TABLE 19.2.
Key Enzymes Involved in Inflammation and Immunity in the Male Reproductive Tract
| Enzyme Name | Gene Name | Common Names | Properties/Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitric oxide synthase, type I | NOS1 | Neuronal NOS (nNOS) | Ca/calmodulin regulated |
| Nitric oxide synthase, type II | NOS2 | Inducible NOS (iNOS) | Transcriptionally and translationally regulated |
| Nitric oxide synthase, type III | NOS3 | Endothelial NOS (eNOS) | Ca/calmodulin regulated |
| Phospholipase A2 | Multiple genes | Hydrolysis of free fatty acid from membrane phospholipids | |
| Prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 1 | PTGS1 | Cyclooxygenase 1 (COX1) | Constitutive, converts arachidonic acid to prostaglandin G/H |
| Prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 | PTGS2 | Cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) | Inducible, converts arachidonic acid to prostaglandin G/H |
| Prostaglandin E synthase | PTGES | Converts prostaglandin H to prostaglandin E | |
| Caspase 1 | CASP1 | Interleukin-1β converting enzyme (ICE) | Activation of IL1β and IL18 |
| Caspase 3 | CASP3 | Mediates apoptotic pathway | |
| Caspase 8 | CASP8 | Mediates apoptotic pathway | |
| Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase | IDO | Metabolism of tryptophan, immunoregulation | |
| Interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase | IRAK | Activation of TRAF6, 3 | |
| IκB kinase | IKBK | Activation of NFκB | |
| Mitogen-activated protein kinase 14 | MAPK14 | p38 MAP kinase | Stress/inflammatory signaling |
| Mitogen-activated protein kinase 8 | MAPK8 | JUN N-terminal kinase (JNK) | Stress/inflammatory signaling, activation of AP-1 |
| Mitogen-activated protein kinase 3 | MAPK3 | Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 (ERK1) | Stress/inflammatory signaling |
| Mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 | MAPK1 | Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 (ERK2) | Stress/inflammatory signaling |
| Akt protein kinase | AKT | Protein kinase B | Cell survival, stress/inflammatory signaling |
| Tyrosine-protein kinase Src | SRC | Immunoregulation | |
| Janus kinase | JAK | Activation of STAT | |
| Phosphatidylinositol-4,5-biphosphate 3-kinase | PIK3 | Phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) | Stress/inflammatory signaling |
| Protein kinase, cAMP-dependent | PRKA | Protein kinase A | Protein phosphorylation, signaling |
| Protein kinase C | PRKC | Protein phosphorylation, signaling |