The Hippo Pathway Effectors YAP and TAZ Regulate LH Release by Pituitary Gonadotrope Cells in Mice

Endocrinology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 163 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ariane Lalonde-Larue ◽  
Alexandre Boyer ◽  
Esdras Corrêa Dos Santos ◽  
Derek Boerboom ◽  
Daniel J Bernard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hippo Pathway ◽  
Testis Weight ◽  
Pituitary Cells ◽  
Hippo Signaling ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Cargo Proteins ◽  
Kinase Cascade ◽  
Lh Secretion ◽  
Pharmacologic Inhibition

Abstract The Hippo transcriptional coactivators YAP and TAZ exert critical roles in morphogenesis, organ size determination and tumorigenesis in many tissues. Although Hippo kinase cascade activity was recently reported in the anterior pituitary gland in mice, the role of the Hippo effectors in regulating gonadotropin production remains unknown. The objective of this study was therefore to characterize the roles of YAP and TAZ in gonadotropin synthesis and secretion. Using a conditional gene targeting approach (cKO), we found that gonadotrope-specific inactivation of Yap and Taz resulted in increased circulating levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) in adult male mice, along with increased testosterone levels and testis weight. Female cKO mice had increased circulating LH (but not FSH) levels, which were associated with a hyperfertility phenotype characterized by higher ovulation rates and larger litter sizes. Unexpectedly, the loss of YAP/TAZ did not appear to affect the expression of gonadotropin subunit genes, yet both basal and GnRH-induced LH secretion were increased in cultured pituitary cells from cKO mice. Likewise, pharmacologic inhibition of YAP binding to the TEAD family of transcription factors increased both basal and GnRH-induced LH secretion in LβT2 gonadotrope-like cells in vitro without affecting Lhb expression. Conversely, mRNA levels of ChgA and SgII, which encode key secretory granule cargo proteins, were decreased following pharmacologic inhibition of YAP/TAZ, suggesting a mechanism whereby YAP/TAZ regulate the LH secretion machinery in gonadotrope cells. Together, these findings represent the first evidence that Hippo signaling may play a role in regulating pituitary LH secretion.

scholarly journals Increasing kinase domain proximity promotes MST2 autophosphorylation during Hippo signaling

2020 ◽  
Vol 295 (47) ◽  
pp. 16166-16179
Author(s):  
Thao Tran ◽  
Jaba Mitra ◽  
Taekjip Ha ◽  
Jennifer M. Kavran
Keyword(s):  
Single Molecule ◽  
Hippo Pathway ◽  
Signal Propagation ◽  
Kinase Domain ◽  
Specific Protein ◽  
Hippo Signaling ◽  
Membrane Recruitment ◽  
Chemically Induced Dimerization ◽  
The Hippo Pathway

The Hippo pathway plays an important role in developmental biology, mediating organ size by controlling cell proliferation through the activity of a core kinase cassette. Multiple upstream events activate the pathway, but how each controls this core kinase cassette is not fully understood. Activation of the core kinase cassette begins with phosphorylation of the kinase MST1/2 (also known as STK3/4). Here, using a combination of in vitro biochemistry and cell-based assays, including chemically induced dimerization and single-molecule pulldown, we revealed that increasing the proximity of adjacent kinase domains, rather than formation of a specific protein assembly, is sufficient to trigger autophosphorylation. We validate this mechanism in cells and demonstrate that multiple events associated with the active pathway, including SARAH domain–mediated homodimerization, membrane recruitment, and complex formation with the effector protein SAV1, each increase the kinase domain proximity and autophosphorylation of MST2. Together, our results reveal that multiple and distinct upstream signals each utilize the same common molecular mechanism to stimulate MST2 autophosphorylation. This mechanism is likely conserved among MST2 homologs. Our work also highlights potential differences in Hippo signal propagation between each activating event owing to differences in the dynamics and regulation of each protein ensemble that triggers MST2 autophosphorylation and possible redundancy in activation.

scholarly journals Differential Effects of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) Pulse Frequency on Gonadotropin Subunit and GnRH Receptor Messenger Ribonucleic Acid Levels in Vitro*

Endocrinology ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 138 (3) ◽  
pp. 1224-1231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ursula B. Kaiser ◽  
Andrzej Jakubowiak ◽  
Anna Steinberger ◽  
William W. Chin
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Messenger Rna ◽  
Pulse Frequency ◽  
Gnrh Receptor ◽  
Pituitary Cells ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Subunit Gene ◽  
Differential Effects ◽  
Messenger Ribonucleic Acid

Abstract The hypothalamic hormone, GnRH, is released and transported to the anterior pituitary in a pulsatile manner, where it binds to specific high-affinity receptors and regulates gonadotropin biosynthesis and secretion. The frequency of GnRH pulses changes under various physiological conditions, and varying GnRH pulse frequencies have been shown to regulate differentially the secretion of LH and FSH and the expression of the gonadotropin α, LHβ, and FSHβ subunit genes in vivo. We demonstrate differential effects of varying GnRH pulse frequency in vitro in superfused primary monolayer cultures of rat pituitary cells. Cells were treated with 10 nm GnRH pulses for 24 h at a frequency of every 0.5, 1, 2, or 4 h. α, LHβ, and FSHβ messenger RNA (mRNA) levels were increased by GnRH at all pulse frequencies. α and LHβ mRNA levels and LH secretion were stimulated to the greatest extent at a GnRH pulse frequency of every 30 min, whereas FSHβ mRNA levels and FSH secretion were stimulated maximally at a lower GnRH pulse frequency, every 2 h. GnRH receptor (GnRHR) mRNA levels also were increased by GnRH at all pulse frequencies and were stimulated maximally at a GnRH pulse frequency of every 30 min. Similar results were obtained when the dose of each pulse of GnRH was adjusted to maintain a constant total cumulative dose of GnRH over 24 h. These data show that gonadotropin subunit gene expression is regulated differentially by varying GnRH pulse frequencies in vitro, suggesting that the differential effects of varying GnRH pulse frequencies on gonadotropin subunit gene expression occur directly at the level of the pituitary. The pattern of regulation of GnRHR mRNA levels correlated with that of α and LHβ but was different from that of FSHβ. This suggests that α and LHβ mRNA levels are maximally stimulated when GnRHR levels are relatively high, whereas FSHβ mRNA levels are maximally stimulated at lower levels of GnRHR expression, and that the mechanism for differential regulation of the gonadotropins by varying pulse frequencies of GnRH may involve levels of GnRHR. Furthermore, these data suggest that the mechanisms whereby varying GnRH pulse frequencies stimulate α, LHβ, and GnRHR gene expression are similar, whereas the stimulation of FSHβ mRNA levels may be different.

Ionophore A23187 partially reverses LH secretory defect of pituitary cells from old rats

1987 ◽  
Vol 253 (3) ◽  
pp. E233-E237
Author(s):  
R. S. Chuknyiska ◽  
M. R. Blackman ◽  
G. S. Roth
Keyword(s):  
Primary Cultures ◽  
Extracellular Calcium ◽  
Base Line ◽  
Ionophore A23187 ◽  
Pituitary Cells ◽  
Lh Release ◽  
Old Rats ◽  
Lh Releasing Hormone ◽  
Lh Secretion

We measured in vitro release of luteinizing hormone (LH) in the presence of 1.5 mM extracellular calcium, with and without LH-releasing hormone (LHRH; 10(-10) to 10(-7) M) or the ionophore A23187 (10(-7) to 10(-4) M), in primary cultures of anterior pituitary cells from intact mature (6 mo) and old (24 mo) male and intact and ovariectomized mature and old female Wistar rats. Base-line as well as LHRH- and A23187-mediated LH secretion was decreased from cells of old rats. However, exposure to A23187 led to a nearly twofold greater augmentation of LH release from cells of old rats, thus decreasing the apparent age-related LH secretory deficit by approximately one-half. We then measured LHRH-mediated (10(-8) M) vs. A23187-mediated (10(-4) M) LH release with and without extracellular calcium (0.08-1.5 mM). For cells from both mature and old rats, there was a similar calcium dependency for A23187- and LHRH-mediated LH release, with optimal LH secretion at 1.0-1.5 mM extracellular calcium concentrations. Again, both LHRH- and A23187-stimulated LH release was significantly lower and exposure to A23187 led to a greater increase in LH release from cells of old rats. Taken together with similar findings in other systems, these data suggest that the in vitro LH secretory defect of pituitary cells from old rats results in part from one or more defects in calcium mobilization and that such alterations may be a widespread manifestation of aging.

Progesterone together with estradiol promotes luteinizing hormone β-subunit mRNA stability in rat pituitary cells cultured in vitro

1996 ◽  
Vol 134 (2) ◽  
pp. 236-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deokbae Park ◽  
Minseok cheon ◽  
Changmee Kim ◽  
Kyungjin Kim ◽  
Kyungza Ryu
Keyword(s):  
Mrna Stability ◽  
Actinomycin D ◽  
Pituitary Cells ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Ovarian Steroids ◽  
Subunit Mrna ◽  
Rat Pituitary ◽  
Lh Release ◽  
Rat Pituitary Cells

Park D, Cheon M, Kim C, Kim K, Ryu K. Progesterone together with estradiol promotes luteinizing hormoneβ-subunit mRNA stability in rat pituitary cells in vitro. Eur J Endocrinol 1996;134:236–42. ISSN 0804–4643 The present study examined the role of ovarian steroids, estradiol and/or progesterone in the regulation of luteinizing hormone β-subunit (LH-β) mRNA levels and LH release in the rat anterior pituitary cells cultured in vitro. When estradiol (10 nmol/l and/or progesterone (100 nmol/l) were added to the cultures, neither estradiol or progesterone nor both together altered the basal LH-β mRNA levels or LH release. Continuous exposure to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH, 0.2 nmol/l) for 24 h markedly induced LH-β mRNA accumulation, and in this experimental condition, progesterone alone and progesterone + estradiol further augmented GnRH-induced LH-β mRNA levels and LH release. Then we explored further the possibility that ovarian steroids are involved in modulating LH-β mRNA stability in cultured rat pituitary cells where transcription was inhibited by actinomycin D. Anterior pituitary cells were preincubated with GnRH (0.2 nmol/l) for 16 h and, after removing GnRH from culture medium, the cells were incubated further in the presence of actinomycin D (5 μmol/l) for 24 h. The LH-β mRNA levels gradually declined to about 30% of the control values (zero time point after GnRH removal) in a time-dependent manner. During this period, either progesterone alone or progesterone + estradiol clearly blocked the degradation of LH-β mRNA species. These results indicate that ovarian steroids promote LH-β mRNA stability, thereby contributing to the maintenance of GnRH-stimulated LH-β mRNA levels. Kyungza Ryu, Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, 120-749, Seoul, Korea

scholarly journals Neurokinin B regulates reproduction via inhibition of kisspeptin in a teleost, the striped bass

2017 ◽  
Vol 233 (2) ◽  
pp. 159-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nilli Zmora ◽  
Ten-Tsao Wong ◽  
John Stubblefield ◽  
Berta Levavi-Sivan ◽  
Yonathan Zohar
Keyword(s):  
Striped Bass ◽  
Brain Slices ◽  
Neuronal Population ◽  
Minor Effect ◽  
Pituitary Cells ◽  
Neurokinin B ◽  
A Minor ◽  
Lh Secretion

Kisspeptin and neurokinin B (NKB) are neuropeptides co-expressed in the mammalian hypothalamus and coordinately control GnRH signaling. We have found that Nkb and kisspeptin neurons are distinct in the teleost, striped bass (STB) and capitalized on this phenomenon to study the mode of action of Nkb and its related neuropeptide-F (Nkf), both of which are encoded by the tac3 gene. In vitro brain slices and in vivo administration studies revealed that Nkb/f consistently downregulated kiss2, whereas antagonist (AntD) administration restored this effect. Overall, a minor effect was noted on gnrh1 expression, whereas Gnrh1 content in the pituitaries was reduced after Nkb/f treatment and increased with AntD. Concomitantly, immunostaining demonstrated that hypothalamic Nkb neurons border and densely innervate the largest kiss2 neuronal population in the hypothalamus, which also coexpresses Nkb receptor. No expression of Nkb receptor or Nkb neuronal projections was detected near/in Gnrh1 soma in the preoptic area. At the level of the pituitary, however, the picture was more complex: both Nkb/f and AntD upregulated lhb and fshb expression and Lh secretion in vivo. Together with the stimulatory effect of Nkb/f on Lh/Fsh secretion from pituitary cells, in vitro, this may indicate an additional independent action of Nkb/f within the pituitary, in which the hypothalamic pathway is more dominant. The current study demonstrates that Nkb/f utilizes multiple pathways to regulate reproduction in the STB and that in the brain, Nkb mainly acts as a negative modulator of kiss2 to regulate the release of Gnrh1.

scholarly journals Hippo signaling in the kidney: the good and the bad

2016 ◽  
Vol 311 (2) ◽  
pp. F241-F248 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenny S. Wong ◽  
Kristin Meliambro ◽  
Justina Ray ◽  
Kirk N. Campbell
Keyword(s):  
Embryonic Development ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Hippo Pathway ◽  
Hippo Signaling ◽  
Filtration Barrier ◽  
Signaling Axis ◽  
Kinase Cascade ◽  
Barrier Regulation ◽  
Renal Tubular ◽  
The Hippo Pathway

The Hippo signaling pathway is an evolutionarily conserved kinase cascade, playing multiple roles in embryonic development that controls organ size, cell proliferation, and apoptosis. At the center of this network lie the Hippo kinase target and downstream pathway effector Yes-associated protein (YAP) and its paralog TAZ. In its phosphorylated form, cytoplasmic YAP is sequestered in an inactive state. When it is dephosphorylated, YAP, a potent oncogene, is activated and relocates to the nucleus to interact with a number of transcription factors and signaling regulators that promote cell growth, differentiation, and survival. The identification of YAP activation in human cancers has made it an attractive target for chemotherapeutic drug development. Little is known to date about the function of the Hippo pathway in the kidney, but that is rapidly changing. Recent studies have shed light on the role of Hippo-YAP signaling in glomerular and lower urinary tract embryonic development, maintenance of podocyte homeostasis, the integrity of the glomerular filtration barrier, regulation of renal tubular cyst growth, renal epithelial injury in diabetes, and renal fibrogenesis. This review summarizes the current knowledge of the Hippo-YAP signaling axis in the kidney under normal and disease conditions.

Inhibin-like activity in Sertoli cell culture media and testicular homogenates from rats of various ages

1987 ◽  
Vol 113 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. Ultee-van Gessel ◽  
F. H. de Jong
Keyword(s):  
Sertoli Cells ◽  
Culture Media ◽  
Reciprocal Relationship ◽  
Pituitary Cells ◽  
In Vitro Experiments ◽  
Old Rats ◽  
Lh Secretion

ABSTRACT The influence of age on testicular inhibin in untreated, neonatally hemicastrated and prenatally irradiated rats was studied using in-vivo and in-vitro experiments. In testicular cytosols prepared from 1-, 7-, 14-, 21-, 42- and 63-day-old rats concentrations of testicular inhibin could be measured with an in-vitro bioassay method using dispersed pituitary cells. Preparations of testicular cytosols caused a dose-dependent suppression of pituitary FSH secretion, whereas no effects were found on LH secretion. Testicular content of inhibin increased gradually with age, while after 14 days of age a relatively large increase of peripheral FSH concentrations occurred in all experimental groups. Neonatal hemicastration or prenatal irradiation resulted in decreased inhibin content of the testis and increased plasma FSH levels. The production of inhibin activity by Sertoli cells obtained from 7-, 14-, 21-, 42- and 63-day-old normal rats was measured during a 24-h incubation period on the third day of culture. The inhibin production per 106 plated Sertoli cells decreased rapidly after 14 days of age and the lowest production of inhibin was found in Sertoli cells from rats of 63 days of age. After preincubation with ovine FSH significantly larger amounts of inhibin activity were detected in spent media from 21-day-old rat testes. In contrast, suppression of inhibin production was found after preculture in the presence of testosterone at most of the ages studied. These data from in-vivo and in-vitro experiments indicate that a reciprocal relationship exists between pituitary FSH secretion and inhibin production before the age of 21 days. This relationship supports the concept that inhibin is a physiologically important modulator of FSH secretion before puberty, while the role of the large amount of testicular inhibin present at the older ages remains to be determined. J. Endocr. (1987) 113, 103–110

scholarly journals Hippo and rassf1a Pathways: A Growing Affair

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Fausti ◽  
Silvia Di Agostino ◽  
Andrea Sacconi ◽  
Sabrina Strano ◽  
Giovanni Blandino
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Biology ◽  
Tissue Regeneration ◽  
Target Genes ◽  
Hippo Pathway ◽  
Hippo Signaling ◽  
Transcriptional Coactivator ◽  
Pathway Activity ◽  
Kinase Cascade ◽  
The Hippo Pathway ◽  
The Impact

First discovered in Drosophila, the Hippo pathway regulates the size and shape of organ development. Its discovery and study have helped to address longstanding questions in developmental biology. Central to this pathway is a kinase cascade leading from the tumor suppressor Hippo (Mst1 and Mst2 in mammals) to the Yki protein (YAP and TAZ in mammals), a transcriptional coactivator of target genes involved in cell proliferation, survival, and apoptosis. A dysfunction of the Hippo pathway activity is frequently detected in human cancers. Recent studies have highlighted that the Hippo pathway may play an important role in tissue homoeostasis through the regulation of stem cells, cell differentiation, and tissue regeneration. Recently, the impact of RASSF proteins on Hippo signaling potentiating its proapoptotic activity has been addressed, thus, providing further evidence for Hippo's key role in mammalian tumorigenesis as well as other important diseases.

scholarly journals Interaction of ghrelin and opioids in luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion by pituitary cells of common carp, Cyprinus carpio (Actinopterygii: Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae), cultured in vitro

2011 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 81-87
Author(s):  
Mirosława Sokołowska-Mikołajczyk ◽  
Magdalena Socha ◽  
Tomasz Mikołajczyk ◽  
Piotr Epler ◽  
Barbara Fałowska
Keyword(s):  
Luteinizing Hormone ◽  
Common Carp ◽  
Cyprinus Carpio ◽  
Pituitary Cells ◽  
Lh Secretion

scholarly journals Dynamic patterns of YAP1 expression and cellular localization in the developing and injured utricle

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vikrant Borse ◽  
Matthew Barton ◽  
Harry Arndt ◽  
Tejbeer Kaur ◽  
Mark E. Warchol
Keyword(s):  
Hair Cell ◽  
Cellular Localization ◽  
Cell Injury ◽  
Nuclear Translocation ◽  
Cell Damage ◽  
Hippo Pathway ◽  
Hippo Signaling ◽  
Supporting Cells ◽  
The Hippo Pathway

AbstractThe Hippo pathway is an evolutionarily conserved signaling pathway involved in regulating organ size, development, homeostasis and regeneration1–4. YAP1 is a transcriptional coactivator and the primary effector of Hippo signaling. Upstream activation of the Hippo pathway leads to nuclear translocation of YAP1, which then evokes changes in gene expression and cell cycle entry5. A prior study has demonstrated nuclear translocation of YAP1 in the supporting cells of the developing utricle6, but the possible role of YAP1 in hair cell regeneration is unclear. The present study characterizes the cellular localization of YAP1 in the utricles of mice and chicks, both under normal conditions and after hair cell injury. During neonatal development of the mouse utricle, YAP1 expression was observed in the cytoplasm of supporting cells, and was also transiently expressed in the cytoplasm of hair cells. We also observed temporary nuclear translocation of YAP1 in supporting cells of the mouse utricle at short time periods after placement in organotypic culture. However, little or no nuclear translocation of YAP1 was observed after injury to the utricles of neonatal or mature mice. In contrast, a significant degree of YAP1 nuclear translocation was observed in the chicken utricle after streptomycin-induced hair cell damage in vitro and in vivo. Together, these data suggest that differences in YAP1 signaling may be partly responsible for the distinct regenerative abilities of the avian vs. mammalian inner ear.

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