MiR-638 Inhibits immature Sertoli cell growth by indirectly inactivating PI3K/AKT pathway via SPAG1 gene. Issue 23 (2nd December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hu, Pandi; Guan, Kaifeng; Feng, Yue; Ma, Changping; Song, Huibin; Li, Yang; Xia, Xuanyan; Li, Jialian; Li, Fenge
• Is Part Of: Cell cycle. Volume 16:Issue 23(2017)
• Page Start: 2290
• Page End: 2300
• Publication Date: 2017-12-02
• Subjects: Pig -- miR-638 -- SPAG1 -- ST cells -- spermatogenesis; Cell cycle -- Periodicals; 571.84377
• DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2017.1380130
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1538-4101

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Numerous studies have demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in cell growth, apoptosis and spermatogenesis. Our previous study showed that miR-638 was differentially expressed in sexually immature and mature testes of Large White boars. Here we reported that sperm-associated antigen 1 ( SPAG1 ) was a direct target gene of miR-638. Moreover, miR-638 inhibited cell proliferation and cell cycle, and promoted apoptosis of porcine immature Sertoli cells. Key genes including phosphorylated phosphatidylinositide 3-kinases (p-PI3K) and phosphorylated serine/ threonine kinase (p-AKT) in PI3K/AKT pathway as well as cell cycle factors including c-MYC, cyclin-D1 (CCND1), cyclin-E1 (CCNE1) and cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) were all significantly down-regulated after overexpression of miR-638 or RNAi of SPAG1 . Notably, mRNA levels of SRY-related HMG-box 2 ( SOX2) and POU domain, class 5, transcription factor 1 ( POU5F1) essential for spermatogonia proliferation were significantly suppressed in SPAG1 siRNA- transfected ST cells. This study suggests that miR-638 regulates immature Sertoli cell growth and apoptosis by targeting SPAG1 gene which can indirectly inactivate PI3K/AKT pathway, and plays roles in pig spermatogenesis.