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Modulatory Effects of Estradiol and Its Mixtures with Ligands of GPER and PPAR on MAPK and PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathways and Tumorigenic Factors in Mouse Testis Explants and Mouse Tumor Leydig Cells. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10061390. [PMID: 35740412 PMCID: PMC9219706 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10061390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study was designed to evaluate how estradiol alone or in combination with G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) agonists and GPER and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) antagonists alter the expression of tumor growth factor β (TGF-β), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), hypoxia inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in mouse testis explants and MA-10 mouse tumor Leydig cells. In order to define the hormone-associated signaling pathway, the expression of MAPK and PI3K/Akt was also examined. Tissue explants and cells were treated with estradiol as well as GPER agonist (ICI 182,780), GPER antagonist (G-15), PPARα antagonist (GW6471), and PPARγ antagonist (T00709072) in various combinations. First, we showed that in testis explants GPER and PPARα expressions were activated by the GPER agonist and estradiol (either alone or in mixtures), whereas PPARγ expression was activated only by GPER agonist. Second, increased TGF-β expression and decreased COX-2 expression were found in all experimental groups of testicular explants and MA-10 cells, except for up-regulated COX-2 expression in estradiol-treated cells, compared to respective controls. Third, estradiol treatment led to elevated expression of HIF-1α and VEGF, while their lower levels versus control were noted in the remaining groups of explants. Finally, we demonstrated the up-regulation of MAPK and PI3Kp85/Akt expressions in estradiol-treated groups of both ex vivo and in vitro models, whereas estradiol in mixtures with compounds of agonistic or antagonistic properties either up-regulated or down-regulated signaling kinase expression levels. Our results suggest that a balanced estrogen level and its action together with proper GPER and PPAR signaling play a key role in the maintenance of testis homeostasis. Moreover, changes in TGF-β and COX-2 expressions (that disrupted estrogen pathway) as well as disturbed GPER-PPAR signaling observed after estradiol treatment may be involved in testicular tumorigenesis.
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Mifepristone Treatment Promotes Testicular Leydig Cell Tumor Progression in Transgenic Mice. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12113263. [PMID: 33158280 PMCID: PMC7694279 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12113263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Recently, the antiprogestin activity of selective progesterone receptor (PR) modulator mifepristone (MF) has proven unsuccessful as a potential anti-cancer agent in various clinical trials. Herein, we analyzed the effects of MF treatment on Leydig cell tumor (LCT) progression in a transgenic mouse model (inhibin-α promoter-driven SV40 T-antigen), as well as on the proliferation of two Leydig tumor cell lines. MF significantly stimulated the proliferation of LCT in vitro. Similarly, a 1-mo MF or P4 treatment stimulated LCT tumor growth in vivo. Only the abundant membrane Pgrmc1 expression was found in LCTs, but no other classical Pgr or nonclassical membrane PRs. Functional analysis showed that PGRMC1 is required for MF and P4 to stimulate the proliferation and invasiveness of LCTs. Our findings provide novel information that the use of MF as an anti-cancer agent should be considered with caution due to its potential PGRMC1 tumor-promoting pathway activation in cancers. Abstract The selective progesterone receptor modulator mifepristone (MF) may act as a potent antiproliferative agent in different steroid-dependent cancers due to its strong antagonistic effect on the nuclear progesterone receptor (PGR). Hereby, we analyzed the effects of MF treatment on Leydig cell tumor (LCT) progression in a transgenic mouse model (inhibin-α promoter-driven SV40 T-antigen), as well as on LCT (BLTK-1 and mLTC-1) cell proliferation. MF significantly stimulated the proliferation of LCT in vitro. Similarly, a 1-mo MF or P4 treatment stimulated LCT tumor growth in vivo. Traceable/absent classical Pgr or nonclassical membrane PRs α, β, γ and Pgrmc2, but abundant membrane Pgrmc1 expression, was found in LCTs. MF did not activate glucocorticoid or androgen receptors in LCTs. Functional analysis showed that PGRMC1 is required for MF and P4 to stimulate the proliferation and invasiveness of LCTs. Accordingly, MF and P4 induced PGRMC1 translocation into the nucleus and thereby stimulated the release of TGFβ1 in LCT cells. MF and P4 treatments upregulated Tgfbr1, Tgfbr2, and Alk1 expression and stimulated TGFβ1 release in LCT cells. Our findings provide novel mechanistic insights into the action of MF as a membrane PR agonist that promotes LCT growth through PGRMC1 and the alternative TGFβ1 signaling pathway.
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Landry DA, Sormany F, Haché J, Roumaud P, Martin LJ. Steroidogenic genes expressions are repressed by high levels of leptin and the JAK/STAT signaling pathway in MA-10 Leydig cells. Mol Cell Biochem 2017; 433:79-95. [PMID: 28343310 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-017-3017-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2016] [Accepted: 03/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The adipose tissue is an important endocrine organ secreting numerous peptide hormones, including leptin. Increased circulating levels of leptin, as a result of hormonal resistance in obese individuals, may contribute to lower androgen production in obese males. However, the molecular mechanisms involved need to be better defined. Androgens are mainly produced by Leydig cells within the testis. In male rodents, activation of the leptin receptor modulates a cascade of intracellular signal transduction pathways which may lead to regulation of transcription factors having influences on steroidogenesis in Leydig cells. Thus, as a result of high leptin levels interacting with its receptor and modulating the activity of the JAK/STAT signaling pathway, the activity of transcription factors important for steroidogenic genes expressions may be inhibited in Leydig cells. Here we show that Lepr is increasingly expressed within Leydig cells according to postnatal development. Although high levels of leptin (corresponding to obesity condition) alone had no effect on Leydig cells' steroidogenic genes expression, it downregulated cAMP-dependent activations of the cholesterol transporter Star and of the rate-limiting steroidogenic enzyme Cyp11a1. Our results suggest that STAT transcriptional activity is downregulated by high levels of leptin, leading to reduced cAMP-dependent steroidogenic genes (Star and Cyp11a1) expressions in MA-10 Leydig cells. However, other transcription factors such as members of the SMAD and NFAT families may be involved and need further investigation to better define how leptin regulates their activities and their relevance for Leydig cells function.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Landry
- Department of Biology, Université de Moncton, 18, avenue Antonine Maillet, Moncton, NB, E1A 3E9, Canada
| | - François Sormany
- Department of Biology, Université de Moncton, 18, avenue Antonine Maillet, Moncton, NB, E1A 3E9, Canada
| | - Josée Haché
- Department of Biology, Université de Moncton, 18, avenue Antonine Maillet, Moncton, NB, E1A 3E9, Canada
| | - Pauline Roumaud
- Department of Biology, Université de Moncton, 18, avenue Antonine Maillet, Moncton, NB, E1A 3E9, Canada
| | - Luc J Martin
- Department of Biology, Université de Moncton, 18, avenue Antonine Maillet, Moncton, NB, E1A 3E9, Canada.
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Lottrup G, Belling K, Leffers H, Nielsen JE, Dalgaard MD, Juul A, Skakkebæk NE, Brunak S, Rajpert-De Meyts E. Comparison of global gene expression profiles of microdissected human foetal Leydig cells with their normal and hyperplastic adult equivalents. Mol Hum Reprod 2017; 23:339-354. [DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gax012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2016] [Accepted: 03/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Grete Lottrup
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital(Rigshospitalet), International Center for Research and Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction & Child Health (EDMaRC), 9 Blegdamsvej, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kirstine Belling
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Henrik Leffers
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital(Rigshospitalet), International Center for Research and Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction & Child Health (EDMaRC), 9 Blegdamsvej, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - John E. Nielsen
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital(Rigshospitalet), International Center for Research and Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction & Child Health (EDMaRC), 9 Blegdamsvej, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Marlene D. Dalgaard
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital(Rigshospitalet), International Center for Research and Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction & Child Health (EDMaRC), 9 Blegdamsvej, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Center for Biological Sequence Analysis, Department of Systems Biology, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), DK-2800 Lyngby, Denmark
- DTU Multi-Assay Core (DMAC), Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, DTU Bioengineering, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Anders Juul
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital(Rigshospitalet), International Center for Research and Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction & Child Health (EDMaRC), 9 Blegdamsvej, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Niels E. Skakkebæk
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital(Rigshospitalet), International Center for Research and Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction & Child Health (EDMaRC), 9 Blegdamsvej, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Søren Brunak
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Center for Biological Sequence Analysis, Department of Systems Biology, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), DK-2800 Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Ewa Rajpert-De Meyts
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital(Rigshospitalet), International Center for Research and Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction & Child Health (EDMaRC), 9 Blegdamsvej, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
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González CR, González B, Matzkin ME, Muñiz JA, Cadet JL, Garcia-Rill E, Urbano FJ, Vitullo AD, Bisagno V. Psychostimulant-Induced Testicular Toxicity in Mice: Evidence of Cocaine and Caffeine Effects on the Local Dopaminergic System. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0142713. [PMID: 26560700 PMCID: PMC4641612 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0142713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2015] [Accepted: 10/26/2015] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Several organ systems can be affected by psychostimulant toxicity. However, there is not sufficient evidence about the impact of psychostimulant intake on testicular physiology and catecholaminergic systems. The aim of the present study was to further explore potential toxic consequences of chronic exposure to cocaine, caffeine, and their combination on testicular physiology. Mice were injected with a 13-day chronic binge regimen of caffeine (3x5mg/kg), cocaine (3×10mg/kg), or combined administration. Mice treated with cocaine alone or combined with caffeine showed reduced volume of the seminiferous tubule associated to a reduction in the number of spermatogonia. Cocaine-only and combined treatments induced increased lipid peroxidation evaluated by TBARS assay and decreased glutathione peroxidase mRNA expression. Importantly, caffeine-cocaine combination potentiated the cocaine-induced germ cell loss, and induced pro-apoptotic BAX protein expression and diminished adenosine receptor A1 mRNA levels. We analyzed markers of dopaminergic function in the testis and detected the presence of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in the cytoplasm of androgen-producing Leydig cells, but also in meiotic germs cells within seminiferous tubules. Moreover, using transgenic BAC-Drd1a-tdTomato and D2R-eGFP mice, we report for the first time the presence of dopamine receptors (DRs) D1 and D2 in testicular mouse Leydig cells. Interestingly, the presence of DRD1 was also detected in the spermatogonia nearest the basal lamina of the seminiferous tubules, which did not show TH staining. We observed that psychostimulants induced downregulation of DRs mRNA expression and upregulation of TH protein expression in the testis. These findings suggest a potential role of the local dopaminergic system in psychostimulant-induced testicular pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candela R. González
- Centro de Estudios Biomédicos, Biotecnológicos, Ambientales y Diagnóstico (CEBBAD), Universidad Maimónides, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Betina González
- Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (Universidad de Buenos Aires–Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María E. Matzkin
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (Universidad de Buenos Aires–Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Javier A. Muñiz
- Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (Universidad de Buenos Aires–Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jean Lud Cadet
- NIDA Intramural Program, Molecular Neuropsychiatry Research Branch. Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Edgar Garcia-Rill
- Center for Translational Neuroscience, Department of Neurobiology and Developmental Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, United States of America
| | - Francisco J. Urbano
- Laboratorio de Fisiología y Biología Molecular, Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (Universidad de Buenos Aires–Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Alfredo D. Vitullo
- Centro de Estudios Biomédicos, Biotecnológicos, Ambientales y Diagnóstico (CEBBAD), Universidad Maimónides, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Veronica Bisagno
- Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (Universidad de Buenos Aires–Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- * E-mail:
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Liu ML, Wang H, Wang ZR, Zhang YF, Chen YQ, Zhu FH, Zhang YQ, Ma J, Li Z. TGF-β1 regulation of estrogen production in mature rat Leydig cells. PLoS One 2013; 8:e60197. [PMID: 23555924 PMCID: PMC3612063 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0060197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2012] [Accepted: 02/22/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Besides androgens, estrogens produced in Leydig cells are also crucial for mammalian germ cell differentiation. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is now known to have multiple effects on regulation of Leydig cell function. The objective of the present study is to determine whether TGF-β1 regulates estradiol (E2) synthesis in adult rat Leydig cells and then to assess the impact of TGF-β1 on Cx43-based gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) between Leydig cells. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Primary cultured Leydig cells were incubated in the presence of recombinant TGF-β1 and the production of E2 as well as testosterone (T) were measured by RIA. The activity of P450arom was addressed by the tritiated water release assay and the expression of Cyp19 gene was evaluated by Western blotting and real time RT-PCR. The expression of Cx43 and GJIC were investigated with immunofluorescence and fluorescence recovery after photo-bleaching (FRAP), respectively. Results from this study show that TGF-β1 down-regulates the level of E2 secretion and the activity of P450arom in a dose-dependent manner in adult Leydig cells. In addition, the expression of Cx43 and GJIC was closely related to the regulation of E2 and TGF-β1, and E2 treatment in turn restored the inhibition of TGF-β1 on GJIC. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate, for the first time in adult rat Leydig cells, that TGF-β1 suppresses P450arom activity, as well as the expression of the Cyp19 gene, and that depression of E2 secretion leads to down-regulation of Cx43-based GJIC between Leydig cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Man-Li Liu
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xijing Hospital, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, People's Republic of China
- Department of Human Anatomy and Histology and Embryology, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, People's Republic of China
| | - Huan Wang
- Department of Dermatology, Tangdu Hospital, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, People's Republic of China
| | - Zong-Ren Wang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xijing Hospital, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu-Fen Zhang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xijing Hospital, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan-Qiu Chen
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xijing Hospital, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, People's Republic of China
| | - Fang-Hong Zhu
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xijing Hospital, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuan-Qiang Zhang
- Department of Human Anatomy and Histology and Embryology, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Ma
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xijing Hospital, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhen Li
- Department of Human Anatomy and Histology and Embryology, the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, People's Republic of China
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Gonzalez CR, Vallcaneras SS, Calandra RS, Gonzalez Calvar SI. Involvement of KLF14 and egr-1 in the TGF-beta1 action on Leydig cell proliferation. Cytokine 2013; 61:670-5. [PMID: 23317878 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2012.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2012] [Revised: 11/28/2012] [Accepted: 12/07/2012] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) is a pleiotropic cytokine that modulates cell homeostasis. In Leydig cells, TGF-β1 exerts stimulatory and inhibitory effect depending on the type I receptor involved in the signaling pathway. The aim of the present work was to study the signaling mechanisms and the intermediates involved in the action of TGF-β1 on TM3 Leydig cell proliferation in the presence or absence of progesterone. The MTT assay showed that the presence of progesterone in the culture media lead to a proliferative effect that was blocked by Ru 486, an inhibitor of progesterone receptor; and ALK-5 did not participate in this effect. TGF-β1 (1 ng/ml) increased the expression of p15 (an inhibitor of cell cycle) in TM3 Leydig cells, and this effect was blocked by progesterone (1μM). The expression of PCNA presented a higher increase in the cell cultured with TGF-β1 plus progesterone than in cells cultured only with TGF-β1. Progesterone induced the gene expression of endoglin, a cofactor of TGF-β1 receptor that leads to a stimulatory signaling pathway, despite of the absence of progesterone response element in endoglin gene. In addition, the presence of progesterone induced the gene expression of egr-1 and also KLF14, indicating that this steroid channels the signaling pathway into a non-canonical mechanism. In conclusion, these findings suggest that the proliferative action of TGF-β1 involves endoglin. This co-receptor might be induced by KLF14 which is probably activated by progesterone.
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Affiliation(s)
- C R Gonzalez
- Research Center of Biomedical Biotechnology, Environmental and Diagnostic Studies, Maimónides University, Hidalgo 775, 1405 Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Gonzalez CR, Calandra RS, Gonzalez-Calvar SI. Influence of the photoperiod on TGF-β1 and p15 expression in hamster Leydig cells. Reprod Biol 2012; 12:201-18. [PMID: 22850471 DOI: 10.1016/s1642-431x(12)60086-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Adult hamsters exposed to short photoperiods show a marked atrophy of their internal reproductive organs, including a reduction in size, though not number of Leydig cells. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is involved in the regulation of growth and proliferation of different cell types. The aim of the present study was to examine the influence of photoperiod on the protein and gene expression of TGF-β1 and its receptors as well as gene expression of p15. The effect of TGF-β1 on the expression of p15 in purified Leydig cells from regressed and non-regressed hamster testes was also tested. Protein and gene expression of TGF-β1 was detected in both regressed and non-regressed testes. In contrast to the activin receptor-like kinase 1 (ALK-1), the TGF-β1, the activin receptor-like kinase 5 (ALK-5) and the co-receptor endoglin all showed a greater basal expression in regressed than non-regressed hamster testes. Melatonin induced the TGF-β1 mRNA expression in purified Leydig cells from non-regressed testes. The p15 mRNA level was greater in regressed than non-regressed testes. A high dose of TGF-β1 during a short incubation period increased the p15 mRNA level in Leydig cells from non-regressed testes. ALK-5 and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) p38 might have played a role in this process. In regressed hamster testes, the p15 mRNA level increased due to a low dose of TGF-β1 after short incubation periods and to a high dose after longer incubation periods; in both instances, ALK-5, ERK 1/2 and p38 were involved. Collectively, these results suggest that the alterations in p15 expression, mediated by MAPK, are involved in the shift between the active and inactive states in hamster Leydig cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candela R Gonzalez
- Institute of Biology and Experimental Medicine, National Council for Scientific and Technical Research, Buenos Aires; Research Center of Bomedical Biotechnology, Environmental and Diagnostic Stuides, Maimónides University, Buenos Aires
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Gonzalez CR, Matzkin ME, Frungieri MB, Terradas C, Ponzio R, Puigdomenech E, Levalle O, Calandra RS, Gonzalez-Calvar SI. Expression of the TGF-beta1 system in human testicular pathologies. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2010; 8:148. [PMID: 21126344 PMCID: PMC3009701 DOI: 10.1186/1477-7827-8-148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2010] [Accepted: 12/02/2010] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In non-obstructive azoospermia, histological patterns of Sertoli cell-only Syndrome (SCO) and hypospermatogenesis (H) are commonly found. In these pathologies, Leydig cell hyperplasia (LCH) is detected in some patients. Since TGF-β1 is involved in cellular proliferation/development, the aim of this work was to analyze the expression of TGF-β1, its receptors TGFBRII, TGFBRI (ALK-1 and ALK-5), and the co-receptor endoglin in human biopsies from patients with idiopathic infertility. METHODS Specific immunostaining of TGF-β1, its receptors TGFBRII, TGFBRI (ALK-1 and ALK-5), co-receptor endoglin and Smads proteins, were carried out in testicular biopsies from normal and infertile men with SCO or H. Gene expression of TGF-β1 system were made in biopsies from infertile patients with semi-quantitative and quantitative PCR. RESULTS Immunohistochemical studies revealed that TGF-β1 and its specific receptors are present in Leydig cells in biopsies from normal tissue or patients with SCO or H with or without LCH. Smad proteins, which are involved in TGF-β1 signaling, are also detected in both their phosphorylated (activated) and dephosphorylated form in all samples TGF-β1, ALK-1 and endoglin gene expression are stronger in human biopsies with LCH than in those with SCO or H. Neither TGFBRII nor ALK-5 gene expression showed significant differences between pathologies. A significant correlation between ALK-1 and endoglin expression was observed. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, the high levels of mRNA and protein expression of the TGF-β1 system in patients with LCH, particularly ALK1 and its correlation with endoglin, suggest that these proteins acting in concert might be, at least in part, committed actors in the Leydig cell hyperplasia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candela R Gonzalez
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (CONICET), Vuelta de Obligado 2490 (1428) Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María E Matzkin
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (CONICET), Vuelta de Obligado 2490 (1428) Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Paraguay 2155 (1121) Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mónica B Frungieri
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (CONICET), Vuelta de Obligado 2490 (1428) Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Paraguay 2155 (1121) Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Claudio Terradas
- División Endocrinología, Hospital Durand, Av. Díaz Velez 5044 (1405) Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Instituto Medico PREFER, Calle 995 N° 2348, San Martín (6000) Argentina
| | - Roberto Ponzio
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Paraguay 2155 (1121) Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - Oscar Levalle
- División Endocrinología, Hospital Durand, Av. Díaz Velez 5044 (1405) Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ricardo S Calandra
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (CONICET), Vuelta de Obligado 2490 (1428) Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Silvia I Gonzalez-Calvar
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (CONICET), Vuelta de Obligado 2490 (1428) Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Paraguay 2155 (1121) Buenos Aires, Argentina
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