Direct and indirect effects of murine interleukin-2, gamma interferon, and tumor necrosis factor on testosterone synthesis in mouse Leydig cells.
It was recently observed that treatment of patients with a high dosage of human interleukin (IL-2) resulted in suppression of plasma concentrations of testosterone. A murine model was developed to assess the direct and indirect effects of murine IL-2 and the secondarily released cytokines, gamma interferon (INF gamma), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF alpha), on testosterone production in isolated Leydig cells. Pretreatment for 24 hours with IL-2 (100 to 500 IU/ml) or INF gamma (100 to 1000 IU/ml) significantly decreased testosterone production in response to luteinizing hormone (LH; P < 0.02 and 0.005, respectively). The combinations of INF gamma with either TNF alpha or IL-2 produced enhanced suppressive effects on Leydig cell testosterone production. Steroidogenic precursors (22-hydroxycholesterol, 17 alpha-hydroxypregnenolone, and dehydroepiandrosterone) restored testosterone secretion to control levels after preincubation with INF gamma or TNF alpha. In contrast, the inhibition of testosterone synthesis produced by either IL-2 or INF gamma plus TNF alpha could be reversed by 17 alpha-hydroxypregnenolone and dehydroepiandrosterone, but not by 22-hydroxycholesterol (P < 0.01). Dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate was also ineffective in reversing the inhibitory effects of these cytokines on synthesis. Although IL-2 directly inhibited synthesis in isolated Leydig cells, it stimulated testosterone production (P < 0.005) in minced murine testes. This suggests that IL-2 releases regulatory factors from other cells that were able to overcome the direct inhibitory effect of IL-2. This stimulatory effect was not caused by INF gamma and TNF alpha because INF gamma alone or with TNF alpha inhibited (P < 0.005) testosterone production in minced testes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Meikle
A W
AW
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City.
Cardoso de Sousa
J C
JC
Dacosta
N
N
Bishop
D K
DK
Samlowski
W E
WE
D000818:Animals; D003994:Bucladesine / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*
D007376:Interleukin-2; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D013739:Testosterone; D003994:Bucladesine; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone