ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Lipopolysaccharide Increased the Expression Levels of IL‐18, ICE and IL‐18 R in Murine Leydig Cells

Abstract

Our results demonstrate that LPS increased the capacity of murine LCs to produce the IL-18 family molecules. IL-18, in the testis, might be involved in the regulation of physiological and infection/inflammatory processes, and thus, could be a component of the autocrine/paracrine factor net that controls steroidogenesis and male fertility; further studies are needed to confirm this possibility.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: LPS Increases the Expression Levels of IL‐18, ICE and IL‐18 R in Mouse Testes

“…21,[28][29][30] IL-18, originally known as interferon-c (IFN-c)inducing factor, is a multifunctional pro-inflammatory cytokine, which participates in the regulation of both T helper cells type 1 (Th1) and Th2 responses, and also in the regulation of innate and acquired immunity. 39,40 Recently, we and others have demonstrated the expression of IL-18 in rat and mouse testes and cells [41][42][43] and its effect on rat testicular germ-cell proliferation. [33][34][35][36] Initially detected in the sera of animals with endotoxemia, it is produced by a wide variety of cells such as monocytes, macrophages, keratinocytes, osteoblasts, intestinal epithelial cells, microglial cells and from the adrenal cortex.…”

“…42 As IL-18 family belongs to the IL-1 family (IL-1 is a pro-inflammatory cytokine which was increased in the testis under infection ⁄ inflammatory conditions), the aim of the present study was to examine the effect of LPS on the expression levels of IL-18, ICE and IL-18R in the whole mouse testes in vivo. 42 As IL-18 family belongs to the IL-1 family (IL-1 is a pro-inflammatory cytokine which was increased in the testis under infection ⁄ inflammatory conditions), the aim of the present study was to examine the effect of LPS on the expression levels of IL-18, ICE and IL-18R in the whole mouse testes in vivo.…”

“…42 Thus, the immediate response (3 hr) of testicular tissue to infection ⁄ inflammatory agents, to produce high levels of IL-18 family could be related to the resident macrophages, LCs and to the innate immunity cells in the interstitial compartment. However, in the testicular tissues, a significant increase in IL-18 family was detected 3 and 24 hr post-LPS injection.…”

Endogenous interleukin 18 regulates testicular germ cell apoptosis during endotoxemia

“…In the intestine, monocyte-derived IL18 induced epithelial reconstitution during acute inflammation, but during chronic inflammation, lymphocyte-derived IL18 induced epithelial injury. In the testes, endogenous IL18 is continuously produced by the testicular cells (Strand et al 2005, Abu Elhija et al 2008b, Komsky et al 2011. After infection, macrophages, dendritic cells and lymphocytes migrate to the testes (Jacobo et al 2011).…”

“…Under physiologic conditions, IL18 regulates testicular function, development, and spermatogenesis (Strand et al 2005, Abu Elhija et al 2008b, Komsky et al 2011. IL18 is a mediator of apoptosis through both the death receptor (extrinsic) and the mitochondrial (intrinsic) pathways (Mariño & Cardier 2003, Chandrasekar et al 2004, Akhtar et al 2011, Zhang et al 2011.…”