The inhibitory effects of manganese on steroidogenesis in rat primary Leydig cells by disrupting steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein expression

Abstract To study the mechanism for the regulatory effect of arachidonic acid (AA) on steroidogenesis, the role of cyclooxygenase (COX) in steroid production and steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) gene expression was investigated. Although stimulation with 0.05 mm dibutyryl cAMP (Bt2cAMP) did not increase StAR protein or progesterone in MA-10 mouse Leydig cells, the addition of 1 μm of the COX inhibitor indomethacin increased StAR protein expression and progesterone production by 5.7-fold and 34.3-fold, respectively. In the presence of indomethacin, the level of Bt2cAMP required for maximal steroidogenesis was reduced from 1.0 mm to 0.25 mm. Similar results were obtained in studies on StAR promoter activity and in Northern blot analyses of StAR mRNA expression, suggesting that inhibition of COX activity enhanced StAR gene transcription. COX2 (an inducible isoform of COX) was constitutively detected in MA-10 cells. Although SC560, a selective COX1 inhibitor, did not affect steroidogenesis, the COX2 inhibitor NS398 significantly enhanced Bt2cAMP-stimulated StAR protein expression and steroid production. Overexpression of the COX2 gene in COS-1 cells significantly inhibited StAR promoter activity. The results of the present study suggest that inhibition of COX2 activity increases the sensitivity of steroidogenesis to cAMP stimulation in MA-10 Leydig cells.

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Interleukin-1alpha stimulates steroidogenic acute regulatory protein expression via p38 MAP kinase in immature rat Leydig cells

Journal of Molecular Endocrinology ◽

10.1677/jme.0.0300059 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 30 (1) ◽

pp. 59-67 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

K Svechnikov ◽

DM Stocco ◽

O Soder

Keyword(s):

Protein Expression ◽

Map Kinase ◽

Leydig Cell ◽

Leydig Cells ◽

Regulatory Protein ◽

P38 Map Kinase ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Star Protein ◽

Adult Leydig Cells ◽

Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory

We have investigated the involvement of the steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein in interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha)-induced steroidogenesis in immature (40-day-old) and adult Leydig cells in vitro. Further, IL-1alpha-mediated signaling pathway(s) controlling StAR expression in immature Leydig cells were also studied. IL-1alpha stimulated both androgen production and StAR protein expression in a dose- and time-dependent manner in immature but not adult Leydig cells. These effects of IL-1alpha were prevented by pretreatment of the cells with the specific inhibitors of the p38 MAP kinase, SB203580 and PD169316, suggesting that this kinase is an important part of IL-1alpha signaling in the immature Leydig cell. The present results suggest that IL-1alpha, which is constitutively produced by the rat testis from postnatal day 25, is an important paracrine regulator of postnatal Leydig cell maturation. Regulation of StAR protein expression is one of the possible mechanisms by which IL-1alpha contributes to the differentiation of immature Leydig cells into adult cells.

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Ethane dimethane sulfonate and NNN′N′-Tetrakis-(2-Pyridylmethyl)Ethylenediamine inhibit steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein expression in MA-10 leydig cells and rat sertoli cells

Endocrine Research ◽

10.3109/07435809809032635 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 24 (3-4) ◽

pp. 469-478 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Steven R. King ◽

Focko F. G. Rommerts ◽

Sarah L. Ford ◽

James C. Hutson ◽

Joseph Orly ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Protein Expression ◽

Sertoli Cells ◽

Leydig Cells ◽

Star Protein ◽

Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory

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Involvement of the Thromboxane A2 Receptor in the Regulation of Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Gene Expression in Murine Leydig Cells

Endocrinology ◽

10.1210/en.2008-1425 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 150 (7) ◽

pp. 3267-3273 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Akhilesh K. Pandey ◽

Xiangling Yin ◽

Randolph B. Schiffer ◽

James C. Hutson ◽

Douglas M. Stocco ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Leydig Cells ◽

Regulatory Gene ◽

Thromboxane A2 ◽

Cyclooxygenase 2 ◽

Thromboxane A2 Receptor ◽

Star Protein ◽

Dependent Inhibition ◽

Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory ◽

Star Gene

Recent studies suggested an involvement of thromboxane A2 in cyclooxygenase-2-dependent inhibition of steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) gene expression. The present study further investigated the role of thromboxane A2 receptor in StAR gene expression and steroidogenesis in testicular Leydig cells. The thromboxane A2 receptor was detected in several Leydig cell lines. Blocking thromboxane A2 binding to the receptor using specific antagonist SQ29548 or BM567 resulted in dose-dependent increases in StAR protein and steroid production in MA-10 mouse Leydig cells. The results were confirmed with Leydig cells isolated from rats. StAR promoter activity and StAR mRNA level in the cells were also increased after the treatments, suggesting an involvement of the thromboxane A2 receptor in StAR gene transcription. Furthermore study indicated that blocking the thromboxane A2 receptor reduced dosage sensitive sex reversal-adrenal hypoplasia congenita critical region on the X chromosome, gene 1 protein, a transcriptional repressor of StAR gene expression. Specific binding of the antagonists to the receptors on cellular membrane was demonstrated by binding assays using 3H-SQ29548 and binding competition between 3H-SQ29548 and BM567. Whereas SQ29548 enhanced cAMP-induced StAR gene expression, in the absence of cAMP, it was unable to increase StAR protein and steroidogenesis. However, when the receptor was blocked by the antagonist, subthreshold levels of cAMP were able to induce maximal levels of StAR protein expression, suggesting that blocking the thromboxane A2 receptor increase sensitivity of MA-10 cells to cAMP stimulation. Taken together, the results from the present and previous studies suggest an autocrine loop, involving cyclooxygenase-2, thromboxane A synthase, and thromboxane A2 and its receptor, in cyclooxygenase-2-dependent inhibition of StAR gene expression.

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Roundup inhibits steroidogenesis by disrupting steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein expression.

Environmental Health Perspectives ◽

10.1289/ehp.00108769 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 108 (8) ◽

pp. 769-776 ◽

Cited By ~ 192

Author(s):

L P Walsh ◽

C McCormick ◽

C Martin ◽

D M Stocco

Keyword(s):

Protein Expression ◽

Star Protein ◽

Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory

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Prostaglandin F2α Suppresses Rat Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein Expression via Induction of Yin Yang 1 Protein and Recruitment of Histone Deacetylase 1 Protein

Endocrinology ◽

10.1210/en.2007-0326 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 148 (11) ◽

pp. 5209-5219 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Qiyuan Liu ◽

Kathleen A. Merkler ◽

Xiaohui Zhang ◽

Mark P. McLean

Keyword(s):

Protein Expression ◽

Promoter Activity ◽

Trichostatin A ◽

Histone H3 ◽

Prostaglandin F2α ◽

Star Protein ◽

Histone Deacetylase 1 ◽

Yin Yang 1 ◽

Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory ◽

H3 Acetylation

Prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) plays a pivotal role in ovarian luteolysis by inhibiting the expression of steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein, leading to a decrease in intracellular cholesterol transport and luteal steroid production. Previously we have demonstrated that the transcription factor Yin Yang 1 (YY1) bound to three regions in the StAR promoter in vitro and repressed promoter activity. This study further defined the YY1-mediated PGF2α effect on the inhibition of StAR protein expression through YY1 interaction with a single region in the StAR promoter in vivo. PGF2α consistently suppressed StAR mRNA and protein expression in cultured luteal cells in a dose-dependent manner. PGF2α also enhanced YY1 protein expression and binding to its cis-element in a time-dependent pattern that preceded the decline in StAR protein levels. The StAR promoter region bound by YY1 was also associated with histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1). PGF2α treatment promoted HDAC1 binding to and suppressed the histone H3 acetylation in this region. On the contrary, YY1 knockdown decreased HDAC1 binding, increased histone H3 acetylation, enhanced StAR protein expression, and negated PGF2α effect on StAR protein expression. Luciferase assays showed that YY1 overexpression inhibited StAR promoter activity and the addition of a HDAC inhibitor, trichostatin A, abrogated the effect of YY1. Trichostatin A-treated luteal cells displayed increased StAR protein expression. These data indicate that PGF2α enhances a direct YY1/StAR promoter interaction and the recruitment of HDAC1 to the promoter, thereby preventing transcriptional activation of the StAR gene.

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Inhibition of Thromboxane A Synthase Activity Enhances Steroidogenesis and Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Gene Expression in MA-10 Mouse Leydig Cells

Endocrinology ◽

10.1210/en.2007-0470 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 149 (2) ◽

pp. 851-857 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

XingJia Wang ◽

Xiangling Yin ◽

Randolph B. Schiffer ◽

Steven R. King ◽

Douglas M. Stocco ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rna Interference ◽

Protein Kinase ◽

Protein Kinase A ◽

Leydig Cells ◽

Steroid Hormone ◽

Mrna Levels ◽

Star Protein ◽

Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory ◽

Star Gene ◽

Kinase A

The cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2)-dependent inhibition of Leydig cell steroidogenesis has been demonstrated. To understand the mechanism for this effect of COX2, the present study examined the role of an enzyme downstream of COX2, namely thromboxane A synthase (TBXAS), in steroidogenesis. Inhibition of TBXAS activity with the inhibitor furegrelate induced a concentration-dependent increase in cAMP-induced steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein in MA-10 mouse Leydig cells. The increase in StAR protein occurred concomitantly with a significant increase in steroid hormone production. Similar results were obtained in StAR promoter activity assays and RT-PCR analyses of StAR mRNA levels, suggesting that inhibition of TBXAS activity enhanced StAR gene transcription. These observations were corroborated when TBXAS expression was specifically inhibited by RNA interference. Although the RNA interference reduced mRNA levels of TBXAS, it increased StAR mRNA levels, StAR protein, and steroidogenesis. Additional studies indicated that inhibition of TBXAS activity reduced DAX-1 protein, a repressor in StAR gene transcription. In the absence of cAMP, inhibition of TBXAS activity did not induce a significant increase in steroid hormone and StAR protein. However, addition of a low level of cAMP analogs dramatically increased steroidogenesis. Lastly, inhibition of protein kinase A activity essentially abolished the steroidogenic effect of the TBXAS inhibitor. Thus, the results from the present study suggest that a minimal level of protein kinase A activity is required for the steroidogenic effect of the TBXAS inhibitor and that inhibition of TBXAS activity or its expression increase the steroidogenic sensitivity of MA-10 mouse Leydig cells to cAMP stimulation.

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Diametric Effects of Bacterial Endotoxin Lipopolysaccharide on Adrenal and Leydig Cell Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein

Endocrinology ◽

10.1210/endo.141.11.7780 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 141 (11) ◽

pp. 4000-4012 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

Karen Held Hales ◽

Thorsten Diemer ◽

Salil Ginde ◽

Birinder K. Shankar ◽

Maretha Roberts ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Messenger Rna ◽

Leydig Cells ◽

Regulatory Protein ◽

Serum Testosterone ◽

Northern Analysis ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Star Protein ◽

Adrenal Steroidogenesis ◽

Serum Lh ◽

Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory

Abstract Immune activation results in the activation of adrenal steroidogenesis and inhibition of gonadal steroidogenesis. Previous studies indicated that these effects were caused primarily by activation and suppression of the secretion of ACTH and LH, respectively. However, other evidence indicated a direct effect of the immune system on the gonads. In this study, serum testosterone, quantitated by RIA after lipopolysaccharide injection, showed a significant decrease within 2 h. Parallel measurement of serum LH showed no change. There were no differences in LH receptor or cAMP produced in Leydig cells between vehicle- and lipopolysaccharide-injected mice. The 30-kDa form of the steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein was quantitated, by Western blot, in Leydig cells and was found to decrease in a time-dependent manner. No change in StAR protein messenger RNA (mRNA) was detected by Northern analysis during this time, nor were any changes found in the levels of mRNA for the steroidogenic enzymes P450scc, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenaseΔ 4-Δ5-isomerase, or P450c17. In the adrenal, StAR protein was increased, as was StAR protein mRNA. No changes were observed in the levels of mRNA for P450scc, 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenaseΔ 4-Δ5-isomerase, or P450c21. Thus, although the mechanisms of regulation differ, changes in the levels of StAR protein are a sensitive indicator of the steroidogenic capacity of these two tissues.

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