The Trp53-Trp53inp1-Tnfrsf10b Pathway Regulates the Radiation Response of Mouse Spermatogonial Stem Cells

• Published in: Stem cell reports 2014-10, Vol.3 (4), p.676-689
• Main Authors: Ishii, Kei, Ishiai, Masamichi, Morimoto, Hiroko, Kanatsu-Shinohara, Mito, Niwa, Ohtsura, Takata, Minoru, Shinohara, Takashi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult Stem Cells - metabolism; Adult Stem Cells - radiation effects; Animals; Apoptosis; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins - genetics; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins - metabolism; Carrier Proteins - genetics; Carrier Proteins - metabolism; Heat-Shock Proteins - genetics; Heat-Shock Proteins - metabolism; Male; Mice; Receptors, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand - genetics; Receptors, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand - metabolism; Spermatogonia - metabolism; Spermatogonia - radiation effects; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 - genetics; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 - metabolism; Tumor Suppressor Proteins - genetics; Tumor Suppressor Proteins - metabolism
• ISSN: 2213-6711; 2213-6711
• DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2014.08.006

Germ cells are thought to exhibit a unique DNA damage response that differs from that of somatic stem cells, and previous studies suggested that Trp53 is not involved in the survival of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) after irradiation. Here, we report a critical role for the Trp53-Trp53inp1-Tnfrsf10b pathway during radiation-induced SSC apoptosis. Spermatogonial transplantation revealed that Trp53 deficiency increased the survival of SSCs after irradiation. Although Bbc3, a member of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway, was implicated in apoptosis of germ and somatic stem cells, Bbc3 depletion inhibited apoptosis in committed spermatogonia, but not in SSCs. In contrast, inhibition of Tnfrsf10b, an extrinsic apoptosis regulator, rescued SSCs. Tnfrsf10b, whose deficiency protected SSCs, was upregulated by Trp53inp1 upon irradiation. These results suggest that the Trp53-Trp53inp1-Tnfrsf10b pathway responds to genotoxic damage in SSCs and that stem and progenitor cells exhibit distinct DNA damage responses in self-renewing tissue. [Display omitted] •Trp53 induces radiation-induced apoptosis of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs)•Bbc3 induces radiation-induced apoptosis of spermatogonial progenitors•Tnfsf10 is induced in spermatogonia and the SSC microenvironment•Trp53inp1 upregulates Tnfrsf10b and induces SSC apoptosis upon irradiation It has been considered that Trp53 is not involved in the radiation response in spermatogonial stem cells. In this article, Shinohara and colleagues show that the Trp53inp1-Tnfrsf10b pathway is activated by Trp53 and responds to genotoxic damage in SSCs, and that stem and progenitor cells exhibit distinct DNA damage responses in the spermatogenic system.