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PubMed1985

Regulation of rat biliary cholesterol secretion by agents that alter intrahepatic cholesterol metabolism. Evidence for a distinct biliary precursor pool.

Propensity for cholesterol gallstone formation is determined in part by biliary cholesterol content relative to bile salts and phospholipid. We examined the hypothesis that the rate of biliary cholesterol secretion can be controlled by availability of an hepatic metabolically active free cholesterol pool whose size is determined in part by rates of sterol synthesis, as reflected by activity of the primary rate-limiting enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase and of sterol esterification, as reflected by the activity of the enzyme acyl coenzyme A/cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT). Rats were prepared with biliary, venous, and duodenal catheters. The enterohepatic circulation of biliary lipids was maintained constant by infusion of a bile salt, lecithin, cholesterol replacement solution. Administration of 25-hydroxycholesterol decreased HMG CoA reductase activity, increased ACAT activity, and decreased biliary cholesterol output 26% by 1 h. By 2 h, ACAT activity and biliary cholesterol secretion were at control levels. Administration of mevinolin, a competitive inhibitor of HMG CoA reductase, had no effect on ACAT activity and decreased biliary cholesterol secretion 16%. Administration of progesterone, an inhibitor of ACAT, had no effect on HMG CoA reductase and increased biliary cholesterol output 32% at 1 h. By 2 h, all parameters were near control levels. None of these agents had any significant effect on biliary bile salt or phospholipid secretion. Thus, acutely altering rates of esterification and/or synthesis can have profound effects on biliary cholesterol secretion independent of the other biliary lipids. These experiments suggest the existence of a metabolically active pool of free cholesterol that serves as a precursor pool for biliary cholesterol secretion. Furthermore, the size of this precursor pool is determined in part both by rates of cholesterol synthesis and esterification and is a key determinant of biliary cholesterol secretion.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Receptor Ck-dependent signaling regulates hTERT gene transcription.

BACKGROUND: Available evidence suggests that the regulation of telomerase activity primarily depends on the transcriptional control of the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene. Although several activators and repressors of hTERT gene transcription have been identified, the exact mechanism by which hTERT transcription is repressed in normal cells and activated in cancer cells remains largely unknown. In an attempt to identify possible novel mechanisms involved in the regulation of hTERT transcription, the present study examined the role of Receptor Ck, a cell surface receptor specific for cholesterol, in the transcription of hTERT gene in normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. RESULTS: Activated Receptor Ck was found to down-regulate hTERT mRNA expression by repressing the transcription of c-myc gene. Receptor Ck-dependent signaling was also found to down-regulate the mRNA expression of the gene coding for the ligand inducible transcription factor, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma). The ligand activation of PPARgamma resulted in the down-regulation of c-myc and hTERT mRNA expression. By using specific activator and inhibitor of protein kinase C (PKC), it was demonstrated that Receptor Ck dependent down-regulation of hTERT gene transcription involved inhibition of PKC. In addition, 25-hydroxycholesterol was found to contribute to the transcriptional regulation of hTERT gene. CONCLUSION: Taken together, the findings of this study present evidence for a molecular link between cholesterol-activated Receptor Ck and hTERT transcription, and provide new insights into the regulation of hTERT expression in normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Cells, Cultured↗

PubMed2003

Regulated expression of apolipoprotein E by human retinal pigment epithelial cells.

In early age-related macular degeneration (AMD), lipid-containing deposits (drusen) accumulate in Bruch's membrane underlying the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Recent studies indicate that apolipoprotein E (apoE) may play a role in lipid trafficking in AMD. Compared with the apoE3 allele, the apoE4 and apoE2 alleles are associated with decreased and increased risk for AMD, respectively; drusen contain high levels of apoE, and apoE null mice develop lipid deposits in Bruch's membrane similar to those observed in AMD. Primary cultures of human RPE cells expressing the apoE3 allele were grown on Transwell culture plates. Western blotting, ELISA assay, and mass spectrometry confirmed that apoE3 was secreted into the apical and basal chambers and that secretion was upregulated by thyroid hormone, 9-cis-retinoic acid, and 22(R)-hydroxycholesterol. In addition, basally secreted apoE associated with exogenously added HDL. These results indicate that apoE secretion can be regulated by specific hormones and that apoE associates with HDL. The findings are consistent with a role for apoE in lipid trafficking through Bruch's membrane and may be relevant to AMD.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Rosiglitazone upregulates caveolin-1 expression in THP-1 cells through a PPAR-dependent mechanism.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) activation or overexpression induces caveolin-1 (cav-1) expression in several cell types. The objective of this study was to investigate if PPAR agonists could also regulate the cav-1 gene in macrophages and to explore the mechanisms involved. Our experiments demonstrated that rosiglitazone dose- and time-dependently increased cav-1 mRNA and protein in THP-1 macrophages. This induction was not observed in the presence of inhibitors of transcription or de novo protein synthesis. We also showed that the increase in cav-1 elicited by rosiglitazone was not related either to macrophage differentiation or to cellular apoptosis. The inductive effect seems to be dependent on PPAR activation, as the PPAR antagonist GW9662 abolished it. The activation of the liver X receptor with 22(R)-hydroxycholesterol also increased cav-1 mRNA, whereas the inactive (S) isomer did not. Finally, we identified a functional peroxisome proliferator response element in the cav-1 promoter that was activated upon rosiglitazone treatment in THP-1 macrophages.

Anilides↗

PubMed2006

PXR induces CYP27A1 and regulates cholesterol metabolism in the intestine.

Mitochondrial sterol 27-hydroxylase (CYP27A1) catalyzes oxidative cleavage of the sterol side chain in the bile acid biosynthetic pathway in the liver and 27-hydroxylation of cholesterol in most tissues. Recent studies suggest that 27-hydroxycholesterol (27-HOC) activates liver orphan receptor alpha (LXRalpha) and induces the cholesterol efflux transporters ABCA1 and ABCG1 in macrophages. The steroid- and bile acid-activated pregnane X receptor (PXR) plays critical roles in the detoxification of bile acids, cholesterol metabolites, and xenobiotics. The role of CYP27A1 in the intestine is not known. This study investigated PXR and CYP27A1 regulation of cholesterol metabolism in the human intestinal cell lines Caco2 and Ls174T. A human PXR ligand, rifampicin, induced CYP27A1 mRNA expression in intestine cells but not in liver cells. Rifampicin induced CYP27A1 gene transcription, increased intracellular 27-HOC levels, and induced ABCA1 and ABCG1 mRNA expression only in intestine cells. A functional PXR binding site was identified in the human CYP27A1 gene. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays revealed that rifampicin induced the PXR recruitment of steroid receptor coactivator 1 to CYP27A1 chromatin. Cholesterol loading markedly increased intracellular 27-HOC levels in intestine cells. Rifampicin, 27-HOC, and a potent LXRalpha agonist, T0901317, induced ABCA1 and ABCG1 protein expression and stimulated cholesterol efflux from intestine cells to apolipoprotein A-I and HDL. This study suggests an intestine-specific PXR/CYP27A1/LXRalpha pathway that regulates intestine cholesterol efflux and HDL assembly.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter 1↗

PubMed2004

Enhanced expression of natural resistance-associated macrophage protein 1 in atherosclerotic lesions may be associated with oxidized lipid-induced apoptosis.

The natural resistance-associated macrophage proteins (Nramps) can modulate inflammatory reactions. Nramps are not only responsible for intracellular divalent metal transport but also determine the macrophage functions in inflammatory processes. In the present study we tested whether Nramp1 is involved in macrophage apoptosis induced by oxidized lipids in atherogenesis. Arterial segments of Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic rabbits were used for an examination of Nramp1 mRNA by in situ RT-PCR and macrophage immunohistochemistry. Annexin V/PI staining and terminal dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) techniques were used for apoptosis detection. We found that, in macrophage-rich areas (positive to RMA-11) of the rabbit atherosclerotic aorta, there were lesion-dependent increases in Nramp1 mRNA, which are mainly apoptotic foamy macrophages that are positive to TUNEL staining. U937 cells were treated with 7beta-hydroxycholesterol (7beta-OH) in the presence or absence of the redox-active iron chelator desferrioxamine (DFO) or 1,10-phenanthroline. The cellular iron chelators considerably reduced, whereas iron compounds enhanced, 7beta-OH-induced apoptosis and necrosis. DFO also decreased mRNA levels of Nramp1, whereas both iron compounds and 7beta-OH dramatically enhanced the expression of Nramp1 mRNA, particularly among 7beta-OH-induced apoptotic cells. We conclude that the enhanced expression of Nramp1 in macrophage regions of atherosclerotic lesions may be associated with ferrous iron-enhanced, oxidized lipid-induced apoptosis. This finding reveals a novel function of Nramp1 in atherogenesis.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Energized, polarized, and actively respiring mitochondria are required for acute Leydig cell steroidogenesis.

The first and rate-limiting step in the biosynthesis of steroid hormones is the transfer of cholesterol into mitochondria, which is facilitated by the steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein. Recent study of Leydig cell function has focused on the mechanisms regulating steroidogenesis; however, few investigations have examined the importance of mitochondria in this process. The purpose of this investigation was to determine which aspects of mitochondrial function are necessary for acute cAMP-stimulated Leydig cell steroidogenesis. MA-10 cells were treated with 8-bromoadenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) and different site-specific agents that disrupt mitochondrial function, and the effects on acute cAMP-stimulated progesterone synthesis, StAR mRNA and protein, mitochondrial membrane potential (Deltapsim), and ATP synthesis were determined. cAMP treatment of MA-10 cells resulted in significant increases in both cellular respiration and Deltapsim. Dissipating Deltapsim with carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazone resulted in a profound reduction in progesterone synthesis, even in the presence of newly synthesized StAR protein. Preventing electron transport in mitochondria with antimycin A significantly reduced cellular ATP, potently inhibited steroidogenesis, and reduced StAR protein levels. Inhibiting mitochondrial ATP synthesis with oligomycin reduced cellular ATP, inhibited progesterone synthesis and StAR protein, but had no effect on Deltapsim. Disruption of intramitochondrial pH with nigericin significantly reduced progesterone production and StAR protein but had minimal effects on Deltapsim. 22(R)-hydroxycholesterol-stimulated progesterone synthesis was not inhibited by any of the mitochondrial reagents, indicating that neither P450 side-chain cleavage nor 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity was inhibited. These results indicate that Deltapsim, mitochondrial ATP synthesis, and mitochondrial pH are all required for acute steroid biosynthesis. These results suggest that mitochondria must be energized, polarized, and actively respiring to support Leydig cell steroidogenesis, and alterations in the state of mitochondria may be involved in regulating steroid biosynthesis.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

PubMed1979

Steroidogenesis in isolated cells and mitochondria of rat Snell adrenocortical carcinoma 494.

ACTH produced a 75% increase in pregnenolone biosynthesis from endogenous precursors in isolated cells prepared from the rat Snell adrenocortical carcinoma 494. On the addition of 24- and 25-hydroxycholesterol to the tumor cells, the rate of pregnenolone synthesis increased 10-fold but was insensitive to the presence of ACTH. Addition of lipoprotein cholesterol resulted in increased pregnenolone biosynthesis when ACTH was present. High density lipoprotein cholesterol appeared to be internalized and used for steroidogenesis preferentially to low density lipoprotein cholesterol. The cholesterol ester hydrolase activity of the cytosolic fraction of the tumor was found to be extremely low compared to that of the normal adrenal cell. These results, noting also the low cholesterol content of the tumor cells, suggested that the lack of availability of cholesterol was the factor responsible for the poor steroidogenic response of the cells to ACTH. The major steroid product of the tumor cells was determined to be deoxycorticosterone. This correlated with the low levels of steroid 11-beta-hydroxylase activity detected in the adrenal tumor mitochondria compared to the mitochondrial cholesterol desmolase activity. Little of the mitochondrial cytochrome P-450 appeared to function in a steroid 11-beta-hydroxylase complex.

Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms↗

PubMed1982

Pregnenolone biosynthesis by cultured rat granulosa cells: modulation by follicle-stimulating hormone and gonadotropin-releasing hormone.

The mechanism by which GnRH inhibits ovarian progesterone production was investigated by studying the GnRH modulation of pregnenolone biosynthesis in cultured rat granulosa cells. Granulosa cells from hypophysectomized, estrogen-treated rats were incubated for 2 days with various hormones in vitro. Pregnenolone production was measured in the presence of cyanoketone, which inhibits the conversion of pregnenolone to progesterone. FSH stimulated pregnenolone production in a dose-dependent manner (ED50, 4.47 ng/ml). Concomitant treatment with GnRH resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in FSH-stimulated pregnenolone production (ID50, 6.3 x 10(-9) M; maximal decrease, approximately 50%). In contrast, treatment with high doses of GnRH alone stimulated pregnenolone production (ED50, 2.95 x 10(-8) M) reaching a maximal level of about 10% that induced by FSH. Treatment with a GnRH antagonist, [Ac-D-Phe1, D-pCl-Phe2, D-Trp3,6]GnRH, did not affect either basal or FSH-stimulated pregnenolone production, but blocked both inhibitory and stimulatory effects of GnRH. The addition of 25-hydroxycholesterol, a soluble substrate for side-chain cleavage enzymes, enhanced FSH-stimulated pregnenolone production, but failed to overcome the inhibitory action of GnRH. GnRH also inhibited progesterone production stimulated by 8-bromo-cAMP and cholera toxin. This action of GnRH, however, was not associated with an inhibition of pregnenolone biosynthesis, but appeared to be due to a preferential increase in the metabolism of progesterone to 20 alpha-hydroxypregn-4-en-3-one. Thus, in addition to the reported GnRH stimulation of progesterone metabolism to 20 alpha-hydroxypregn-4-en-3-one and the GnRH inhibition of FSH-stimulated 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity, the present results demonstrate that GnRH also inhibits FSH-stimulated pregnenolone biosynthesis, probably at the side-chain cleavage enzyme step.

3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases↗

PubMed1983

Reduction in cell-associated low density lipoprotein in dexamethasone-treated HeLa cells: suggested mechanism.

An earlier study of cholesterol metabolism in HeLa cells has provided evidence for the inhibitory effect of glucocorticoids on de novo cholesterol synthesis. To extend this observation to other regulatory pathways involving cholesterol, we have now determined the effects of dexamethasone on the cell-associated low density lipoprotein (LDL) assumed to represent a normal source of exogenous cholesterol. It was found that HeLa cells internalized LDL by low affinity as well as high affinity saturable processes. Since cell-associated LDL was reduced by dexamethasone to 20-60% of the control value, we have made further attempts to examine the nature of this observation. The kinetics of LDL-cell association and the binding studies performed at 4 C indicated that dexamethasone did not affect the immediate binding of LDL to HeLa cells, whereas 25-hydroxycholesterol, which is known in other cells to inhibit LDL binding by reducing the number of LDL receptors, had the same effect in HeLa cells. The nature of the dexamethasone effect appeared to be related to interference with processing of bound LDL after its internalization. Further evidence that dexamethasone did not affect the initial binding of LDL was provided by the experiments in which chloroquine completely abolished the inhibitory action of dexamethasone.

Chloroquine↗

PubMed1985

Evidence for a role for adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate in progesterone secretion by human chorion.

Experiments were performed to determine whether cells from human chorion can synthesize and release progesterone. Cells were isolated from term chorion laeve by collagenase-DNAse digestion and incubated in RPMI-1640 medium. Freshly isolated cells contained 9.9 +/- 1.1 ng progesterone/10(6) cells, and released 72.0 +/- 7.1 ng/10(6) cells X 24 h in the absence of precursors. When 25-hydroxycholesterol (25HC) served as a precursor, progesterone release into the medium was concentration and time dependent from 1-20 micrograms/ml up to 8 h. When pregnenolone served as a precursor, progesterone secretion followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics (Km = 6.7 microM; maximum velocity, 1.02 nmol/10(6) cells X h). In the presence of 25HC (20 micrograms/ml), progesterone release increased significantly on exposure to cholera toxin (1 microgram/ml), methylisobutylxanthine (0.1 mM), forskolin (0.1 mM), or (Bu)2cAMP (1 mM). Cells maintained in culture released progesterone when fetal calf serum (10%) or 25HC served as precursors. These studies show that trophoblasts from fetal membranes can synthesize and release progesterone from endogenous and exogenous precurors and support the suggestion that cAMP is an important mediator in this process.

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗

PubMed1985

Estrogen regulation of steroidogenesis in rabbit luteal cells.

Estradiol is a potent modifier of gonadotropin-stimulated steroidogenesis. By the seventh day after ovulation, estradiol is the only agent required for the stimulation of progesterone synthesis by corpora lutea of superovulated pseudo-pregnant rabbits. To learn which control points in steroidogenesis are susceptible to regulation by estradiol alone, we have studied the production of pregnenolone, progesterone, and 20 alpha-hydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one by corpora lutea of estradiol-stimulated and estradiol-deprived pseudopregnant rabbits. In previous investigations, we learned that estradiol deprivation in vivo, on day 9 of pseudopregnancy, causes an abrupt cessation of progesterone and 20 alpha-hydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one production, which is associated with accumulation of cholesterol and cholesteryl ester in the luteal tissue. We now report that production of pregnenolone, measured as its concentration in serum, also decreases abruptly by 84% within 48 h when the estradiol stimulus is removed on day 9 of pseudopregnancy. In addition, short term incubations of luteal tissue demonstrate that corpora lutea from estradiol-deprived rabbits do not use stores of luteal intracellular cholesterol for production of pregnenolone and progestin. These findings suggest that upon estradiol deprivation, rabbit luteal cells lose their capacity for using stored cholesteryl ester, or cholesterol synthesized de novo, for the production of pregnenolone and progestins. We, therefore, tested the hypothesis that a blockade of steroidogenesis caused by estrogen deprivation occurs at the point of cytochrome P-450 cholesterol side-chain cleavage (P-450scc), a principal rate-limiting step in the conversion of cholesterol to hormonal steroid products. To this end, we assayed the P-450scc activity in mitochondria-rich fractions of corpora lutea from rabbits that were deprived of estradiol for 24 and 48 h beginning on day 9 after induction of superovulation. Surprisingly, withdrawal of the estradiol stimulus did not cause loss of luteal P-450scc activity, measured as the amount of aminoglutethimide-inhibitable conversion of 25-hydroxycholesterol to pregnenolone by mitochondria-rich preparations. From these results, we infer that the luteotropic action of estradiol is probably not effected at P-450scc in the rabbit corpus luteum, but, presumably, occurs at control points that regulate the availability of stored cholesterol and/or its movement to or within the mitochondria for conversion to pregnenolone.

20-alpha-Dihydroprogesterone↗

PubMed1986

Purification, characterization, and in vitro differentiation of cytotrophoblasts from human term placentae.

Highly purified functional cytotrophoblasts have been prepared from human term placentae by adding a Percoll gradient centrifugation step to a standard trypsin-DNase dispersion method. The isolated mononuclear trophoblasts averaged 10 microns in diameter, with occasional cells measuring up to 20-30 microns. Viability was greater than 90%. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the cells had fine structural features typical of trophoblasts. In contrast to syncytial trophoblasts of intact term placentae, these cells did not stain for hCG, human placental lactogen, pregnancy-specific beta 1-glycoprotein or low mol wt cytokeratins by immunoperoxidase methods. Endothelial cells, fibroblasts, or macrophages did not contaminate the purified cytotrophoblasts, as evidenced by the lack of immunoperoxidase staining with antibodies against vimentin or alpha 1-antichymotrypsin. The cells produced progesterone (1 ng/10(6) cells . 4 h), and progesterone synthesis was stimulated up to 8-fold in the presence of 25-hydroxycholesterol (20 micrograms/ml). They also produced estrogens (1360 pg/10(6) cells . 4 h) when supplied with androstenedione (1 ng/ml) as a precursor. When placed in culture, the cytotrophoblasts consistently formed aggregates, which subsequently transformed into syncytia within 24-48 h after plating. Time lapse cinematography revealed that this process occurred by cell fusion. The presumptive syncytial groups were proven to be true syncytia by microinjection of fluorescently labeled alpha-actinin, which diffused completely throughout the syncytial cytoplasm within 30 min. Immunoperoxidase staining of cultured trophoblasts between 3.5 and 72 h after plating revealed a progressive increase in cytoplasmic pregnancy-specific beta 1-glycoprotein, hCG, and human placental lactogen concomitant with increasing numbers of aggregates and syncytia. At all time points examined, occasional single cells positive for these markers were identified. RIA of the spent culture media for hCG revealed a significant increase in secreted hCG, paralleling the increase in hCG-positive cells and syncytia identified by immunoperoxidase methods. We conclude that human cytotrophoblasts differentiate in culture and fuse to form functional syncytiotrophoblasts.

Actinin↗

PubMed1987

Lack of difference between retinoic acid and retinol in stimulating progesterone production by luteinizing granulosa cells in vitro.

Receptors for retinoids in the immature rat ovary and the effects of retinol and retinoic acid on luteinizing granulosa cells were studied. Radioreceptor assay demonstrated the presence of specific cellular retinol-binding protein and cellular retinoic acid-binding protein in the ovaries of rats injected with PMSG alone or PMSG and hCG. In addition, when luteinizing granulosa cell from PMSG/hCG-injected immature rats were cultured with or without retinoic acid, the morphology, viability, number of cells in culture, and progesterone (P) accumulation were not affected by up to 10 microM retinoic acid. Beyond 10 microM, the cells began to round up, which was associated with a decrease in cell viability. Surprisingly, the deleterious concentrations of retinoic acid increased progesterone accumulation significantly higher than the medium control value. This increase in progesterone, however, was not accompanied by an increase in cAMP. When cells preincubated for 2 days with 1 microM of either retinoic acid or retinol were subsequently incubated in retinoid-free medium containing various substrates for steroidogenesis, the following results were obtained. Basal progesterone and its accumulation in response to human low density lipoprotein were significantly higher in cells preincubated with retinoids than in the control cells. However, no difference was seen in the degree of stimulation between retinol and retinoic acid pretreatments. Both 25-hydroxycholesterol, a substrate for side-chain cleavage enzyme, and pregnenolone, a substrate for 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, significantly stimulated the accumulation of progesterone in cells preincubated with retinoids over the control value. Again, no appreciable difference was observed between retinol and retinoic acid pretreatments. Our results suggest that receptors for retinoids are present in gonadotropin-primed immature rat ovaries, retinoids increase luteal cell progesterone accumulation, and no difference exists between retinol and retinoic acid in their ability to increase the accumulation of progesterone by these cells.

3-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases↗

PubMed1987

Steroid synthesis-dependent, oxygen-mediated damage of mitochondrial and microsomal cytochrome P-450 enzymes in rat Leydig cell cultures.

Treatment of primary cultures of rat Leydig cells with 1 mM 8-bromo-cAMP for 2 days at ambient oxygen tension (19%) caused a 59% decrease in mitochondrial cholesterol side-chain cleavage (P-450scc) activity. This decrease was completely prevented when the oxygen tension was reduced to 1% O2 or when steroid synthesis was inhibited by aminoglutethimide. When the endogenous concentration of pregnenolone was increased by inhibiting its further metabolism, P-450scc activity was reduced by 80% in unstimulated cultures and was completely eliminated in cAMP-treated cultures. These losses were prevented when cells were maintained at 1% O2. The amount of immunoreactive P-450scc was also decreased by treatments that reduced P-450scc activity. Stimulation with cAMP also lowered microsomal C17-20 lyase activity by an oxygen-mediated, steroid synthesis-dependent mechanism. Treatment of cultures with testosterone caused a similar oxygen tension-sensitive decrease in C17-20 lyase activity. These results suggest that the enhanced loss of mitochondrial and microsomal cytochrome P-450 activities in cAMP-treated cultures is caused by the increased production of pregnenolone and testosterone, respectively, which generate reactive damaging species derived from reduced dioxygen. The increased catalytic turnover of these P-450 enzymes may also contribute to their damage. Although P-450 activities were preserved at 1% O2, the ability of cAMP-treated cells to synthesize testosterone in response to subsequent cAMP stimulation was still reduced. If, however, 25-hydroxycholesterol was supplied to these cells the decrease in testosterone-producing capacity was prevented, which demonstrates that the reduced steroidogenic capacity of cAMP-treated Leydig cells is caused, primarily, by the reduced availability of endogenous cholesterol.

Aldehyde-Lyases↗

PubMed1989

The influence of exogenous free cholesterol on steroid synthesis in cultured adrenal cells.

Previous studies showed that Y-1 cells in which the concentration of cholesterol in plasma membranes (expressed relative to phospholipid as a molar ratio, C/P) was raised by incubation with cholesterol produced more 20 alpha-dihydroprogesterone than cells with normal or low plasma membrane C/P values. This difference was not associated with any difference in the production of cAMP. The cells respond to (Bu)2cAMP in the order high greater than normal greater than low C/P. High C/P is associated with higher levels of cholesterol in the cytosol and higher concentrations of this steroid in the inner mitochondrial membrane. The rate of transport of cholesterol to the inner membrane differed in the three groups of cells: high greater than normal greater than low C/P. Production of pregnenolone by mitoplasts was no different in the three groups, and the same applies to the production of pregnenolone by mitochondria from cells incubated with and those incubated without (Bu)2cAMP. 25-Hydroxycholesterol increased the production of 20 alpha-dihydroprogesterone by cells showing normal or low C/P values, but not those with high values. It is concluded that the transport of cholesterol to the inner mitochondrial membrane is regulated by at least two processes, namely the supply of substrate (cholesterol), which can saturate this transport mechanism, and some mechanism(s) that is stimulated by cAMP and is capable of stimulating transport above maximal levels produced by high concentrations of cholesterol alone. The second mechanism requires the synthesis of a new protein(s).

20-alpha-Dihydroprogesterone↗

PubMed1990

Effects of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in vitro on steroidogenesis of healthy and atretic follicles of the rat: theca as a target.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF), a pleiotropic cytokine localized within the ovary, alters follicular steroidogenesis. Preovulatory follicles dissected from ovaries of normal cyclic adult rats on the morning of proestrus exhibit steroidogenic and histological signs of atresia after 24 h of culture under the conditions of 5% CO2 and air. Follicles cultured for 24 h in 5% CO2 and 95% O2 appeared histologically and steroidogenically healthy. Under both culture conditions, human recombinant TNF (5 ng/ml) significantly increased the production of pregnenolone, progesterone, 20 alpha-dihydroprogesterone, and 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone by the follicles. Follicles cultured in 5% CO2 and air exhibited no change in androstenedione or estradiol production compared to control follicles incubated without TNF. In contrast, follicles cultured in 5% CO2 and 95% O2 responded to TNF with increased androstenedione and estradiol production. Separation of the thecal and granulosa compartments indicated that the increased progestin production observed in the whole follicle in response to TNF originated from the theca. TNF significantly inhibited basal and FSH-stimulated progesterone production from the granulosa of preovulatory follicles. Exogenous substrate added to whole follicles cultured in the presence or absence of TNF indicated that TNF enhanced the conversion of 25-hydroxycholesterol to pregnenolone. These studies reveal that TNF enhanced steroidogenesis in both healthy and atretic follicles and that this action of TNF is on the theca, where TNF increases the conversion of cholesterol to pregnenolone. The data imply that TNF has differential effects on thecal and granulosa steroidogenesis.

17-alpha-Hydroxyprogesterone↗

PubMed1991

Insulin-like growth factor-I stimulates steroidogenesis in rabbit luteal cells.

A potential role of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) in the regulation of steroidogenesis in the rabbit corpus luteum was investigated using a primary culture of luteal cells obtained 3 days after ovulation. Dissociated cells were cultured for 1 day in the presence of medium 199 and 10% fetal bovine serum; thereafter, the cells were cultured in medium 199 containing 0.1% BSA, gentamicin (50 micrograms/ml), and hormones or growth factors, and without serum. IGF-I (human recombinant, 100 ng/ml) was as effective as LH (ovine, 10 ng/ml) in maintaining progesterone accumulation through 4 days of culture. Estradiol (10(-8) M), either alone or in combination with LH or IGF-I failed to stimulate progesterone accumulation, which was not surprising since these cells did not possess estrogen receptors. The stimulation of progesterone by IGF-I was not detectable until 24-36 h after introduction of the growth factor to the cultures, whereas stimulation by LH was observed within 2 h. The steroidogenic effect of IGF-I was not attributable to increased cell number, as DNA values or [3H]thymidine incorporation were unchanged by IGF-I. IGF-I increased functional enzymatic activity, observed as increased progesterone accumulation in the presence of 25-hydroxycholesterol used as exogenous substrate. These data indicate that luteal cells have the capacity to respond to IGF-I, raising the possibility that IGF-I has a role in the regulation of steroidogenesis in the rabbit corpus luteum.

Animals↗