NR5A1 and cell population heterogeneity: Insights into developmental and functional disparities and regulatory mechanisms

Abstract Background NR5A1 plays essential roles in the development of various tissues, including the ventromedial hypothalamus, pituitary gonadotrope, adrenal cortex, spleen, testis, and ovary. Additionally, NR5A1‐positive cells in these tissues exhibit developmental and functional heterogeneity. Me...

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Main Authors: Miki Inoue, Kanako Miyabayashi, Yuichi Shima
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-01-01
Series:Reproductive Medicine and Biology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/rmb2.12621
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author Miki Inoue
Kanako Miyabayashi
Yuichi Shima
author_facet Miki Inoue
Kanako Miyabayashi
Yuichi Shima
author_sort Miki Inoue
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background NR5A1 plays essential roles in the development of various tissues, including the ventromedial hypothalamus, pituitary gonadotrope, adrenal cortex, spleen, testis, and ovary. Additionally, NR5A1‐positive cells in these tissues exhibit developmental and functional heterogeneity. Methods This review summarizes recent knowledge on the relationships between physiological functions and gene cascades regulated by NR5A1 in each tissue. In addition, we also present several intriguing examples of disparities in Nr5a1 gene regulation within the same tissues, which are relevant to developmentally and functionally heterogeneous cell populations. Main Findings The adrenal cortex and testicular Leydig cells exhibit clear biphasic developmental processes, resulting in functionally distinct fetal and adult cell populations in which Nr5a1 is regulated by distinct enhancers. Similar heterogeneity of cell populations has been suggested in other tissues. However, functional differences in each cell population remain unclear, and Nr5a1 gene regulation disparities have not been reported. Conclusion Some steroidogenic tissues demonstrate biphasic development, with fetal and adult cell populations playing distinct and crucial physiological roles. Nr5a1 regulation varies across cell populations, and analyses of gene cascades centered on NR5A1 will aid in understanding the mechanisms underlying the development and maturation of reproductive capabilities.
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spelling doaj-art-e352e3ca95fc4cd89383175a088d04412025-08-20T06:16:47ZengWileyReproductive Medicine and Biology1445-57811447-05782025-01-01241n/an/a10.1002/rmb2.12621NR5A1 and cell population heterogeneity: Insights into developmental and functional disparities and regulatory mechanismsMiki Inoue0Kanako Miyabayashi1Yuichi Shima2Division of Microscopic and Developmental Anatomy, Department of Anatomy Kurume University School of Medicine Fukuoka JapanDivision of Microscopic and Developmental Anatomy, Department of Anatomy Kurume University School of Medicine Fukuoka JapanDivision of Microscopic and Developmental Anatomy, Department of Anatomy Kurume University School of Medicine Fukuoka JapanAbstract Background NR5A1 plays essential roles in the development of various tissues, including the ventromedial hypothalamus, pituitary gonadotrope, adrenal cortex, spleen, testis, and ovary. Additionally, NR5A1‐positive cells in these tissues exhibit developmental and functional heterogeneity. Methods This review summarizes recent knowledge on the relationships between physiological functions and gene cascades regulated by NR5A1 in each tissue. In addition, we also present several intriguing examples of disparities in Nr5a1 gene regulation within the same tissues, which are relevant to developmentally and functionally heterogeneous cell populations. Main Findings The adrenal cortex and testicular Leydig cells exhibit clear biphasic developmental processes, resulting in functionally distinct fetal and adult cell populations in which Nr5a1 is regulated by distinct enhancers. Similar heterogeneity of cell populations has been suggested in other tissues. However, functional differences in each cell population remain unclear, and Nr5a1 gene regulation disparities have not been reported. Conclusion Some steroidogenic tissues demonstrate biphasic development, with fetal and adult cell populations playing distinct and crucial physiological roles. Nr5a1 regulation varies across cell populations, and analyses of gene cascades centered on NR5A1 will aid in understanding the mechanisms underlying the development and maturation of reproductive capabilities.https://doi.org/10.1002/rmb2.12621adrenal cortexenhancerNR5A1ovarytestis
spellingShingle Miki Inoue
Kanako Miyabayashi
Yuichi Shima
NR5A1 and cell population heterogeneity: Insights into developmental and functional disparities and regulatory mechanisms
Reproductive Medicine and Biology
adrenal cortex
enhancer
NR5A1
ovary
testis
title NR5A1 and cell population heterogeneity: Insights into developmental and functional disparities and regulatory mechanisms
title_full NR5A1 and cell population heterogeneity: Insights into developmental and functional disparities and regulatory mechanisms
title_fullStr NR5A1 and cell population heterogeneity: Insights into developmental and functional disparities and regulatory mechanisms
title_full_unstemmed NR5A1 and cell population heterogeneity: Insights into developmental and functional disparities and regulatory mechanisms
title_short NR5A1 and cell population heterogeneity: Insights into developmental and functional disparities and regulatory mechanisms
title_sort nr5a1 and cell population heterogeneity insights into developmental and functional disparities and regulatory mechanisms
topic adrenal cortex
enhancer
NR5A1
ovary
testis
url https://doi.org/10.1002/rmb2.12621
work_keys_str_mv AT mikiinoue nr5a1andcellpopulationheterogeneityinsightsintodevelopmentalandfunctionaldisparitiesandregulatorymechanisms
AT kanakomiyabayashi nr5a1andcellpopulationheterogeneityinsightsintodevelopmentalandfunctionaldisparitiesandregulatorymechanisms
AT yuichishima nr5a1andcellpopulationheterogeneityinsightsintodevelopmentalandfunctionaldisparitiesandregulatorymechanisms