title: [P70S6K is involved in the inhibition of testosterone production in TM3 mouse Leydig cells overexpressing Cox7a2].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effects of Cox7a2 on the LH-induced testosterone production and the involved autophagy regulating signals in TM3 mouse Leydig cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Cox7a2-pEYFP-N1 fluorescent protein vector was constructed and transfected into TM3 mouse Leydig cells. The level of testosterone was determined by ELISA, and the effects of Cox7a2 on the expression of the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) and the phosphorylation of the autophagy regulatory factor P70S6K were detected by Western blot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  LH stimulation increased the StAR protein expression and testosterone production, while Cox7a2 decreased P70S6K phosphorylation, reduced StAR expression and consequently inhibited LH-induced testosterone biosynthesis in the TM3 Leydig cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cox7a2 inhibits testosterone production by decreasing the StAR protein expression, which might be at least in part related with the activation of autophagy in TM3 mouse Leydig cells.
authors.affiliation: China Meitan General Hospital of State Administration of Work Safety, Beijing 100028, China. bdyychenliang@163.com
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jin-Ming
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Yan-Lei
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lü
authors.forename: Hong-Wu
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Ming-Xiao
authors.initials: MX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Zhong-Cheng
authors.initials: ZC
authors.lastname: Xin
authors.forename: Ying-Lu
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001343:Autophagy; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000235:genetics*; D007985:Leydig Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation; D038762:Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 70-kDa / Q000378:metabolism*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000098682:Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein
chemical_list: D010750:Phosphoproteins; D000098682:Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein; D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; C514296:Cox7a2 protein, mouse; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV; D038762:Ribosomal Protein S6 Kinases, 70-kDa