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Relationship: 370

Title

A descriptive phrase which clearly defines the two KEs being considered and the sequential relationship between them (i.e., which is upstream, and which is downstream). More help

Activation, PPARα leads to Decrease, Translocator protein (TSPO)

Upstream event
The causing Key Event (KE) in a Key Event Relationship (KER). More help
Activation, PPARα
Downstream event
The responding Key Event (KE) in a Key Event Relationship (KER). More help
Decrease, Translocator protein (TSPO)

Key Event Relationship Overview

The utility of AOPs for regulatory application is defined, to a large extent, by the confidence and precision with which they facilitate extrapolation of data measured at low levels of biological organisation to predicted outcomes at higher levels of organisation and the extent to which they can link biological effect measurements to their specific causes.Within the AOP framework, the predictive relationships that facilitate extrapolation are represented by the KERs. Consequently, the overall WoE for an AOP is a reflection in part, of the level of confidence in the underlying series of KERs it encompasses. Therefore, describing the KERs in an AOP involves assembling and organising the types of information and evidence that defines the scientific basis for inferring the probable change in, or state of, a downstream KE from the known or measured state of an upstream KE. More help

AOPs Referencing Relationship

AOP Name Adjacency Weight of Evidence Quantitative Understanding Point of Contact Author Status OECD Status
PPARα activation in utero leading to impaired fertility in males non-adjacent Low Arthur Author (send email) Open for citation & comment EAGMST Under Review

Taxonomic Applicability

Latin or common names of a species or broader taxonomic grouping (e.g., class, order, family) that help to define the biological applicability domain of the KER.In general, this will be dictated by the more restrictive of the two KEs being linked together by the KER.  More help
Term Scientific Term Evidence Link
rat Rattus norvegicus High NCBI
mice Mus sp. Low NCBI
human Homo sapiens Low NCBI

Sex Applicability

An indication of the the relevant sex for this KER. More help

Life Stage Applicability

An indication of the the relevant life stage(s) for this KER.  More help

Key Event Relationship Description

Provides a concise overview of the information given below as well as addressing details that aren’t inherent in the description of the KEs themselves. More help

Activation of PPARα leads to decreased expression of cholesterol transport (TSPO) gene in steroidogenic cells (e.g. Leydig cell) and as a consequence the amount of cholesterol transported into mitochondria decreases (impact on steroid production).

Evidence Collection Strategy

Include a description of the approach for identification and assembly of the evidence base for the KER. For evidence identification, include, for example, a description of the sources and dates of information consulted including expert knowledge, databases searched and associated search terms/strings.  Include also a description of study screening criteria and methodology, study quality assessment considerations, the data extraction strategy and links to any repositories/databases of relevant references.Tabular summaries and links to relevant supporting documentation are encouraged, wherever possible. More help

Evidence Map 2.0

ID Experimental Design Species Upstream Observation Downstream Observation Citation (first author, year) Notes

Evidence Map

Addresses the scientific evidence supporting KERs in an AOP setting the stage for overall assessment of the AOP. More help
Title First Author
Biological Plausibility
Dose Concordance
Temporal Concordance
Incidence Concordance
Biological Plausibility
Dose Concordance Evidence
Temporal Concordance Evidence
Incidence Concordance Evidence
Uncertainties and Inconsistencies
Addresses inconsistencies or uncertainties in the relationship including the identification of experimental details that may explain apparent deviations from the expected patterns of concordance. More help

The exact mechanisms of this relationship are not known.

Treatment of adult mice with PPARα activator (DEHP or WY-14,643) resulted in reduced levls of circulating testosterone and testis TSPO mRNA, consistent with the in vitro effects (Gazouli 2002). In contrast, liver TSPO mRNA levels have been increased, indicating a tissue-specific regulation of TSOP expression by PPARα activator (Gazouli 2002). In the PPARα-null mice, compared with the wild-type controls, circulating testosterone levels were decreased suggesting a positive constitutive role for PPARα in maintaining Leydig cell steroid formation. Surprisingly, treatment of the PPARα-null mice with PPARα activators (DEHP and WY-14,643) restored testosterone formation and TSPO mRNA returned to normal levels, suggesting PPARα-independent pathways might be involved in the regulation of TSPO genes and steroidogenesis (Gazouli 2002). In support of this hypothesis, an other study demonstrated that part of the toxic effect of phthalate (DEHP) on testis was retained in PPARα-null mice (Ward et al. 1998).

There is some evidence involving additional PPARs in transcriptional regulation of TSPO:

  • PPARβ/δ (Campioli et al. 2011);
  • PPARγ isoform was also detected in testes (Boberg et al. 2008) and it was reduced by treatment of DEHP in parallel with the reduction of TSPO regulation (Borch et al. 2006).

A genomic study does not support the hypothesis that activation of PPARα/γ pathways is involved in the effects of phthalates on sexual differentiation of the male rat, as Wy-14,643 (PPARα activator) has no effect on testosterone production and the PPARγ isoform has not been detected in testes at gestation day 14-18 (Hannas et al. 2012). Differential patterns of TSPO expression in the foetal rat testis have been observed upon phthalate (DBP) treatment, whereas TSPO mRNA up-regulated protein levels were decreased in Leydig cells (Lehmann et al. 2004).

Known modulating factors

This table captures specific information on the MF, its properties, how it affects the KER and respective references.1.) What is the modulating factor? Name the factor for which solid evidence exists that it influences this KER. Examples: age, sex, genotype, diet 2.) Details of this modulating factor. Specify which features of this MF are relevant for this KER. Examples: a specific age range or a specific biological age (defined by...); a specific gene mutation or variant, a specific nutrient (deficit or surplus); a sex-specific homone; a certain threshold value (e.g. serum levels of a chemical above...) 3.) Description of how this modulating factor affects this KER. Describe the provable modification of the KER (also quantitatively, if known). Examples: increase or decrease of the magnitude of effect (by a factor of...); change of the time-course of the effect (onset delay by...); alteration of the probability of the effect; increase or decrease of the sensitivity of the downstream effect (by a factor of...) 4.) Provision of supporting scientific evidence for an effect of this MF on this KER. Give a list of references.  More help

Domain of Applicability

A free-text section of the KER description that the developers can use to explain their rationale for the taxonomic, life stage, or sex applicability structured terms. More help

See Table 1.