Sperm gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor delta subunit (GABRD) and its interaction with purinergic P2X2 receptors in progesterone-induced acrosome reaction and male fertility

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (10) ◽  
pp. 2060
Author(s):  
Wenming Xu ◽  
Ke Wang ◽  
Yan Chen ◽  
Xiao Tong Liang ◽  
Mei Kuen Yu ◽  
...  

The mechanism underlying the non-genomic action of progesterone in sperm functions and related Ca2+ mobilisation remains elusive. Herein we report the expression of gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor delta subunit (GABRD) in human and rodent sperm and its involvement in mediating the progesterone-induced acrosome reaction. GABRD was localised in the sperm head/neck region. A δ(392–422)-specific inhibitory peptide against GABRD blocked the progesterone-induced acrosome reaction and the associated increase in intracellular Ca2+. Similarly, an inhibitory effect against both progesterone-induced Ca2+ influx and the acrosome reaction was observed with a P2X2 receptor antagonist. The lack of synergism between the GABRD and P2X2 inhibitors suggests that these two receptors are playing a role in the same pathway. Furthermore, a co-immunoprecipitation experiment demonstrated that GABRD could undergo protein–protein interactions with the Ca2+-conducting P2X2 receptor. This interaction between the receptors could be reduced following progesterone (10 μM) inducement. Significantly reduced GABRD expression was observed in spermatozoa from infertile patients with reduced acrosome reaction capacity, suggesting that normal expression of GABRD is critical for the sperm acrosome reaction and thus male fertility. The results of the present study indicate that GABRD represents a novel progesterone receptor or modulator in spermatozoa that is responsible for the progesterone-induced Ca2+ influx required for the acrosome reaction through its interaction with the P2X2 receptor.

2008 ◽  
Vol 152 (4) ◽  
pp. 546-549.e3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naoko Asahina ◽  
Tohru Shiga ◽  
Kiyoshi Egawa ◽  
Hideaki Shiraishi ◽  
Shinobu Kohsaka ◽  
...  

Pharmacology ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 107-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco Amenta ◽  
Elena Bronzetti ◽  
Carlo Cavallotti ◽  
Laura Felici ◽  
Fabio Ferrante ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tsukasa Kochiyama ◽  
Izumi Kawagoe ◽  
Ai Yamaguchi ◽  
Masataka Fukuda ◽  
Masakazu Hayashida

Abstract Background: Gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptors are thought to play a role in the functioning of the immune system. GABAA receptors have 19 types of subunits, the components of which determine their physiological functions. However, the subunits that are expressed in immune cells during inflammation have not been fully investigated. Recent reports have shown that anesthetic agents may affect the gene expression of GABAA receptors subunits in immune cells. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the changes in GABAA receptor subunit gene expression during macrophage differentiation and propofol administration in order to clarify the relationship between the expression of GABAA receptors and the immunomodulatory effect of propofol.Methods: Human acute monocytic leukemia (THP-1) cells were differentiated into macrophage-like cells (M0 THP-1); subsequently, M0 THP-1 cells were differentiated into inflammatory M1 macrophage-like cells (M1 THP-1). Propofol was administered during the differentiation into M1 THP-1 cells. Using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, we examined which GABAA receptor subunit genes were expressed and whether there were changes in the gene expression during macrophage differentiation and propofol administration in THP-1 cells.Results: The expression of the α1, α4, β1, β2, γ1, and γ2 subunits increased during differentiation into M0 THP-1 cells. The expression of the α1, α4, β1, β2, γ2, and δ subunits decreased and that of the γ1 subunit increased during differentiation into M1 THP-1 cells. The gene expression of the α1, α4, and β2 subunits increased upon administering propofol during differentiation into M1 THP-1 cells.Conclusions: The gene expression of GABAA receptor subunits changed during macrophage differentiation in THP-1 cells. The expressions of α1 and α4 increased following propofol administration during the differentiation into M1 THP-1 cells, which may indicate that the GABAA receptor is involved in the immunosuppressive effects of propofol. This study can help in the choice of anesthetic agents for proinflammatory conditions such as highly-invasive surgery.


2005 ◽  
Vol 102 (4) ◽  
pp. 783-792 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dirk Rüsch ◽  
Stuart A. Forman

Background Classic benzodiazepine agonists induce their clinical effects by binding to a site on gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptors and enhancing receptor activity. There are conflicting data regarding whether the benzodiazepine site is allosterically coupled to gamma-aminobutyric acid binding versus the channel open-close (gating) equilibrium. The authors tested the hypothesis that benzodiazepine site ligands modulate alpha1beta2gamma2L GABAA receptor gating both in the absence of orthosteric agonists and when the orthosteric sites are occupied. Methods GABAA receptors were recombinantly expressed in Xenopus oocytes and studied using two-microelectrode voltage clamp electrophysiology. To test gating effects in the absence of orthosteric agonist, the authors used spontaneously active GABAA receptors containing a leucine-to-threonine mutation at residue 264 on the alpha1 subunit. To examine effects on gating when orthosteric sites were fully occupied, they activated wild-type receptors with high concentrations of a partial agonist, piperidine-4-sulfonic acid. Results In the absence of orthosteric agonists, the channel activity of alpha1L264Tbeta2gamma2L receptors was increased by diazepam and midazolam and reduced by the inverse benzodiazepine agonist FG7142. Flumazenil displayed very weak agonism and blocked midazolam from further activating mutant channels. In wild-type receptors activated with saturating concentrations of piperidine-4-sulfonic acid, midazolam increased maximal efficacy. Conclusions Independent of orthosteric site occupancy, classic benzodiazepines modulate the gating equilibrium in alpha1beta2gamma2L GABAA receptors and are therefore allosteric coagonists. A Monod-Wyman-Changeux coagonist gating model quantitatively predicts these effects, suggesting that benzodiazepines minimally alter orthosteric ligand binding.


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