Progesterone activates the cyclic AMP-protein kinase A signalling pathway by upregulating ABHD2 in fertile men

Abstract

Objective This was a prospective study to investigate whether progesterone affects sperm activity by regulating the cyclic AMP-protein kinase A (cAMP-PKA) signalling pathway via α/β hydrolase domain-containing protein 2 (ABHD2). Methods Spermatozoa were collected from healthy and infertile men (with oligoasthenospermia or abnormal acrosome; n = 30/group). The expression of and mutations in ABHD2 were detected by quantitative PCR, western blot, and gene sequencing. The expression of ABHD2 in the presence of progesterone was detected in all groups, and cAMP and PKA levels were detected by ELISA in fertile men after treatment with ABHD2 antibody and PKA inhibitor H-89, respectively. Results Expression of ABHD2 mRNA and protein were reduced in spermatozoa from infertile compared with fertile men. Four gene mutation sites were detected in spermatozoa from the infertile groups. Progesterone increased mRNA and protein levels of ABHD2 in healthy spermatozoa but not in spermatozoa from infertile men. The levels of cAMP and PKA were increased by progesterone in healthy spermatozoa, and the progesterone-increased cAMP and PKA were decreased by ABHD2 antibody and H-89, respectively. Conclusion Progesterone regulates the ABHD2-mediated cAMP-PKA signalling pathway in healthy spermatozoa, which provides a new target for clinical diagnosis and treatment of infertility.

Population structure, genetic diversity and prolificacy in pishan red sheep under an extreme desert environment

“…C11orf74 enhances sperm motility and improves fertilization ( Majkowski et al, 2018 ). Progesterone can upregulate ABHD2 to activate the camp-PKA signaling pathway ( Jiang et al, 2021 ). These genes were strongly selected, suggesting that perennial estrus may result from a combination of these genes.…”

Effects of CatSper Stimulation and Inhibition by Progesterone and NNC on Human Sperm

“…Endogenous cannabinoids inhibit the CatSper channel, and progesterone hydrolyzes the inhibitory cannabinoids by binding and activating the highly expressed type II domain dehydrogenase ABHD2 receptor on human spermatozoa [11,16,33]. Progesterone increased mRNA and protein levels of ABHD2 in healthy spermatozoa [34]. Previous studies revealed that the role of calcium channels in the sperm progesterone-mediated motility, using calcium channel blockers such as mibefradil, could not completely prevent the progesterone effects.…”