1. Stem Leydig cells: Current research and future prospects of regenerative medicine of male reproductive health
- Author
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Zina Wen, Xiaoheng Li, Lei Zhen, Yiyan Wang, Erpo Tian, Ying Zhong, and Ren-Shan Ge
- Subjects
Male ,0301 basic medicine ,endocrine system ,Cellular differentiation ,CD34 ,Regenerative Medicine ,Regenerative medicine ,Mice ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Animals ,Humans ,CD90 ,biology ,Mesenchymal stem cell ,CD44 ,Leydig Cells ,Cell Biology ,Rats ,Cell biology ,Reproductive Health ,030104 developmental biology ,biology.protein ,Stem cell ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery ,Developmental Biology ,Adult stem cell - Abstract
Stem cells are specialized cells that can renew themselves through cell division and can differentiate into multi-lineage cells. Mesenchymal stem cells are adult stem cells that exist in animal and human tissues. Mesenchymal stem cells have the ability to differentiate into mesodermal lineages, such as Leydig cells, adipocytes, osteocytes, and chondrocytes. Mesenchymal stem cells express cell surface markers, such as cluster of differentiation (CD) 29, CD44, CD73, CD90, CD105, and lack the expression of CD14, CD34, CD45 and HLA (human leukocyte antigen)-DR. Stem Leydig cells are one kind of mesenchymal stem cells, which are present in the interstitial compartment of testis. Stem Leydig cells are multipotent and can differentiate into Leydig cells, adipocytes, osteocytes, and chondrocytes. Stem Leydig cells have been isolated from rodent and human testes. Stem Leydig cells may have potential therapeutic values in several clinical applications, such as the treatment of male hypogonadism and infertility. In this review, we focus on the latest research on stem Leydig cells of both rodents and human, the expression of cell surface markers, culture, differentiation potential, and their applications.
- Published
- 2022