm lineage. Results also indicate that maturation of differentiated PTMs between hiPSC lines is variable. Comparison of lineage affiliated gene expression suggests that hiPSC lines with gene expression reflecting a primed state for mesoderm lineage can more efficiently and consistently derive hPTM-like cells. Overall, these hPTMs will allow for in vitro study of their phenotypes and functional role in spermatogenesis.

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The molecular signature of human testicular peritubular cells revealed by single-cell analysis

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