Bile acids and male fertility: From mouse to human? Sèdes, Lauriane; Martinot, Emmanuelle; Baptissart, Marine ...
Molecular aspects of medicine,
August 2017, 2017-08-00, 20170801, 2017-08, Letnik:
56
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Next to their involvement in digestion, bile acids have been defined as signaling molecules. They have been demonstrated to control many physiological functions among which lipid homeostasis, glucose ...and energy metabolisms. Bile acids are ligands of several receptors and multiple studies using transgenic mouse models defined the major roles of their respective nuclear and membrane receptors namely the Farnesoid-X-Receptor (FXRα) and the G-protein-coupled bile acid receptor 1(GPBAR1; TGR5). Here we review the reports highlighting the impacts of bile acids on testicular physiology and on male reproductive functions. The studies on mouse models open perspectives to better understand the deleterious effects of bile acids on testicular pathophysiologies and fertility disorders. Additional studies are needed to corroborate these correlations in humans.
Besides their well-known roles in digestion and fat solubilization, bile acids (BAs) have been described as signaling molecules activating the nuclear receptor Farnesoid-X-receptor (FXRα) or the ...G-protein-coupled bile acid receptor-1 (GPBAR-1 or TGR5). In previous reports, we showed that BAs decrease male fertility due to abnormalities of the germ cell lineage dependent on Tgr5 signaling pathways. In the presentstudy, we tested whether BA exposure could impact germ cell DNA integrity leading to potential implications for progeny. For that purpose, adult F0 male mice were fed a diet supplemented with cholic acid (CA) or the corresponding control diet during 3.5 months prior mating. F1 progeny from CA exposed founders showed higher perinatal lethality, impaired BA homeostasis and reduced postnatal growth, as well as altered glucose metabolism in later life. The majority of these phenotypic traits were maintained up to the F2 generation. In F0 sperm cells, differential DNA methylation associated with CA exposure may contribute to the initial programming of developmental and metabolic defects observed in F1 and F2 offspring. Tgr5 knock-out mice combined with in vitro strategies defined the critical role of paternal Tgr5 dependent pathways in the multigenerational impacts of ancestral CA exposure.
Bile acids are cholesterol metabolites that have been extensively studied in recent decades. In addition to having ancestral roles in digestion and fat solubilization, bile acids have recently been ...described as signaling molecules involved in many physiological functions, such as glucose and energy metabolisms. These signaling pathways involve the activation of the nuclear receptor farnesoid X receptor (FXRα) or of the G protein-coupled receptor TGR5. In this review, we will focus on the emerging role of FXRα, suggesting important functions for the receptor in steroid metabolism. It has been described that FXRα is expressed in the adrenal glands and testes, where it seems to control steroid production. FXRα also participates in steroid catabolism in the liver and interferes with the steroid signaling pathways in target tissues via crosstalk with steroid receptors. In this review, we discuss the potential impacts of bile acid (BA), through its interactions with steroid metabolism, on glucose metabolism, sexual function, and prostate and breast cancers. Although several of the published reports rely on in vitro studies, they highlight the need to understand the interactions that may affect health. This effect is important because BA levels are increased in several pathophysiological conditions related to liver injuries. Additionally, BA receptors are targeted clinically using therapeutics to treat liver diseases, diabetes, and cancers.
The bile acid receptor Farnesol-X-Receptor alpha (FRXα) is a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily. FRXα is expressed in the interstitial compartment of the adult testes, which contain the ...Leydig cells. In adult, short term treatment (12 hours) with FRXα agonist inhibits the expression of steroidogenic genes via the induction of the Small heterodimer partner (SHP). However the consequences of FRXα activation on testicular pathophysiology have never been evaluated. We demonstrate here that mice fed a diet supplemented with bile acid during pubertal age show increased incidence of infertility. This is associated with altered differentiation and increase apoptosis of germ cells due to lower testosterone levels. At the molecular level, next to the repression of basal steroidogenesis via the induction expression of Shp and Dax-1, two repressors of steroidogenesis, the main action of the BA-FRXα signaling is through lowering the Leydig cell sensitivity to the hypothalamo-pituitary axis, the main regulator of testicular endocrine function. In conclusion, BA-FRXα signaling is a critical actor during sexual maturation.
Bile acids (BAs) are molecules with endocrine activities controlling several physiological functions such as immunity, glucose homeostasis, testicular physiology and male fertility. The role of the ...nuclear BA receptor FXRα in the control of BA homeostasis has been well characterized. The present study shows that testis synthetize BAs. We demonstrate that mice invalidated for the gene encoding FXRα have altered BA homeostasis in both liver and testis. In the absence of FXRα, BA exposure differently alters hepatic and testicular expression of genes involved in BA synthesis. Interestingly, Fxrα-/- males fed a diet supplemented with BAs show alterations of testicular physiology and sperm production. This phenotype was correlated with the altered testicular BA homeostasis and the production of intermediate metabolites of BAs which led to the modulation of CAR signaling pathways within the testis. The role of the CAR signaling pathways within testis was validated using specific CAR agonist (TCPOBOP) and inverse agonist (androstanol) that respectively inhibited or reproduced the phenotype observed in Fxrα-/- males fed BA-diet. These data open interesting perspectives to better define how BA homeostasis contributes to physiological or pathophysiological conditions via the modulation of CAR activity.
Fxrα est le récepteur nucléaire des acides biliaires, exprimé majoritairement dans le foie, l'intestin, les reins et les glandes surrénales. L'intérêt pour ce dernier est devenu croissant au cours ...des dernières années, de part le rôle central qu'il joue dans le contrôle de l'homéostasie du cholestérol, des acides biliaires, des triglycérides ou encore du glucose. Plus récemment, Fxrα ainsi que ses ligands, les acides biliaires, ont été localisés dans le testicule, soulevant la question du rôle potentiel de Fxrα dans cet organe, et plus généralement dans la fonction de reproduction mâle. Mais les études menées à ce sujet restent jusqu'à présent peu nombreuses, et focalisées sur son implication dans le contrôle du métabolisme des stéroïdes : l'activation in vivo de Fxrα par un agoniste synthétique conduit ainsi chez l'adulte à court terme à une répression de la stéroïdogenèse. Outre son rôle dans le contrôle de l'activité endocrine des cellules de Leydig, l'impact de l'activation in vivo de Fxrα sur la physiologie plus globale du testicule n'a jamais été abordé à ce jour. De telles études seraient pourtant pertinentes étant donné que Fxrα est ciblé pour le traitement de pathologies métaboliques telles que la dyslipidémie ou le diabète. Dans ce contexte, l'objectif de ce travail de thèse était d'étudier le rôle de Fxrα dans la physiologie et la pathophysiologie du testicule, en s'appuyant sur l'analyse d'un modèle murin dont le gène codant Fxrα a été invalidé. Nos résultats démontrent que : 1) la perte de Fxrα prédispose le testicule à une sur-mortalité des cellules germinales dans un contexte pathologique de cholestase ; 2) la sur-activation de la signalisation Fxrα au cours de la puberté conduit à un défaut de la différenciation germinale, associée à une altération de la fonction endocrine du testicule ; 3) outre la régulation de la stéroïdogenèse dans les cellules de Leydig, Fxrα participe au contrôle des fonctions sertoliennes et de la prolifération et / ou différenciation des cellules germinales souches. L'ensemble de ces données définissent Fxrα comme un nouvel acteur impliqué dans le contrôle de la physiologie testiculaire et devraient être prises en considération quant-à l'utilisation de molécules agonistes et / ou antagonistes de Fxrα dans le cadre du traitement de pathologies métaboliques.
Fxrα is the bile acid nuclear receptor, predominantly expressed in liver, intestine, kidney and adrenal glands. In recent years, interest in Fxrα has been increasing due to its central role in the control of cholesterol, bile acids, triglycerides or glucose homeostasis. More recently, Fxrα and its ligands, bile acids, have been detected in the testis pointing out its potential involvement in this tissue and more widely in the male reproductive functions. However, the few studies on this topic focused essentially on Fxrα involvement in the control of steroids metabolism. Indeed, activation of Fxrα in vivo with a synthetic agonist leads to short-term steroidogenesis repression in the adult. In vivo the impact of alteration of Fxrα signaling on the global testis physiology has never been explored so far. Such studies would be pertinent considering that Fxrα is a target for the treatment of metabolic diseases such as dyslipidemia or diabetes. In this context, the aim of my work was to study the implication of Fxrα in testis physiology and physiopathology by analyzing a knock out mouse model for Fxrα. Our results show that: 1) the loss of Fxrα increase germ cell mortality in the testis in a disease context of cholestasis ; 2) over-activation of Fxrα signaling during puberty leads to germ cell differentiation defects, associated with an alteration of testis endocrine function ; 3) besides steroidogenesis control in Leydig cell, Fxrα is involved in Sertoli cell functions and spermatogonial stem cell proliferation and/or differentiation. Taken together, these data define Fxrα as a new actor involved in the control of testis physiology, and should be taken into consideration regarding the use of Fxrα agonistic or antagonistic ligands for the treatment of metabolic diseases.
The small heterodimer partner (SHP, nuclear receptor subfamily 0, group B, member 2; NR0B2) is an atypical nuclear receptor known mainly for its role in bile acid homeostasis in the enterohepatic ...tract. We previously showed that NR0B2 controls testicular functions such as testosterone synthesis. Moreover, NR0B2 mediates the deleterious testicular effects of estrogenic endocrine disruptors leading to infertility. The endocrine homeostasis is essential for health, because it controls many physiological functions. This is supported by a large number of studies demonstrating that alterations of steroid activity lead to several kinds of diseases such as obesity and infertility. Within the testis, the functions of the Leydig cells are mainly controlled by the hypothalamo-pituitary axis via LH/chorionic gonadotropin (CG). Here, we show that LH/CG represses Nr0b2 expression through the protein kinase A-AMP protein kinase pathway. Moreover, using a transgenic mouse model invalidated for Nr0b2, we point out that NR0B2 mediates the repression of testosterone synthesis and subsequent germ cell apoptosis induced by exposure to anti-GnRH compound. Together, our data demonstrate a new link between hypothalamo-pituitary axis and NR0B2 in testicular androgen metabolism, making NR0B2 a major actor of testicular physiology in case of alteration of LH/CG levels.
Background: Liver physiology is sensitive to estrogens, which suggests that the liver might be a target of estrogenic endocrine disrupters (EED). However, the long-term consequences of neonatal ...exposure to EED on liver physiology have rarely been studied. The nuclear receptor small heterodimer partner (SHP) mediates the deleterious effects of neonatal exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES) on male fertility.Objectives: As SHP is involved in liver homeostasis, we aimed to determine whether neonatal estrogenic exposure also affected adult liver physiology through SHP. Male mouse pups were exposed to DES in the first 5 days of life.Results: DES exposure leads to alterations in the postnatal bile acid (BA) synthesis pathway. Neonatal DES-exposure affected adult liver BA metabolism and subsequently triglyceride (TG) homeostasis. The wild-type males neonatally exposed to DES exhibited increased liver weight and altered liver histology in the adult age. The use of deficient male mice revealed that SHP mediates the deleterious effects of DES treatment. These long-term effects of DES were associated with differently timed alterations in the expression of epigenetic factors.Conclusions: However, the molecular mechanisms by which neonatal exposure persist to affect the adult liver physiology remain to be defined. In conclusion, we demonstrate that neonatal DES exposure alters adult hepatic physiology in an SHP-dependent manner.
The bile acid receptor Farnesol-X-Receptor alpha (FRXalpha) is a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily. FRXalpha is expressed in the interstitial compartment of the adult testes, which contain ...the Leydig cells. In adult, short term treatment (12 hours) with FRXalpha agonist inhibits the expression of steroidogenic genes via the induction of the Small heterodimer partner (SHP). However the consequences of FRXalpha activation on testicular pathophysiology have never been evaluated. We demonstrate here that mice fed a diet supplemented with bile acid during pubertal age show increased incidence of infertility. This is associated with altered differentiation and increase apoptosis of germ cells due to lower testosterone levels. At the molecular level, next to the repression of basal steroidogenesis via the induction expression of Shp and Dax-1, two repressors of steroidogenesis, the main action of the BA-FRXalpha signaling is through lowering the Leydig cell sensitivity to the hypothalamo-pituitary axis, the main regulator of testicular endocrine function. In conclusion, BA-FRXalpha signaling is a critical actor during sexual maturation.
La compréhension des mécanismes qui pilotent la transmission des contraintes aux interfaces déformables est au centre de nombreuses problématiques touchant des applications actuelles utilisant un ...film mince de polymère souple comme couche interfaciale. Arriver à caractériser de tels films fins est encore un défi aujourd’hui car l’analyse des mesures expérimentales destinées à extraire les contributions dues aux films est complexe et délicate et les techniques usuelles de caractérisation sont peu adaptées aux systèmes. Ce travail étudie la réponse mécanique de deux types de systèmes modèles au moyen de deux techniques de caractérisation différentes. Le premier système que nous avons élaboré et caractérisé mécaniquement par le test JKR, est constitué de films d’élastomère réticulé d’épaisseurs micrométriques (de 5 à 100µm) et déposés sur des wafers de silicium. Les mesures expérimentales ont été analysées par comparaison à un modèle semi-analytique récent proposé par E. Barthel dans le but d’extraire le module élastique de chaque film et de répondre à la question de savoir si l’épaisseur du film influe sur la valeur de ce module. Nous avons montré que ce modèle permet de rendre compte quantitativement du raidissement lié à la présence d’un solide supportant le film mais que la précision sur les mesures de modules de Young reste limitée (de l’ordre de 35 %).Le deuxième système modèle est constitué de brosses de polymères greffées (PDMS) par une extrémité à la surface de wafers de silicium et gonflées dans un bon solvant (47V20). Nous avons analysé la réponse mécanique dans plusieurs régimes de distance et de fréquence en utilisant un appareil à forces de surface (SFA) dans lequel on contrôle l’approche d’une sphère millimétrique d’un plan sur lequel sont greffées les polymères. En statique, nous avons vérifié que la réponse en compression était celle d’une brosse de type Alexander-de Gennes. En mode dynamique, quand la sphère est loin de la couche gonflée, nous avons vérifié que la réponse dissipative était celle d’un écoulement de Reynolds qui décrit normalement l’écoulement d’un fluide simple newtonien entre une sphère et un plan solide. Ceci nous a permis de montrer que l’écoulement du solvant pénètre partiellement à l’intérieur de la couche greffée sur une profondeur de l’ordre du tiers de l’épaisseur gonflée de la couche. Dans le régime ou les brosses sont comprimées, il n’y a pas d’accord entre les mesures réalisées et le modèle classique de Fredrickson et Pincus. Ceci s’explique par les expériences que nous avons réalisées sur un substrat nu (sans polymère) montrant pour la première fois la déformation des substrats solides qui sont indentés par l’écoulement de liquide et qu’il faut prendre en compte cette déformation dans les analyses de nanorhéologie. Finalement, une annexe est consacrée à la fabrication de surfaces hydrophobes silanisées optimisées en vue d’étudier le glissement d’un liquide simple et d’électrolytes à la paroi.
Understanding how stresses are transmitted to deformable interfaces is a key-point in numerous issues having everyday life applications which use a thin polymer film as an interfacial layer. Still, characterizing the mechanical properties of such elastic films remains a challenge because the usual employed techniques are destructive of the surface and because of the complexity of the associated analysis. In this work, we study the mechanical response of two types of home-made model systems using two different characterization techniques. The first system – studied with a JKR test- is composed of reticulated elastomeric films of micrometric thickness (5 to 100 µm) and stuck to a silicon wafer. We analyse the experimental data with E.Barthel’s recently published semi-analytical model in order to determine the elastic modulus of each indented film and see if the thickness of the film had any influence on its value. We show that this model is in a quantitatively good agreement with our data but that we only have a 35% accuracy on the elastic modulus values thanks to the set-up. The second system we studied consists in polymer brushes end-grafted onto the surface of silicon wafers and of nanometric thickness. To characterize the mechanical response of those brushes and the effect of both their molecular organization and ingredients on their ability to transmit stresses at the interface, we use a surface force apparatus in the dynamic mode as a soft fluid indenter. We use a millimetric sphere to create a liquid flow of the solvent in which the brushes are immerged and swollen. This flow induces hydrodynamic forces whose range we can control by varying the excitation frequency and the distance of approach. We obtain the following results : first with the static response we checked that the response of the polymer layers are well-described by the Alexander-de Gennes approximation. In the dynamical mode, when the sphere is far from the solid surface, we showed that the dissipative response was well-described by the Reynolds force. Thanks to those results, we succeeded in localizing the limit of penetration of the liquid flow inside the brushes at one third of the thickness of the swollen brush; second, when the brushes are compressed, we showed that the existing models (Fredrickson & Pincus) are insufficient to explain the dynamic responses of the brushes. This disagreement is explained by experiments we performed on the bare solid substrate, which show for the first time, the deformation of the substrate due to the liquid. Thus, the mechanical response of the underlying substrate has to be taken into account in the analysis of the nanorheological results on the brushes even though the substrate is much stiffer than the polymer layers. Finally, we present how we fabricated hydrophobic (silanized) surfaces in order to study the sliding of simple liquids at the wall with the same surface force apparatus.
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