transforming-growth-factor-beta and Hypospadias

Di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP) is a plasticizer commonly used in industrial production and is present in our daily life. It has been confirmed that DBP causes genitourinary malformations, especially hypospadias. However, the research of hypospadias mainly focusses on the genital tubercle in previous studies. In this study, we found DBP could affect the exocrine function of the vascular endothelium which disturb the development of genital nodules and induced hypospadias. We used cytokine array to find that vascular endothelium-derived NAP-2 may be a major abnormal secreted cytokine with biological functions. The transcriptomic sequencing analysis showed that abnormal activation of the RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway was the main reason for increased NAP-2 secretion. The expression levels of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) biomarkers and NAP-2 in hypospadias animal models were detected with Immunohistochemistry, Western blot, Immunofluorescence, and ELISA methods. The expression levels of NAP-2, RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway related proteins, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in HUVEC cells, EMT biomarkers and migration capacity of urothelial cells cocultured with HUVEC were measured with ELISA, flow cytometry, Western blot or Transwell assay for further cell experiments. The results showed that DBP leaded to NAP-2 oversecretion from vascular endothelium mainly rely on the activation of RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway and ROS accumulation. The RhoA/ROCK inhibitor fasudil could partially decrease ROS production, and both fasudil and N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) could decrease NAP-2 secretion. Meanwhile, the oversecretion of NAP-2 from HUVEC in coculture system promoted EMT and migration capacity of urothelial cells, and TGF-β inhibitor LY219761 could block the aberrant activation of EMT process. Therefore, it could be concluded that DBP increase NAP-2 secretion from vascular endothelium by RhoA/ROCK/ROS pathway, and further promote EMT in urothelial cells through TGF-β pathway. This study provided a novel direction for studying the occurrence of hypospadias and may provide a hypospadias predictive marker in the future.

Topics: Animals; Cytokines; Dibutyl Phthalate; Endothelium, Vascular; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; Female; Humans; Hypospadias; Male; Maternal Exposure; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reactive Oxygen Species; Transforming Growth Factor beta

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to explore effects of microRNA-200c regulating TGF-β/Smad3 pathway by targeting Zeb1 on the occurrence and development of hypospadias and to evaluate the relationship between microRNA-200c and occurrence of hypospadias. MATERIAL AND METHODS Pregnant rats with a gestational age of 12 days were allocated into 2 groups; one received gavage of DEHP-contained soybean oil (1 ml/day, 8 days; Group A) and the other had gavage of normal soybean oil (1 ml/day, 8 days; Group B). Baby rats with hypospadias from Group A were assigned to the model group (n=20) and healthy baby rats from Group B were assigned to the control group (n=20). Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis were performed to detect microRNA-200c, Zeb1, TGF-β, and Smad3 mRNA and protein expressions in the model group (n=20) and the control group (n=20). The relationship between microRNA-200c and Zeb1 was detected using a dual-luciferase reporter gene experiment. After the in vitro intervention experiment in fetal rat penises, Western blot was used to detect the expression of Zeb1, TGF-β, and Smad3. RESULTS In the model group, microRNA-200c was expressed at a low level, and microRNA-200c expression in control group was 2.1 times higher than in the model group (P<0.05). When compared with the control group, mRNA expressions, protein expressions, and positive rates of Zeb1, TGF-β, and Smad3 were higher in the model group (all P<0.01). Luciferase gene report determined that Zeb1 is a target gene of microRNA-200c. The in vitro intervention experiment in fetal rat penises found that a high concentration of microRNA-200c inhibited hypospadias occurrence by suppressing the expression of Zeb1, TGF-β, and Smad3. CONCLUSIONS MicroRNA-200c was expressed in hypospadias penis tissues at low levels and was negatively correlated with Zeb1 expression. MicroRNA-200c up-regulated Zeb1 expression to regulate the TGF-β/Smad3 pathway, which led to the occurrence of hypospadias.

Topics: Animals; Down-Regulation; Genes, Homeobox; Hypospadias; Immunohistochemistry; Male; MicroRNAs; Rats; RNA, Messenger; Signal Transduction; Smad3 Protein; Transcription Factors; Transforming Growth Factor beta; Up-Regulation; Zinc Finger E-box-Binding Homeobox 1

The increasing incidence of hypospadias is partly attributed to increased gestational exposure to endocrine disruptors. We investigated the effects of genistein, the primary phytoestrogen in soy, on the molecular program of male urethral development.. Female mice were fed diets supplemented with genistein (500 mg/kg diet) or control diets before breeding and throughout gestation. Urethras from embryonic day 17.5 male fetuses were harvested, and RNA was prepared, amplified, labeled and hybridized on whole genome microarrays. Data were analyzed using packages from the R/Bioconductor project. Immunohistochemical analysis and immunoblotting were used to confirm the activity of MAPK and the presence of Ntrk1 and Ntrk2 during urethral development.. Gestational exposure to genistein altered the urethral expression of 277 genes (p <0.008). Among the most affected were hormonally regulated genes, including IGFBP-1, Kap and Rhox5. Differentially expressed genes were grouped into functional pathways of cell proliferation, adhesion, apoptosis and tube morphogenesis (p <0.0001), and were enriched for members of the MAPK (p <0.00001) and TGF-β (p <0.01) signaling cascades. Differentially expressed genes preferentially contained ELK1, Myc/Max, FOXO, HOX and ER control elements. The MAPK pathway was active, and its upstream genistein affected tyrosine kinase receptors Ntrk1 and Ntrk2 were present in the developing male urethra.. Gestational exposure to genistein contributes to hypospadias by altering pathways of tissue morphogenesis, cell proliferation and cell survival. In particular, genes in the MAPK and TGF-β signaling pathways and those controlled by FOXO, HOX and ER transcription factors are disrupted.

Topics: Animals; Animals, Newborn; Blotting, Western; Cell Proliferation; Cell Survival; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases; Female; Fetus; Forkhead Box Protein O1; Forkhead Transcription Factors; Genistein; Homeodomain Proteins; Hypospadias; Immunohistochemistry; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases; Neoplasm Proteins; Phytoestrogens; Pregnancy; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; Signal Transduction; Transforming Growth Factor beta; Urethra

The objective of this study was to first evaluate the developmental abnormalities and carry out the molecular analysis of external genitalia in newborn hypospadiac male rats induced by maternal exposure to di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP). Timed-pregnant rats were given DBP by gastric intubation at dose of 750 mg/kg body weight (bw)/day from gestation day (GD) 14 to GD18 to establish a hypospadiac rat model. The incidence of hypospadias was 46.67% in male offsprings. On postnatal day (PND) 7, at the newborn stage, decreased body weight and anogenital distance (AGD)/body weight ratio were observed in newborn hypospadiac male rats. The general image and transverse serial histological analysis of genitalia of newborn hypospadiac male rats confirmed the malformation. Autopsy analysis revealed development of reproductive organs (testes, genital tubercle (GT)), hollow organs (stomach, bladder), and solid organs (brain, heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney, pancreas) in newborn hypospadiac male rats affected by DBP. Moreover, significantly decreased gene expression of important signaling molecules necessary for GT formation including sonic hedgehog signaling molecules (Shh and Ptched 1), bone morphogenetic proteins signaling molecules (Bmp4 and Bmp7), fibroblast growth factor signaling molecules (Fgf8, Fgf10 and Fgfr2), and the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily signaling molecules (TGF-beta1 and TGF-beta receptor III) were observed, for the first time, in the GT of newborn hypospadias induced by DBP. These results showed that the reproductive system and development conditions of newborn hypospadiac rats were damaged by DBP. These disturbed signaling pathways which orchestrating genital development might play an important role in the toxic process of DBP induced hypospadias.

Topics: Animals; Animals, Newborn; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; Dibutyl Phthalate; Female; Fetal Development; Fibroblast Growth Factors; Gene Expression; Hedgehog Proteins; Hypospadias; Male; Maternal Exposure; Plasticizers; Pregnancy; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger; Transforming Growth Factor beta

To analyse the gene expression profiles of the mouse genital tubercle (GT) during urethral tube development at embryonic (E) days E14, E15, E16 and E17, as the aetiology of hypospadias, one of the most common congenital anomalies, remains unknown.. During GT development the urethral folds fuse to form an epithelial seam; subsequently, the epithelial seam disappears, resulting in the normal tubular urethra. Abnormalities in urethral seam formation and remodelling might explain hypospadias, and elucidating the molecular developmental mechanisms underlying normal penile development might provide the basis for understanding hypospadias. Total RNA was isolated from the genital tubercle at embryonic days E14, E15, E16, and E17. Together with reference RNA, sample RNA was labelled with Cy-3 and Cy-5 respectively and hybridized to a 16 000-mouse gene array that included the Incyte GEM2.1 and NIA 7k sets. Candidate genes were analysed by immunohistochemistry and real-time polymerase chain reaction.. Using cDNA microarrays, we identified the up-regulation of genes involved in the transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta and Wnt-Frizzled pathways, and of thrombospondin (TSP) 4, a member of a cell-migration molecule family, all candidates for involvement in urethral tube formation. Immunohistochemistry showed TGFbeta1, TGFbeta receptor III, and Frizzled1 were expressed exclusively in E14-E17 urethral epithelium. TSP4 was expressed in the mesenchymal basal layer underlying E17 GT skin epidermis.. Many signalling pathways are involved in late GT development, and cell migration molecules might have an important role in urethral tube formation.

Topics: Animals; Frizzled Receptors; Gene Expression Profiling; Humans; Hypospadias; Male; Mice; Microarray Analysis; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; Signal Transduction; Transforming Growth Factor beta; Up-Regulation; Urethra

In humans and mice, mutations in Hoxa13 cause malformation of limb and genitourinary (GU) regions. In males, one of the most common GU malformations associated with loss of Hoxa13 function is hypospadia, a condition defined by the poor growth and closure of the urethra and glans penis. By examining early signaling in the developing mouse genital tubercle, we show that Hoxa13 is essential for normal expression of Fgf8 and Bmp7 in the urethral plate epithelium. In Hoxa13(GFP)-mutant mice, hypospadias occur as a result of the combined loss of Fgf8 and Bmp7 expression in the urethral plate epithelium, as well as the ectopic expression of noggin (Nog) in the flanking mesenchyme. In vitro supplementation with Fgf8 restored proliferation in homozygous mutants to wild-type levels, suggesting that Fgf8 is sufficient to direct early proliferation of the developing genital tubercle. However, the closure defects of the distal urethra and glans can be attributed to a loss of apoptosis in the urethra, which is consistent with reduced Bmp7 expression in this region. Mice mutant for Hoxa13 also exhibit changes in androgen receptor expression, providing a developmental link between Hoxa13-associated hypospadias and those produced by antagonists to androgen signaling. Finally, a novel role for Hoxa13 in the vascularization of the glans penis is also identified.

Topics: Animals; Apoptosis; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; Cell Division; Fibroblast Growth Factor 8; Fibroblast Growth Factors; Heterozygote; Homeodomain Proteins; Homozygote; Humans; Hypospadias; Immunohistochemistry; In Situ Hybridization; In Situ Nick-End Labeling; Male; Mice; Mice, Mutant Strains; Microscopy, Fluorescence; Mitosis; Models, Biological; Mutation; Penis; Phenotype; Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; RNA; Signal Transduction; Time Factors; Transforming Growth Factor beta