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Abstract

Sertoli cell prostaglandin D synthetase is a multifunctional molecule: Its expression and regulation (PDF) (HTML) 
Samy,Eileen T.; Li,Jonathan C.H.; Grima,Josephine; Lee,William M.; Silvestrini,Bruno; Cheng,Chuen-yan
Endocrinology 141(2): 710-721
Publication date: 2000

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PGD synthetase (PGD-S; PGH D-isomerase; EC 5.3.99.2) is abifunctional protein first identified in the mammalian brain.It acts as a PGD-producing enzyme and a retinoid transporter.PGD-S is present in the testis, where its protein and messengerRNA levels are similar to those in the brain. In view of itsdiversified regulatory functions, we investigated its regulationusing primary cultures of Sertoli cells in vitro to assess itsrole in the testis. When Sertoli cells were cultured in serum-freemedium to allow the formation of specialized junctions, it wasfound that PGD-S expression increased steadily with time, coincidingwith the formation of inter-Sertoli junctions in vitro. However,neither germ cells (using a Sertoli/germ cell ratio between1:1 and 1:30 when Sertoli cells were cultured at a density of5 x 10 cells/cm) nor germ cell-conditioned medium affectedthe expression of Sertoli cell PGD-S in vitro. These results thusunequivocally demonstrated that germ cells do not play a rolein regulating testicular PGD-S expression. Although FSH, dihydrotestosterone,and testosterone had no apparent effect on Sertoli cell PGD-Sexpression, the addition of progesterone (1 x 10 to 1 x 10M) and T (1 x 10 to 1 x 10 M) to Sertoli cell cultureselicited a significant increase in PGD-S expression by as muchas 4.5- and 2.5 fold, respectively. As PGD-S is a known retinoidtransporter, the effects of all-trans-retinoic acid and all-trans-retinalon Sertoli cell PGD-S expression were also assessed. Both compoundswere found to induce Sertoli cell PGD-S expression. In summary,PGD-S is a putative Sertoli cell product whose expression isregulated by progesterone, metabolites of vitamin A, and T.In view of its dual biological properties, a study of its regulationand physiology will yield new insights into understanding itsrole in the testis.

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