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We have investigated the role of NAADP-mediated Ca2+ mobilization in endothelin (ET) signaling via endothelin receptor subtype A (ETA) and endothelin receptor subtype B (ETB) in rat peritubular smooth muscle cells. Microinjection and extracellular application of NAADP were both able to elicit Ca2+ release which was blocked by inhibitory concentrations of NAADP, by impairing Ca2+ uptake in acidic stores with bafilomycin, and by thapsigargin. Ca2+ release in response to selective ETB stimulation was abolished by inhibition of NAADP signaling through the same strategies, while these treatments only partially impaired ETA-dependent Ca2+ signaling, showing that transduction of the ETB signal is dependent on NAADP. In addition, we show that lipid rafts/caveolae contain ETA, ETB, and NAADP/cADPR generating enzyme CD38 and that stimulation of ETB receptors results in increased CD38 activity; interestingly, ETB- (but not ETA-) mediated Ca2+ responses were antagonized by disruption of lipid rafts/caveolae with methyl-β-cyclodextrin. These data demonstrate a primary role of NAADP in ETB-mediated Ca2+ signaling and strongly suggest a novel role of lipid rafts/caveolae in triggering ET-induced NAADP signaling. J. Cell. Physiol. 216: 396–404, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When chronically stimulated with agonists of contraction, smooth muscle cells (SMCs) undergo cell hypertrophy, a process defined as increase in size and potentiation of the contractile phenotype in the absence of proliferation. Hypertrophic response has long been associated to a number of pathologies of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. We have investigated the phenotypic and functional response of SMCs to long-term treatment with endothelin. Our model was primary cultures of peritubular smooth muscle cells (PSMC) a testicular cell type target of locally produced endothelin and characterized by an unusual phenotypic stability when cultured in simple medium in complete absence of serum. We report the following responses of PSMC to 4-day exposure to ET-1: (i) increased protein synthesis without induction of cell proliferation; (ii) increase in cell size (evaluated by means of flow cytometry) and increased expression of SM-α-actin, desmin, caldesmon and calponin, markers of the contractile phenotype. In experiments of selective stimulation of either ETA or ETB receptor subtypes, both proved to be involved in inducing the observed hypertrophic responses. The hypertrophic cells exhibit the ultrastructural features of differentiated SMCs and are capable of calcium mediated contractile response when acutely stimulated with ET-1 specifically through ETA and/or ETB receptors, as evaluated by calcium imaging and scanning electron microscopy. These observations demonstrate that engagement of ET receptors is capable of inducing potentiation of the contractile phenotype and functional hypertrophy of PSMC. J. Cell. Physiol. 212: 264–273, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Apoptosis represents a fundamental process during fetal/post-natal testis development. Therefore pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins are essential to regulate testis physiology. c-FlipL is a known inhibitor of caspase 8/10 activity; in this study its perinatal expression in mouse male germ cells was investigated. In testis sections and seminiferous tubule whole mount c-FlipL was found to be expressed in undifferentiated spermatogonia and to co-localize with germ stem cells markers. In vivo investigations in the vitamin-A deficient mouse, lacking differentiated germ cells, confirmed c-FlipL expression in undifferentiated spermatogonia. Further analyses showed Fas expression but no significant caspase 8/10 activity when c-FlipL was highly expressed. Altogether these data suggest that c-Flip may control the survival rate of undifferentiated spermatogonia. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Peritubular smooth muscle cells (PSMC) from rat testis in primary serum-free cultures unexpectedly undergo contraction and subsequent cell hypertrophy in response to the growth factor PDGF-BB, remaining stationary. The present study investigates the transduction pathways involved in the observed paradoxical upregulation of the differentiated phenotype and induction of hypertrophy in PSMC. PI3K, ERK, JNK, and p38 kinases, known to mediate PDGF-BB signaling in the canonic dedifferentiative and proliferative response of smooth muscle cells (SMC) were rapidly activated by PDGF-BB but only p38 remained activated after 2-day stimulation. Immunofluorescence and immunoblotting experiments showed that in 4-day treatment: (i) continuous inhibition of PI3K, of ERK, of JNK, failed to inhibit either cell enlargement and formation of prominent α-SM actin containing stress fibers or the typical increase in α-SM actin; (ii) when stimulated in the presence of the p38 inhibitor SB203580 both responses were significantly inhibited and cytofluorimetric analysis of cell size showed a remarkable reduction of the hypertrophic response. PDGF-BB was also found to activate the small GTPase RhoA and inhibition of Rho-dependent kinase ROCK by Y27632 counteracted the effects of PDGF-BB similarly to SB203580. Both the transcription factor ATF2 and the nucleosomal kinase MSK1, downstream targets of p38, were activated by PDGF-BB, but p38 inhibitor SB203580 inhibited only the phosphorylation of MSK1 which appeared unaffected by ROCK inhibitor Y27632. In concluding, p38 and the Rho-ROCK system were found to play prominent, probably independent roles in the upregulation of PSMC differentiated phenotype and induction of hypertrophy by PDGF-BB. J. Cell. Physiol. 207: 123–131, 2006. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses c-Flip expression and function in fetal mouse genocytes. c-Flip is expressed in fetal male mouse gonads and its expression is developmentally regulated. Fas-dependent apoptosis in fetal testes is dependent on c-Flip levels. Initiator caspase-10 is expressed in fetal male mouse gonad and its activity is developmentally regulated.

Investigates the signal transduction mechanisms involved in Fas induction. Pretreatment of Sertoli cells with specific inhibitors of ERKs and P38 at all concentrations tested; Regulation of Fas expression to avoid indiscriminate cell death; Significance of understanding the molecular mechanisms activated by cytokines.