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Volume 6, Issue 2 (June 2004) 6, 149–153;
Molecular identity, expression and functional analysis of interleukin-1a and its isoforms in rat testis
T. Sultana, K.V. Svechnikov, K. Gustafsson, A. Wahlgren, E. Tham, G. Weber, O. Söder
1.Pediatric Endocrinology Unit, Department of Woman and Child Health, 2.Centre for Molecular Medicine and Tumor Biochemistry, Karolinska Institute and Hospital, S-17176 Stockholm, Sweden
3.Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi- 74800, Pakistan
4.Department of Chemistry and Biomedical Sciences, University of Kalmar, SE-391 82 Kalmar, Sweden
Advance online publication 1 June 2004
| Abstract |
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Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is a proinflammatory cytokine that has also been found to act as a paracrine mediator involved in the regulation of testicular functions. The present review provides an overview of the role of IL-1 in testicular physiology. Bioactive IL-1 isolated from adult rat testis was found to consist of three distinct immunoreactive protein species with apparent sizes of 45, 24 and 19 kDa. These isoforms showed bioactivity in a thymocyte proliferation and steroidogenesis assays with different biopotencies. The background of the molecular heterogeneity and processing, secretion and regulation of the isoforms of testicular IL-1 are discussed. All three isoforms have been found to be secreted into the testis tubular lumen and interstitial space. We have provided evidence that IL-1 is a paracrine factor that may be of importance in, e.g., the regulation of Leydig cell steroidogenesis. Pathophysiologically, testicular IL-1a may contribute to testicular relapse of acute lymphocytic leukemia in boys
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