董進(jìn) 葉韜雯 李小冉 史建伍 趙偉 徐大偉 王鑫蕾 王成牛
[摘 ? 要] ? 目的:探究銀松素(pinosylvin)對Nrf2基因敲除小鼠少弱精癥的治療作用及機(jī)制。方法:將實驗小鼠分為野生型(WT)組、Nrf2-/-組和Nrf2-/-+pinosylvin組,Nrf2-/-+pinosylvin組小鼠給予100 mg/kg銀松素灌胃,持續(xù)灌胃4周,處死小鼠取出睪丸及附睪組織。使用計算機(jī)輔助分析系統(tǒng)檢測各組小鼠精子濃度與精子活力;蘇木素伊紅染色觀察小鼠睪丸及附睪病理變化;酶聯(lián)免疫吸附法檢測各組小鼠睪丸組織中丙二醛(malondialdehyde,MDA)及活性氧(reactive oxygen species,ROS)水平;Western blot檢測各組小鼠睪丸組織中鐵死亡相關(guān)蛋白谷胱甘肽過氧化物酶4(glutathione peroxidase 4,GPX4)和凋亡相關(guān)蛋白Bax、P53表達(dá)。結(jié)果:與WT組小鼠比較,Nrf2-/-組小鼠精子濃度和精子活力明顯降低,差異均有統(tǒng)計學(xué)意義(P<0.05),表明Nrf2-/-小鼠出現(xiàn)少弱精癥。病理切片染色顯示,Nrf2-/-組小鼠睪丸曲細(xì)精管內(nèi)大量生精細(xì)胞丟失,附睪內(nèi)精子數(shù)量顯著減少;給予銀松素干預(yù)治療后部分曲細(xì)精管中生殖細(xì)胞恢復(fù),附睪內(nèi)精子數(shù)量明顯增加。Nrf2-/-組小鼠睪丸組織中MDA和ROS含量較WT小鼠明顯上升,給予銀松素干預(yù)治療后Nrf2-/-組小鼠睪丸組織中MDA和ROS含量明顯降低,差異均有統(tǒng)計學(xué)意義(P<0.05)。Western blot檢測顯示,Nrf2-/-組小鼠睪丸組織中Bax和P53蛋白表達(dá)水平明顯高于WT組,銀松素干預(yù)后Nrf2-/-組小鼠Bax和P53蛋白表達(dá)水平顯著下降,差異均有統(tǒng)計學(xué)意義(P<0.05)。結(jié)論:銀松素可以改善Nrf2-/-小鼠少弱精癥,其作用機(jī)制可能與抗氧化應(yīng)激、抗細(xì)胞凋亡有關(guān),銀松素可能成為臨床治療男性少弱精癥的新藥物。
[關(guān)鍵詞] ? 少弱精癥;銀松素;氧化應(yīng)激;凋亡
[中圖分類號] R979.9 [文獻(xiàn)標(biāo)志碼] ? A [DOI] ? 10.19767/j.cnki.32-1412.2023.06.001
Study on the mechanism of role of pinosylvin in the treatment
of oligozoospermia in Nrf2-/- mice
DONG Jin1, YE Taowen1, LI Xiaoran1, SHI Jianwu1,ZHAO Wei2, XU Dawei2,WANG Xinlei3, WANG Chengniu1
(1Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical College, Nantong University, Jiangsu 226001; 2the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University/the First Peoples Hospital of Nantong; 3Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University)
[Abstract] ? Objective:To investigate the therapeutic effect and mechanism of pinosylvin on oligozoospermia in Nrf2 gene knockout mice. Methods:The mice were divided into three experimental groups: the wild-type (WT) group, the homozygous (Nrf2-/-) group, and the homozygous + pinosylvin (Nrf2-/-+ pinosylvin) group. Nrf2-/- mice were administered with 100 mg/kg of pinosylvin through gavage. After a 4-week gavage period, the mice were euthanized to obtain the tissues of testes and epididymides. A computer-assisted analysis system was used to measure sperm concentration and motility in each group of mice. Pathological changes in the testes and epididymides of mice were observed through hematoxylin and eosin staining. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed to assess the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the testicular tissues of mice from each group. Western blot analysis was performed to examine the expression levels of ferroptosis-related protein glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), apoptosis-related proteins B-cell lymphoma 2-associated X protein (Bax) and P53 in the testicular tissues of mice. Results:Compared with the WT mice, the mice in Nrf2-/- group exhibited a significant decrease in sperm concentration and sperm motility, with statistically significant differences (P<0.05), indicating the manifestation of oligozoospermia symptoms in Nrf2-/- mice. Pathological section staining showed a substantial loss of germ cells in the seminiferous tubules and a significant reduction in sperm count in the epididymis in Nrf2-/- mice. After treatment with pinosylvin, germ cells in some seminiferous tubules recovered, and the sperm count in the epididymis noticeably increased. The levels of MDA and ROS in the testicular tissues of Nrf2-/- mice were markedly elevated than that in the WT mice. However, pinosylvin treatment decreased MDA and ROS levels in the testicular tissues of Nrf2-/- mice, with statistical differences (P<0.05). Western blot analysis revealed that the protein expression levels of Bax and P53 in the testicular tissues of Nrf2-/- mice were significantly higher than those in the WT group. Nevertheless, pinosylvin treatment decreased the expression levels of Bax and P53 in Nrf2-/- mice, with statistical differences (P<0.05). Conclusion: Pinosylvin can ameliorate oligozoospermia symptoms in Nrf2-/- mice, and its mechanism of action may be associated with anti-oxidative stress and anti-apoptosis. These findings suggest that pinosylvin could potentially serve as a new therapeutic drug for the clinical treatment of male oligozoospermia.
[Key words] ? oligozoospermia; pinosylvin; oxidative stress; apoptosis
銀松素(反式-3,5-二羥基二苯乙烯,pinosylvin)是在以松科為代表的植物中天然存在的芪類化合物,當(dāng)植物受到生物或非生物威脅如外傷、食草動物、真菌、臭氧、紫外線時,銀松素會通過丙二酰輔酶A及肉桂酰輔酶A反應(yīng)生成細(xì)胞松弛素,起到自衛(wèi)作用[1]。藥理學(xué)測試發(fā)現(xiàn)銀松素生物活性非常廣譜,具有抗微生物、抗炎、抗腫瘤、抗氧化、神經(jīng)保護(hù)以及抗免疫變態(tài)反應(yīng)等作用[2-5]。
當(dāng)前全球面臨生育率下降趨勢,許多育齡夫婦受到不孕不育的困擾,其中男性因素約占50%,少弱精癥是引起男性不育的主要因素之一,環(huán)境污染、酒精、煙草等均可能導(dǎo)致男性少弱精癥[6-8]。研究發(fā)現(xiàn),高活性氧(reactive oxygen species,ROS)導(dǎo)致的氧化應(yīng)激是少弱精癥發(fā)生的重要機(jī)制之一。我們前期研究已證明銀松素通過激活Nrf2/ARE信號通路調(diào)節(jié)活性氧水平,從而改善少弱精癥[9-10]。本研究通過Nrf2基因敲除(Nrf2-/-)小鼠模型,探究銀松素改善少弱精癥的作用機(jī)制。
1 ? 材料與方法
1.1 ? 實驗動物 ? 將Nrf2-/-小鼠飼養(yǎng)于南通大學(xué)實驗動物中心,SPF級屏障系統(tǒng),環(huán)境溫度(22±2)℃,相對濕度50%~70%,早7:30~晚7:30晝夜間斷照明,全程自由飲食、進(jìn)水。本研究經(jīng)南通大學(xué)實驗動物倫理委員會審核批準(zhǔn)。
1.2 ? 藥物與試劑 ? 銀松素參照文獻(xiàn)合成[9];HE染色試劑盒(Biosharp,BL700A);小鼠丙二醛(malondialdehyde,MDA)ELISA試劑盒(草之源,cby23821);小鼠活性氧ELISA試劑盒(草之源,cby18879);ECL化學(xué)發(fā)光底物(Biosharp,BL520A);Nrf2單克隆抗體(貨號12721s)、GPX4多克隆抗體(貨號52455s)、P53單克隆抗體(貨號2524S)、BAX多克隆抗體(貨號2772S)均購自Cell Signaling Technology公司。
1.3 ? 分組與給藥 ? 將實驗小鼠分為野生型(WT)組、Nrf2-/-組及Nrf2-/-+pinosylvin組,每組各5只。將銀松素溶解在5%DMSO水溶液中,Nrf2-/-+pinosylvin組小鼠每天給予100 mg/kg銀松素灌胃,持續(xù)給藥4周。末次給藥24 h后,稱小鼠體重,頸椎脫臼處死后打開腹腔,稱取雙側(cè)睪丸濕重并記錄。
1.4 ? 精子參數(shù)檢測 ? 小鼠處死后,迅速將一側(cè)附睪尾轉(zhuǎn)移至提前預(yù)熱至37 °C含2 mL臺式液的小皿中,剪碎,輕輕搖勻,溫育15 min后吸取10 μL稀釋液至精子計數(shù)板中,采用精子自動計數(shù)分析系統(tǒng)進(jìn)行精子參數(shù)檢測。
1.5 ? 蘇木素伊紅(HE)染色 ? 將睪丸和附睪組織浸泡于4%多聚甲醛中4 °C過夜,隨后乙醇梯度脫水、二甲苯透明、浸蠟、包埋、切片烘干,制成石蠟切片備用。切片經(jīng)二甲苯脫蠟、梯度乙醇水化、蘇木素染色、1%鹽酸酒精分化、伊紅染色、梯度酒精脫水、二甲苯透明、中性樹脂封片,在光學(xué)顯微鏡下觀察睪丸和附睪組織病理學(xué)形態(tài)變化。
1.6 ? 酶聯(lián)免疫吸附試驗 ? 取適量睪丸組織,勻漿、裂解、離心后獲取組織總蛋白。采用BCA法測定蛋白濃度,按照試劑盒說明書測定小鼠睪丸組織中MDA和ROS含量。
1.7 ? Western Blot檢測 ? 提取的總蛋白中添加5×loading buffer后,95 °C 5 min蛋白變性。電泳、轉(zhuǎn)膜、封閉后,按抗體說明書推薦比例稀釋一抗,孵育過夜;二抗室溫孵育1 h,化學(xué)發(fā)光法顯影。
1.8 ? 統(tǒng)計學(xué)處理 ? 應(yīng)用統(tǒng)計學(xué)軟件GraphPad Prism 8.0對數(shù)據(jù)進(jìn)行分析處理。計量資料以x±s表示,組間比較采用單因素方差分析及t檢驗。P<0.05為差異有統(tǒng)計學(xué)意義。
2 ? 結(jié) ? ? ?果
2.1 ? 銀松素提高Nrf2-/-小鼠精子參數(shù)水平 ? 與WT小鼠比較,Nrf2-/-小鼠精子濃度和精子活力均明顯降低,而給予Nrf2-/-小鼠銀松素干預(yù)后,精子濃度和活力明顯增加,差異均有統(tǒng)計學(xué)意義(P<0.01或P<0.0001)。見圖1。
2.2 ? 銀松素減輕Nrf2-/-小鼠睪丸組織損傷 ? 病理切片染色顯示,WT小鼠睪丸中各級生精細(xì)胞排列整齊,曲細(xì)精管內(nèi)可見完整的精子發(fā)生,同時附睪內(nèi)可見大量精子。Nrf2-/-小鼠睪丸生精小管內(nèi)大量生精細(xì)胞丟失,附睪頭、體、尾可見精子數(shù)量明顯減少。給予銀松素干預(yù)治療后,部分曲細(xì)精管中生精細(xì)胞恢復(fù),甚至出現(xiàn)延長型精子,在附睪尾中精子也得到一定程度的恢復(fù)。見圖2。
2.3 ? 銀松素降低睪丸組織中丙二醛和活性氧含量 ? 與野生型小鼠比較Nrf2-/-小鼠睪丸組織中MDA和ROS水平顯著升高,差異均有統(tǒng)計學(xué)意義(P<0.0001),提示Nrf2基因敲除后,小鼠睪丸組織中發(fā)生了氧化應(yīng)激。給予銀松素干預(yù)治療后Nrf2-/-小鼠睪丸組織中MDA和ROS水平顯著降低,差異均有統(tǒng)計學(xué)意義(P<0.0001),提示銀松素可減輕Nrf2-/-小鼠睪丸組織中的氧化應(yīng)激。見圖3。
2.4 ? 銀松素對鐵死亡和凋亡相關(guān)蛋白表達(dá)的影響 ? Western Blot檢測結(jié)果顯示,Nrf2-/-小鼠睪丸組織中凋亡相關(guān)蛋白P53和Bax表達(dá)較WT小鼠明顯增加,給予銀松素干預(yù)治療后睪丸組織中P53和Bax表達(dá)顯著降低,差異均有統(tǒng)計學(xué)意義(P<0.0001),提示銀松素具有抗細(xì)胞凋亡的作用。各組小鼠睪丸組織中GPX4表達(dá)比較,差異無統(tǒng)計學(xué)意義(P>0.05)。見圖4。
3 ? 討 ? ? ?論
已有文獻(xiàn)報道,Nrf2基因敲除會導(dǎo)致小鼠睪丸組織中發(fā)生鐵死亡,產(chǎn)生少弱精癥[11]。鐵死亡是一種區(qū)別于凋亡的細(xì)胞程序性死亡方式,主要特征是脂質(zhì)過氧化物水平升高,活性氧水平上升,機(jī)體氧化-抗氧化系統(tǒng)失衡,發(fā)生氧化應(yīng)激,導(dǎo)致細(xì)胞死亡[12]。從凋亡、自噬、焦亡、鐵死亡到近兩年發(fā)現(xiàn)的銅死亡、雙硫死亡[13-14],活性氧水平失衡導(dǎo)致的氧化應(yīng)激是細(xì)胞各種程序性死亡的誘因之一。銀松素作為天然的強效抗氧化物質(zhì),具有美白、抗癌、神經(jīng)保護(hù)等作用,但其在生殖系統(tǒng)中的功效相關(guān)報道較少。本研究發(fā)現(xiàn)在Nrf2基因敲除后,銀松素并未通過Nrf2-GPX4軸對鐵死亡起到明顯的調(diào)控作用,但是銀松素降低了Nrf2-/-小鼠活性氧水平,減輕氧化應(yīng)激導(dǎo)致的睪丸損傷。有研究報道銀松素有效減輕Nrf2-/-小鼠慢性氧化應(yīng)激的發(fā)生,與本研究結(jié)果一致,提示銀松素可能通過調(diào)控其他(非Nrf2)通路發(fā)揮抗氧化作用[15]。
P53是一種調(diào)控細(xì)胞分裂的腫瘤抑制蛋白和轉(zhuǎn)錄因子,阻止DNA突變或受損細(xì)胞分裂,導(dǎo)致細(xì)胞周期停滯,并通過轉(zhuǎn)錄調(diào)控細(xì)胞凋亡信號傳導(dǎo)[16]。Bax基因是人體最主要的促凋亡基因,Bax蛋白與Bcl-2形成異二聚體抑制Bcl-2的抗凋亡作用[17]。本研究結(jié)果顯示,Nrf2-/-小鼠睪丸組織中凋亡相關(guān)蛋白Bax、P53表達(dá)上調(diào),而銀松素降低P53和Bax蛋白的表達(dá),提示銀松素具有一定的抗細(xì)胞凋亡作用。
綜上所述,銀松素可能通過抗氧化應(yīng)激和抗凋亡作用減輕睪丸生精細(xì)胞的損傷,從而減輕Nrf2-/-小鼠少弱精癥狀。
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[收稿日期] 2023-11-07
(本文編輯 ? 趙喜)