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POSTN Promotes the Proliferation of Spermatogonial Cells by Activating the Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway

  • Male Reproduction: Original Article
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Abstract

The self-renewal of spermatogonial cells (SCs) provides the foundation for life-long spermatogenesis. To date, only a few growth factors have been used for the culture of SCs in vitro, and how to enhance proliferation capacity of SCs in vitro needs further research. This study aimed to explore the effects of periostin (POSTN) on the proliferation of human SCs. GC-1 spg cells were cultured in a medium with POSTN, cell proliferation was evaluated by MTS analysis and EdU assay, and the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway was examined. Thereafter, the proliferations of human SC were detected using immunofluorescence and RT-PCR. In this study, we found that CM secreted by human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs) could enhance the proliferation capacity of mouse GC-1 spg cells. Label-free mass spectrometry and ELISA analysis demonstrated that high level of POSTN was secreted by hAMSCs. MTS and EdU staining showed that POSTN increased GC-1 spg cell proliferation, whereas CM from POSTN-silenced hAMSCs suppressed cell proliferation capacity. Then POSTN was found to activate the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway to regulate the proliferation of GC-1 spg cells. XAV-939, a Wnt/β-catenin inhibitor, partially reversed the effects of POSTN on GC-1 spg cell proliferation. We then analyzed human SCs and found that POSTN promoted human SC proliferation in vitro. These findings provide insights regarding the role of POSTN in regulating SC proliferation via the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway and suggest that POSTN may serve as a cytokine for male infertility therapy.

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Abbreviations

SC:

spermatogonial cell

hAMSCs:

human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells

CM:

condition medium

hAECs:

human amniotic epithelial cells

ESCs:

human embryonic stem cells

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Funding

This research was funded by Shenyang Science and Technology Plan, grant number 20-204-4-31, and National Key Research and Development Program of China, grant number 2016YFC1000600, and The APC was funded by 20-204-4-31.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Shenyang Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110013, Liaoning, China

    Caihong Li, Hongguang Nie, Tao Zhang & Xining Pang

  2. Center for Reproductive Medicine, Assisted Reproductive Technology Laboratory, Shenyang Jinghua Hospital, Shenyang, 110005, Liaoning, China

    Caihong Li, Dongkai Cheng & Peng Xu

  3. Shenyang Amnion Bioengineering and Technology R & D Center, Shenyang Liaoning Amnion Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Professional Technology Innovation Platform, Liaoning Human Amniotic Membrane Biological Dressing Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Engineering Research Center, Shenyang, 110015, Liaoning, China

    Xining Pang

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  1. Caihong Li
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  2. Dongkai Cheng
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  3. Peng Xu
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  4. Hongguang Nie
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  5. Tao Zhang
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Correspondence to Tao Zhang or Xining Pang.

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Li, C., Cheng, D., Xu, P. et al. POSTN Promotes the Proliferation of Spermatogonial Cells by Activating the Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway. Reprod. Sci. 28, 2906–2915 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43032-021-00596-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43032-021-00596-1

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