A visualized and quercetin-optimized three-dimensional culture model of mouse ovaries derived from fetal gonads.

The culture of ovarian tissue is emerging as a popular technology to study female reproductive medicine. However, standard culture conditions usually increase the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS), hindering ovarian development. Here, we establish an visualized mouse ovarian explant 3D culture model with the GFP-BVSC reporter system and obtain the early follicle pool from fetal female gonads.

Lymphatic system is the mainstream for breast cancer dissemination and metastasis revealed by single-cell lineage tracing.

Cancer metastasis is the primary cause of cancer-related death, yet the forces that drive cancer cells through various steps and different routes to distinct target organs/tissues remain elusive. In this study, we applied a barcoding system based single-cell lineage tracing approach to study the metastasis rate and route of breast cancer cells and their interactions with the tumor microenvironment (TME) during metastasis. The results indicate that only a small fraction of cells, accounting for fewer than 3% of total barcodes, can intravasate from the primary site into the blood circulation, whereas more cells disseminate through the lymphatic system to different organs.

HELQ deficiency impairs the induction of primordial germ cell-like cells.

Helicase POLQ-like (HELQ) is a DNA helicase essential for the maintenance of genome stability. A recent study identified two HELQ missense mutations in some cases of infertile men. However, the functions of HELQ in the process of germline specification are not well known and whether its function is conserved between mouse and human remains unclear.

Single-cell multi-omics sequencing of human spermatogenesis reveals a DNA demethylation event associated with male meiotic recombination.

Human spermatogenesis is a highly ordered process; however, the roles of DNA methylation and chromatin accessibility in this process remain largely unknown. Here by simultaneously investigating the chromatin accessibility, DNA methylome and transcriptome landscapes using the modified single-cell chromatin overall omic-scale landscape sequencing approach, we revealed that the transcriptional changes throughout human spermatogenesis were correlated with chromatin accessibility changes. In particular, we identified a set of transcription factors and cis elements with potential functions.

Lovastatin promotes the self-renewal of murine and primate spermatogonial stem cells.

The spermatogonial stem cell (SSC) niche is critical for SSC maintenance and subsequent spermatogenesis. Numerous reproductive hazards impair the SSC niche, thereby resulting in aberrant SSC self-renewal and male infertility. However, promising agents targeting the impaired SSC niche to promote SSC self-renewal are still limited.

[Railway Emission Trends in China Based on Fuel Life Cycle Analysis].

Railway transportation is one of the main modes of modern transportation. Under the dual constraints of air quality improvement and carbon neutrality achievement, clarifying the emission trend of CO and pollutants in railway transportation is of great significance for pollution and carbon reduction in the transport sector. In this study, the CO and pollutant emission characteristics of Chinese railways from 2001 to 2018 were analyzed based on the fuel life cycle method.

The chemical reprogramming of unipotent adult germ cells towards authentic pluripotency and de novo establishment of imprinting.

Although somatic cells can be reprogrammed to pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) with pure chemicals, authentic pluripotency of chemically induced pluripotent stem cells (CiPSCs) has never been achieved through tetraploid complementation assay. Spontaneous reprogramming of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) was another non-transgenic way to obtain PSCs, but this process lacks mechanistic explanation. Here, we reconstructed the trajectory of mouse SSC reprogramming and developed a five-chemical combination, boosting the reprogramming efficiency by nearly 80- to 100-folds.

Targeting APLN/APJ restores blood-testis barrier and improves spermatogenesis in murine and human diabetic models.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is one of the most prevalent metabolic diseases presenting with systemic pathologies, including reproductive disorders in male diabetic patients. However, the molecular mechanisms that contributing to spermatogenesis dysfunction in diabetic patients have not yet been fully elucidated. Here, we perform STRT-seq to examine the transcriptome of diabetic patients' testes at single-cell resolution including all major cell types of the testis.

Single-cell multiomics sequencing reveals the reprogramming defects in embryos generated by round spermatid injection.

Round spermatid injection (ROSI) technique holds great promise for clinical treatment of a proportion of infertile men. However, the compromised developmental potential of ROSI embryos largely limits the clinical application, and the mechanisms are not fully understood. Here, we describe the transcriptome, chromatin accessibility, and DNA methylation landscapes of mouse ROSI embryos derived from early-stage round spermatids using a single-cell multiomics sequencing approach.

Association between single nucleotide polymorphism of rs1937 in TFAM gene and longevity among the elderly Chinese population: based on the CLHLS study.

Background: To investigate whether the mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) rs1937 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) is associated with longevity.

Methods: We conducted a case-control study among Chinese long-lived individuals (≥90 years). Data were obtained on 3294 participants who were able to voluntarily provided a saliva sample during 2008-2009 from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS).

Cell-fate transition and determination analysis of mouse male germ cells throughout development.

Mammalian male germ cell development is a stepwise cell-fate transition process; however, the full-term developmental profile of male germ cells remains undefined. Here, by interrogating the high-precision transcriptome atlas of 11,598 cells covering 28 critical time-points, we demonstrate that cell-fate transition from mitotic to post-mitotic primordial germ cells is accompanied by transcriptome-scale reconfiguration and a transitional cell state. Notch signaling pathway is essential for initiating mitotic arrest and the maintenance of male germ cells' identities.

A hydrostable samarium(III)-MOF sensor for the sensitive and selective detection of tryptophan based on a "dual antenna effect".

Tryptophan (Trp) is one of the essential amino acids, which plays important roles in biological systems and the normal growth of human beings, and it is of great significance to be able to detect Trp in a rapid, efficient, and sensitive way. Herein, a 3D network metal-organic framework ([Sm(BTEC)(HO)]·6HO) with excellent thermal and water stability was synthesized by a hydrothermal method. Interestingly, it could discriminate Trp from other natural amino acids in aqueous solution through a significant fluorescence enhancement effect, and showed high detection sensitivity (LOD = 330 nM) and outstanding anti-interference ability.

Dual functions of pH-sensitive cation Zr-MOF for 5-Fu: large drug-loading capacity and high-sensitivity fluorescence detection.

Nanomaterials, as carriers of small molecular drugs, have been a focal point in recent years. In this work, a carbazolyl functionalized metal-organic framework, UiO-67-CDC, was successfully synthesized employing the ligand 9H-carbazole-2,7-dicarboxylic acid (9H-2,7-CDC). Postsynthetic approaches targeted the cationization and replacement of the Lewis base carbazole site with two methyl groups, resulting in the positively charged skeleton, which has proven to be a promising carrier for the anticancer drug 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu).

A novel 3D coordination polymer constructed by dual-ligand for highly sensitive detection of purine metabolite uric acid.

Uric acid (UA), as the final product of purine metabolism, exists in urine and serum, which plays an important role in human metabolism, immunity and other functions. The sensitive, efficient, and rapid detection of UA has far-reaching significance in clinical diagnosis and disease prevention. Herein, a novel coordination polymer constructed by dual-ligand was successfully prepared, which exhibited excellent thermal and water stability.

The chromatin accessibility landscape reveals distinct transcriptional regulation in the induction of human primordial germ cell-like cells from pluripotent stem cells.

In vitro induction of human primordial germ cell-like cells (hPGCLCs) provides an ideal platform to recapitulate hPGC development. However, the detailed molecular mechanisms regulating the induction of hPGCLCs remain largely uncharacterized. Here, we profiled the chromatin accessibility and transcriptome dynamics throughout the process of hPGCLC induction.

Deciphering the autophagy regulatory network via single-cell transcriptome analysis reveals a requirement for autophagy homeostasis in spermatogenesis.

Autophagy has been implicated as a crucial component in spermatogenesis, and autophagy dysfunction can lead to reproductive disorders in animal models, including yeast, and mice. However, the sophisticated transcriptional networks of autophagic genes throughout human spermatogenesis and their biological significance remain largely uncharacterized. We profiled the transcriptional signatures of autophagy-related genes during human spermatogenesis by assessing specimens from nine fertile controls (including two normal persons and seven obstructive azoospermia (OA) patients) and one nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA) patient using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis.

The histone demethylase KDM2B regulates human primordial germ cell-like cells specification.

Germline specification is a fundamental step for human reproduction and this biological phenomenon possesses technical challenges to study as it occurs immediately after blastocyst implantation. The establishment of human primordial germ cell-like cells (hPGCLCs) induction system allows sophisticated characterization of human primordial germ cells (hPGCs) development. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of hPGCLC specification are not fully elucidated.

A weakly luminescent Tb-MOF-based "turn-on" sensor for the highly selective and sensitive sensing of an anthrax biomarker.

Bacillus anthracis is an extremely dangerous bacterium that is associated with high morbidity and mortality. 2,6-Pyridine dicarboxylic acid (DPA) is a major biomarker of Bacillus anthracis, and it is of great significance to be able to detect DPA in a rapid, efficient, and sensitive way. Herein, a 3D network metal-organic framework (Tb-MOF) with excellent thermal and water stability was synthesized.

Efficient generation of human primordial germ cell-like cells from pluripotent stem cells in a methylcellulose-based 3D system at large scale.

Background: The mechanisms underlying human germ cell development and infertility remain largely unknown due to bioethical issues and the shortage of experimental materials. Therefore, an effective in vitro induction system of human primordial germ-like cells (hPGCLCs) from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSC) is in high demand. The current strategies used for the generation of hPGCLCs are not only costly but also difficult to perform at a large scale, thereby posing barriers to further research.

Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Analysis Reveals Sequential Cell Fate Transition during Human Spermatogenesis.

Spermatogenesis generates mature male gametes and is critical for the proper transmission of genetic information between generations. However, the developmental landscapes of human spermatogenesis remain unknown. Here, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis for 2,854 testicular cells from donors with normal spermatogenesis and 174 testicular cells from one nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA) donor.

Rat embryonic stem cells produce fertile offspring through tetraploid complementation.

Pluripotency of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) can be functionally assessed according to the developmental potency. Tetraploid complementation, through which an entire organism is produced from the pluripotent donor cells, is taken as the most stringent test for pluripotency. It remains unclear whether ESCs of other species besides mice can pass this test.

Mitochondrial complex I deficiency leads to the retardation of early embryonic development in knockout mice.

Background: The gene encodes an 18-kD subunit of mitochondria complex I, and mutations in this gene lead to the development of a severe neurodegenerative disease called Leigh syndrome (LS) in humans. To investigate the disease phenotypes and molecular mechanisms of Leigh syndrome, the knockout (KO) mouse has been widely used as a novel animal model. Because the homozygotes cannot survive beyond child-bearing age, whether and mitochondrial complex I influence early embryonic development remains unknown.