The role of the Fas/FasL signaling pathway in environmental toxicant-induced testicular cell apoptosis: An update.

The role of the Fas/FasL signaling pathway in environmental toxicant-induced testicular cell apoptosis: An update. Syst Biol Reprod Med. 2018 Jan 04;:1-10 Authors: Wang M, Su P Abstract The Fas/FasL signaling pathway is one of the major pathways that regulate apoptosis. Increasing studies have shown that the activation of the Fas/FasL signaling pathway is closely associated with testicular cell apoptosis. However, the mechanism involved is still unclear. We discuss recent findings regarding the molecular mechanisms by which environmental toxicants induce testicular pathology via Fas/FasL signaling. These findings suggest that Fas/FasL signaling is employed to impact the sensitivity (a response to external factors) of germ cells, disrupt steroidogenic hormone and cytokine metabolism mediated by Sertoli cells, and elicit the activation of NFAT (nuclear factor of activated T-cells) in Leydig cell apoptosis. Consequently, degeneration of testicular somatic (Sertoli and Leydig) and spermatogenic cells, leads to decreased numbers of mature sperm and subsequently translates into infertility issues. Collectively, these findings illustrate that it is beneficial to develop potential targets for a new generation of new pharmaceutical therapies that would alleviate testicular dysfunctions. ABBREVIATIONS: BTB: blood-testis barrier; DD: death domains; DR3: death receptor 3; DR4: death receptor 4; DR5: death receptor 5; DED: death effector ...
Source: Systems Biology in Reproductive Medicine - Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Tags: Syst Biol Reprod Med Source Type: research