AROMATASE EXPRESSION CORRELATES WITH TGF-beta1 EXPRESSION IN HUMAN TESTICULAR PATHOLOGIES

GONZALEZ CANDELA ROCÍO; LEVALLE OSCAR; TERRADAS CARLOS; PUIGDOMECH ELISA; PONZIO ROBERTO; VITULLO ALFREDO DANIEL; CALANDRA RICARDO SAUL; GONZALEZ-CALVAR SILVIA INES

Congreso; ENDO 2013; 2013

In certain pathologies of male reproduction, such as Sertoli Cells Only Syndrome (SCO) or Idiopathic Hypospermatogenesis (H), a marked testicular interstitial proliferation is observed. We recently described in patients with SCO and H showing Leydig cell hyperplasia (LCH) a greater expression of TGF-beta1 and its co receptor endoglin, suggesting the involvement of this cytokine in the proliferative process (Reprod Biol Endocrinol 8:148-159, 2010). The aim of the present work was to analyze, the expression of PCNA, aromatase and estrogen receptors (ERalpha/ERbeta) in testicular biopsies of patients with SCO (n = 6), H (n = 6) and SCO and H also presenting HCL (n = 4). Furthermore, we studied the influence of TGF-1 on aromatase and ERalfa/ERbeta gene expression in the Leydig cell line TM3 by real time PCR. Studies by immunohistochemical techniques indicate the presence of aromatase in Leydig cells and increased expression of PCNA in the group HCL. Also, the co-localization of ER alpha/beta were detected in all pathologies by immunofluorescence. An increase in gene expression of aromatase in biopsies with HCL respect to H and SCO were observed by RT-qPCR (SCO = 0.76  0.38; SCO + HCl = 3256.99318.25; H = 1.58  0.67, H + HCL = 4196.45 1806.94). In all patients studied, levels of aromatase expression correlated positively with the levels of TGF-1 evaluated in previous experiments (r2 = 0.7628, Person’s Coefficient: 0.8734, p