Blood-testis barrier integrity depends on Pin1 expression in Sertoli cells.

ABSTRACT: The conformation and function of a subset of serine and threonine-phosphorylated proteins are regulated by the prolyl isomerase Pin1 through isomerization of phosphorylated Ser/Thr-Pro bonds. Pin1 is intensely expressed in Sertoli cells, but its function in this post mitotic cell remains unclear. Our aim was to investigate the role of Pin1 in the Sertoli cells. Lack of Pin1 caused disruption of the blood-testis barrier. We next investigated if the activin pathways in the Sertoli cells were affected by lack of Pin1 through immunostaining for Smad3 protein in testis tissue. Indeed, lack of Pin1 caused reduced Smad3 expression in the testis tissue, as well as a reduction in the level of N-Cadherin, a known target of Smad3. Pin1^-/- testes express Sertoli cell marker mRNAs in a patte

SUBMITTER: Islam R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5539286 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature