1
|
Shon WJ, Seong H, Song JW, Shin DM. Taste receptor type 1 member 3 is required for the fertility of male mice. Heliyon 2024; 10:e24577. [PMID: 38312691 PMCID: PMC10835302 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Male infertility is a global health concern. However, its underlying pathophysiology remains unclear. Taste receptor type 1 member 3 (TAS1R3) is highly expressed in the testes, indicating its potential involvement in male fertility. Using wild-type and Tas1r3 knockout (KO) mice, we investigated whether TAS1R3 modulates male reproductive function. Tas1r3 KO mice exhibited reduced male fertility compared to WT mice, with fewer live pups per litter and a delayed first litter. Testicular transcriptome analysis indicated suppressed PKA/CREB/StAR signaling-mediated testosterone synthesis in Tas1r3 KO mice. In silico single-cell RNA sequencing revealed considerably higher Tas1r3 expression in Leydig cells than in other testicular cell subtypes. An in vitro study validated that Tas1r3 knockdown downregulated the expression of Creb1 and steroidogenic genes in Leydig cells. Our results suggest that testicular TAS1R3 is intricately involved in male reproduction via the PKA/CREB/StAR signaling pathway, highlighting its potential as a promising target for addressing male infertility.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Woo-Jeong Shon
- Research Institute of Human Ecology, Seoul National University, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
- Department of Food and Nutrition, Seoul National University College of Human Ecology, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Hobin Seong
- Department of Food and Nutrition, Seoul National University College of Human Ecology, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Won Song
- Department of Food and Nutrition, Seoul National University College of Human Ecology, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong-Mi Shin
- Research Institute of Human Ecology, Seoul National University, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
- Department of Food and Nutrition, Seoul National University College of Human Ecology, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Posta E, Fekete I, Gyarmati E, Stündl L, Zold E, Barta Z. The Effects of Artificial Sweeteners on Intestinal Nutrient-Sensing Receptors: Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde? Life (Basel) 2023; 14:10. [PMID: 38276259 PMCID: PMC10817473 DOI: 10.3390/life14010010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The consumption of artificial and low-calorie sweeteners (ASs, LCSs) is an important component of the Western diet. ASs play a role in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome, dysbiosis, inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), and various inflammatory conditions. Intestinal nutrient-sensing receptors act as a crosstalk between dietary components, the gut microbiota, and the regulation of immune, endocrinological, and neurological responses. This narrative review aimed to summarize the possible effects of ASs and LCSs on intestinal nutrient-sensing receptors and their related functions. Based on the findings of various studies, long-term AS consumption has effects on the gut microbiota and intestinal nutrient-sensing receptors in modulating incretin hormones, antimicrobial peptides, and cytokine secretion. These effects contribute to the regulation of glucose metabolism, ion transport, gut permeability, and inflammation and modulate the gut-brain, and gut-kidney axes. Based on the conflicting findings of several in vitro, in vivo, and randomized and controlled studies, artificial sweeteners may have a role in the pathogenesis of IBDs, functional bowel diseases, metabolic syndrome, and cancers via the modulation of nutrient-sensing receptors. Further studies are needed to explore the exact mechanisms underlying their effects to decide the risk/benefit ratio of sugar intake reduction via AS and LCS consumption.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Edit Posta
- GI Unit, Department of Infectology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Bartok Bela Street 2-26, 4031 Debrecen, Hungary; (E.G.); (Z.B.)
| | - Istvan Fekete
- Institute of Food Technology, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, Böszörményi út 138, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary; (I.F.); (L.S.)
| | - Eva Gyarmati
- GI Unit, Department of Infectology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Bartok Bela Street 2-26, 4031 Debrecen, Hungary; (E.G.); (Z.B.)
- Doctoral School of Clinical Immunology and Allergology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei Blvd. 98, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
| | - László Stündl
- Institute of Food Technology, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and Environmental Management, University of Debrecen, Böszörményi út 138, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary; (I.F.); (L.S.)
| | - Eva Zold
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Institute of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Móricz Zsigmond Str. 22, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary;
| | - Zsolt Barta
- GI Unit, Department of Infectology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Bartok Bela Street 2-26, 4031 Debrecen, Hungary; (E.G.); (Z.B.)
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Song JW, Lee KH, Seong H, Shin DM, Shon WJ. Taste receptor type 1 member 3 enables western diet-induced anxiety in mice. BMC Biol 2023; 21:243. [PMID: 37926812 PMCID: PMC10626698 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-023-01723-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Accumulating evidence supports that the Western diet (WD), a diet high in saturated fat and sugary drinks, contributes to the pathogenesis of anxiety disorders, which are the most prevalent mental disorders worldwide. However, the underlying mechanisms by which WD causes anxiety remain unclear. Abundant expression of taste receptor type 1 member 3 (TAS1R3) has been identified in the hypothalamus, a key brain area involved in sensing peripheral nutritional signals and regulating anxiety. Thus, we investigated the influence of excessive WD intake on anxiety and mechanisms by which WD intake affects anxiety development using wild-type (WT) and Tas1r3 deficient (Tas1r3-/-) mice fed a normal diet (ND) or WD for 12 weeks. RESULTS WD increased anxiety in male WT mice, whereas male Tas1r3-/- mice were protected from WD-induced anxiety, as assessed by open field (OF), elevated plus maze (EPM), light-dark box (LDB), and novelty-suppressed feeding (NSF) tests. Analyzing the hypothalamic transcriptome of WD-fed WT and Tas1r3-/- mice, we found 1,432 genes significantly up- or down-regulated as a result of Tas1r3 deficiency. Furthermore, bioinformatic analysis revealed that the CREB/BDNF signaling-mediated maintenance of neuronal regeneration, which can prevent anxiety development, was enhanced in WD-fed Tas1r3-/- mice compared with WD-fed WT mice. Additionally, in vitro studies further confirmed that Tas1r3 knockdown prevents the suppression of Creb1 and of CREB-mediated BDNF expression caused by high levels of glucose, fructose, and palmitic acid in hypothalamic neuronal cells. CONCLUSIONS Our results imply that TAS1R3 may play a key role in WD-induced alterations in hypothalamic functions, and that inhibition of TAS1R3 overactivation in the hypothalamus could offer therapeutic targets to alleviate the effects of WD on anxiety.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jae Won Song
- Department of Food and Nutrition, Seoul National University College of Human Ecology, Gwanak-Gu, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Keon-Hee Lee
- Department of Food and Nutrition, Seoul National University College of Human Ecology, Gwanak-Gu, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Hobin Seong
- Department of Food and Nutrition, Seoul National University College of Human Ecology, Gwanak-Gu, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong-Mi Shin
- Department of Food and Nutrition, Seoul National University College of Human Ecology, Gwanak-Gu, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
- Research Institute of Human Ecology, Seoul National University, Gwanak-Gu, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
| | - Woo-Jeong Shon
- Department of Food and Nutrition, Seoul National University College of Human Ecology, Gwanak-Gu, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
- Research Institute of Human Ecology, Seoul National University, Gwanak-Gu, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Liu W, Gong T, Shi F, Xu H, Chen X. Taste receptors affect male reproduction by influencing steroid synthesis. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:956981. [PMID: 36035992 PMCID: PMC9407969 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.956981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
For the male genetic materials to reach and fertilize the egg, spermatozoa must contend with numerous environmental changes in a complex and highly sophisticated process from generation in the testis, and maturation in the epididymis to capacitation and fertilization. Taste is an ancient chemical sense that has an essential role in the animal's response to carbohydrates in the external environment and is involved in the body's energy perception. In recent years, numerous studies have confirmed that taste signaling factors (taste receptor families 1, 2 and their downstream molecules, Gα and PLCβ2) are distributed in testes and epididymis tissues outside the oral cavity. Their functions are directly linked to spermatogenesis, maturation, and fertilization, which are potential targets for regulating male reproduction. However, the specific signaling mechanisms of the taste receptors during these processes remain unknown. Herein, we review published literature and experimental results from our group to establish the underlying signaling mechanism in which the taste receptor factors influence testosterone synthesis in the male reproduction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wenjiao Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountainous Region, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China,Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China,College of Animal Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Ting Gong
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountainous Region, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China,Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China,College of Animal Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China,*Correspondence: Ting Gong,
| | - Fangxiong Shi
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China
| | - Houqiang Xu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountainous Region, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China,Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China,College of Animal Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Xiang Chen
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountainous Region, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China,Guizhou Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China,College of Animal Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Allelic variation of the Tas1r3 taste receptor gene affects sweet taste responsiveness and metabolism of glucose in F1 mouse hybrids. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0235913. [PMID: 32673349 PMCID: PMC7365461 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0235913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
In mammals, inter- and intraspecies differences in consumption of sweeteners largely depend on allelic variation of the Tas1r3 gene (locus Sac) encoding the T1R3 protein, a sweet taste receptor subunit. To assess the influence of Tas1r3 polymorphisms on feeding behavior and metabolism, we examined the phenotype of F1 male hybrids obtained from crosses between the following inbred mouse strains: females from 129SvPasCrl (129S2) bearing the recessive Tas1r3 allele and males from either C57BL/6J (B6), carrying the dominant allele, or the Tas1r3-gene knockout strain C57BL/6J-Tas1r3tm1Rfm (B6-Tas1r3-/-). The hybrids 129S2B6F1 and 129S2B6-Tas1r3-/-F1 had identical background genotypes and different sets of Tas1r3 alleles. The effect of Tas1r3 hemizygosity was analyzed by comparing the parental strain B6 (Tas1r3 homozygote) and hemizygous F1 hybrids B6 × B6-Tas1r3-/-. Data showed that, in 129S2B6-Tas1r3-/-F1 hybrids, the reduction of glucose tolerance, along with lower consumption of and lower preference for sweeteners during the initial licking responses, is due to expression of the recessive Tas1r3 allele. Hemizygosity of Tas1r3 did not influence these behavioral and metabolic traits. However, the loss of the functional Tas1r3 allele was associated with a small decline in the long-term intake and preference for sweeteners and reduction of plasma insulin and body, liver, and fat mass.
Collapse
|