Macrophages and the immune responsiveness of the testis
Macrophages and the immune responsiveness of the testis
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DOI：
10.1016/s0165-0378(02)00016-5
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发表时间：
2002-10-01
影响因子：
3.4
通讯作者：
Hedger, MP
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Hedger, MP
睾丸内的免疫反应以一种为发育中的配偶生殖细胞提供保护的方式进行调节，同时允许定性的正常炎症反应和对感染的保护。睾丸中大量的驻留型巨噬细胞强烈参与介导这种专门的免疫环境。在大鼠中的几项研究表明，睾丸巨噬细胞保留其细胞毒性和吞噬能力，但大大降低了促炎功能，甚至表现出免疫抑制活性。虽然控制睾丸巨噬细胞群体表型的局部机制尚不清楚，但有证据表明睾丸体细胞、支持细胞和间质细胞的影响。在大鼠睾丸中也发现了一个较小但显著的缺乏常驻巨噬细胞标志物表达的巨噬细胞群体。这些巨噬细胞的功能作用仍有待确定，但它们很可能代表循环单核细胞或新到达的睾丸巨噬细胞，因此，可能有助于维持睾丸内的炎症反应。进一步研究这些不同的巨噬细胞亚群和睾丸体细胞在免疫和炎症事件中的免疫相关功能，应该能更好地了解睾丸免疫环境是如何维持和调节的。(C)2002爱思唯尔科学爱尔兰有限公司保留所有权利。
Immune responses within the testis are regulated in a manner that provides protection for the developing mate germ cells, while permitting qualitatively normal inflammatory responses and protection against infection. The large population of resident-type macrophages in the testis is strongly implicated in mediating this specialised immunological environment. Several studies in the rat have shown that testicular macrophages retain their cytotoxic and phagocytic capacity, but have greatly diminished pro-inflammatory function and even exhibit immunosuppressive activity. While the local mechanisms that control the phenotype of the testicular macrophage population are unknown, evidence points to the influence of the testicular somatic cells, the Sertoli and Leydig cells. A smaller but significant population of macrophages that lack expression of resident macrophage markers, is also found in the rat testis. The functional role of these macrophages remains to be defined, but they most likely represent circulating monocytes or newly-arrived testicular macrophages, and, therefore, may contribute to sustaining inflammatory responses within the testis. Further investigation of the immune related functions of these different macrophage subsets, and the testicular somatic cells, during immunological and inflammatory events should provide a better understanding of how the testicular immune environment is maintained and regulated. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.