1
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Deng Z, Zhao L, Li S, Chen X, Ling X, Zheng J, Yu K, Xu J, Yao C, Han S, Liang J, Feng H, Wu L, Li P, Tian R, Jing T, Tang Y, Dai Y, Yan M, Wang C, Li Z, Zhou Z. Targeting dysregulated phago-/auto-lysosomes in Sertoli cells to ameliorate late-onset hypogonadism. NATURE AGING 2024; 4:647-663. [PMID: 38649614 DOI: 10.1038/s43587-024-00614-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Age-related changes in testicular function can impact health and well-being. The mechanisms underlying age-related testicular dysfunction, such as late-onset hypogonadism (LOH), remain incompletely understood. Using single-cell RNA sequencing on human testes with LOH, we delineated Sertoli cells (SCs) as pivotal metabolic coordinators within the testicular microenvironment. In particular, lysosomal acidity probing revealed compromised degradative capacity in aged SCs, hindering autophagy and phagocytic flux. Consequently, SCs accumulated metabolites, including cholesterol, and have increased inflammatory gene expression; thus, we termed these cells as phago-/auto-lysosomal deregulated SCs. Exposure to a high-fat diet-induced phago-/auto-lysosomal dysregulated-like SCs, recapitulating LOH features in mice. Notably, efferent ductular injection and systemic TRPML1 agonist administration restored lysosomal function, normalizing testosterone deficiency and associated abnormalities in high-fat diet-induced LOH mice. Our findings underscore the central role of SCs in testis aging, presenting a promising therapeutic avenue for LOH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiwen Deng
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Clinical Research and Trial Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Liangyu Zhao
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Andrology, the Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Urology, Department of Interventional Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Sha Li
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Clinical Research and Trial Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoyang Chen
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Clinical Research and Trial Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaohan Ling
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Clinical Research and Trial Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiajun Zheng
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Clinical Research and Trial Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Kunkun Yu
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Clinical Research and Trial Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Xu
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chencheng Yao
- Department of Andrology, the Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Sha Han
- Department of Andrology, the Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiayi Liang
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Huimin Feng
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lanlan Wu
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Peng Li
- Department of Andrology, the Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ruhui Tian
- Department of Andrology, the Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Tao Jing
- Department of Andrology, the Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Andrology, the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yuxin Tang
- Department of Urology, Department of Interventional Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Yingbo Dai
- Department of Urology, Department of Interventional Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Minbo Yan
- Department of Urology, Department of Interventional Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Biomedical Imaging, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai, China
| | - Chenchen Wang
- Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology Laboratory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
| | - Zheng Li
- Department of Andrology, the Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Zhi Zhou
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Clinical Research and Trial Center, Shanghai, China.
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2
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Vajaria R, Davis D, Thaweepanyaporn K, Dovey J, Nasuto S, Delivopoulos E, Tamagnini F, Knight P, Vasudevan N. Estrogen and testosterone secretion from the mouse brain. Steroids 2024; 204:109398. [PMID: 38513983 DOI: 10.1016/j.steroids.2024.109398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Estrogen and testosterone are typically thought of as gonadal or adrenal derived steroids that cross the blood brain barrier to signal via both rapid nongenomic and slower genomic signalling pathways. Estrogen and testosterone signalling has been shown to drive interlinked behaviours such as social behaviours and cognition by binding to their cognate receptors in hypothalamic and forebrain nuclei. So far, acute brain slices have been used to study short-term actions of 17β-estradiol, typically using electrophysiological measures. For example, these techniques have been used to investigate, nongenomic signalling by estrogen such as the estrogen modulation of long-term potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampus. Using a modified method that preserves the slice architecture, we show, for the first time, that acute coronal slices from the prefrontal cortex and from the hypothalamus maintained in aCSF over longer periods i.e. 24 h can be steroidogenic, increasing their secretion of testosterone and estrogen. We also show that the hypothalamic nuclei produce more estrogen and testosterone than the prefrontal cortex. Therefore, this extended acute slice system can be used to study the regulation of steroid production and secretion by discrete nuclei in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruby Vajaria
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, UK
| | - DeAsia Davis
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, UK
| | | | - Janine Dovey
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, UK
| | - Slawomir Nasuto
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, UK
| | | | | | - Philip Knight
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, UK
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3
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Crean AJ, Afrin S, Niranjan H, Pulpitel TJ, Ahmad G, Senior AM, Freire T, Mackay F, Nobrega MA, Barrès R, Simpson SJ, Pini T. Male reproductive traits are differentially affected by dietary macronutrient balance but unrelated to adiposity. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2566. [PMID: 37142562 PMCID: PMC10160019 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38314-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Dietary factors influence male reproductive function in both experimental and epidemiological studies. However, there are currently no specific dietary guidelines for male preconception health. Here, we use the Nutritional Geometry framework to examine the effects of dietary macronutrient balance on reproductive traits in C57BL/6 J male mice. Dietary effects are observed in a range of morphological, testicular and spermatozoa traits, although the relative influence of protein, fat, carbohydrate, and their interactions differ depending on the trait being examined. Interestingly, dietary fat has a positive influence on sperm motility and antioxidant capacity, differing to typical high fat diet studies where calorie content is not controlled for. Moreover, body adiposity is not significantly correlated with any of the reproductive traits measured in this study. These results demonstrate the importance of macronutrient balance and calorie intake on reproductive function and support the need to develop specific, targeted, preconception dietary guidelines for males.
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Affiliation(s)
- A J Crean
- Charles Perkins Centre and School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - S Afrin
- Charles Perkins Centre and School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - H Niranjan
- Charles Perkins Centre and School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - T J Pulpitel
- Charles Perkins Centre and School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - G Ahmad
- Charles Perkins Centre and School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
- Department of Andrology, Royal Women's and Children's Pathology, Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, VIC, 3053, Australia
| | - A M Senior
- Charles Perkins Centre and School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - T Freire
- Charles Perkins Centre and School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - F Mackay
- Charles Perkins Centre and School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - M A Nobrega
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - R Barrès
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, DK-2200, Denmark
- Institut de Pharmacologie Mole´ culaire et Cellulaire, Universite´ Coˆ te d'Azur & Centre National pour la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Valbonne, 06560, France
| | - S J Simpson
- Charles Perkins Centre and School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - T Pini
- Charles Perkins Centre and School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia.
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD, 4343, Australia.
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4
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Xi L, Kraskauskas D, Muniyan S, Batra SK, Kukreja RC. Androgen-deprivation therapy with leuprolide increases abdominal adiposity without causing cardiac dysfunction in middle-aged male mice: effect of sildenafil. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2023; 324:R589-R600. [PMID: 36878484 PMCID: PMC10069980 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00259.2022] [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: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023]
Abstract
Androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) is the primary systemic therapy for treating advanced or metastatic prostate cancer (PCa), which has improved survival outcomes in patients with PCa. However, ADT may develop metabolic and cardiovascular adverse events that impact the quality of life and lifespan in PCa survivors. The present study was designed to establish a murine model of ADT with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist leuprolide and to investigate its effects on metabolism and cardiac function. We also examined the potential cardioprotective role of sildenafil (inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 5) under chronic ADT. Middle-aged male C57BL/6J mice received a 12-wk subcutaneous infusion via osmotic minipumps containing either saline or 18 mg/4 wk leuprolide with or without 1.3 mg/4 wk sildenafil cotreatment. Compared with saline controls, leuprolide treatment significantly reduced prostate weight and serum testosterone levels, confirming chemical castration in these mice. The ADT-induced chemical castration was not affected by sildenafil. Leuprolide significantly increased the weight of abdominal fat after 12-wk treatment without a change in total body weight, and sildenafil did not block the proadipogenic effect of leuprolide. No signs of left ventricular systolic and diastolic dysfunction were observed throughout the leuprolide treatment period. Interestingly, leuprolide treatment significantly elevated serum levels of cardiac troponin I (cTn-I), a biomarker of cardiac injury, and sildenafil did not abolish this effect. We conclude that long-term ADT with leuprolide increases abdominal adiposity and cardiac injury biomarker without cardiac contractile dysfunction. Sildenafil did not prevent ADT-associated adverse changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Xi
- Pauley Heart Center, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States
| | - Donatas Kraskauskas
- Pauley Heart Center, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States
| | - Sakthivel Muniyan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, United States
| | - Surinder K Batra
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, United States
- Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, United States
| | - Rakesh C Kukreja
- Pauley Heart Center, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States
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5
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Nikkhah M, Karami S, Khatami SH, Taheri-Anganeh M, Savardashtaki A, Mahmoodzadeh A, Shabaninejad Z, Vakili O, Mousavi P, Ghanizadeh Gerayeli F, Behrouj H, Ghasemi H, Movahedpour A. Review of electrochemical and optical biosensors for testosterone measurement. Biotechnol Appl Biochem 2023; 70:318-329. [PMID: 35484728 DOI: 10.1002/bab.2354] [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: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Testosterone is an anabolic steroid and a major sex hormone in males. It plays vital roles, including developing the testis, penis, and prostate, increasing muscle and bone, and sperm production. In both men and women, testosterone levels should be in normal ranges. Besides, testosterone and its analogs are major global contributors to doping in sport. Due to the importance of testosterone testing, novel, accurate biosensors have been developed. This review summarizes the various methods for testosterone measurement. Also, recent optical and electrochemical approaches for the detection of testosterone and its analogs have been discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Nikkhah
- Department of Nanobiotechnology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sajedeh Karami
- Department of Chemistry, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Seyyed Hossein Khatami
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mortaza Taheri-Anganeh
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Cellular and Molecular Medicine Institute, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Amir Savardashtaki
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Amir Mahmoodzadeh
- Medical Biology Research Center, Health Technology Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Zahra Shabaninejad
- Department of Nanobiotechnology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Omid Vakili
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Pegah Mousavi
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
| | - Farhad Ghanizadeh Gerayeli
- Department of Medical Nanotechnology, School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Hamid Behrouj
- Behbahan Faculty of Medical Sciences, Behbahan, Iran
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6
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Huang T, Howse FM, Stachenfeld NS, Usselman CW. Correlations between salivary- and blood-derived gonadal hormone assessments and implications for inclusion of female participants in research studies. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2023; 324:H33-H46. [PMID: 36426884 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00399.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Even in the 21st century, female participants continue to be underrepresented in human physiology research. This underrepresentation is attributable in part to the perception that the inclusion of females is more time consuming, less convenient, and more expensive relative to males because of the need to account for the menstrual cycle in cardiovascular study designs. Accounting for menstrual cycle-induced fluctuations in gonadal hormones is important, given established roles in governing vascular function and evidence that failure to consider gonadal hormone fluctuations can result in misinterpretations of biomarkers of cardiovascular disease. Thus, for cardiovascular researchers, the inclusion of females in research studies implies a necessity to predict, quantify, and/or track indexes of menstrual cycle-induced changes in hormones. It is here that methodologies are lacking. Gold standard measurement requires venous blood samples, but this technique is invasive and can become both expensive and technically preclusive when serial measurements are required. To this end, saliva-derived measures of gonadal hormones provide a means of simple, noninvasive hormone tracking. To investigate the feasibility of this technique as a means of facilitating research designs that take the menstrual cycle into account, the purpose of this review was to examine literature comparing salivary and blood concentrations of the primary gonadal hormones that fluctuate across the menstrual cycle: estradiol and progesterone. The data indicate that there appear to be valid and promising applications of salivary gonadal hormone monitoring, which may aid in the inclusion of female participants in cardiovascular research studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingyu Huang
- Cardiovascular Health and Autonomic Regulation Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Fiona M Howse
- Cardiovascular Health and Autonomic Regulation Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Nina S Stachenfeld
- The John B. Pierce Laboratory, New Haven, Connecticut.,Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Charlotte W Usselman
- Cardiovascular Health and Autonomic Regulation Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,McGill Research Centre for Physical Activity and Health, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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7
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Colldén H, Nilsson ME, Norlén AK, Landin A, Windahl SH, Wu J, Horkeby K, Lagerquist MK, Ryberg H, Poutanen M, Vandenput L, Ohlsson C. Dehydroepiandrosterone Supplementation Results in Varying Tissue-specific Levels of Dihydrotestosterone in Male Mice. Endocrinology 2022; 163:6750032. [PMID: 36201601 PMCID: PMC9588255 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqac163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), an adrenal androgen precursor, can be metabolized in target tissues into active sex steroids. It has been proposed that DHEA supplementation might result in restoration of physiological local sex steroid levels, but knowledge on the effect of DHEA treatment on local sex steroid levels in multiple tissues is lacking. To determine the effects of DHEA on tissue-specific levels of sex steroids, we treated orchiectomized (ORX) male mice with DHEA for 3 weeks and compared them with vehicle-treated ORX mice and gonadal intact mice. Intra-tissue levels of sex steroids were analyzed in reproductive organs (seminal vesicles, prostate, m. levator ani), major body compartments (white adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, and brain), adrenals, liver, and serum using a sensitive and validated gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method. DHEA treatment restored levels of both testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) to approximately physiological levels in male reproductive organs. In contrast, this treatment did not increase DHT levels in skeletal muscle or brain. In the liver, DHEA treatment substantially increased levels of T (at least 4-fold) and DHT (+536%, P < 0.01) compared with vehicle-treated ORX mice. In conclusion, we provide a comprehensive map of the effect of DHEA treatment on intra-tissue sex steroid levels in ORX mice with a restoration of physiological levels of androgens in male reproductive organs while DHT levels were not restored in the skeletal muscle or brain. This, and the unexpected supraphysiological androgen levels in the liver, may be a cause for concern considering the uncontrolled use of DHEA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Colldén
- Correspondence: Claes Ohlsson, MD, PhD, Professor, Sahlgrenska Osteoporosis Centre, Centre for Bone and Arthritis Research, Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Vita Stråket 11, SE-41345 Göteborg. ; or Hannah Colldén, MSc, Sahlgrenska Osteoporosis Centre, Centre for Bone and Arthritis Research, Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Vita Stråket 11, SE-41345 Göteborg.
| | - Maria E Nilsson
- Sahlgrenska Osteoporosis Centre, Centre for Bone and Arthritis Research, Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, SE-413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Region Västra Götaland, SE-413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Anna-Karin Norlén
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Region Västra Götaland, SE-413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Andreas Landin
- Department of Drug Treatment, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Region Västra Götaland, SE-413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Sara H Windahl
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, 141 86 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Jianyao Wu
- Sahlgrenska Osteoporosis Centre, Centre for Bone and Arthritis Research, Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, SE-413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Karin Horkeby
- Sahlgrenska Osteoporosis Centre, Centre for Bone and Arthritis Research, Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, SE-413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Marie K Lagerquist
- Sahlgrenska Osteoporosis Centre, Centre for Bone and Arthritis Research, Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, SE-413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Henrik Ryberg
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Region Västra Götaland, SE-413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Matti Poutanen
- Sahlgrenska Osteoporosis Centre, Centre for Bone and Arthritis Research, Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, SE-413 45 Gothenburg, Sweden
- Research Centre for Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine and Turku Center for Disease Modeling, University of Turku, FI-20014 Turku, Finland
| | | | - Claes Ohlsson
- Correspondence: Claes Ohlsson, MD, PhD, Professor, Sahlgrenska Osteoporosis Centre, Centre for Bone and Arthritis Research, Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Vita Stråket 11, SE-41345 Göteborg. ; or Hannah Colldén, MSc, Sahlgrenska Osteoporosis Centre, Centre for Bone and Arthritis Research, Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Vita Stråket 11, SE-41345 Göteborg.
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8
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Li C, Feng Y, Fu Z, Deng J, Gu Y, Wang H, Wu X, Huang Z, Zhu Y, Liu Z, Huang M, Wang T, Hu S, Yao B, Zeng Y, Zhou CJ, Brown SDM, Liu Y, Vidal-Puig A, Dong Y, Xu Y. Human-specific gene CT47 blocks PRMT5 degradation to lead to meiosis arrest. Cell Death Discov 2022; 8:345. [PMID: 35918318 PMCID: PMC9345867 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-022-01139-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Exploring the functions of human-specific genes (HSGs) is challenging due to the lack of a tractable genetic model system. Testosterone is essential for maintaining human spermatogenesis and fertility, but the underlying mechanism is unclear. Here, we identified Cancer/Testis Antigen gene family 47 (CT47) as an essential regulator of human-specific spermatogenesis by stabilizing arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5). A humanized mouse model revealed that CT47 functions to arrest spermatogenesis by interacting with and regulating CT47/PRMT5 accumulation in the nucleus during the leptotene/zygotene-to-pachytene transition of meiosis. We demonstrate that testosterone induces nuclear depletion of CT47/PRMT5 and rescues leptotene-arrested spermatocyte progression in humanized testes. Loss of CT47 in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) by CRISPR/Cas9 led to an increase in haploid cells but blocked the testosterone-induced increase in haploid cells when hESCs were differentiated into haploid spermatogenic cells. Moreover, CT47 levels were decreased in nonobstructive azoospermia. Together, these results established CT47 as a crucial regulator of human spermatogenesis by preventing meiosis initiation before the testosterone surge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Li
- Cambridge-Su Genomic Resource Center, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Medical School of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Yuming Feng
- Department of Reproductive Medical Center, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210002, China
| | - Zhenxin Fu
- Cambridge-Su Genomic Resource Center, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Medical School of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Junjie Deng
- Cambridge-Su Genomic Resource Center, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Medical School of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Yue Gu
- Cambridge-Su Genomic Resource Center, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Medical School of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Hanben Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine (SKLRM), Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210029, China
| | - Xin Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine (SKLRM), Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210029, China
| | - Zhengyun Huang
- Cambridge-Su Genomic Resource Center, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Medical School of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Yichen Zhu
- Cambridge-Su Genomic Resource Center, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Medical School of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Zhiwei Liu
- Cambridge-Su Genomic Resource Center, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Medical School of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Moli Huang
- Cambridge-Su Genomic Resource Center, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Medical School of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Tao Wang
- Cambridge-Su Genomic Resource Center, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Medical School of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Shijun Hu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital & Institute for Cardiovascular Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Medical College, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215000, China
| | - Bing Yao
- Department of Reproductive Medical Center, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210002, China
| | - Yizhun Zeng
- Cambridge-Su Genomic Resource Center, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Medical School of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Chengji J Zhou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of California at Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Steve D M Brown
- Medical Research Council (Mammalian Genetics Unit and Mary Lyon Centre), Harwell, UK
| | - Yi Liu
- Department of Physiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Antonio Vidal-Puig
- University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories, Institute of Metabolic Science, MDU MRC, Cambridge, UK
| | - Yingying Dong
- Cambridge-Su Genomic Resource Center, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Medical School of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China.
| | - Ying Xu
- Cambridge-Su Genomic Resource Center, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases, Medical School of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China.
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9
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Leptin secreted from testicular microenvironment modulates hedgehog signaling to augment the endogenous function of Leydig cells. Cell Death Dis 2022; 13:208. [PMID: 35246515 PMCID: PMC8897450 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-022-04658-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Although testosterone deficiency (TD) may be present in one out of five men 40 years or older, the factors responsible for TD remain largely unknown. Leydig stem cells (LSCs) differentiate into adult Leydig cells (ALC) and produce testosterone in the testes under the pulsatile control of luteinizing hormone (LH) from the pituitary gland. However, recent studies have suggested that the testicular microenvironment (TME), which is comprised of Sertoli and peritubular myoid cells (PMC), plays an instrumental role in LSC differentiation and testosterone production under the regulation of the desert hedgehog signaling pathway (DHH). It was hypothesized that the TME releases paracrine factors to modulate LSC differentiation. For this purpose, cells (Sertoli, PMCs, LSCs, and ALCs) were extracted from men undergoing testis biopsies for sperm retrieval and were evaluated for the paracrine factors in the presence or absence of the TME (Sertoli and PMC). The results demonstrated that TME secretes leptin, which induces LSC differentiation and increases testosterone production. Leptin's effects on LSC differentiation and testosterone production, however, are inversely concentration-dependent: positive at low doses and negative at higher doses. Mechanistically, leptin binds to the leptin receptor on LSCs and induces DHH signaling to modulate LSC differentiation. Leptin-DHH regulation functions unidirectionally insofar as DHH gain or loss of function has no effect on leptin levels. Taken together, these findings identify leptin as a key paracrine factor released by cells within the TME that modulates LSC differentiation and testosterone release from mature Leydig cells, a finding with important clinical implications for TD.
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10
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HIF-1α modulates sex-specific Th17/Treg responses during hepatic amoebiasis. J Hepatol 2022; 76:160-173. [PMID: 34599999 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2021.09.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS An invasive form of intestinal Entamoeba (E.) histolytica infection, which causes amoebic liver abscess, is more common in men than in women. Immunopathological mechanisms are responsible for the more severe outcome in males. Here, we used a mouse model of hepatic amoebiasis to investigate the contribution of hepatic hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α to T helper 17 (Th17)/regulatory T cell (Treg) responses in the context of the sex-specific outcome of liver damage. METHODS C57BL/6J mice were infected intrahepatically with E. histolytica trophozoites. HIF-1α expression was determined by qPCR, flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. Tregs and Th17 cells were analysed by immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. Finally, male and female hepatocyte-specific Hif1α knockout mice were generated, and the effect of HIF-1α on abscess development, the cytokine milieu, and Th17/Treg differentiation was examined. RESULTS E. histolytica infection increased hepatic HIF-1α levels, along with the elevated frequencies of hepatic Th17 and Treg cells. While the Th17 cell population was larger in male mice, Tregs characterised by increased expression of Foxp3 in female mice. Male mice displayed increased IL-6 expression, contributing to immunopathology; this increase in IL-6 expression declined upon deletion of hepatic HIF-1α. In both sexes, hepatic deletion of HIF-1α reduced the Th17 cell frequency; however, the percentage of Tregs was reduced in female mice only. CONCLUSIONS Hepatic HIF-1α modulates the sex-specific outcome of murine E. histolytica infection. Our results suggest that in male mice, Th17 cells can be modulated by hepatic HIF-1α via IL-6, indicating marked involvement in the immunopathology underlying abscess development. Strong expression of Foxp3 by hepatic Tregs from female mice suggests a potent immunosuppressive function, leading to initiation of liver regeneration. LAY SUMMARY Infection with the parasite Entamoeba histolytica activates immunopathological mechanisms in male mice, which lead to liver abscesses that are larger than those in female mice. In the absence of the protein HIF-1α in hepatocytes, abscess formation is reduced; moreover, the sex difference in abscess size is abolished. These results suggest that HIF-1α modulates the immune response involved in the induction of immunopathology, resulting in differential disease susceptibility in males and females.
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11
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Kennaway
- Robinson Research Institute and Adelaide School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
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12
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Pan C, Qiu J, Wang L, Yan Z, Huang W, Zhang D, Zhan X, Shen G. Colorimetric Aptasensor for Testosterone Detection Based on Aggregation of Gold Nanoparticles Induced by Cationic Surfactant. Aust J Chem 2021. [DOI: 10.1071/ch20237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
This paper proposes a colorimetric aptasensor for the detection of testosterone (TES) in environmental water, using TES-specific aptamer (apT5) as a sensing probe, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as indicator, and hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as inducer, respectively. Based on competition between TES and CTAB for apT5, the aptamer can form an aptamer–TES complex, leaving CTAB free to aggregate AuNPs in the presence of TES. Dispersed and aggregated AuNPs have different absorption wavelengths and the signal of absorption intensity is associated with the concentration of TES, so TES can be detected quantitatively based on the signal absorption intensity. This sensitive aptasensor for TES detection has a wide linear range (R=0.998) from 1.91–800nM and a limit of detection (LOD) of 1.91nM. In addition, this aptasensor has high selectivity over some interferents. The method detects TES in tap water samples with recoveries in the range of 98.9–102.6% (RSD ≤ 7.35%). This biosensor presents a good and potential application to rapidly detect TES in actual environmental water samples.
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13
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Kamińska A, Marek S, Pardyak L, Brzoskwinia M, Bilinska B, Hejmej A. Crosstalk between Androgen-ZIP9 Signaling and Notch Pathway in Rodent Sertoli Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21218275. [PMID: 33167316 PMCID: PMC7663815 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21218275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Our recent study demonstrated altered expression of Notch ligands, receptors, and effector genes in testes of pubertal rats following reduced androgen production or signaling. Herein we aimed to explore the role of nuclear androgen receptor (AR) and membrane androgen receptor (Zrt- and Irt-like protein 9; ZIP9) in the regulation of Notch pathway activation in rodent Sertoli cells. Experiments were performed using TM4 and 15P-1 Sertoli cell lines and rat primary Sertoli cells (PSC). We found that testosterone (10-8 M-10-6 M) increased the expression of Notch1 receptor, its active form Notch1 intracellular domain (N1ICD) (p < 0.05, p < 0.01, p < 0.001), and the effector genes Hey1 (p < 0.05, p < 0.01, p < 0.001) and Hes1 (p < 0.05, p < 0.001) in Sertoli cells. Knockdown of AR or ZIP9 as well as antiandrogen exposure experiments revealed that (i) action of androgens via both AR and ZIP9 controls Notch1/N1ICD expression and transcriptional activity of recombination signal binding protein (RBP-J), (ii) AR-dependent signaling regulates Hey1 expression, (iii) ZIP9-dependent pathway regulates Hes1 expression. Our findings indicate a crosstalk between androgen and Notch signaling in Sertoli cells and point to cooperation of classical and non-classical androgen signaling pathways in controlling Sertoli cell function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicja Kamińska
- Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland; (A.K.); (S.M.); (L.P.); (M.B.); (B.B.)
| | - Sylwia Marek
- Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland; (A.K.); (S.M.); (L.P.); (M.B.); (B.B.)
| | - Laura Pardyak
- Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland; (A.K.); (S.M.); (L.P.); (M.B.); (B.B.)
- Center of Experimental and Innovative Medicine, University of Agriculture in Krakow, 30-248 Kraków, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Brzoskwinia
- Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland; (A.K.); (S.M.); (L.P.); (M.B.); (B.B.)
| | - Barbara Bilinska
- Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland; (A.K.); (S.M.); (L.P.); (M.B.); (B.B.)
| | - Anna Hejmej
- Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, 30-387 Kraków, Poland; (A.K.); (S.M.); (L.P.); (M.B.); (B.B.)
- Correspondence:
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14
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Handelsman DJ. Testosterone, Spermatogenesis, and Unravelling the Mysteries of Puberty. Endocrinology 2020; 161:5875543. [PMID: 32701149 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqaa120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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15
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Harris AN, Lee HW, Verlander JW, Weiner ID. Testosterone modulates renal ammonia metabolism. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 2020; 318:F922-F935. [PMID: 32116019 DOI: 10.1152/ajprenal.00560.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
There are substantial sex differences in renal structure and ammonia metabolism that correlate with differences in expression of proteins involved in ammonia generation and transport. This study determined the role of testis-derived testosterone in these differences. We studied 4-mo-old male C57BL/6 mice 4 and 8 wk after either bilateral orchiectomy (ORCH) or sham-operated control surgery and determined the effect of testosterone replacement to reverse the effects of ORCH. Finally, we determined the cellular expression of androgen receptor (AR), testosterone's canonical target receptor. ORCH decreased kidney and proximal tubule size, and testosterone replacement reversed this effect. ORCH increased ammonia excretion in a testosterone-dependent fashion; this occurred despite similar food intake, which is the primary component of endogenous acid production. ORCH increased expression of both phosphoenolpyruvate, a major ammonia-generating protein, and Na+-K+-2Cl- cotransporter, which mediates thick ascending limb ammonia reabsorption; these changes were reversed with testosterone replacement. Orchiectomy also decreased expression of Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 3, which mediates proximal tubule ammonia secretion, in a testosterone-dependent pattern. Finally, ARs are expressed throughout the proximal tubule in both the male and female kidney. Testosterone, possibly acting through ARs, has dramatic effects on kidney and proximal tubule size and decreases ammonia excretion through its effects on several key proteins involved in ammonia metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Autumn N Harris
- Deparment of Small Animal Clinical Science, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, Florida.,Division of Nephrology, Hypertension, and Renal Transplantation, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Hyun-Wook Lee
- Division of Nephrology, Hypertension, and Renal Transplantation, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Jill W Verlander
- Division of Nephrology, Hypertension, and Renal Transplantation, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida
| | - I David Weiner
- Division of Nephrology, Hypertension, and Renal Transplantation, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida.,Nephrology and Hypertension Section, Gainesville Veterans Administration Medical Center, Gainesville, Florida
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16
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Yao Q, Guo Y, Xue J, Kong D, Li J, Tian X, Hao C, Zhou T. Development and validation of a LC-MS/MS method for simultaneous determination of six glucocorticoids and its application to a pharmacokinetic study in nude mice. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2020; 179:112980. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2019.112980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2019] [Revised: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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17
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Gardner KM, Mennill DJ, Newman AEM, Doucet SM. Social and physiological drivers of rapid colour change in a tropical toad. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2020; 285:113292. [PMID: 31580882 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2019.113292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2019] [Revised: 09/20/2019] [Accepted: 09/29/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Dynamic sexual dichromatism occurs when males and females differ in colouration for a limited time. Although this trait has been primarily studied in cephalopods, chameleons, and fishes, recent analyses suggest that dynamic dichromatism is prevalent among anurans and may be mediated through sexual selection and sex recognition. Yellow toads, Incilius luetkenii, exhibit dynamic dichromatism during explosive breeding events at the onset of the rainy season: males change from a cryptic brown to a bright yellow and back again during the brief mating event. We tested the hypothesis that dynamic dichromatism in yellow toads is influenced by conspecific interactions and mediated through sex hormones and stress hormones. We placed male toads into one of four social treatments (with three other males, one male, one female, or no other toads). Immediately before and after each one-hour treatment, we quantified male colour with a reflectance spectrometer and we collected a blood sample to assess plasma concentrations of both testosterone and corticosterone. We found that males held with conspecific animals showed the brightest yellow colour and showed little or no change in their corticosterone levels. Across treatments, toads with duller yellow colour had higher levels of corticosterone. Male colour showed no association with testosterone. Interestingly, males showed substantial temporal variation in colour and corticosterone: toads were duller yellow and exhibited greater levels of corticosterone post-treatment across subsequent days at the onset of the rainy season. Our findings reveal that both conspecific interactions and corticosterone are involved in the dynamic colour change of yellow toads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrina M Gardner
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada.
| | - Daniel J Mennill
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada.
| | - Amy E M Newman
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
| | - Stéphanie M Doucet
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada.
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18
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Colldén H, Landin A, Wallenius V, Elebring E, Fändriks L, Nilsson ME, Ryberg H, Poutanen M, Sjögren K, Vandenput L, Ohlsson C. The gut microbiota is a major regulator of androgen metabolism in intestinal contents. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2019; 317:E1182-E1192. [PMID: 31689143 PMCID: PMC6962501 DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00338.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Androgens exert important effects both in androgen-responsive tissues and in the intestinal tract. To determine the impact of the gut microbiota (GM) on intestinal androgen metabolism, we measured unconjugated (free) and glucuronidated androgen levels in intestinal contents from the small intestine, with a low bacterial density, and from cecum and colon, with a high bacterial density. Using a specific, sensitive gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method, we detected high levels of glucuronidated testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in small intestinal content of mice of both sexes, whereas in the distal intestine we observed remarkably high levels of free DHT, exceeding serum levels by >20-fold. Similarly, in young adult men high levels of unconjugated DHT, >70-fold higher than in serum, were detected in feces. In contrast to mice with a normal GM composition, germ-free mice had high levels of glucuronidated T and DHT, but very low free DHT levels, in the distal intestine. These findings demonstrate that the GM is involved in intestinal metabolism and deglucuronidation of DHT and T, resulting in extremely high free levels of the most potent androgen, DHT, in the colonic content of young and healthy mice and men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Colldén
- Centre for Bone and Arthritis Research, Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Medicine, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Andreas Landin
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Ville Wallenius
- Department of Gastrosurgical Research and Education, Institute of Clinical Sciences, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Erik Elebring
- Department of Gastrosurgical Research and Education, Institute of Clinical Sciences, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Lars Fändriks
- Department of Gastrosurgical Research and Education, Institute of Clinical Sciences, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Maria E Nilsson
- Centre for Bone and Arthritis Research, Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Medicine, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Henrik Ryberg
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Matti Poutanen
- Centre for Bone and Arthritis Research, Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Medicine, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
- Institute of Biomedicine, Research Centre for Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology and Turku Center for Disease Modeling, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Klara Sjögren
- Centre for Bone and Arthritis Research, Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Medicine, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Liesbeth Vandenput
- Centre for Bone and Arthritis Research, Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Medicine, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Claes Ohlsson
- Centre for Bone and Arthritis Research, Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Medicine, The Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
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19
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Denver N, Khan S, Homer NZM, MacLean MR, Andrew R. Current strategies for quantification of estrogens in clinical research. J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol 2019; 192:105373. [PMID: 31112747 PMCID: PMC6726893 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsbmb.2019.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Revised: 04/24/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Estrogens and their bioactive metabolites play key roles in regulating diverse processes in health and disease. In particular, estrogens and estrogenic metabolites have shown both protective and non-protective effects on disease pathobiology, implicating the importance of this steroid pathway in disease diagnostics and monitoring. All estrogens circulate in a wide range of concentrations, which in some patient cohorts can be extremely low. However, elevated levels of estradiol are reported in disease. For example, in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) elevated levels have been reported in men and postmenopausal women. Conventional immunoassay techniques have come under scrutiny, with their selectivity, accuracy and precision coming into question. Analytical methodologies such as gas and liquid chromatography coupled to single and tandem mass spectrometric approaches (GC-MS, GC-MS/MS, LC-MS and LC-MS/MS) have been developed to quantify endogenous estrogens and in some cases their bioactive metabolites in biological fluids such as urine, serum, plasma and saliva. Liquid-liquid or solid-phase extraction approaches are favoured with derivatization remaining a necessity for detection in lower volumes of sample. The limits of quantitation of individual assays vary but are commonly in the range of 0.5-5 pg/mL for estrone and estradiol, with limits for their bioactive metabolites being higher. This review provides an overview of current approaches for measurement of unconjugated estrogens in biological matrices by MS, highlighting the advances in this field and the challenges remaining for routine use in the clinical and research environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Denver
- Mass Spectrometry Core, Edinburgh Clinical Research Facility, Queen's Medical Research Institute, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, United Kingdom; Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, University Avenue, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, United Kingdom; Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, 161 Cathedral Street, Glasgow, G4 0RE, United Kingdom.
| | - Shazia Khan
- Mass Spectrometry Core, Edinburgh Clinical Research Facility, Queen's Medical Research Institute, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, United Kingdom; University/BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, 47, Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, UK, EH16 4TJ.
| | - Natalie Z M Homer
- Mass Spectrometry Core, Edinburgh Clinical Research Facility, Queen's Medical Research Institute, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, United Kingdom.
| | - Margaret R MacLean
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, 161 Cathedral Street, Glasgow, G4 0RE, United Kingdom.
| | - Ruth Andrew
- Mass Spectrometry Core, Edinburgh Clinical Research Facility, Queen's Medical Research Institute, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, United Kingdom; University/BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, 47, Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, UK, EH16 4TJ.
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20
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Schuppe ER, Fuxjager MJ. Phenotypic variation reveals sites of evolutionary constraint in the androgenic signaling pathway. Horm Behav 2019; 115:104538. [PMID: 31211944 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2019.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2019] [Revised: 05/19/2019] [Accepted: 06/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Steroid hormone systems play an important role in shaping the evolution of vertebrate sexual traits, but several aspects of this relationship remain unclear. For example, we currently know little about how steroid signaling complexes are adapted to accommodate the emergence of behavior in response to sexual selection. We use downy woodpeckers (Dryobates pubescens) to evaluate how the machinery underlying androgen action can evolve to accommodate this bird's main territorial signal, the drum. We focus specifically on modifications to androgenic mechanisms in the primary neck muscle that actuates the hammering movements underlying this signal. Of the signaling components we examine, we find that levels of circulating testosterone (T) and androgen receptor (AR) expression are consistently increased in a way that likely enhances androgenic regulation of drumming. By contrast, the expression of nuclear receptor co-factors-the 'molecular rheostats' of steroid action-show no such relationship in our analyses. If anything, co-factors are expressed in directions that would presumably hinder androgenic regulation of the drum. These findings therefore collectively point to T levels and AR as the more evolutionarily labile components of the androgenic system, in that they are likely more apt to change over time to support sexual selection for territorial signaling in woodpeckers. Yet the signaling elements that fine-tune AR's functional effects on the genome-namely the receptor's transcriptional co-factors-do not change in such a manner, and thus may be under tighter evolutionary constraint.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric R Schuppe
- Department of Biology, Wake Forest University, 455 Vine Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, United States of America
| | - Matthew J Fuxjager
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, United States of America.
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21
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Lam YT, Lecce L, Yuen SC, Wise SG, Handelsman DJ, Karas RH, Ng MKC. Androgens Ameliorate Impaired Ischemia-Induced Neovascularization Due to Aging in Male Mice. Endocrinology 2019; 160:1137-1149. [PMID: 30830222 DOI: 10.1210/en.2018-00951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2018] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
There is abundant evidence that low circulating testosterone levels in older men are associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes; however, the direction of causality is unclear. Although there is burgeoning interest in the potential of androgen therapy in older men, the effect of androgens on cardiovascular regeneration in aging males remains poorly defined. We investigated the role of androgens in age-related impairment in ischemia-induced neovascularization. Castrated young (2 months) and old (24 months) male mice were subjected to unilateral hindlimb ischemia and treated with subdermal DHT or placebo Silastic implants. Blood flow recovery was enhanced by DHT treatment in young and old mice compared with age-matched placebo controls. DHT augmented angiogenesis in young mice and ameliorated age-related impairment in neovascularization in old mice. Administration of DHT was associated with increased hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and stromal cell‒derived factor-1 expression in young mice, but not in old mice. In vitro, DHT-induced HIF-1α transcriptional activation was attenuated in fibroblasts from old mice. Interaction between androgen receptor (AR) and importins, key proteins that facilitate nuclear translocation of AR, was impaired with age. In contrast, DHT treatment stimulated the production and mobilization of Sca1+/CXCR4+ circulating progenitor cells in both young and old mice. DHT stimulated the migration and proangiogenic paracrine effect of ex vivo cultured bone marrow‒derived angiogenic cells from young and old mice. In conclusion, androgens ameliorated age-related impairment in ischemia-induced neovascularization. Although age-dependent dysfunction in androgen signaling attenuated some androgen effects on angiogenesis, provasculogenic effects of androgens were partially preserved with age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuen Ting Lam
- The Heart Research Institute, Newtown, New South Wales, Australia
- Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Laura Lecce
- The Zena and Michael A. Wiener Cardiovascular Institute and Cardiovascular Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Sui Ching Yuen
- The Heart Research Institute, Newtown, New South Wales, Australia
- Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Steven G Wise
- The Heart Research Institute, Newtown, New South Wales, Australia
- Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - David J Handelsman
- ANZAC Research Institute, University of Sydney, Concord Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Richard H Karas
- The Molecular Cardiology Research Institute, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Martin K C Ng
- The Heart Research Institute, Newtown, New South Wales, Australia
- Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
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22
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Bromfield EG, Dowland SN, Dunleavy JEM, Dunning KR, Holland OJ, Houston BJ, Pankhurst MW, Richani D, Riepsamen AH, Rose R, Bertoldo MJ. Fifty years of reproductive biology in Australia: highlights from the 50th Annual Meeting of the Society for Reproductive Biology (SRB). Reprod Fertil Dev 2019; 31:829-836. [PMID: 30636191 DOI: 10.1071/rd18436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 12/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The 2018 edition of the Society for Reproductive Biology's (SRB) Annual Meeting was a celebration of 50 years of Australian research into reproductive biology. The past 50 years has seen many important contributions to this field, and these advances have led to changes in practice and policy, improvements in the efficiency of animal reproduction and improved health outcomes. This conference review delivers a dedicated summary of the symposia, discussing emerging concepts, raising new questions and proposing directions forward. Notably, the symposia discussed in this review emphasised the impact that reproductive research can have on quality of life and the health trajectories of individuals. The breadth of the research discussed encompasses the central regulation of fertility and cyclicity, life course health and how the environment of gametes and embryos can affect subsequent generations, significant advances in our understanding of placental biology and pregnancy disorders and the implications of assisted reproductive technologies on population health. The importance of a reliable food supply and protection of endangered species is also discussed. The research covered at SRB's 2018 meeting not only recognised the important contributions of its members over the past 50 years, but also highlighted key findings and avenues for innovation moving forward that will enable the SRB to continue making significant contributions for the next 50 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth G Bromfield
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, The University of Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia
| | - Samson N Dowland
- School of Medical Sciences (Discipline of Anatomy and Histology) and The Bosch Institute, F13 Anderson Stuart Building, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | | | - Kylie R Dunning
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Nanoscale BioPhotonics, University of Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
| | - Olivia J Holland
- School of Medical Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Southport, Qld 5005, Australia
| | - Brendan J Houston
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Vic. 3168, Australia
| | - Michael W Pankhurst
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Dulama Richani
- Fertility and Research Centre, School of Women's and Children's Health, UNSW, Randwick 2052, NSW 4222, Australia
| | - Angelique H Riepsamen
- Fertility and Research Centre, School of Women's and Children's Health, UNSW, Randwick 2052, NSW 4222, Australia
| | - Ryan Rose
- Robinson Research Institute, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia
| | - Michael J Bertoldo
- Fertility and Research Centre, School of Women's and Children's Health, UNSW, Randwick 2052, NSW 4222, Australia
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23
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Kupreeva M, Diane A, Lehner R, Watts R, Ghosh M, Proctor S, Vine D. Effect of metformin and flutamide on insulin, lipogenic and androgen-estrogen signaling, and cardiometabolic risk in a PCOS-prone metabolic syndrome rodent model. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2019; 316:E16-E33. [PMID: 30153063 PMCID: PMC6417686 DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00018.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2018] [Revised: 08/10/2018] [Accepted: 08/22/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is highly associated with cardiometabolic risk and the metabolic syndrome (MetS), predisposing women to increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Metformin is commonly used to treat insulin resistance-glucose intolerance, and flutamide, an androgen receptor (AR) antagonist, is used to target hyperandrogenemia and dyslipidemia. Currently, the physiological mechanism of action of these treatments on androgen, lipidogenic, and insulin signaling pathways remains unclear in PCOS. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects and mechanisms of action of metformin and flutamide on plasma lipid-apolipoprotein (Apo)B-lipoprotein and insulin-glucose metabolism, and endocrine-reproductive indices in a PCOS-prone MetS rodent model. PCOS-prone rodents were treated with metformin (300 mg/kg body wt), flutamide (30 mg/kg body wt), or metformin + flutamide combination treatment for 6 wk. Metformin was shown to improve fasting insulin and HOMA-IR, whereas flutamide and combination treatment were shown to reduce plasma triglycerides, ApoB48, and ApoB100, and this was associated with decreased intestinal secretion of ApoB48/triglyceride. Flutamide and metformin were shown to reduce plasma androgen indices and to improve ovarian primary and preovulatory follicle frequency. Metformin treatment increased hepatic estrogen receptor (ER)α, and metformin-flutamide decreased intestinal AR and increased ERα mRNA expression. Metformin-flutamide treatment upregulated hepatic and intestinal insulin signaling, including insulin receptor, MAPK1, and AKT2. In conclusion, cardiometabolic risk factors, in particular ApoB-hypertriglyceridemia, are independently modulated via the AR, and understanding the contribution of AR and insulin-signaling pathways further may facilitate the development of targeted interventions in high-risk women with PCOS and MetS.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. Kupreeva
- Metabolic and Cardiovascular Disease Laboratory, Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - A. Diane
- Metabolic and Cardiovascular Disease Laboratory, Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - R. Lehner
- Group on Molecular Cell Biology of Lipids, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - R. Watts
- Group on Molecular Cell Biology of Lipids, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - M. Ghosh
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - S. Proctor
- Metabolic and Cardiovascular Disease Laboratory, Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Group on Molecular Cell Biology of Lipids, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - D. Vine
- Metabolic and Cardiovascular Disease Laboratory, Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- Group on Molecular Cell Biology of Lipids, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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24
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Handelsman DJ. Mass spectrometry, immunoassay and valid steroid measurements in reproductive medicine and science. Hum Reprod 2018; 32:1147-1150. [PMID: 28453777 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dex078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- David J Handelsman
- ANZAC Research Institute, Concord Hospital and University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2139, Australia
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25
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Bielohuby M, Bidlingmaier M, Schwahn U. Control of (pre)-analytical aspects in immunoassay measurements of metabolic hormones in rodents. Endocr Connect 2018; 7. [PMID: 29540488 PMCID: PMC5881432 DOI: 10.1530/ec-18-0035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The measurement of circulating hormones by immunoassay remains a cornerstone in preclinical endocrine research. For scientists conducting and interpreting immunoassay measurements of rodent samples, the paramount aim usually is to obtain reliable and meaningful measurement data in order to draw conclusions on biological processes. However, the biological variability between samples is not the only variable affecting the readout of an immunoassay measurement and a considerable amount of unwanted or unintended variability can be quickly introduced during the pre-analytical and analytical phase. This review aims to increase the awareness for the factors 'pre-analytical' and 'analytical' variability particularly in the context of immunoassay measurement of circulating metabolic hormones in rodent samples. In addition, guidance is provided how to gain control over these variables and how to avoid common pitfalls associated with sample collection, processing, storage and measurement. Furthermore, recommendations are given on how to perform a basic validation of novel single and multiplex immunoassays for the measurement of metabolic hormones in rodents. Finally, practical examples from immunoassay measurements of plasma insulin in mice address the factors 'sampling site and inhalation anesthesia' as frequent sources of introducing an unwanted variability during the pre-analytical phase. The knowledge about the influence of both types of variability on the immunoassay measurement of circulating hormones as well as strategies to control these variables are crucial, on the one hand, for planning and realization of metabolic rodent studies and, on the other hand, for the generation and interpretation of meaningful immunoassay data from rodent samples.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Martin Bidlingmaier
- Endocrine Research LaboratoriesMedizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Klinikum der Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Uwe Schwahn
- Sanofi-Aventis Deutschland GmbHR&D, Industriepark Höchst, Frankfurt, Germany
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26
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Engeli RT, Fürstenberger C, Kratschmar DV, Odermatt A. Currently available murine Leydig cell lines can be applied to study early steps of steroidogenesis but not testosterone synthesis. Heliyon 2018; 4:e00527. [PMID: 29560447 PMCID: PMC5857625 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2018.e00527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2017] [Revised: 12/12/2017] [Accepted: 01/23/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Androgen biosynthesis in males occurs to a large extent in testicular Leydig cells. This study focused on the evaluation of three murine Leydig cell lines as potential screening tool to test xenobiotics interfering with gonadal androgen synthesis. The final step of testosterone (T) production in Leydig cells is catalyzed by the enzyme 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 3 (17β-hsd3). The endogenous 17β-hsd3 mRNA expression and Δ4-androstene-3,17-dione (AD) to T conversion were determined in the murine cell lines MA-10, BLTK1 and TM3. Additionally, effects of 8-Br-cAMP and forskolin stimulation on steroidogenesis and T production were analyzed. Steroids were quantified in supernatants of cells using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Unstimulated cells incubated with AD produced only very low T but substantial amounts of the inactive androsterone. Stimulated cells produced low amounts of T, moderate amounts of AD, but high amounts of progesterone. Gene expression analyses revealed barely detectable 17β-hsd3 levels, absence of 17β-hsd5 (Akr1c6), but substantial 17β-hsd1 expression in all three cell lines. Thus, MA-10, BLTK1 and TM3 cells are not suitable to study the expression and activity of the gonadal T synthesizing enzyme 17β-hsd3. The low T production reported in stimulated MA-10 cells are likely a result of the expression of 17β-hsd1. This study substantiates that the investigated Leydig cell lines MA-10, BLTK1, and TM3 are not suitable to study gonadal androgen biosynthesis due to altered steroidogenic pathways. Furthermore, this study emphasizes the necessity of mass spectrometry-based steroid quantification in experiments using steroidogenic cells such as Leydig cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roger T Engeli
- Swiss Centre for Applied Human Toxicology and Division of Molecular and Systems Toxicology, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Cornelia Fürstenberger
- Swiss Centre for Applied Human Toxicology and Division of Molecular and Systems Toxicology, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Denise V Kratschmar
- Swiss Centre for Applied Human Toxicology and Division of Molecular and Systems Toxicology, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Alex Odermatt
- Swiss Centre for Applied Human Toxicology and Division of Molecular and Systems Toxicology, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
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27
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Hennig K, Antignac JP, Bichon E, Morvan ML, Miran I, Delaloge S, Feunteun J, Le Bizec B. Steroid hormone profiling in human breast adipose tissue using semi-automated purification and highly sensitive determination of estrogens by GC-APCI-MS/MS. Anal Bioanal Chem 2017; 410:259-275. [PMID: 29147745 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-017-0717-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2017] [Revised: 09/22/2017] [Accepted: 10/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Body mass index is a known breast cancer risk factor due to, among other mechanisms, adipose-derived hormones. We developed a method for steroid hormone profiling in adipose tissue to evaluate healthy tissue around the tumor and define new biomarkers for cancer development. A semi-automated sample preparation method based on gel permeation chromatography and subsequent derivatization with trimethylsilyl (TMS) is presented. Progestagens and androgens were determined by GC-EI-MS/MS (LOQ 0.5 to 10 ng/g lipids). For estrogen measurement, a highly sensitive GC-APCI-MS/MS method was developed to reach the required lower limits of detection (0.05 to 0.1 ng/g lipids in matrix, 100-200 fg on column for pure standards). The combination of the two methods allows the screening of 27 androgens and progestagens and 4 estrogens from a single sample. Good accuracies and repeatabilities were achieved for each compound class at their respective limit of detection. The method was applied to determine steroid hormone profiles in adipose tissue of 51 patients, collected both at proximity and distant to the tumor. Out of the 31 tested steroid hormones, 14 compounds were detected in human samples. Pregnenolone, 17-hydroxypregnenolone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and androstendione accounted together for 80% of the observed steroid hormone profiles, whereas the estrogens accounted for only 1%. These profiles did not differ based on sampling location, except for ß-estradiol; steroid hormone conversions from androgens to estrogens that potentially take place in adipose or tumoral tissue might not be detectable due a factor 100 difference in concentration of for example DHEA and ß-estradiol. Graphical Abstract Schematic overview of the determination of steroid hormones and metabolites in adipose tissue in proximity and distal to the tumor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin Hennig
- Laboratoire d'Etude des Résidus et Contaminants dans les Aliments (LABERCA), ONIRIS, LUNAM Université, 44307, Nantes, France
| | - Jean Philippe Antignac
- Laboratoire d'Etude des Résidus et Contaminants dans les Aliments (LABERCA), ONIRIS, LUNAM Université, 44307, Nantes, France.
| | - Emmanuelle Bichon
- Laboratoire d'Etude des Résidus et Contaminants dans les Aliments (LABERCA), ONIRIS, LUNAM Université, 44307, Nantes, France
| | - Marie-Line Morvan
- Laboratoire d'Etude des Résidus et Contaminants dans les Aliments (LABERCA), ONIRIS, LUNAM Université, 44307, Nantes, France
| | - Isabelle Miran
- UMR981 INSERM, Gustave Roussy, Paris-Saclay University, 94805, Villejuif, France
| | - Suzette Delaloge
- Breast Cancer Group, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, 94805, Villejuif, France
| | - Jean Feunteun
- UMR8200 CNRS, Gustave Roussy, Paris-Saclay University, 94805, Villejuif, France
| | - Bruno Le Bizec
- Laboratoire d'Etude des Résidus et Contaminants dans les Aliments (LABERCA), ONIRIS, LUNAM Université, 44307, Nantes, France
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28
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Colangelo JL. The Validation of Quantitative Mass Spectrometry Assays for Clinical Chemistry Assessments in Animal Models. Toxicol Pathol 2017; 45:977-982. [PMID: 29108484 DOI: 10.1177/0192623317737240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Mass spectrometry (MS) has become a key platform in the clinical pathology laboratory and is being used more frequently for clinical pathology assessments in preclinical species for drug development studies. MS assays are being utilized for some traditional clinical pathology end points as well as novel biomarker analyses. For effective deployment in drug development toxicology studies, assays must be validated for use, and these validations are not very different from other bioanalytical platforms commonly found in the clinical pathology laboratory. Validations for MS assays include accuracy and precision assessments, analyte stability evaluations, carryover determinations, and recovery measures. The MS platform does present some unique challenges that should be considered, including ion suppression and availability of reference standards with MS data. Understanding the caveats of the MS platform is important for thorough validations and effective deployment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Colangelo
- 1 Drug Safety Research & Development, Pfizer Worldwide Research & Development, Groton, Connecticut, USA
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29
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Steroid profiling in H295R cells to identify chemicals potentially disrupting the production of adrenal steroids. Toxicology 2017; 381:51-63. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2017.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2016] [Revised: 02/09/2017] [Accepted: 02/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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30
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31
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Sex hormone-binding globulin regulation of androgen bioactivity in vivo: validation of the free hormone hypothesis. Sci Rep 2016; 6:35539. [PMID: 27748448 PMCID: PMC5066276 DOI: 10.1038/srep35539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2016] [Accepted: 09/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) is the high-affinity binding protein for androgens and estrogens. According to the free hormone hypothesis, SHBG modulates the bioactivity of sex steroids by limiting their diffusion into target tissues. Still, the in vivo physiological role of circulating SHBG remains unclear, especially since mice and rats lack circulating SHBG post-natally. To test the free hormone hypothesis in vivo, we examined total and free sex steroid concentrations and bioactivity on target organs in mice expressing a human SHBG transgene. SHBG increased total androgen and estrogen concentrations via hypothalamic-pituitary feedback regulation and prolonged ligand half-life. Despite markedly raised total sex steroid concentrations, free testosterone was unaffected while sex steroid bioactivity on male and female reproductive organs was attenuated. This occurred via a ligand-dependent, genotype-independent mechanism according to in vitro seminal vesicle organ cultures. These results provide compelling support for the determination of free or bioavailable sex steroid concentrations in medicine, and clarify important comparative differences between translational mouse models and human endocrinology.
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32
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Shimma S, Kumada HO, Taniguchi H, Konno A, Yao I, Furuta K, Matsuda T, Ito S. Microscopic visualization of testosterone in mouse testis by use of imaging mass spectrometry. Anal Bioanal Chem 2016; 408:7607-7615. [PMID: 27230625 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-016-9594-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2016] [Revised: 04/16/2016] [Accepted: 04/20/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Testosterone is one of the androgens synthesized from cholesterol as a precursor in the Leydig cells of testes. Since the ionization efficiency of testosterone in matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) is quite low, visualization of testosterone by using MALDI-imaging mass spectrometry (MALDI-IMS) has been considered difficult. To overcome this problem, we used two types of on-tissue derivatization techniques, which were achieved by pyridine sulfur trioxide and Girard's T (GT) reagent, to introduce a polar group into testosterone molecule with the aim to increase the sensitivity. Derivatization by use of GT reagent provided excellent results, superior to those obtained with pyridine sulfur trioxide, in terms of ionization efficiency, molecular specificity, and tissue damage. In GT derivatized testis tissues of mice treated with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), testosterone was broadly observed both inside and outside the seminiferous tubules by using an iMScope. To evaluate our imaging results, we performed quantification experiments of underivatized testosterone extracted from hCG-treated testes and control testes using LC-MS/MS. We confirmed the 256-fold concentration change between hCG-treated tissues and control tissues. We also confirmed the 228-fold change in detected peak intensities between hCG-treated tissue sections and control tissue sections in imaging results. We consider our tissue preparation methods for IMS provide high sensitivity with high precision. In addition, high-spatial definition IMS was also available, and we confirmed testosterone had mainly accumulated on the surface of the Leydig cells. Graphical abstract Girard's T-testosterone (GT-Ts) provides the fragment ion at m/z 343.24. Clear GT-Ts signal was detected in hCG treated mouse testis not only as spectra but also as a mass image.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuichi Shimma
- Division of Advanced Science and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering of Osaka University, 2-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Henri-Obadja Kumada
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Kansai Medical University, 2-5-1 Shin-machi, Hirakata, Osaka, 573-1010, Japan
| | - Hisanori Taniguchi
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Kansai Medical University, 2-5-1 Shin-machi, Hirakata, Osaka, 573-1010, Japan.,Department of Urology and Andrology, Kansai Medical University, 2-5-1 Shin-machi, Hirakata, Osaka, 573-1010, Japan
| | - Alu Konno
- Department of Optical Imaging, Institute for Medical Photonics Research, Preeminent Medical Photonics Education & Research Center, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Higashi-ku, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, 431-3192, Japan.,JST, ERATO, Sato project, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Ikuko Yao
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Kansai Medical University, 2-5-1 Shin-machi, Hirakata, Osaka, 573-1010, Japan.,Department of Optical Imaging, Institute for Medical Photonics Research, Preeminent Medical Photonics Education & Research Center, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Higashi-ku, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, 431-3192, Japan.,JST, ERATO, Sato project, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Kyoji Furuta
- Regeneration and Advanced Medical Science, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, Yanagido 1-1, Gifu, Gifu, 501-1193, Japan
| | - Tadashi Matsuda
- Department of Urology and Andrology, Kansai Medical University, 2-5-1 Shin-machi, Hirakata, Osaka, 573-1010, Japan
| | - Seiji Ito
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Kansai Medical University, 2-5-1 Shin-machi, Hirakata, Osaka, 573-1010, Japan.
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33
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O'Hara L, Smith LB. Development and Characterization of Cell-Specific Androgen Receptor Knockout Mice. Methods Mol Biol 2016; 1443:219-248. [PMID: 27246343 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-3724-0_14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Conditional gene targeting has revolutionized molecular genetic analysis of nuclear receptor proteins, however development and analysis of such conditional knockouts is far from simple, with many caveats and pitfalls waiting to snare the novice or unprepared. In this chapter, we describe our experience of generating and analyzing mouse models with conditional ablation of the androgen receptor (AR) from tissues of the reproductive system and other organs. The guidance, suggestions, and protocols outlined in the chapter provide the key starting point for analyses of conditional-ARKO mice, completing them as described provides an excellent framework for further focussed project-specific analyses, and applies equally well to analysis of reproductive tissues from any mouse model generated through conditional gene targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura O'Hara
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Lee B Smith
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, UK.
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