An overview of a Sertoli cell transplantation model to study testis morphogenesis and the role of the Sertoli cells in immune privilege.
An overview of a Sertoli cell transplantation model to study testis morphogenesis and the role of the Sertoli cells in immune privilege.
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DOI：
10.1093/eep/dvx012
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发表时间：
2017-07
影响因子：
3.8
通讯作者：
Dufour JM
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Kaur G;Vadala S;Dufour JM
晚期睾丸生殖细胞表达新的细胞表面和细胞内蛋白，在中枢耐受建立后出现，因此具有自身免疫原性。然而，由于睾丸免疫豁免，这些生殖细胞通常不会引起有害的免疫应答。支持细胞（SC）屏障（也称为血-睾丸屏障）创造了完成精子发生所需的独特微环境，并将大多数高级生殖细胞与免疫系统隔离。鉴于完整的SC屏障对于精子发生是必需的，并且SC屏障的破坏导致不依赖于免疫应答的高级生殖细胞的损失，SC屏障的这种双重作用使得难以直接测试SC屏障在免疫豁免中的重要性。SC在异位（睾丸外）移植时穿过免疫屏障存活和保护共移植细胞的能力已得到充分证明。在这里，我们将讨论使用SC移植模型来研究SC和SC屏障在免疫赦免中的作用。此外，在该模型中形成了包含SC和肌样细胞的索/小管样结构，进一步扩展了其在研究睾丸形态发生中的应用。我们还将讨论该模型的潜在用途，以研究药物/环境毒素对睾丸形态发生，紧密连接形成和SC-肌样细胞相互作用的影响。
Advanced testicular germ cells, expressing novel cell surface and intracellular proteins, appear after the establishment of central tolerance and thus are auto-immunogenic. However, due to testis immune privilege these germ cells normally do not evoke a detrimental immune response. The Sertoli cell (SC) barrier (also known as the blood–testis barrier) creates a unique microenvironment required for the completion of spermatogenesis and sequesters the majority of the advanced germ cells from the immune system. Given that an intact SC barrier is necessary for spermatogenesis and that disruption of the SC barrier results in loss of advanced germ cells independent of an immune response, this dual role of the SC barrier makes it difficult to directly test the importance of the SC barrier in immune privilege. The ability of SCs to survive and protect co-grafted cells when transplanted ectopically (outside the testis) across immunological barriers is well-documented. Here, we will discuss the use of a SC transplantation model to investigate the role of SC and the SC barrier in immune privilege. Additionally, the formation of cord/tubule like structures in this model, containing both SCs and myoid cells, further extends its application to study testis morphogenesis. We will also discuss the potential use of this model to study the effects of drugs/environmental toxins on testis morphogenesis, tight junction formation and SC–myoid cell interactions.