Correlation Between Cytokine IL-6, And Transcriptional Factors Zing Finger Protein-637 and SOX-2 During Spermatogonial Stem Cells Self-Renewal in Experimentally-Induced Varicocele

Background: It has been reported that, the developed grades of varicocele result in germ cells depletion and severe inflammation in testicular tissue. Thus, the present study was done to assess the cross-link between varicoceleinduced cytokine IL-6 and transcriptional factors Zing finger protein-637 (Zfp637) and SOX-2 in experimentally-induced varicocele. Method: For this purpose, the animals were divided into control (NO=6) and varicoceleinduced groups (NO=18). The animals in varicocele-induced group were samplized following 2, 4 and 6 months (NO=6 rats in each). The animals in control group were undergone simple laparotomy. The mRNA and protein levels of IL-6, Zfp637 and SOX-2 were analyzed by using qRT-PCR and western blot techniques. Moreover, to assess the mentioned proteins expression in spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs), the target proteins were stained in mitotic, meiotic and spermiogenic seminiferous tubules. Results: Observation revealed that, the varicocele diminished Zfp637 expression, time dependently. However, the mRNA and protein levels of IL-6 and SOX-2 were enhanced time dependently in varicocele-induced animals. The IHC analyses exhibited the same patterns of target protein reduction and/or elevation in SSCs during mitotic, meiotic and spermiogenic stages. Conclusion: In conclusion, our data, albeit for the first time, showed that, the varicocele-induced overexpression of IL-6 suppresses the SSCs self- renewal through suppressing the Zfp637expression and stimulating the SOX-2 expression.

Keywords:

IL-6 , Self-renewal , Sox-2 , Varicocele , Zfp-637