Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts: Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound   Target Concepts: Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound

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Query: EC:3.1.4.3 (phospholipase C)
18,461 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

An enriched rat Leydig cell preparation was preincubated with [14C]arachidonic acid. Stimulation of the cells with arginine vasopressin (AVP) (1 microM) for 2 min caused a significant increase in labelled phosphatidic acid and a significant fall in radioactivity in phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylinositol 4-monophosphate + phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate. Preincubation with dibutyryl cyclic AMP had no effect on the AVP-induced phospholipid turnover. Leydig cells were preincubated with myo-[2-3]inositol for 22 h and then with 10 mM LiCl for 10 min. Exposure to AVP (1 microM) induced a rise in labelled inositol phosphates. The response was inhibited when the cells were preincubated with the phorbol ester, 4 beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (0.16 microM) for 10 min. These results provide evidence for an AVP-induced phospholipase C stimulation in rat Leydig cells and suggest a protein kinase C-dependent feedback inhibition of the stimulation. Other agonists that might have a regulatory function in the testis were tested for possible effects on phosphoinositide metabolism. Of prostaglandin E2 (10 microns,) angiotensin II (0.1 microM), and bradykinin (0.9 microM), only the latter induced a significant increase in the labelled inositol phosphates. This suggests that Leydig cells possess a bradykinin receptor which can activate phospholipase C.
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PMID:Arginine vasopressin stimulates phosphoinositide turnover in an enriched rat Leydig cell preparation. 253 41

One single injection of ethylene dimethane sulfonate (EDS) to mature rats causes specific degeneration of testicular Leydig cells which is complete after 3 days. At this time no steroidogenic activities can be detected, indicating that Leydig cells are the source of steroids. The mechanism of this cytotoxic effect of EDS has been investigated with isolated cells. Extensive protein alkylation has been shown to occur in Leydig cells, Sertoli cells and hepatocytes. Steroid production by Leydig cells is always inhibited by EDS, but cytotoxic effects of EDS could only be demonstrated in Leydig cells from mature rats or tumour tissue and not in Leydig cells from immature rats. A new population of Leydig cells develops during the next 2-5 weeks after EDS treatment. In hypophysectomized rats this repopulation only occurs when hCG is given daily. FSH has no effects. The proliferative activity in the interstitial tissue increases within 2 days after administration of hCG or EDS and there are indications that LH and locally produced factors are involved in the proliferation of Leydig cells or Leydig cell precursor cells. Inhibition of cAMP production with inhibitors of adenylate cyclase results in an enhancement of the LH-stimulated steroid production similar to that observed with an LHRH agonist and phospholipase C (PLC). Since the effects of LHRH and PLC on protein phosphorylation and steroid production are similar and different from LH or active phorbol esters, it is proposed that LHRH and PLC may stimulate steroid production via liberation of calcium from a specific intracellular pool. Sterol carrier protein2 (SCP2) which is specifically localized in Leydig cells and regulated by LH probably plays a role in the delivery of cholesterol to the mitochondria although the mechanism of this carrier function is not clear. The results indicate that regulation of Leydig cell development and the steroidogenic activities by gonadotrophins and locally produced factors occur via different transducing systems and regulatory pathways.
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PMID:Multiple regulation of testicular steroidogenesis. 282 90

When the phorbol ester, 4 beta-phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) or bacterial phospholipase C (PL-C) is added to a preparation of purified adult rat Leydig cells, containing 2 mM CaCl2, a time- and dose-dependent decreases of LH-stimulated testosterone production is observed. After a 3 h stimulation with oLH (100 ng/ml), PMA (100 ng/ml) and PL-C (1.6 U/ml) do not affect the cell viability or the hCG specific binding, while cAMP accumulation is significantly reduced; cAMP-stimulated steroidogenesis is diminished only in the presence of PL-C. These observations suggest that in vitro: (i) activated Ca2+- and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase is implicated in the regulation of rat Leydig cell steroidogenesis by LH at a step before the adenylate cyclase; (ii) phospholipids play an important role in cAMP-stimulated testosterone synthesis.
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PMID:Effect of phorbol ester and phospholipase C on LH-stimulated steroidogenesis in purified rat Leydig cells. 299 25

The steroidogenic activity of the Leydig cell is regulated by glycoprotein and peptide hormones with the potential to activate both adenylate cyclase and phospholipase C. Although the control of androgen production by LH is clearly mediated by cAMP, the extent to which Ca(2+)-mobilizing stimuli control Leydig cell function is less well defined. The basal level of intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) in adult rat Leydig cells was 70-160 nM and was unaffected by high K+ or the dihydropyridine calcium channel agonist, Bay K 8644. These findings are consistent with the absence of voltage-sensitive calcium channels in the Leydig cell. In addition, no increase in [Ca2+]i was observed in cells treated with LH, CRF, and serotonin. However, both GnRH and endothelin-1 (ET-1) induced rapid and transient elevations of [Ca2+]i that were not associated with a sustained plateau phase and were unaffected by removal of Ca2+ from the incubation medium. The amplitude of the [Ca2+]i response was not altered by increasing concentrations of GnRH and ET-1, but the number of responsive cells increased progressively to a maximum of about 30% of the Leydig cell population. The calcium-mobilizing actions of GnRH and ET-1 were abolished by the GnRH and ETA receptor antagonists, [Dp-Glu1,D-Phe2,D- Trp3,6]GnRH and BQ-123, respectively. The majority of the cells expressed solely GnRH or ETA receptors, and about 10% expressed both receptors. GnRH-induced Ca2+ responses were observed almost exclusively in medium-sized Leydig cells, whereas ET-induced responses were most frequent in large Leydig cells. These data demonstrate that single Leydig cells expressing GnRH and ETA receptors exhibit monophasic [Ca2+]i responses that are activated in an all-or-none fashion. Such transient Ca2+ signaling may trigger short term cellular responses or could modulate the actions of gonadotropins acting through the cAMP signaling pathway.
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PMID:Calcium signaling in single rat Leydig cells. 762 78

A single point mutation that encodes an aspartic acid (Asp578) to glycine substitution in the LH/CG receptor (LH/CGR) gene, D578G, was recently found in American patients with familial male-limited precocious puberty and in a Japanese patient with a sporadic form of the disorder. Transfection of the mutant, compared to the wild-type, LH/CGR complementary DNA into COS-7 cells results in higher basal cAMP production, but a normal agonist-induced response; the mutation is, therefore, proposed to constitutively activate Leydig cells and elevate serum testosterone, despite low levels of gonadotropin. In the current study we examined two additional Japanese patients with male-limited precocious puberty without a family history of the disease. We describe a heterozygous cytosine (C) to thymine (T) transition at nucleotide 1715 in both; the mutation encodes an alanine to valine substitution in codon 572 of transmembrane helix 6, A572V. Transfected into COS-7 cells, the A572V mutant exhibited the same constitutively high basal cAMP levels and normal agonist-induced cAMP response as the D578G mutant. We conclude that the constitutively higher cAMP levels caused by the A572V mutation led to Leydig cell activation and male-limited precocious puberty, as in the previously described D578G mutation. As the mother of one of the two patients had the same heterozygous mutation, this patient represents the first recognized case of inherited male-limited precocious puberty in the Japanese population. The previously described D578G mutant did not increase basal or agonist-induced inositol phosphate production in transfected COS-7 cells, or the number of LH/CGRs or their affinity for LH/CG. In contrast, transfection of the A572V mutation in COS-7 cells exhibited significantly higher inositol phosphate levels basally and at 10(-11) mol/L hCG, but significantly lower inositol phosphate levels at 10(-7) mol/L hCG. These data suggest that the A572V mutation of the LH/CGR may have effects on the guanine nucleotide binding protein which activates phospholipase C (Gq) coupling and phospholipase-C activation in addition to its effects on Gs coupling and activation of adenylyl cyclase. A572V-transfected cells also exhibited a higher affinity, despite an apparent decrease in the number of binding sites, for [125I]hCG, compared to transfectants with the wild-type LH/CGR. We hypothesize that these differences between the A572V and D578G mutations reflect a greater impact of the A572V mutation on receptor conformation.
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PMID:A new constitutively activating point mutation in the luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin receptor gene in cases of male-limited precocious puberty. 771 85

Although several reports indicate effects of histamine (HA) on female reproductive functions, scant literature exists to suggest a physiological role of HA in the male gonad. In the present study, we report a dual concentration-dependent effect of HA on steroidogenesis in MA-10 murine Leydig cells and purified rat Leydig cells. Although 1 nM HA can stimulate steroid production and significantly increase the response to LH/hCG in these cells, 10 microM HA exerts an inhibitory effect. We also provide confirming evidence for the existence of functional HRH1 and HRH2 receptors in both experimental models. The use of HRH1 and HRH2 selective agonists and antagonists led us to suggest that HRH2 activation would be largely responsible for stimulation of steroidogenesis, while HRH1 activation is required for inhibition of steroid synthesis. Our results regarding signal transduction pathways associated with these receptors indicate the coupling of HRH2 to the adenylate cyclase system through direct interaction with a Gs protein. Moreover, we show HRH1 activation mediates increases in inositol phosphate production, possibly due to coupling of this receptor to Gq protein and phospholipase C activation. The data compiled in this report clearly indicate that HA can modulate Leydig cell steroidogenesis in the testis and suggest a possible new physiological site of action for HA. Given that many drugs binding to HRH1, HRH2, or both, are widely prescribed for the treatment of diverse HA-related pathologies, it seems necessary to increase the knowledge regarding histaminergic regulation of testicular functions, to avoid possible unexpected side effects of such substances in the testis.
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PMID:Dual role of histamine in modulation of Leydig cell steroidogenesis via HRH1 and HRH2 receptor subtypes. 1591 47

This study was conducted to shed light on the so far unexplored intracellular mechanisms underlying negative modulation of Leydig cell steroidogenesis by histamine (HA). Using the MA-10 cell line and highly purified rat Leydig cells as experimental models, we examined the effect of the amine on biochemical steps known to be modulated by HA or involved in LH/hCG action. In agreement with previous findings, HA at 10 microM showed a potent inhibitory effect on hCG-stimulated steroid synthesis, regardless of the gonadotropin concentration used. Moreover, HA decreased not only LH/hCG-induced cAMP production but also steroid synthesis stimulated by the permeable cAMP analog dibutyryl cAMP (db-cAMP). Considering the post-cAMP sites of HA action, it is shown herein that HA markedly inhibited db-cAMP-stimulated steroidogenic acute regulatory (STAR) protein expression, as well as steps catalyzed by P450-dependent enzymes, mainly the conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone by cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (CYP11A). The antisteroidogenic action of HA was blocked by addition of the phospholipase C (PLC) inhibitor U73122, and HA significantly augmented inositol triphosphate (IP3) production, suggesting a major role for the PLC/IP3 pathway in HA-induced inhibition of Leydig cell function. Finally, HA increased nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity, and the NOS inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) markedly attenuated the effect of the amine on steroid synthesis. On the basis of our findings, HA antagonizes the gonadotropin action in Leydig cells at steps before and after cAMP formation. NOS activation is the main intracellular mechanism by which HA exerts its antisteroidogenic effects.
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PMID:Involvement of nitric oxide synthase in the mechanism of histamine-induced inhibition of Leydig cell steroidogenesis via histamine receptor subtypes in Sprague-Dawley rats. 1876 16

Although epidemiological studies from the last years report an increase in the incidences of Leydig cell tumors (previously thought to be a rare disease), the biochemical characteristics of that tumor important for understanding its etiology, diagnosis, and therapy still remains not completely characterized. Our prior studies reported G-protein coupled estrogen receptor signaling and estrogen level disturbances in Leydig cell tumors. In addition, we found that expressions of multi-level-acting lipid balance- and steroidogenesis-controlling proteins including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor are altered in this tumor. In order to get deeper into the other molecular mechanisms that regulate lipid homeostasis in the Leydig cell tumor, here we investigate the presence and expression of newly-described hormones responsible for lipid homeostasis balancing (leptin and adiponectin), together with expression of estrogen synthase (aromatase). Samples of Leydig cell tumors (n = 20) were obtained from patients (31-45 years old) and used for light and transmission electron microscopic, western blotting, and immunohistochemical analyses. In addition, body mass index (BMI) was calculated. In tumor mass, abundant lipid accumulation in Leydig cells and various alterations of Leydig cell shape, as well as the presence of adipocyte-like cells, were observed. Marked lipid content and various lipid droplet size, especially in obese patients, may indicate alterations in lipid homeostasis, lipid processing, and steroidogenic organelle function in response to interstitial tissue pathological changes. We revealed significantly increased expression of leptin, adiponectin and their receptors, as well as aromatase in Leydig cell tumors in comparison to control. The majority of patients (n = 13) were overweight as indicated by their BMI. Moreover, a significant increase in expression of phospholipase C (PLC), and kinases Raf, ERK which are part of adipokine transductional pathways, was demonstrated. These data expand our previous findings suggesting that in human Leydig cell tumors, estrogen level and signaling, together with lipid status, are related to each other. Increased BMI may contribute to certain biochemical characteristics and function of the Leydig cell in infertile patients with a tumor. In addition, altered adipokine-estrogen microenvironment can have an effect on proliferation, growth, and metastasis of tumor cells. We report here various targets (receptors, enzymes, hormones) controlling lipid balance and estrogen action in Leydig cell tumors indicating their possible usefulness for diagnostics and therapy.
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PMID:Interstitial Leydig Cell Tumorigenesis-Leptin and Adiponectin Signaling in Relation to Aromatase Expression in the Human Testis. 3245 38

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