Jagged1 intracellular domain modulates steroidogenesis in testicular Leydig cells

PLoS One. 2020 Dec 30;15(12):e0244553. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0244553. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Leydig cells represent the steroidogenic lineage of mammalian testis, which produces testosterone. Genetic evidence indicates the requirement of Notch signaling in maintaining a balance between differentiated Leydig cells and their progenitors during fetal development. In primary Leydig cells, Notch1 expression decreases with testicular development, while the expression of its ligand, Jagged1, remains relatively unchanged, suggesting that the roles of Jagged1 extend beyond Notch signaling. In addition, Jagged1 is known to be processed into its intracellular domain, which then translocate to the nucleus. In this study, we investigated the effect of Jagged1 intracellular domain (JICD) on steroidogenesis in Leydig cells. The independent overexpression of JICD in MA-10 Leydig cells was found to inhibit the activity of cAMP-induced Nur77 promoter. In addition, JICD suppressed Nur77 transactivation of the promoter of steroidogenic genes such as P450scc, P450c17, StAR, and 3β-HSD. Further, adenovirus-mediated overexpression of JICD in primary Leydig cells repressed the expression of steroidogenic genes, consequently lowering testosterone production. These results collectively suggest that steroidogenesis in testicular Leydig cells, which is regulated by LH/cAMP signaling, is fine-tuned by Jagged1 during testis development.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Gene Regulatory Networks
  • Jagged-1 Protein / chemistry*
  • Jagged-1 Protein / genetics*
  • Leydig Cells / cytology*
  • Leydig Cells / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 1 / genetics*
  • Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 1 / metabolism*
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic*
  • Protein Domains
  • Protein Transport
  • Receptor, Notch1 / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • Steroids / metabolism

Substances

  • Jag1 protein, mouse
  • Jagged-1 Protein
  • Notch1 protein, mouse
  • Nr4a1 protein, mouse
  • Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 1
  • Receptor, Notch1
  • Steroids

Grants and funding

This research was supported by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (NRF-2014R1A4A1003642 and NRF-2020R1A2C1006705).