BACKGROUND: Regenerative medicine and transplantation science continuously seek methods to circumvent immune-mediated rejection and promote tissue regeneration. Sertoli cells, with their inherent immunoprotective properties, emerge as pivotal players in this quest. However, whether Sertoli cells can play immunomodulatory role in tadpole tail regeneration and can thus benefit the regeneration process are needed to be discovered. METHODS: Immature Sertoli cells from Xenopus tropicalis (XtiSCs) were transplanted into X. tropicalis tadpoles, followed by the amputation of the final third of their tails. We assessed the migration of XtiSCs, tail regeneration length, muscle degradation and growth, and macrophage counts across various regions including the entire tail, tail trunk, injection site, and regeneration site. The interactions between XtiSCs and macrophages were examined using a confocal microscope. To deplete macrophages, clodronate liposomes were administered prior to the transplantation of XtiSCs, while the administration of control liposomes acted as a negative control. Student's t-test was used to compare the effects of XtiSCs injection to those of a 2/3PBS injection across groups with no liposomes, control liposomes, and clodronate liposomes. RESULTS: XtiSCs have excellent viability after transplantation to tadpole tail and remarkable homing capabilities to the regeneration site after tail amputation. XtiSCs injection increased macrophage numbers at 3 days post-amputation and 5 days post-amputation in the tail trunk, specifically at the injection site and at the regenerated tail, in a macrophage depleted environment (clodronate-liposome injection). What's more, XtiSCs injection decreased muscle fibers degradation significantly at 1 day post-amputation and facilitated new muscle growth significantly at 3 days post-amputation. In addition, whole-mount immunostaining showed that some XtiSCs co-localized with macrophages. And we observed potential mitochondria transport from XtiSCs to macrophages using MitoTracker staining in tadpole tail. CONCLUSIONS: Our study delineates the novel role of XtiSCs in facilitating muscle regeneration post tadpole tail amputation, underscoring a unique interaction with macrophages that is crucial for regenerative success. This study not only highlights the therapeutic potential of Sertoli cells in regenerative medicine but also opens avenues for clinical translation, offering insights into immunoregulatory strategies that could enhance tissue regeneration and transplant acceptance.

• Klíčová slova
• Xenopus, Immature sertoli cells, Macrophages, Regeneration, Tadpole,
• MeSH
• imunomodulace MeSH
• larva * MeSH
• makrofágy * metabolismus   imunologie   MeSH
• ocas MeSH
• regenerace * MeSH
• Sertoliho buňky * cytologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• Xenopus * MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

Sertoli cells (SCs) play a central role in the determination of male sex during embryogenesis and spermatogenesis in adulthood. Failure in SC development is responsible for male sterility and testicular cancer. Before the onset of puberty, SCs are immature and differ considerably from mature cells in post-pubertal individuals regarding their morphology and biochemical activity. The major intermediate filament (IF) in mature SCs is vimentin, anchoring germ cells to the seminiferous epithelium. The collapse of vimentin has resulted in the disintegration of seminiferous epithelium and subsequent germ cell apoptosis. However, another IF, cytokeratin (CK) is observed only transiently in immature SCs in many species. Nevertheless, its function in SC differentiation is poorly understood. We examined the interconnection between CK and cell junctions using membrane β-catenin as a marker during testicular development in the Xenopus tropicalis model. Immunohistochemistry on juvenile (5 months old) testes revealed co-expression of CK, membrane β-catenin and E-cadherin. Adult (3-year-old males) samples confirmed only E-cadherin expression; CK and β-catenin were lost. To study the interconnection between CK and β-catenin-based cell junctions, the culture of immature SCs (here called XtiSCs) was employed. Suppression of CK by acrylamide in XtiSCs led to breakdown of membrane-bound β-catenin but not F-actin and β-tubulin or cell-adhesion proteins (focal adhesion kinase and integrin β1). In contrast to the obvious dependence of membrane β-catenin on CK stability, the detachment of β-catenin from the plasma membrane via uncoupling of cadherins by Ca2+ chelator EGTA had no effect on CK integrity. Interestingly, CHIR99021, a GSK3 inhibitor, also suppressed the CK network, resulting in the inhibition of XtiSCs cell-to-cell contacts and testicular development in juvenile frogs. This study suggests a novel role of CK in the retention of β-catenin-based junctions in immature SCs, and thus provides structural support for seminiferous tubule formation and germ cell development.

• Klíčová slova
• Adherens junctions, Cytokeratin, Immature Sertoli cells, Testicles, Xenopus tropicalis,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2019/8387478.].

• Publikační typ
• tisková chyba MeSH