1. Academic Validation
  2. Wnt5a Regulates Junctional Function of Sertoli cells Through PCP-mediated Effects on mTORC1 and mTORC2

Wnt5a Regulates Junctional Function of Sertoli cells Through PCP-mediated Effects on mTORC1 and mTORC2

  • Endocrinology. 2021 Oct 1;162(10):bqab149. doi: 10.1210/endocr/bqab149.
Yan Fu 1 2 3 Yuexin Wei 1 2 3 Yu Zhou 1 2 3 Huan Wu 1 2 3 Yifan Hong 1 2 3 Chunlan Long 2 3 Junke Wang 1 2 3 Yuhao Wu 1 2 3 Shengde Wu 1 3 Lianju Shen 2 3 Guanghui Wei 1 3
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China.
  • 2 Pediatric Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China.
  • 3 Chongqing Key Laboratory of Children Urogenital Development and Tissue Engineering; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics; Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders; National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders; China International Science and Technology Cooperation base of Child development and Critical Disorders, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400014, PR China.
Abstract

The blood-testis barrier (BTB) and apical ectoplasmic specialization (ES), which are synchronized through the crosstalk of Sertoli cells and Sertoli germ cells, are required for spermatogenesis and sperm release. Here, we show that Wnt5a, a noncanonical Wnt signaling pathway ligand, is predominately expressed in both the BTB and apical ES and has a specific expression pattern during the seminiferous epithelium cycle. We employed siRNA to knockdown Wnt5a expression in testis and Sertoli cells, and then identified elongated spermatids that lost their polarity and were embedded in the seminiferous epithelium. Moreover, phagosomes were found near the tubule lumen. These defects were due to BTB and apical ES disruption. We also verified that the expression level and/or location of BTB-associated proteins, actin binding proteins (ABPs), and F-actin was changed after Wnt5a knockdown in vivo and in vitro. Additionally, we demonstrated that Wnt5a regulated actin dynamics through Ror2-mediated mTORC1 and mTORC2. This study clarified the molecular mechanism of Wnt5a in Sertoli cell junctions through the planar cell polarity (PCP) signaling pathway. Our findings could provide an experimental basis for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of male infertility caused by Sertoli cell junction impairment.

Keywords

BTB; PCP; Wnt5a; mTOR.

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