MLKL deficiency elevates testosterone production in male mice independently of necroptotic functions
Mixed lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL) is a pseudokinase, best known for its role as the terminal effector of the necroptotic cell death pathway. MLKL-mediated necroptosis has long been linked to various age-related pathologies including neurodegeneration, atherosclerosis and male reproductive decl...
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Published in | Cell death & disease Vol. 15; no. 11; pp. 851 - 10 |
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Main Authors | , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
London
Nature Publishing Group UK
21.11.2024
Springer Nature B.V Nature Publishing Group |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Mixed lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL) is a pseudokinase, best known for its role as the terminal effector of the necroptotic cell death pathway. MLKL-mediated necroptosis has long been linked to various age-related pathologies including neurodegeneration, atherosclerosis and male reproductive decline, however many of these attributions remain controversial. Here, we investigated the role of MLKL and necroptosis in the adult mouse testis: an organ divided into sperm-producing seminiferous tubules and the surrounding testosterone-producing interstitium. We find that sperm-producing cells within seminiferous tubules lack expression of key necroptotic mediators and thus are resistant to a pro-necroptotic challenge. By comparison, coordinated expression of the necroptotic pathway occurs in the testicular interstitium, rendering cells within this compartment, especially the lysozyme-positive macrophages, vulnerable to necroptotic cell death. We also uncover a non-necroptotic role for MLKL in regulating testosterone levels. Thus, MLKL serves two roles in the mouse testes – one involving the canonical response of macrophages to necroptotic insult, and the other a non-canonical function in male reproductive hormone control. |
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Bibliography: | ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 |
ISSN: | 2041-4889 2041-4889 |
DOI: | 10.1038/s41419-024-07242-z |