β-adrenergic receptors in the up-regulation of COX2 expression and prostaglandin production in testicular macrophages: Possible relevance to male idiopathic infertility

ROSSI SP; LEVALLE O; MAYERHOFER A; RIVIERE E; PUIGDOMENECH E; CALANDRA RS; MATZKIN ME; PONZIO R; TERRADAS C; FRUNGIERI MB

MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR ENDOCRINOLOGY.

ELSEVIER IRELAND LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2019 vol. 498

0303-7207

Catecholaminergic neuronal elements (CNE) and macrophages (MACs) are increased in testes of patients withidiopathic infertility. Now, we describe an anatomical proximity between CNE and MACs, expression of specificα- and β-adrenergic receptors (ADRs) subtypes in MACs, and a positive correlation between the number of MACsand cyclooxygenase (COX2) expression - key enzyme in prostaglandin (PG) synthesis and an inflammatorymarker - in testes of infertile men. To examine a potential effect of adrenergic input on COX2 expression, we usedtwo additional experimental models: non-testicular human MACs (THP1 cell line) and non-human testicularMACs purified from adult Syrian hamsters. We found that epinephrine and norepinephrine up-regulate COX2expression and PGD2 production through β1-and β2-ADRs.Our results demonstrate the existence of a yet unknown link between CNE and MACs in the human testis thatcould trigger inflammation and tissue homeostatic dysregulation associated with pathogenesis or maintenance ofinfertility states.