Single-Cell RNAseq Resolve the Potential Effects of LanCL1 Gene in the Mouse Testis

Jiangting Lu; Jinling Liao; Min Qin; Hui Li; Qingyuan Zhang; Yang Chen; Jiwen Cheng

doi:10.3390/cells11244135

Single-Cell RNAseq Resolve the Potential Effects of LanCL1 Gene in the Mouse Testis

Cells. 2022 Dec 19;11(24):4135. doi: 10.3390/cells11244135.

Authors

Jiangting Lu¹, Jinling Liao², Min Qin³, Hui Li¹, Qingyuan Zhang¹, Yang Chen^{1

2}, Jiwen Cheng^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China.
² Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Key Laboratory for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Collaborative Innovation Center for Genomic and Personalized Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China.
³ Human Sperm Bank, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China.

Abstract

Infertility affects lots of couples, half of which are caused by male factors. The LanCL1 gene is highly expressed in testis specifically, which might affect the development of sperms. In order to understand the potential functions of the LanCL1 gene in the testis, this study was conducted with constructed transgenic LanCL1 knockout mice. The mouse breeding experiment, semen analysis and single-cell RNAseq of testicular tissue were performed. Results suggested that the LanCL1 gene would significantly influence the reproduction ability and sperm motility of male mice. Single-cell RNAseq also confirmed the high expression of the LanCL1 gene in the spermatocytes and spermatids. Downregulating the LanCL1 gene expression could promote M2 macrophage polarity to maintain testicular homeostasis. Moreover, the LanCL1 gene could affect both the germ cells and stromal cells through various pathways such as the P53 signaling and the PPAR signaling pathway to disturb the normal process of spermatogenesis. However, no effects of the LanCL1 gene in testosterone synthesis and serum testosterone level were shown. Further studies are needed to discuss the mechanisms of the LanCL1 gene in the various cells of the testis independently.

Keywords: LanCL1; male infertility; single-cell RNAseq; sperm; transgenic mice.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Male
Mice
Mice, Transgenic
Single-Cell Gene Expression Analysis*
Sperm Motility
Spermatids / metabolism
Testis* / metabolism
Testosterone / metabolism

Substances

Testosterone

Grants and funding

This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant numbers 81901538, 82160483), the National innovation and entrepreneurship training program for college students (202110598044), the Guangxi key Laboratory for Genomic and Personalized Medicine [grant number 16-380-54, 17-259-45, 19-050-22, 19-185-33, 20-065-33, 22-35-17], Guangxi Science and Technology Major Project (Grant No. GuikeAA22096030), Guangxi Science and Technology Major Project (Grant No. Guike AA22096032), and Guangxi Key Research and Development Project (Grant No. Guike AB21196022).