Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40069895›Full record

ArticleBiological research2025

Endocannabinoid system upregulates the enrichment and differentiation of human iPSC- derived spermatogonial stem cells via CB2R agonism.

Merve Gizer, Selin Önen, Özgür Doğuş Erol, Fatima Aerts-Kaya, Tuba Reçber, Emirhan Nemutlu, Petek Korkusuz

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Biological research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Merve GizerDepartment of Stem Cell Sciences, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hacettepe University, Ankara, 06100, Turkey.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1911-2363
Selin ÖnenMETU MEMS Center, Ankara, 06530, Turkey.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3255-3035
Özgür Doğuş ErolDepartment of Stem Cell Sciences, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hacettepe University, Ankara, 06100, Turkey.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9301-5401
Fatima Aerts-KayaDepartment of Stem Cell Sciences, Graduate School of Health Sciences, Hacettepe University, Ankara, 06100, Turkey.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9583-8572
Tuba ReçberDepartment of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hacettepe University, Sıhhiye, Ankara, 06100, Turkey.
Emirhan NemutluDepartment of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hacettepe University, Sıhhiye, Ankara, 06100, Turkey.
Petek KorkusuzMETU MEMS Center, Ankara, 06530, Turkey. petek@hacettepe.edu.tr.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7553-3915

Funding

Hacettepe University Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit TSA-2021-19204The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey 120S254
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMale factor infertility (MFI) is responsible for 50% of infertility cases and in 15% of the cases sperm is absent due to germ cell aplasia. Human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived spermatogonial stem cells (hSSCs) could serve as an autologous germ cell source for MFI in patients with an insufficient sperm yield for assisted reproductive technology (ART). The endocannabinoid system (ECS) has been implicated to play a role in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) and the human testicular environment. However, the contribution of the ECS in hiPSCs and hiPSC-derived hSSCs is currently unknown. Here, we aimed to assess whether hiPSCs and hiPSC-derived hSSCs are regulated by components of the ECS and whether manipulation of the ECS could increase the yield of hiPSC-derived SSCs and serve as an autologous cell-based source for treatment of MFI.

methodsWe reprogrammed human dermal fibroblasts (hDFs) to hiPSCs, induced differentiation of hSSC from hiPSCs and evaluated the presence of ECS ligands (AEA, 2-AG) by LC/MS, receptors (CB1R, CB2R, TRPV1, GPR55) by qPCR, flow cytometry and immunofluorescent labeling. We then examined the efficacy of endogenous and synthetic selective ligands (ACPA, CB65, CSP, ML184) on proliferation of hiPSCs using real-time cell analysis (RTCA) and assessed the effects of on CB2R agonism on hiPSC pluripotency and differentiation to hSSCs.

resultshiPSCs from hDFs expressed the pluripotency markers OCT4, SOX2, NANOG, SSEA4 and TRA-1-60; and could be differentiated into ID4+, PLZF + hSSCs. hiPSCs and hiPSC-derived hSSCs secreted AEA and 2-AG at 10

conclusionsWe demonstrated here for the first time that stimulation of CB2R results in an increased yield of hiPSCs and hiPSC-derived hSSCs. CB65 is a potent CB2R agonist that can be used to increase the yield of hiPSC-derived hSSCs offering an alternative source of autologous male germ cells for patients with MFI. Increasing the male germ/stem cell pool by CB65 supplementation could be part of the ART-associated protocols in MFI patients with complete germ cell aplasia.

Indexed as

Adult Germline Stem CellsCell DifferentiationEndocannabinoidsInduced Pluripotent Stem CellsReceptor, Cannabinoid, CB2SpermatogoniaFlow CytometryHumansMaleUp-RegulationEndocannabinoidsReceptor, Cannabinoid, CB2CB2RCB65Endocannabinoid systemsHuman induced pluripotent stem cellsHuman spermatogonial stem cellsMale infertility

Identifiers

PMID40069895
PMCPMC11900634

What Socratic holds

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.