Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37296437›Full record

ArticleReproductive biology and endocrinology : RB&E2023

Testis cell pyroptosis mediated by CASP1 and CASP4: possible sertoli cell-only syndrome pathogenesis.

Wantao Liu, Xinan Li, Qiang Ma, Yongtong Zhu, Wenzhong Zhao, Yisheng Yang, Weiqiang Xiao, Daxiong Huang, Fengbo Cai, David Yiu Leung Chan and 2 more

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Reproductive biology and endocrinology : RB&E, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed
2.2field-weighted citation impact, top 12% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed, 9 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors at 5 institutions in 1 country.

Wantao Liu *The First School of Clinical Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Xinan Li *School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511436, People's Republic of China.
Qiang MaThe First School of Clinical Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Yongtong ZhuThe First School of Clinical Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Wenzhong ZhaoNHC Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Family Planning Research Institute of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, China.
Yisheng YangThe First School of Clinical Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Weiqiang XiaoThe First School of Clinical Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Daxiong HuangThe First School of Clinical Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
Fengbo CaiThe First School of Clinical Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
David Yiu Leung ChanAssisted Reproductive Technology Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong, China. drdcyl16@cuhk.edu.hk.
Shanchao ZhaoThe First School of Clinical Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China. zhaoshanchao@263.net.
Qingjun ChuThe First School of Clinical Medicine, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China. 13763339658@163.com.
Nanfang Hospital · CNSouthern Medical University · CNGuangdong Provincial Family Planning Hospital · CNGuangzhou Medical University · CNPrince of Wales Hospital · CN

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSertoli cell-only syndrome (SCOS) is the most serious pathological type of non-obstructive azoospermia. Recently, several genes related to SCOS have been identified, including FANCM, TEX14, NR5A1, NANOS2, PLK4, WNK3, and FANCA, but they cannot fully explain the pathogenesis of SCOS. This study attempted to explain spermatogenesis dysfunction in SCOS through testicular tissue RNA sequencing and to provide new targets for SCOS diagnosis and therapy.

methodsWe analyzed differentially expressed genes (DEGs) based on RNA sequencing of nine patients with SCOS and three patients with obstructive azoospermia and normal spermatogenesis. We further explored the identified genes using ELISA and immunohistochemistry.

resultsIn total, 9406 DEGs were expressed (Log2|FC|≥ 1; adjusted P value < 0.05) in SCOS samples, and 21 hub genes were identified. Three upregulated core genes were found, including CASP4, CASP1, and PLA2G4A. Thus, we hypothesized that testis cell pyroptosis mediated by CASP1 and CASP4 might be involved in SCOS occurrence and development. ELISA verified that CASP1 and CASP4 activities in the testes of patients with SCOS were significantly higher than those in patients with normal spermatogenesis. Immunohistochemical results showed that CASP1 and CASP4 in the normal spermatogenesis group were mainly expressed in the nuclei of spermatogenic, Sertoli, and interstitial cells. CASP1 and CASP4 in the SCOS group were mainly expressed in the nuclei of Sertoli and interstitial cells because of the loss of spermatogonia and spermatocytes. CASP1 and CASP4 expression levels in the testes of patients with SCOS were significantly higher than those in patients with normal spermatogenisis. Furthermore, the pyroptosis-related proteins GSDMD and GSDME in the testes of patients with SCOS were also significantly higher than those in control patients. ELISA also showed that inflammatory factors (IL-1 β, IL-18, LDH, and ROS) were significantly increased in the SCOS group.

conclusionsFor the first time, we found that cell pyroptosis-related genes and key markers were significantly increased in the testes of patients with SCOS. We also observed many inflammatory and oxidative stress reactions in SCOS. Thus, we propose that testis cell pyroptosis mediated by CASP1 and CASP4 could participate in SCOS occurrence and development.

Indexed as

AzoospermiaSertoli Cell-Only SyndromeDNA HelicasesHumansMaleProtein Serine-Threonine KinasesPyroptosisSpermatogenesisTestisTranscription FactorsDNA HelicasesFANCM protein, humanPLK4 protein, humanProtein Serine-Threonine KinasesTEX14 protein, humanTranscription FactorsCASP1CASP4PyroptosisSertoli cell-only syndrome (SCOS)

Identifiers

PMID37296437
PMCPMC10250861
OpenAlexW4379987963

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.