Gulfidan Coskun

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effects of prednisolone and calcitriol on metabolic activity, steroidogenesis, and apoptosis-related markers in TM3 Leydig cells under human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)-stimulated conditions.Materials and Methods: TM3 Leydig cells were divided into six groups: control, hCG, calcitriol, hCG + prednisolone, hCG + calcitriol, and hCG + prednisolone + calcitriol. CCK-8-based metabolic activity was evaluated using the CCK-8 assay. 3β-HSD and caspase-3 expression levels were examined immunocytochemically. Testosterone and INSL3 levels in the supernatant were measured by ELISA.Results: CCK-8-based metabolic activity increased in the hCG-treated group compared with the control group (116.88 ± 5.54% vs. 100.00 ± 6.80%). In contrast, metabolic activity decreased to 60.12 ± 5.53% in the calcitriol group, 45.02 ± 7.23% in the hCG + prednisolone group, 50.52 ± 2.97% in the hCG + calcitriol group, and 38.17 ± 3.54% in the triple-combination group. Total caspase-3-positive area was highest in the calcitriol-treated group (5.35 ± 1.38%). Testosterone levels were highest in the hCG + calcitriol group (34.39 ± 0.64 ng/mL). INSL3 levels increased from 41.02 ± 0.38 pg/mL in the control group to 50.28 ± 3.97 pg/mL in the calcitriol group, whereas they decreased to 35.57 ± 0.81 pg/mL in the hCG group and 35.06 ± 0.86 pg/mL in the triple-combination group.Conclusion: These findings suggest that the effects of calcitriol on Leydig cell responses may vary according to the conditions of administration, and that the suppressive effects of prednisolone may be modulated by accompanying stimuli.

Our study aimed to investigate the antidiabetic, antioxidative, and antiapoptotic effects of liraglutide on the testes of rats with diabetes and ischemia/reperfusion injury. Subjects were divided into three groups: control, diabetes, and torsion groups. Rats with diabetes were further divided into two subgroups such as diabetes and diabetes+Liraglutide groups. The torsion group was divided into three subgroups such as torsion, torsion/detorsion, and torsion/detorsion+Liraglutide groups. Malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and testosterone levels were measured from blood samples. Also, testicular tissue samples were examined by light and electron microscopy. Apoptosis was assessed using immunohistochemistry for caspase-3. Degeneration of seminiferous tubules and interstitium was observed in the diabetes, torsion, and torsion/detorsion groups, while Liraglutide treated groups showed normal seminiferous tubules morphology. Elevated levels of apoptosis, i.e. caspase-3, were observed in diabetes, torsion, and torsion/detorsion groups (P < 0.05), whereas Liraglutide treated groups had similar levels of apoptosis as the control group. MDA levels of diabetes, torsion, and torsion/detorsion groups were increased (P < 0.05), while SOD and testosterone levels were decreased (P < 0.05). However, Liraglutide treated groups, SOD, MDA, and testosterone levels were found similar to the control group. In conclusion, Liraglutide positively affects structural changes and hormone levels in diabetes and torsion/detorsion groups.

Obezite, vücutta aşırı yağ birikimiyle karakterize bir sağlık sorunu olup, dünya genelinde prevalansı hızla artmaktadır. COVID-19 pandemisi, hareket kısıtlamaları, tıbbi bakıma erişim zorlukları ve psikolojik etkiler obezite oranlarının yükselmesine katkı sağlamıştır. Obezite, vücutta hormonal dengesizliklere yol açarak çeşitli sağlık sorunlarına, özellikle erkeklerde hipogonadizme neden olabilir. Obeziteye bağlı yağ dokusu genişlemesi, testosteron seviyelerini doğrudan ve dolaylı yollarla etkileyerek hipogonadizmi tetikler. Yağ dokusunun, testosteronu östrojenlere dönüştüren aromataz enzimi aracılığıyla hormon seviyelerini değiştirdiği ve leptin, adiponektin gibi adipokinlerin de bu sürece etkisi olduğu görülmektedir. Ayrıca, obeziteyle ilişkili düşük dereceli enflamasyon ve oksidatif stres de testosteron üretimini bozarak üreme fonksiyonlarını etkiler. Obezite kaynaklı hipogonadizm, metabolik ve psikolojik fonksiyon bozukluklarıyla birlikte kas ve kemik kaybı gibi sağlık problemlerine yol açar. Obezitenin, testosteron seviyeleri üzerindeki etkisi, lipid metabolizmasını ve vücut kompozisyonunu da değiştirir, bu da yağ birikiminin daha da artmasına yol açabilir. Obezite, erkeklerde hem doğrudan hem de dolaylı yollarla androjen eksikliğine neden olarak, hem fiziksel hem de psikolojik sağlık sorunları yaratmaktadır.

Purpose: The G-protein coated receptor (GPCR) family, including the Insulin-Like Peptide 3 (INSL3) receptor, is involved in the Nuclear Factor kappa B (NF-κB)-mediated pathway in inflammation. In this regard, it can be thought that INSL3 plays a role in inflammation via the NF-κB pathway. In this study, we investigated the effect of INSL3 on inflammation and cell viability in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced N9 microglia cell line. Materials and Methods: N9 microglial cells were pretreated with INSL3 for 2 hours, and then treated with LPS for 6 hours. Cell viability was identified by WST-8 assay. Immunostaining was performed to evaluate the levels of Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and NF-κB. Results: The cells in the LPS group showed degenerative changes in morphology and decreased cell viability. In the INSL3+LPS group (1.21±0.06), the general appearance and viability of the cells were more similar to the control group (1.92±0.04) compared to the LPS group (0.61±0.05). It was determined that INSL3 prevented the LPS-induced increase in IL-1β, TNF-α, and NF-κB levels and decreased cell death. Conclusion: INSL3 suppresses inflammation and thus promotes cellular healing and can be considered a therapeutic agent that reduces inflammation.

Background/Aims: It was aimed to investigate the biochemical and histopathological effects of resveratrol and melatonin, via histone H4 and -defensin 1, in diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley male rats were categorized into 4 groups, with 6 rats in each group (control, diabetes mellitus, melatonin - diabetes mellitus, and resveratrol+diabetes mellitus). Diabetes was formed by giving streptozotocin to all groups except the control group. Melatonin, 5 mg/kg/day, was given to the melatonin - diabetes mellitus group, and resveratrol, 5 mg/kg/day, was given to the resveratrol+diabetes mellitus group via intraperitoneally for 3 weeks. Interleukin-1 beta, tumor necrosis factor alpha, histone H4, and -defensin 1 levels were measured in the blood of all rats. The lung, liver, and kidney tissue of all rats were performed as histopathological examinations. Results: Whereas there was no difference between the other groups (P .05), interleukin-1 beta levels of the diabetes mellitus group were found to be significantly higher compared with the control group (5.02 +- 2.15 vs. 2.38 +- 0.72 ng/mL; P < .05). Whereas histone H4 levels of the diabetes mellitus group were higher compared with the control and resveratrol+diabetes mellitus groups (7.53 +- 3.30 vs. 2.97 +- 1.57 and 3.06 +- 1.57 ng/mL; P < .05), the -defensin 1 levels of the diabetes mellitus group were lower compared with control and resveratrol+diabetes mellitus groups (7.6 +- 2.8 vs. 21.6 +- 5.5 and 18.8 +- 7.4 ng/mL; P < .05). -Defensin 1 levels were moderately inversely correlated with interleukin-1 beta and histone H4 levels (rs 0.50, P .01). Histopathological changes found in favor of target cell damage in the diabetes mellitus group were not observed in resveratrol+diabetes mellitus group. Conclusion: Resveratrol may be used as a biotherapeutic agent, which significantly reduces diabetes-induced histone H4 and interleukin-1 beta-mediated liver and other target organ damage Cite this article as: Tanoğlu A, özÇelik F, Hacımustafaoğlu F, Coşkun G, Sapmaz T, Gzel Tanoğlu E. Resveratrol has histone 4 and beta-defensin 1-mediated favorable biotherapeutic effects on liver and other target organs in diabetic rats. Turk J Gastroenterol. 2024;35(3):223-231.