Testosterone induces expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 in the murine thymus

Nancy J. Olsen; Ping Zhou; Helena Ong; William J. Kovacs

doi:10.1016/0960-0760(93)90001-D

Testosterone induces expression of transforming growth factor-beta₁ in the murine thymus

Nancy J. Olsen, Ping Zhou, Helena Ong, William J. Kovacs

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

57 Scopus citations

Abstract

Castration of adult male mice results in enlargement of the thymus and diminution of peripheral suppressor T cell function. Replacement therapy with physiologic doses of androgens reverses these phenomena. Although the mediators involved are unknown, these effects of androgens on the thymus and peripheral immune system are reminiscent of those reported for transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β₁). We examined expression of TGF-β₁ mRNA and bioactive protein in thymuses from castrate and androgen-replaced animals. Steady-state levels of thymic TGF-β₁ mRNA fell slightly after castration, but rose 2.3-fold after testosterone replacement. Bioactive TGF-β₁ production by cultured thymic explants also fell following castration to approx. 50% of the levels observed in intact animals. Following 1 week of testosterone replacement in castrate animals, TGF-β₁ bioactivity produced in culture was restored to levels indistinguishable from those observed with explants from intact animals. Reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction amplification of RNA revealed that thymocytes are a source of the androgen-modulated TGF-β₁. These results suggest that TGF-β₁ may mediate effects of androgens on the immune system.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	327-332
Number of pages	6
Journal	Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Volume	45
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/0960-0760(93)90001-D
State	Published - May 1993
Externally published	Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Biochemistry
Molecular Medicine
Molecular Biology
Endocrinology
Clinical Biochemistry
Cell Biology

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/0960-0760(93)90001-D

Cite this

@article{62d1ef15ba2c4ad7a1b921c6d62e7f40,

title = "Testosterone induces expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 in the murine thymus",

abstract = "Castration of adult male mice results in enlargement of the thymus and diminution of peripheral suppressor T cell function. Replacement therapy with physiologic doses of androgens reverses these phenomena. Although the mediators involved are unknown, these effects of androgens on the thymus and peripheral immune system are reminiscent of those reported for transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β1). We examined expression of TGF-β1 mRNA and bioactive protein in thymuses from castrate and androgen-replaced animals. Steady-state levels of thymic TGF-β1 mRNA fell slightly after castration, but rose 2.3-fold after testosterone replacement. Bioactive TGF-β1 production by cultured thymic explants also fell following castration to approx. 50% of the levels observed in intact animals. Following 1 week of testosterone replacement in castrate animals, TGF-β1 bioactivity produced in culture was restored to levels indistinguishable from those observed with explants from intact animals. Reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction amplification of RNA revealed that thymocytes are a source of the androgen-modulated TGF-β1. These results suggest that TGF-β1 may mediate effects of androgens on the immune system.",

author = "Olsen, {Nancy J.} and Ping Zhou and Helena Ong and Kovacs, {William J.}",

note = "Funding Information: TGF-fl, [23].E ffectso f androgenosn theseo ther forms of TGF-fl were not examinedin the presentr eport.H owever,T GF-fll is the only form whichh as beend emonstratetod be pro-for helpfulc ommentdsu ringt hec ourseo f this work. This Acknowledgements--We would like to thankD r Roy Fava duced bTy lymphocyte[1s8 ]a ndt o haves ignifi-work was supportedb y NIH Grant 1ROl-DK-41053( to cant immunoregulatopryro perties[24]O. ur N.J.O.) and a grantf romt heA lphaO micronP i foundation bioassayd ata, which demonstratceo mplete ment award (ResearchA ssociatef)r om the United States (to N.J.O.). W.J.K. was the recipienot f a careerd evelop- neutralizatioonf activity bya nti-TGF-fll,a re Departmenotf VeteranAs ffairs.",

year = "1993",

month = may,

doi = "10.1016/0960-0760(93)90001-D",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "45",

pages = "327--332",

journal = "Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology",

issn = "0960-0760",

publisher = "Elsevier Limited",

number = "5",

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T1 - Testosterone induces expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 in the murine thymus

AU - Olsen, Nancy J.

AU - Zhou, Ping

AU - Ong, Helena

AU - Kovacs, William J.

N1 - Funding Information: TGF-fl, [23].E ffectso f androgenosn theseo ther forms of TGF-fl were not examinedin the presentr eport.H owever,T GF-fll is the only form whichh as beend emonstratetod be pro-for helpfulc ommentdsu ringt hec ourseo f this work. This Acknowledgements--We would like to thankD r Roy Fava duced bTy lymphocyte[1s8 ]a ndt o haves ignifi-work was supportedb y NIH Grant 1ROl-DK-41053( to cant immunoregulatopryro perties[24]O. ur N.J.O.) and a grantf romt heA lphaO micronP i foundation bioassayd ata, which demonstratceo mplete ment award (ResearchA ssociatef)r om the United States (to N.J.O.). W.J.K. was the recipienot f a careerd evelop- neutralizatioonf activity bya nti-TGF-fll,a re Departmenotf VeteranAs ffairs.

PY - 1993/5

Y1 - 1993/5

N2 - Castration of adult male mice results in enlargement of the thymus and diminution of peripheral suppressor T cell function. Replacement therapy with physiologic doses of androgens reverses these phenomena. Although the mediators involved are unknown, these effects of androgens on the thymus and peripheral immune system are reminiscent of those reported for transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β1). We examined expression of TGF-β1 mRNA and bioactive protein in thymuses from castrate and androgen-replaced animals. Steady-state levels of thymic TGF-β1 mRNA fell slightly after castration, but rose 2.3-fold after testosterone replacement. Bioactive TGF-β1 production by cultured thymic explants also fell following castration to approx. 50% of the levels observed in intact animals. Following 1 week of testosterone replacement in castrate animals, TGF-β1 bioactivity produced in culture was restored to levels indistinguishable from those observed with explants from intact animals. Reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction amplification of RNA revealed that thymocytes are a source of the androgen-modulated TGF-β1. These results suggest that TGF-β1 may mediate effects of androgens on the immune system.

AB - Castration of adult male mice results in enlargement of the thymus and diminution of peripheral suppressor T cell function. Replacement therapy with physiologic doses of androgens reverses these phenomena. Although the mediators involved are unknown, these effects of androgens on the thymus and peripheral immune system are reminiscent of those reported for transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β1). We examined expression of TGF-β1 mRNA and bioactive protein in thymuses from castrate and androgen-replaced animals. Steady-state levels of thymic TGF-β1 mRNA fell slightly after castration, but rose 2.3-fold after testosterone replacement. Bioactive TGF-β1 production by cultured thymic explants also fell following castration to approx. 50% of the levels observed in intact animals. Following 1 week of testosterone replacement in castrate animals, TGF-β1 bioactivity produced in culture was restored to levels indistinguishable from those observed with explants from intact animals. Reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction amplification of RNA revealed that thymocytes are a source of the androgen-modulated TGF-β1. These results suggest that TGF-β1 may mediate effects of androgens on the immune system.

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U2 - 10.1016/0960-0760(93)90001-D

DO - 10.1016/0960-0760(93)90001-D

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SN - 0960-0760

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JO - Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

JF - Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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