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Activation of the Nuclear Factor Kappa B Pathway Following Ischemia-Reperfusion of the Murine Testis

TERRY T. TURNER^*,

From the ^* Department of Urology and the Department of Cell Biology, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia.

Correspondence to: Dr Jeffrey J. Lysiak, Department of Urology Box 800422, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA 22908 (e-mail: jl6n{at}virginia.edu).

Ischemia-reperfusion (IR) of the testis results in testicular oxidative stress and germ cell-specific apoptosis. Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-B) is a nuclear transcription factor involved in the control of a number of cellular processes, and its activation is part of the cellular stress response to a variety of factors including cytokine stimulation, irradiation, and IR. The present study investigates NF-B activation after IR of the murine testis and potential downstream target genes of that activation. Mice were subjected to a period of testicular ischemia followed by 0-4 hours of reperfusion. Activation of NF-B was assessed by 1) Western blot analysis of the NF-B inhibitory protein, IB; 2) immunohistochemistry for IB; and 3) TranSignal NF-B target gene array (107 genes) analysis. Results demonstrate that IB is phosphorylated on serine 32 reaching a peak by 2 hours after IR of the testis. A decrease in total IB was also noted at 2 hours after IR, consistent with the rapid degradation of the phosphorylated protein. Phosphorylation and degradation of IB is indicative of NF-B activation. Imunnolocalization revealed IB specifically in Sertoli cells of the murine testis. Results of the TranSignal target gene array revealed that the expression of 9 genes was consistently changed 2 hours after IR of the testis, 3 of which increased in expression and 6 of which were down-regulated. Most notably, high-mobility group nucleosomal binding domain 1 increased in expression while platelet-derived growth factor B and Wilms tumor homolog decreased. These results suggest that testicular IR releases the suppression of NF-B by IB in Sertoli cells. Activation of the NF-B pathway in the testis resulted in an alteration of expression of potential NF-B target genes, some increased while others decreased. The specific roles of these genes in the testicular response to IR remains to be determined.

     Key words: Testicular oxidative stress, apoptosis, NF-B activation

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