Gene expression analysis and subtype classification in the somatic cells of the mammalian ovary.

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K06397
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 42020:Veterinary medical science-related
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Hiramatsu Ryuji 東京大学, 大学院農学生命科学研究科(農学部), 助教 (70555284)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 金井 克晃 東京大学, 大学院農学生命科学研究科(農学部), 教授 (30260326)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: マウス / 卵巣 / 支持細胞 / 性的未分化性 / 皮質髄質軸

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, to clarify the heterogeneity of mouse XX fetal ovarian somatic cells, which are morphologically poorly characterized, we performed a one-cell transcriptome analysis of 13.5-day-old fetal ovaries and expression pattern analysis by in situ hybridization. The results indicate that the somatic cells of the fetal ovary can be divided into two clusters based on gene expression profiles, and that Foxl2-positive cells expressed in follicular epithelial cells exist in both clusters. Moreover, we identified two genes whose expression patterns were restricted to the ovarian medullary and mesonephric-border region among a group of genes whose expression shows significantly different between clusters in Foxl2-positive cells. Further analysis of these genes is expected to elucidate the differentiation mechanism of the mammalian fetal ovary and to elucidate the pathogenesis of XX sex differentiation disorders, including freemartin syndrome.

Free Research Field

発生生物学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

胎子卵巣の分化過程は、その形態的変化が乏しいことから、特に体細胞分化のメカニズムについては未だ不明な点が多く存在する。一方、我々はこれまでに、胎子卵巣髄質領域に限局して、雄型の支持細胞になり得る性的未分化性を有するFOXL2陽性の特殊な支持細胞系列が存在することを示唆するなど、胎子卵巣体細胞の多様性（heterogeneity）が考えられてきた。今回の研究はそのheterogeneityを制御しうる候補遺伝子の同定を行った。これらの遺伝子のさらなる解析により、哺乳類胎子卵巣の分化機構の解明やフリーマーチンを含むXXの性分化異常症の発症機序解明につながることが期待される。