Single-cell analysis of human testis aging and correlation with elevated body mass index

• DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2022.04.004
• Publication Date: 2022-05-02T14:31:24Z
• Authors: Xichen Nie; Sarah K. Munyoki; Meena Sukhwani; Nina Schmid; Annika Missel; Benjamin R. Emery; DonorConnect; Jan-Bernd Stukenborg; Artur Mayerhofer; Kyle E. Orwig; Kenneth I. Aston; James M. Hotaling; Bradley R. Cairns; Jingtao Guo
• Keywords: Male; 2. Zero hunger; Aging; 0303 health sciences; Sertoli Cells; Body Mass Index; 03 medical and health sciences; Testis; Humans; Hedgehog Proteins; Single-Cell Analysis; Spermatogenesis; Aged

Aging men display reduced reproductive health; however, testis aging is poorly understood at the molecular and genomic levels. Here, we utilized single-cell RNA-seq to profile over 44,000 cells from both young older examined age-related changes in germline development testicular somatic cells. Age-related spermatogonial stem appeared modest, whereas dysregulation of spermatogenesis ranged moderate severe. Altered pathways included signaling inflammation multiple cell types, metabolic Sertoli cells, hedgehog testosterone production Leydig death growth peritubular possible developmental regression Remarkably, extent correlated with body mass index but not younger men. Collectively, reveal candidate mechanisms underlying complex conferred by their exacerbation concurrent chronic conditions such as obesity.