Roles and mechanisms of action of nuclear receptors in steroidogenesis

核受体在类固醇生成中的作用和作用机制

基本信息

批准号：
262224-2010
负责人：
Tremblay, JacquesJ
金额：
$ 3.35万
依托单位：
Université Laval
依托单位国家：
加拿大
项目类别：
Discovery Grants Program - Individual
财政年份：
2013
资助国家：
加拿大
起止时间：
2013-01-01 至 2014-12-31
项目状态：
已结题

来源：
https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=525526
关键词：
Roles mechanisms action nuclear receptors

项目摘要

Testicular Leydig cells are the main testosterone-producing cells in the male. These cells are indispensable for the proper development of external male genitalia, sex accessory glands, increased muscle mass, as well as production of mature sperm. Leydig cell function is tightly controlled by the pituitary luteinizing hormone (LH). LH binds to its receptor located on the surface of Leydig cells thus triggering activation of the several intracellular signaling pathways (the main one being the cAMP/PKA pathway) leading to increased gene expression and steroid hormone production (steroidogenesis). The transcription factors downstream of these signaling pathways and their mechanisms of action remain poorly understood. Therefore, the goal of the present research program is to identify these factors and to determine their mechanism of action. One family of transcription factors that I believe play an important role in this process is nuclear receptor family, particularly NUR77 and COUP-TFII. Consistent with my hypothesis, we have shown that these factors are important regulators of steroidogenic gene expression. We are also analyzing how NUR77 expression itself is regulated in response to the various stimuli. Thus, different but complementary state-of-the-art molecular and cellular biology approaches are routinely used to elucidate the roles played by this particular family of transcriptional regulators in LH-induced gonadal steroidogenesis, a process critical for male reproductive function.

睾丸间质细胞是男性中主要产生睾酮的细胞。这些细胞对于男性外生殖器、性附属腺的正常发育、肌肉质量的增加以及成熟精子的产生是不可或缺的。间质细胞的功能受到垂体黄体生成素 (LH) 的严格控制。 LH 与其位于 Leydig 细胞表面的受体结合，从而触发多种细胞内信号传导途径（主要是 cAMP/PKA 途径）的激活，导致基因表达增加和类固醇激素产生（类固醇生成）。这些信号通路下游的转录因子及其作用机制仍然知之甚少。因此，本研究计划的目标是识别这些因素并确定其作用机制。我认为在这一过程中发挥重要作用的转录因子家族是核受体家族，特别是 NUR77 和 COUP-TFII。与我的假设一致，我们已经证明这些因素是类固醇生成基因表达的重要调节因子。我们还在分析 NUR77 表达本身如何响应各种刺激而受到调节。因此，不同但互补的最先进的分子和细胞生物学方法通常用于阐明这一特定转录调节因子家族在 LH 诱导的性腺类固醇生成（对男性生殖功能至关重要的过程）中所发挥的作用。