Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 16, 2025

Bead Aggregation Assays for the Characterization of Putative Cell Adhesion Molecules
Published on: October 17, 2014
Cadherin-18 loss in prospermatogonia and spermatogonial stem cells enhances cell adhesion through a compensatory
Xiao-Xiao Li1,2, Dan-Chen Zhang1,2, Yan Wang3
1Germline Stem Cells and Microenvironment Lab, College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210095, China.
Abstract:
Extracellular membrane proteins are crucial for mediating cell attachment, recognition, and signal transduction in the testicular microenvironment, particularly germline stem cells. Cadherin 18 (CDH18), a type II classical cadherin, is primarily expressed in the nervous and reproductive systems. Here, we investigated the expression of CDH18 in neonatal porcine prospermatogonia (ProSGs) and murine spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). Disruption of CDH18 expression did not adversely affect cell morphology, proliferation, self-renewal, or differentiation in cultured porcine ProSGs, but enhanced cell adhesion and prolonged cell maintenance. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that the down-regulation of CDH18 in ProSGs significantly up-regulated genes and signaling pathways associated with cell adhesion. To further elucidate the function of CDH18 in germ cells, Cdh18 knockout mice were generated, which exhibited normal testicular morphology, histology, and spermatogenesis. Transcriptomic analysis showed increased expression of genes associated with adhesion, consistent with the observations in porcine ProSGs. The interaction of CDH18 with β-catenin and JAK2 in both porcine ProSGs and murine SSCs suggested an inhibitory effect on the canonical Wnt and JAK-STAT signaling pathways during CDH18 deficiency. Collectively, these findings highlight the crucial role of CDH18 in regulating cell adhesion in porcine ProSGs and mouse SSCs. Understanding this regulatory mechanism provides significant insights into the testicular niche.
Related Concept Videos
Cadherins in Tissue Organization
Cell Sorting During Development
Cell sorting plays an...
Structure of Cadherins
Desmosomes
Adherens Junctions
Adherens Junctions are Dynamic
Tension Response at Adherens Junctions
α-Catenin as a Mechanosensory Protein
The α-catenin of adherens junctions is an allosteric protein with three VH (vinculin...
Role of Ephrin-Eph Signalling in Intestinal Stem Cell Renewal

