Triptolide impairs glycolysis by suppressing GATA4/Sp1/PFKP signaling axis in mouse Sertoli cells

Triptolide (TP), a primary bioactive ingredient isolated from the traditional Chinese herbal medicine Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. F. (TWHF), has attracted great interest for its therapeutic biological activities in inflammation and autoimmune disease. However, its clinical use is limited by severe testicular toxicity, and the underlying mechanism has not been elucidated. Our preliminary evidence demonstrated that TP disrupted glucose metabolism and caused testicular toxicity. During spermatogenesis, Sertoli cells (SCs) provide lactate as an energy source to germ cells by glycolysis. The transcription factors GATA-binding protein 4 (GATA4) and specificity protein 1 (Sp1) can regulate glycolysis. Based on this evidence, we speculate that TP causes abnormal glycolysis in SCs by influencing the expression of the transcription factors GATA4 and Sp1. The mechanism of TP-induced testicular toxicity was investigated in vitro and in vivo. The data indicated that TP decreased glucose consumption, lactate production, and the mRNA levels of glycolysis-related transporters and enzymes. TP also downregulated the protein expression of the transcription factors GATA4 and Sp1, as well as the glycolytic enzyme phosphofructokinase platelet (PFKP). Phosphorylated GATA4 and nuclear GATA4 protein levels were reduced in a dose- and time-dependent manner after TP incubation. Similar effects were observed in shGata4-treated TM4 cells and BALB/c mice administered 0.4 mg/kg TP for 28 days, and glycolysis was also inhibited. Gata4 knockdown downregulated Sp1 and PFKP expression. Furthermore, the Sp1 inhibitor plicamycin inhibited PFKP protein levels in TM4 cells. In conclusion, TP inhibited GATA4-mediated glycolysis by suppressing Sp1-dependent PFKP expression in SCs and caused testicular toxicity.