Palmitic Acid Targets Human Testicular Peritubular Cells and Causes a Pro-Inflammatory Response

Mayerhofer, Artur; Dietrich, Kim-Gwendolyn; Urbanski, Henryk F.; Koehn, Frank-Michael; Pickl, Ulrich; Trottmann, Matthias; Kievit, Paul und Welter, Harald (2020): Palmitic Acid Targets Human Testicular Peritubular Cells and Causes a Pro-Inflammatory Response. In: Journal of Clinical Medicine, Bd. 9, Nr. 8, 2655

Abstract

Palmitic acid (PA) is a major fatty acid, derived from diet and endogenous production, which is being linked to inflammation. While such actions of PA at the level of the testis remain difficult to examine, we reasoned that studies in human testicular cells may be instructive. Human testicular peritubular cells (HTPCs) can be isolated from men and cultured. They have contractile properties but also produce Interleukin 6 (IL6), express the inflammasome member NLRP3, and via glia cell line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), they contribute to the spermatogonial stem cell niche. We found that PA at 100 mu M significantly increased the levels ofIL6,whileNLRP3or the related Interleukin 1 beta (IL1beta) were not affected. The contractility marker calponin (CNN1) and the growth factorGDNFwere likewise not affected. ELISA studies confirmed the stimulatory PA actions on IL6. Hence, PA derived from diet and/or endogenous sources may be able to foster a pro-inflammatory milieu in the testis. A possible link of these results to diet and high fat intake and obesity is indicated by the about 12-fold elevated testicular levels ofIL6in testes of obese rhesus monkeys (n= 3), fed with a Western Style diet. They had elevated 2-5-fold increased body fat and increased circulating triglyceride levels. Further consequences of PA and obesity for testicular functions remain to be evaluated.

• Dokumententyp: Zeitschriftenartikel
• Fakultät: Medizin
• Themengebiete: 600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften > 610 Medizin und Gesundheit
• Sprache: Englisch