Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39555675›Full record

ArticleAdvanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)2025

Reconstructing the Stem Leydig Cell Niche via the Testicular Extracellular Matrix for the Treatment of Testicular Leydig Cell Dysfunction.

Ani Chi, Chao Yang, Jie Liu, Zhichen Zhai, Xuetao Shi

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
11citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

11 citing papers in PubMed.

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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

5 authors.

Ani ChiNational Engineering Research Centre for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction, Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Guangdong Province, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, P. R. China.
Chao YangNational Engineering Research Centre for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction, Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Guangdong Province, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, P. R. China.
Jie LiuNational Engineering Research Centre for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction, Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Guangdong Province, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, P. R. China.
Zhichen ZhaiNational Engineering Research Centre for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction, Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Guangdong Province, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, P. R. China.
Xuetao ShiNational Engineering Research Centre for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction, Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Guangdong Province, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, P. R. China.ORCID 0000-0003-3896-5097

Funding

Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of Guangdong Province 2022B1515130010Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of Guangdong Province 2024B1515040030Innovative Research Group Project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China U22A20157National Key Research and Development Program (NKRDP) of China 2021YFB3800800
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Therapies involving the use of stem Leydig cells (SLCs), as testicular mesenchymal stromal cells, have shown great promise in the treatment of Leydig cell (LC) dysfunction in aging males. However, the outcomes of these therapies are not satisfactory. In this study, it is demonstrated that the aging microenvironment of the testicular interstitium impairs the function of SLCs, leading to poor regeneration of LCs and, consequently, inefficient functional restoration. The study develops a decellularized testicular extracellular matrix (dTECM) hydrogel from young pigs and evaluates its safety and feasibility as a supportive niche for the expansion and differentiation of SLCs. dTECM hydrogel facilitates the steroidogenic differentiation of SLCs into LCs, the primary producers of testosterone. The combination of SLCs with a dTECM hydrogel leads to a significant and sustained increase in testosterone levels, which promotes the restoration of spermatogenesis and fertility in an LC-deficient and aged mouse model. Mechanistically, collagen 1 within the dTECM is identified as a key factor contributing to these effects. Notably, symptoms associated with testosterone deficiency syndrome are significantly alleviated in aged mice. These findings may aid the design of therapeutic interventions for patients with testosterone deficiency in the clinic.

Indexed as

Extracellular MatrixLeydig CellsStem Cell NicheTestisAnimalsCell DifferentiationMaleMiceSpermatogenesisSwineTestosteroneTestosteroneagingextracellular matrixLeydig cellstem Leydig cell

Identifiers

PMID39555675
PMCPMC11727238

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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.