You-wen Luo , Xia-lian Zhu , Zhi-min Yang , Jian-hua Zhou , Tong Tao , Bing-hai Chen , Song-lin Qin , Bo-long Liu , Wei Hu
{"title":"Adrenomedullin gene delivery rescues estrogen production in Leydig cells via the inhibition of TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway","authors":"You-wen Luo , Xia-lian Zhu , Zhi-min Yang , Jian-hua Zhou , Tong Tao , Bing-hai Chen , Song-lin Qin , Bo-long Liu , Wei Hu","doi":"10.1016/j.reprotox.2025.108834","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Our previous findings demonstrated that adrenomedullin (ADM) protects against the reduction in testosterone production and apoptosis of Leydig cells both in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we investigated whether ADM could preserve estrogen production in Leydig cells by suppressing the transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) / Smads signaling pathway. Leydig cells were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and recombinant adenovirus ADM (Ad-ADM), an adeno-associated viral vector expressing ADM. Cell viability and cytochrome P450 aromatase (P450arom) activity were assessed. Estrogen, testosterone, and TGF-β1 concentrations in the culture medium were measured. Additionally, the gene expression and protein levels of CYP19, TGF-β1, and Smads were evaluated. The results indicated that Ad-ADM mitigated the reductions in Leydig cell viability and testosterone production, counteracted the decreases in P450arom activity, and restored CYP19 gene expression and protein levels in LPS-treated cells. Moreover, Ad-ADM reduced the elevated gene expression and protein levels of Smads and TGF-β1 induced by LPS. Based on these findings, we propose that ADM safeguards estrogen production in Leydig cells by inhibiting the TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21137,"journal":{"name":"Reproductive toxicology","volume":"132 ","pages":"Article 108834"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3000,"publicationDate":"2025-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Reproductive toxicology","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S089062382500005X","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Our previous findings demonstrated that adrenomedullin (ADM) protects against the reduction in testosterone production and apoptosis of Leydig cells both in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we investigated whether ADM could preserve estrogen production in Leydig cells by suppressing the transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) / Smads signaling pathway. Leydig cells were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and recombinant adenovirus ADM (Ad-ADM), an adeno-associated viral vector expressing ADM. Cell viability and cytochrome P450 aromatase (P450arom) activity were assessed. Estrogen, testosterone, and TGF-β1 concentrations in the culture medium were measured. Additionally, the gene expression and protein levels of CYP19, TGF-β1, and Smads were evaluated. The results indicated that Ad-ADM mitigated the reductions in Leydig cell viability and testosterone production, counteracted the decreases in P450arom activity, and restored CYP19 gene expression and protein levels in LPS-treated cells. Moreover, Ad-ADM reduced the elevated gene expression and protein levels of Smads and TGF-β1 induced by LPS. Based on these findings, we propose that ADM safeguards estrogen production in Leydig cells by inhibiting the TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway.
期刊介绍:
Drawing from a large number of disciplines, Reproductive Toxicology publishes timely, original research on the influence of chemical and physical agents on reproduction. Written by and for obstetricians, pediatricians, embryologists, teratologists, geneticists, toxicologists, andrologists, and others interested in detecting potential reproductive hazards, the journal is a forum for communication among researchers and practitioners. Articles focus on the application of in vitro, animal and clinical research to the practice of clinical medicine.
All aspects of reproduction are within the scope of Reproductive Toxicology, including the formation and maturation of male and female gametes, sexual function, the events surrounding the fusion of gametes and the development of the fertilized ovum, nourishment and transport of the conceptus within the genital tract, implantation, embryogenesis, intrauterine growth, placentation and placental function, parturition, lactation and neonatal survival. Adverse reproductive effects in males will be considered as significant as adverse effects occurring in females. To provide a balanced presentation of approaches, equal emphasis will be given to clinical and animal or in vitro work. Typical end points that will be studied by contributors include infertility, sexual dysfunction, spontaneous abortion, malformations, abnormal histogenesis, stillbirth, intrauterine growth retardation, prematurity, behavioral abnormalities, and perinatal mortality.