The influence of interleukin-1 and interleukin-6 on expression of proteins involved in steroidogenesis in Leydig cells and on their apoptosis or necrosis in vitro.
This paper presents a study on the expression of proteins involved in steroidogenesis in rat Leydig cells: StAR protein and aromatase, in relation to the age of animals and to the influence of interleukin-1 and interleukin-6. In addition, their effect on apoptosis and damage of Leydig cells was investigated. Leydig cells were isolated from rats at certain age intervals and exposed to different concentrations of the above-mentioned cytokines. Next, total RNA was isolated from Leydig cells and RT-PCR with primers specific for rat StAR protein and aromatase was performed. The products were analysed by agarose gel electrophoresis. Leydig cells were also stained with propidium iodide and Hoechst 33342 to estimate the percentage of apoptotic or necrotic cells. The results seem to confirm the role of interleukins in the control of expression of enzymes and regulatory factors involved in steroidogenesis in rat Leydig cells, and in the regulation of their apoptosis and necrosis. The effect of the studied interleukins on Leydig cells is exerted during development and after adolescence.
Sawiński
P
P
Department of Histology and Embryology, University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland. pisaw@mail.usoms.poznan.pl
Lukaszyk
A
A
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001141:Aromatase / Q000096:biosynthesis; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009336:Necrosis; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012313:RNA / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013256:Steroids / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D000098682:Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein
D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D013256:Steroids; D000098682:Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein; D013739:Testosterone; D012313:RNA; D001141:Aromatase