Redox regulation of hormone sensitive lipase: Potential role in the mechanism of MEHP-induced stimulation of basal steroid synthesis in MA-10 Leydig cells

Christine Zhou, Ninad Zaman, Yunbo Li, Daniel B. Martinez-Arguelles, Vassilios Papadopoulos, Barry Zirkin, Kassim Traore

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), the active metabolite of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), is a plasticizer with endocrine disruptor activity that has been shown to stimulate basal steroid biosynthesis in Leydig cells. The mechanism by which it does so is unknown. Using MA-10 mouse tumor Leydig cells, we assessed the effects of MEHP on reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and on the signal transduction pathways that mobilize cholesterol. Exposure to 0–300 μM MEHP stimulated basal progesterone production in a dose-dependent manner. Progesterone stimulation was correlated with increases in the phosphorylation of hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL; aka cholesteryl ester hydrolase), which is involved in the production of free cholesterol, and of steroidogenic acute regulatory (STAR) protein expression. Co-treating MA-10 cells with MEHP and the ROS scavenger N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) blocked the activation of HSL, blunted MEHP-induced STAR, and reduced basal progesterone formation. These observations suggest that ROS generation by MEHP leads to activation of HSL and increase in STAR which, together, result in increased free-cholesterol bioavailability and progesterone formation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)19-25
Number of pages7
JournalReproductive Toxicology
Volume85
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2019

Keywords

  • Antioxidants
  • Phthalates
  • ROS

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Toxicology

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