The Pregnane-X receptor regulates steroid synthesis in mouse Leydig cells

IntroductionPregnane X Receptor (PXR, NR1I2) is a ligand-dependent transcription factor belonging to the nuclear receptor superfamily, that can be activated by a wide variety of endogenous and exogenous ligands. It is a major actor of the endo- and xeno-biotic detoxification process. It also regulat...

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Main Authors: Emmanuelle Martinot, Hélène Holota, Angélique de Haze, Claude Beaudoin, David H. Volle
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Endocrinology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2024.1430781/full
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author Emmanuelle Martinot
Hélène Holota
Angélique de Haze
Claude Beaudoin
David H. Volle
author_facet Emmanuelle Martinot
Hélène Holota
Angélique de Haze
Claude Beaudoin
David H. Volle
author_sort Emmanuelle Martinot
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionPregnane X Receptor (PXR, NR1I2) is a ligand-dependent transcription factor belonging to the nuclear receptor superfamily, that can be activated by a wide variety of endogenous and exogenous ligands. It is a major actor of the endo- and xeno-biotic detoxification process. It also regulates biological processes such as lipid metabolism in large number of tissues. Pxr was shown to be expressed in human, mouse, rat and pig testis, however its roles in the regulation of testicular functions have been little explored so far.MethodsTo determine the potential involvement of PXR in the regulation of steroidogenesis, experiments were performed on a wild type (MLTC-1WT) and a Pxr knock-down (MLTC-1PxrKD) mouse Leydig cell line (MLTC-1 cells), treated with a PXR agonist (SR-12813) in acute and chronic conditions. ResultsOur analyses confirmed the presence of Pxr transcripts in the mouse testis, particularly in Leydig cells. In addition, A lower testosterone concentration was measured in MLTC-1PxrKD cells compared to wild type cells. Moreover, both acute and chronic stimulation of MLTC-1WT cells with SR-12813 led to a decrease in testosterone concentration, associated with a lower expression of some steroidogenic genes. This negative impact of SR-12813 on Leydig cell steroidogenesis was counteracted by Pxr knock down. DiscussionOverall, these results support the involvement of PXR in the regulation of testosterone homeostasis in mouse Leydig cells and open new avenues of research into the involvement of this receptor in the deleterious effects of certain endocrine disruptors on the steroidogenic activity of Leydig cells.
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spelling doaj-art-95ebc6740e4e41b7b642bdb21822f41f2025-08-20T03:10:58ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Endocrinology1664-23922025-05-011510.3389/fendo.2024.14307811430781The Pregnane-X receptor regulates steroid synthesis in mouse Leydig cellsEmmanuelle MartinotHélène HolotaAngélique de HazeClaude BeaudoinDavid H. VolleIntroductionPregnane X Receptor (PXR, NR1I2) is a ligand-dependent transcription factor belonging to the nuclear receptor superfamily, that can be activated by a wide variety of endogenous and exogenous ligands. It is a major actor of the endo- and xeno-biotic detoxification process. It also regulates biological processes such as lipid metabolism in large number of tissues. Pxr was shown to be expressed in human, mouse, rat and pig testis, however its roles in the regulation of testicular functions have been little explored so far.MethodsTo determine the potential involvement of PXR in the regulation of steroidogenesis, experiments were performed on a wild type (MLTC-1WT) and a Pxr knock-down (MLTC-1PxrKD) mouse Leydig cell line (MLTC-1 cells), treated with a PXR agonist (SR-12813) in acute and chronic conditions. ResultsOur analyses confirmed the presence of Pxr transcripts in the mouse testis, particularly in Leydig cells. In addition, A lower testosterone concentration was measured in MLTC-1PxrKD cells compared to wild type cells. Moreover, both acute and chronic stimulation of MLTC-1WT cells with SR-12813 led to a decrease in testosterone concentration, associated with a lower expression of some steroidogenic genes. This negative impact of SR-12813 on Leydig cell steroidogenesis was counteracted by Pxr knock down. DiscussionOverall, these results support the involvement of PXR in the regulation of testosterone homeostasis in mouse Leydig cells and open new avenues of research into the involvement of this receptor in the deleterious effects of certain endocrine disruptors on the steroidogenic activity of Leydig cells. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2024.1430781/fullPXRtestosteroneLeydig cellsmousexenobiotics
spellingShingle Emmanuelle Martinot
Hélène Holota
Angélique de Haze
Claude Beaudoin
David H. Volle
The Pregnane-X receptor regulates steroid synthesis in mouse Leydig cells
Frontiers in Endocrinology
PXR
testosterone
Leydig cells
mouse
xenobiotics
title The Pregnane-X receptor regulates steroid synthesis in mouse Leydig cells
title_full The Pregnane-X receptor regulates steroid synthesis in mouse Leydig cells
title_fullStr The Pregnane-X receptor regulates steroid synthesis in mouse Leydig cells
title_full_unstemmed The Pregnane-X receptor regulates steroid synthesis in mouse Leydig cells
title_short The Pregnane-X receptor regulates steroid synthesis in mouse Leydig cells
title_sort pregnane x receptor regulates steroid synthesis in mouse leydig cells
topic PXR
testosterone
Leydig cells
mouse
xenobiotics
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2024.1430781/full
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