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Identification of Rat Testicular Leydig Precursor Cells by Single-Cell-RNA-Sequence Analysis
Xiaoju Guan1,2, Panpan Chen2, Minpeng Ji1
1Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Anesthesiology, Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
|March 4, 2022
Summary
Adult testis stem Leydig cells (SLCs) are crucial for Leydig cell regeneration. Stromal cells identified via single-cell RNA-seq show distinct proliferation and differentiation pathways, suggesting separate regulation for stem cell maintenance and Leydig cell formation.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive biology
- Stem cell research
- Cellular and molecular biology
Background:
- Stem Leydig cells (SLCs) are vital for adult Leydig cell (ALC) population maintenance.
- The precise identity, characteristics, and regulation of SLCs in the adult testis are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of mesenchymal stromal cells in ALC regeneration.
- To identify and characterize distinct stromal cell populations involved in proliferation and differentiation.
- To elucidate the regulatory mechanisms governing SLCs.
Main Methods:
- Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was employed to analyze stromal cell populations.
- Transcriptomic analysis was used to classify stromal cell clusters based on gene expression.
- Leydig cell elimination models were used to observe regenerative responses.
Main Results:
- scRNA-seq identified five stromal cell clusters, categorized into proliferating and differentiating groups.
- Proliferating cells, identified as stem cells, express markers like CD90, Nes, Lum, Fn, and Gap43.
- Differentiating cells, representing progenitors, express markers such as Vtn, Rasl11a, Id1, and Egr2.
- Observations suggest separate regulation of stem cell proliferation and differentiation, with population-level maintenance of the stem cell pool.
Conclusions:
- Mesenchymal stromal cells are implicated in adult Leydig cell regeneration.
- Distinct molecular markers identify proliferating stem cells and differentiating progenitors.
- Evidence supports separate regulation of stem cell proliferation and differentiation, crucial for maintaining the stem cell pool and Leydig cell homeostasis.
