ARL13B controls male reproductive tract physiology through primary and Motile Cilia
ARL13B is a small regulatory GTPase that controls ciliary membrane composition in both motile cilia and non-motile primary cilia. In this study, we investigated the role of ARL13B in the efferent ductules, tubules of the male reproductive tract essential to male fertility in which primary and motile cilia co-exist. We used a genetically engineered mouse model to delete Arl13b in efferent ductule epithelial cells, resulting in compromised primary and motile cilia architecture and functions. This deletion led to disturbances in reabsorptive/secretory processes and triggered an inflammatory response. The observed male reproductive phenotype showed significant variability linked to partial infertility, highlighting the importance of ARL13B in maintaining a proper physiological balance in these small ducts. These results emphasize the dual role of both motile and primary cilia functions in regulating efferent duct homeostasis, offering deeper insights into how cilia related diseases affect the male reproductive system.
Authors
- Rex A. Hess (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2649-3563)
- Kedar Narayan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7982-6494)
- Charles Joly Beauparlant
- Kiera Ottino (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-3946-7337)
- Aaran Vijayakumaran (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6742-8501)
- Vito Mennella (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4842-9012)
- Gabriel Henrique Campolina-Silva (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4473-3340)
- Céline Augière (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5527-635X)
- María Agustina Battistone (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0490-9548)
- Clémence Belleannée (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9284-9420)
- Arnaud Droit (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7922-790X)
- Camille Lavoie‐Ouellet
- Ferran Barrachina (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3138-4142)
- Odara Medagedara
Institutions
- National Institutes of Health (US)
- Harvard University (US)
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (US)
- University of Cambridge (GB)
- Massachusetts General Hospital (US)
- Bridge University (SS)
- Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research (US)
- National Cancer Institute (US)
- Center for Cancer Research (US)
- Université Laval (CA)
- Medical Research Council (GB)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Communications Biology
- Published
- 2024-10-14
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-07030-7
- Citations
- 7
- Primary Topic
- Genetic and Kidney Cyst Diseases
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 3.85
Funders
- Lalor Foundation
- National Institutes of Health
- Fonds de recherche du Québec – Nature et technologies
- National Cancer Institute
- CIHR Skin Research Training Centre