Interleukin-1β Signals through a c-Jun N-Terminal Kinase-Dependent Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase and Nitric Oxide Production Pathway in Sertoli Epithelial Cells

Our recent Sertoli cell (SC) studies showed that the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and inducible cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) pathways are key regulatory components of IL (IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-6) expression and START-domain containing StARD1 and StARD5 proteins. IL-1beta regulates SC autocrine/paracrine activities and subsequently influences developing germ cells and spermatogenesis. This study was designed to evaluate whether IL-1beta mediates high-output inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression and nitric oxide (NO) production in these specialized epithelial cells and characterize gonadotropin and cytokine-regulation of NO. Purified SCs were maintained in serum-free cultures and treated with FSH (100 ng-1 microg/ml) or IL-1beta (10 ng/ml) in time-course studies. To determine obligatory intracellular pathways, treatments were conducted with or without activity inhibitors: COX-2 selective (NS-398, 10 microM) or JNK (SP600125, 10 microM) for 1, 3, 6, and 24 h. NOS mRNAs and proteins were evaluated by RT-PCR and Western analysis, respectively. NO and reactive oxygen species were measured by flow cytometry and ELISA. IL-1beta transiently induces intracellular NO (30 min) but not reactive oxygen species. Subsequently, iNOS mRNA and protein expression (3-6 h) significantly increased after IL-1beta but not FSH stimulation, and in time-dependent manner, markedly increased extracellular NO (24 h, 8-fold). No change in the constitutive endothelial NOS isoform was observed. Inhibition of JNK, but not COX-2, activity inhibits IL-1beta-induced iNOS expression and NO production. Such findings suggest that intra- and extracellular NO within the tubule may alert SCs monitoring the microenvironment to an aberrant cytokine, triggering antioxidant and antiinflammatory activities to avoid disruption of spermatogenesis.