1
|
Matchett BJ, Lincoln SJ, Baker M, Tamvaka N, Labuzan SA, Hicks Sirmans TN, Moloney CM, Helminger J, Hinkle KM, Cabrera-Rodriguez J, Wickland DP, Johnson PW, Heckman MG, Reddy JS, Younkin SG, Carrasquillo MM, Duara R, Graff-Radford NR, Pottier C, Ertekin-Taner N, Ross OA, Rademakers R, Dickson DW, Murray ME. The SERPINA5 coding variant E228Q does not contribute to clinicopathologic characteristics in Alzheimer's disease: A cross-sectional study. Medicine (Baltimore) 2023; 102:e34017. [PMID: 37327267 PMCID: PMC10270469 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000034017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023] Open
Abstract
We previously demonstrated that increased expression of the SERPINA5 gene is associated with hippocampal vulnerability in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brains. SERPINA5 was further demonstrated to be a novel tau-binding partner that colocalizes within neurofibrillary tangles. Our goal was to determine whether genetic variants in the SERPINA5 gene contributed to clinicopathologic phenotypes in AD. To screen for SERPINA5 variants, we sequenced 103 autopsy-confirmed young-onset AD cases with a positive family history of cognitive decline. To further assess the frequency of a rare missense variant, SERPINA5 p.E228Q, we screened an additional 1114 neuropathologically diagnosed AD cases. To provide neuropathologic context in AD, we immunohistochemically evaluated SERPINA5 and tau in a SERPINA5 p.E228Q variant carrier and a matched noncarrier. In the initial SERPINA5 screen, we observed 1 individual with a rare missense variant (rs140138746) that resulted in an amino acid change (p.E228Q). In our AD validation cohort, we identified an additional 5 carriers of this variant, resulting in an allelic frequency of 0.0021. There was no significant difference between SERPINA5 p.E228Q carriers and noncarriers in terms of demographic or clinicopathologic characteristics. Although not significant, on average SERPINA5 p.E228Q carriers were 5 years younger at age of disease onset than noncarriers (median: 66 [60-73] vs 71 [63-77] years, P = .351). In addition, SERPINA5 p.E228Q carriers exhibited a longer disease duration than noncarriers that approached significance (median: 12 [10-15]) vs 9 [6-12] years, P = .079). More severe neuronal loss was observed in the locus coeruleus, hippocampus, and amygdala of the SERPINA5 p.E228Q carrier compared to noncarrier, although no significant difference in SERPINA5-immunopositive lesions was observed. Throughout the AD brain in either carrier or noncarrier, areas with early pretangle pathology or burnt-out ghost tangle accumulation did not reveal SERPINA5-immunopositive neurons. Mature tangles and newly formed ghost tangles appeared to correspond well with SERPINA5-immunopositive tangle-bearing neurons. SERPINA5 gene expression was previously associated with disease phenotype; however, our findings suggest that SERPINA5 genetic variants may not be a contributing factor to clinicopathologic differences in AD. SERPINA5-immunopositive neurons appear to undergo a pathologic process that corresponded with specific levels of tangle maturity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Matt Baker
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL
| | | | | | | | | | - Jacqueline Helminger
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL
- Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | | | | | - Daniel P. Wickland
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL
| | - Patrick W. Johnson
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL
| | - Michael G. Heckman
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL
| | - Joseph S. Reddy
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL
| | | | | | - Ranjan Duara
- Wien Center for Alzheimer’s Disease and Memory Disorders, Mount Sinai Medical Center, Miami Beach, FL
| | | | - Cyril Pottier
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL
| | - Nilüfer Ertekin-Taner
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL
| | - Owen A. Ross
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL
| | - Rosa Rademakers
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL
- Applied and Translational Neurogenomics, VIB Center for Molecular Neurology, VIB, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Cell penetrating SERPINA5 (ProteinC inhibitor, PCI): More questions than answers. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2017; 62:187-193. [DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2016.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2016] [Accepted: 10/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
|
3
|
Saito A. Diversity of human plasma protein C inhibitor. Thromb Res 2011; 130:661-6. [PMID: 22206708 DOI: 10.1016/j.thromres.2011.11.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2011] [Revised: 09/05/2011] [Accepted: 11/22/2011] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Protein C inhibitor was purified from human plasma by use of a dermatan sulfate or heparin column, followed by hydroxyapatite, gel filtration and ion exchange columns. A dimer of protein C inhibitor was detected by SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions, in addition to two forms of monomer species. One of the monomers, 52-kDa PCI, formed a stable complex with activated protein C, urokinase, plasma and tissue kallikrein, but the dimer species and 48-kDa PCI were inactive. When the monomer and dimer forms of protein C inhibitor were applied to 2D-PAGE, more than 20 spots were observed by Western blot analysis and were confirmed to be protein C inhibitor by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The heterogeneity of the protein C inhibitor species was not due to glycosylation or phosphorylation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Akio Saito
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Kinki University, 377-2 Ohno-Higashi, Osaka-Sayama, Osaka 589-8511, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
|
5
|
Bungum M, Giwercman A, Bungum L, Humaidan P, Rastkhani H, Giwercman YL. Polymorphisms in the protein C inhibitor gene in in vitro fertilization failure. Fertil Steril 2010; 93:277-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2009.07.984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2009] [Revised: 06/14/2009] [Accepted: 07/13/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
|
6
|
Abstract
Protein C inhibitor (PCI) is a member of the serine protease inhibitor (serpin) family. PCI was initially found to be an inhibitor of activated protein C, and later shown to be a potent inhibitor of blood coagulation and fibrinolysis such as that mediated by urokinase type-plasminogen activator. Therefore, the protein came to be known as plasminogen activator inhibitor-3. It also inhibits proteases involved in fertilization. PCI is broadly conserved, and is found in human, rhesus monkey, cow, rabbit, rat, mouse and chicken. The human PCI gene is located on chromosome 14q32.1 in a cluster of genes encoding related serpins. Sp1- and AP2-binding sites in the 5'-flanking region act as promoter and enhancer, respectively, for its expression in the liver. PCI mRNA is expressed in many organs in primates, but only in the reproductive organs in rodents. Recent studies using transgenic mice expressing the human gene have suggested that PCI is also involved in regulation of lung remodeling, tissue regeneration, vascular permeability, proteolysis in the kidney and tumor cell invasion. A protease inhibitor-independent activity of PCI, the prevention of anti-angiogenesis and metastasis of tumor cells, has also been observed. Thus, PCI is a unique multi-functional serpin playing diverse roles in the thrombosis and hemostasis in multiple organs and tissues of a variety of species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- K Suzuki
- Department of Molecular Pathobiology, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Tsu-city, Mie, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Wong JH, Dukes J, Levy RE, Sos B, Mason SE, Fong TS, Weiss EJ. Sex differences in thrombosis in mice are mediated by sex-specific growth hormone secretion patterns. J Clin Invest 2008; 118:2969-78. [PMID: 18618017 DOI: 10.1172/jci34957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2008] [Accepted: 05/27/2008] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex differences in thrombosis are well described, but their underlying mechanism(s) are not completely understood. Coagulation proteins are synthesized in the liver, and liver gene expression is sex specific and depends on sex differences in growth hormone (GH) secretion--males secrete GH in a pulsatile fashion, while females secrete GH continuously. Accordingly, we tested the hypothesis that sex-specific GH secretion patterns cause sex differences in thrombosis. Male mice were more susceptible to thrombosis than females in the thromboplastin-induced pulmonary embolism model and showed shorter clotting times ex vivo. GH-deficient little (lit) mice were protected from thrombosis, and pulsatile GH given to lit mice restored the male clotting phenotype. Moreover, pulsatile GH administration resulted in a male clotting phenotype in control female mice, while continuous GH caused a female clotting phenotype in control male mice. Expression of the coagulation inhibitors Proc, Serpinc1, Serpind1, and Serpina5 were strongly modulated by sex-specific GH patterns, and GH modulated resistance to activated protein C. These results reveal what we believe to be a novel mechanism whereby sex-specific GH patterns mediate sex differences in thrombosis through coordinated changes in the expression of coagulation inhibitor genes in the liver.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joshua H Wong
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, UCSF, San Francisco, California 94143-0124, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Beaulieu LM, Church FC. Is protein C inhibitor antithrombotic and protective in pulmonary hypertension? J Thromb Haemost 2006; 4:2327-30. [PMID: 16981887 PMCID: PMC4070371 DOI: 10.1111/j.1538-7836.2006.02214.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- L M Beaulieu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Carolina Cardiovascular Biology Center, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7035, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Raab RM, Bullen J, Kelleher J, Mantzoros C, Stephanopoulos G. Regulation of mouse hepatic genes in response to diet induced obesity, insulin resistance and fasting induced weight reduction. Nutr Metab (Lond) 2005; 2:15. [PMID: 15985155 PMCID: PMC1201568 DOI: 10.1186/1743-7075-2-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2005] [Accepted: 06/28/2005] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Obesity is associated with insulin resistance that can often be improved by caloric restriction and weight reduction. Although many physiological changes accompanying insulin resistance and its treatment have been characterized, the genetic mechanisms linking obesity to insulin resistance are largely unknown. We used DNA microarrys and RT-PCR to investigate significant changes in hepatic gene transcription in insulin resistant, diet-induced obese (DIO)-C57/BL/6J mice and DIO-C57/BL/6J mice fasted for 48 hours, whose weights returned to baseline levels during these conditions. Results Transcriptional profiling of hepatic mRNA revealed over 1900 genes that were significantly perturbed between control, DIO, and fasting/weight reduced DIO mice. From this set, our bioinformatics analysis identified 41 genes that rigorously discriminate these groups of mice. These genes are associated with molecular pathways involved in signal transduction, and protein metabolism and secretion. Of particular interest are genes that participate in pathways responsible for modulating insulin sensitivity. DIO altered expression of genes in directions that would be anticipated to antagonize insulin sensitivity, while fasting/ weight reduction partially or completely normalized their levels. Among these discriminatory genes, Sh3kbp1 and RGS3, may have special significance. Sh3kbp1, an endogenous inhibitor of PI-3-kinase, was upregulated by high-fat feeding, but normalized to control levels by fasting/weight reduction. Because insulin signaling occurs partially through PI-3-kinase, increased expression of Sh3kbp1 by DIO mice may contribute to hepatic insulin resistance via inhibition of PI-3-kinase. RGS3, a suppressor of G-protein coupled receptor generation of cAMP, was repressed by high-fat feeding, but partially normalized by fasting/weight reduction. Decreased expression of RGS3 may augment levels of cAMP and thereby contribute to increased, cAMP-induced, hepatic glucose output via phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PCK1), whose mRNA levels were also elevated. Conclusion These findings demonstrate that hepatocytes respond to DIO and weight reduction by controlling gene transcription in a variety of important molecular pathways. Future studies that characterize the physiological significance of the identified genes in modulating energy homeostasis could provide a better understanding of the mechanisms linking DIO with insulin resistance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- R Michael Raab
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - John Bullen
- Beth-Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joanne Kelleher
- Department of Physiology, The George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Christos Mantzoros
- Beth-Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Gregory Stephanopoulos
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Gianotten J, Schimmel AWM, van der Veen F, Lombardi MP, Meijers JCM. Absence of mutations in the PCI gene in subfertile men. Mol Hum Reprod 2004; 10:807-13. [PMID: 15377716 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gah109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The molecular aetiology of male subfertility is still unknown in the majority of cases and it is thought that multiple genes are involved. One of the genes that might play a role in male reproductive function is the protein C inhibitor (PCI) gene. In mice the presence of PCI is an absolute requirement for reproduction. In this study we performed a mutation screen of the PCI gene in subfertile men with severe teratozoospermia or idiopathic azoospermia. Male partners of subfertile couples with idiopathic azoospermia (n = 27) or teratozoospermia (n = 34) and men with normozoospermia (n = 34) were screened for mutations in the PCI gene by direct sequencing. Nine nucleotide variants found in the patients were not present in the initial control group and were therefore screened in an additional control group of 80 men with normozoospermia by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. In addition, PCI antigen levels were measured in the seminal plasma of the patients in which a potential mutation was found. In total, three new variants were exclusively present in men with idiopathic azoospermia, but are not likely to have caused the patients' phenotypes. In addition, the PCI antigen levels in seminal plasma of these three patients were not decreased. The fact that we were not able to detect causal mutations in the PCI gene does not necessarily lead to the conclusion that the PCI protein is not involved in human male fertility, but the results of our study indicate that mutations in the human PCI gene are not a common cause of reduced semen parameters in men.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Judith Gianotten
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Hayashi T, Nishioka J, Kamada H, Asanuma K, Kondo H, Gabazza EC, Ido M, Suzuki K. Characterization of a novel human protein C inhibitor (PCI) gene transgenic mouse useful for studying the role of PCI in physiological and pathological conditions. J Thromb Haemost 2004; 2:949-61. [PMID: 15140131 DOI: 10.1111/j.1538-7836.2004.00733.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
In humans, protein C inhibitor (PCI) is expressed in various tissues and present in many body fluids including plasma and seminal fluid. In rodents, PCI is expressed in reproductive organs only and is absent in plasma. In this study, we characterized the tissue expression and physiological role of PCI in novel human PCI gene transgenic (TG) mice. Northern blot and immunohistochemical analyses demonstrated that human PCI is expressed in liver hepatocytes, renal epithelial cells as well as heart, brain and reproductive organs of the TG mice. This PCI tissue distribution is similar to that found in humans. PCI in plasma of TG mice showed the same immunological and functional properties as human plasma PCI. Next, we evaluated the effect of PCI on coagulation, inflammation and tissue damage in lipopolysaccharide-treated TG mice. The results suggested that PCI efficiently inhibits not only the anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory activities of exogenously injected human activated protein C (APC) but also that of endogenously produced APC in mice with endotoxemia. These findings suggest that PCI exerts a procoagulant and proinflammatory effect by inhibiting APC. We believe our results also show how useful these TG mice may be for assessing the therapeutic effect of human APC in vivo and for evaluating the role of PCI in human physiological and pathological conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- T Hayashi
- Department of Molecular Pathobiology, Mie University School of Medicine, Tsu-city, Mie, Japan
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Fujita M, Izutani W, Takahashi K, Nishizawa K, Shirono H, Koga J. Role of each Asn-linked glycan in the anticoagulant activity of human protein C inhibitor. Thromb Res 2002; 105:95-102. [PMID: 11864713 DOI: 10.1016/s0049-3848(01)00398-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The N-glycosylation site mutants of human protein C inhibitor (PCI; N230S, N243Q, N319Q, N230S/N243Q, and N230S/N319Q) were prepared by amino acid replacement of the asparagine residue with a serine or glutamine residue using site-directed mutagenesis and expressed in the baculovirus/insect cell expression system. To examine the importance of each Asn-linked glycan in the activity of PCI, we compared wtPCI with the mutants of N-glycosylation site(s) in terms of the procoagulant protease-inhibitory and anticoagulant activities. The inhibitory activities of N230S, N319Q, and N230S/N319Q toward human thrombin and plasma kallikrein were significantly increased compared with wtPCI, but those of N243Q and N230S/N243Q were reduced. The inhibitory activity of N230S toward human plasma coagulation was significantly increased compared with wtPCI, and that of N230S/N319Q was also significantly increased compared with N319Q. Furthermore, the procoagulant protease-inhibitory and anticoagulant activities of N230S/N319Q (glycosylated on Asn243 only) compared favorably with those of N230S, and both of the mutants possessed highest activities in the purified mutants. These results suggest that the Asn243-linked glycan in PCI molecule possesses critical roles for its anticoagulant activity in the circulation, and the Asn230-linked glycan down-regulates the activity of PCI.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mitsugu Fujita
- Development and Research Laboratories, JCR Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd., 2-2-10 Murotani, Nishi-ku, Kobe 651-2241, Japan.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
Uhrin P, Dewerchin M, Hilpert M, Chrenek P, Schöfer C, Zechmeister-Machhart M, Krönke G, Vales A, Carmeliet P, Binder BR, Geiger M. Disruption of the protein C inhibitor gene results in impaired spermatogenesis and male infertility. J Clin Invest 2000; 106:1531-9. [PMID: 11120760 PMCID: PMC381472 DOI: 10.1172/jci10768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein C inhibitor (PCI) is a nonspecific, heparin-binding serpin (serine protease inhibitor) that inactivates many plasmatic and extravascular serine proteases by forming stable 1:1 complexes. Proteases inhibited by PCI include the anticoagulant activated protein C, the plasminogen activator urokinase, and the sperm protease acrosin. In humans PCI circulates as a plasma protein but is also present at high concentrations in organs of the male reproductive tract. The biological role of PCI has not been defined so far. However, the colocalization of high concentrations of PCI together with several of its target proteases in the male reproductive tract suggests a role of PCI in reproduction. We generated mice lacking PCI by homologous recombination. Here we show that PCI(-/-) mice are apparently healthy but that males of this genotype are infertile. Infertility was apparently caused by abnormal spermatogenesis due to destruction of the Sertoli cell barrier, perhaps due to unopposed proteolytic activity. The resulting sperm are malformed and are morphologically similar to abnormal sperm seen in some cases of human male infertility. This animal model might therefore be useful for analyzing the molecular bases of these human conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- P Uhrin
- Department of Vascular Biology and Thrombosis Research, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
|
15
|
Wakita T, Hayashi T, Yuasa H, Nishioka J, Kawamura J, Suzuki K. Molecular cloning, tissue distribution and androgen regulation of rat protein C inhibitor. FEBS Lett 1998; 429:263-8. [PMID: 9662429 DOI: 10.1016/s0014-5793(98)00613-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Protein C inhibitor (PCI) is the plasma serine protease inhibitor of activated protein C, the active enzyme of the anticoagulant protein C pathway. Recently, PCI was also detected in human seminal plasma and reproductive organs (testis, seminal vesicle and prostate) suggesting that PCI may also play an important role in the reproductive system. In this study, we cloned the full length of rat PCI cDNA, and determined its amino acid sequence and tissue distribution. We also evaluated the effect of androgen on PCI mRNA expression in seminal vesicles and testes. The isolated 2074-bp rat PCI cDNA was composed of a 47-bp 5'-non-coding region, a 1218-bp coding region of a 406-amino acid precursor protein, a stop codon and a 806-bp 3'-non-coding region. The deduced amino acid sequence of rat PCI showed 85.7%, 64.1% and 62.2% homology with that of mouse, rhesus monkey and human PCIs, respectively. Northern blot analysis showed that the rat PCI mRNA is expressed strongly in the seminal vesicle, moderately in the testis, but not in the liver. PCI mRNA expression in seminal vesicles and testes was found to increase during the process of development, suggesting that it is under androgen control. Subsequently, we examined the effect of castration and/or treatment with 17beta-estradiol or testosterone on PCI mRNA expression in the mature rat seminal vesicles. The PCI mRNA expression in seminal vesicles was significantly decreased after castration or 17beta-estradiol treatment. Testosterone itself did not affect PCI mRNA expression, but treatment in castrated rats significantly enhanced its mRNA expression. These findings suggest that the PCI gene expression in rat seminal vesicles is regulated by androgen.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- T Wakita
- Department of Molecular Pathobiology, Mie University School of Medicine, Tsu, Japan
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|