Project description:Because spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are virtually immortal by serial transplantation, SSC decrease in aged testes is considered to be caused by deteriorated microenvironment. Here we report cell-intrinsic mode of SSC aging. SSCs cultured for 5 years proliferate more actively than young SSCs and showed enhanced glycolytic activity but remain euploid and exhibited stable androgenetic imprinting patterns. Moreover, the aged SSCs kept constant SSC activity despite shortened telomeres. The increased proliferative activity of aged SSCs was caused by Wnt7b expression, which likely occurred due to decreased polycomb complex2 activity. Aberrant Wnt7b expression not only decreased reactive oxygen species levels and mitochondria activity but also stimulated glycolysis via c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation. Analysis of SSCs in Klotho aging mouse model also confirmed hyperactivation of JNK pathway and increased glycolysis. Therefore, not only SSC microenvironment but also intrinsic activation of Wnt7b-mediated glycolysis plays important roles in SSC aging.
Project description:Because spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are virtually immortal by serial transplantation, SSC decrease in aged testes is considered to be caused by deteriorated microenvironment. Here we report cell-intrinsic mode of SSC aging. SSCs cultured for 5 years proliferate more actively than young SSCs and showed enhanced glycolytic activity but remain euploid and exhibited stable androgenetic imprinting patterns. Moreover, the aged SSCs kept constant SSC activity despite shortened telomeres. The increased proliferative activity of aged SSCs was caused by Wnt7b expression, which likely occurred due to decreased polycomb complex2 activity. Aberrant Wnt7b expression not only decreased reactive oxygen species levels and mitochondria activity but also stimulated glycolysis via c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activation. Analysis of SSCs in Klotho aging mouse model also confirmed hyperactivation of JNK pathway and increased glycolysis. Therefore, not only SSC microenvironment but also intrinsic activation of Wnt7b-mediated glycolysis plays important roles in SSC aging.
Project description:In vitro and in vivo aging of mouse spermatogonial stem cells alters stem cell function based on quantitative spermatogonial stem cell transplantation analyses. We used microarrays to identify differential gene expression in vitro and in vivo aged spermatogonial stem cells to identify potential causes of observed phenotypic differences in aged spermatogonial stem cell function. Spermatogonial stem cells were isolated from young and serial-transplanted aged mouse donors and cultured for short and long periods. Spermatogonial stem cells were isolated from cultures and subjected to microarray analysis to identify differential gene expression.
Project description:The acetylation levels of histones and other proteins change during aging and have been linked to neurodegeneration. Here we show that deletion of the histone acetyltransferase (HAT) co-factor Trrap specifically impairs the function of the transcription factor Sp1, reduces its stability and causes a decrease in histone acetylation at Sp1 target genes. Modulation of Sp1 function by Trrap acts as a hub regulating multiple processes involved in neuron and neural stem cells function and maintenance including microtubule dynamics and the Wnt signaling pathway. Consistently, Trrap conditional mutants exhibit all hallmarks of neurodegeneration including dendrite retraction and axonal swellings, neuron death, astrogliosis, microglia activation, demyelination and decreased adult neurogenesis. Our results uncovered a novel functional network, essential to prevent neurodegeneration, and involving the specific regulation of Sp1 transcription factor and its downstream targets by Trrap-HAT.