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Yamauchi S, Yamamoto K, Ogawa K. Testicular Macrophages Produce Progesterone De Novo Promoted by cAMP and Inhibited by M1 Polarization Inducers. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10020487. [PMID: 35203696 PMCID: PMC8962427 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10020487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 02/12/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Tissue-resident macrophages (Mø) originating from fetal precursors are maintained via self-renewal under tissue-/organ-specific microenvironments. Herein, we developed a propagation method of testicular tissue-resident Mø in mixed primary culture with interstitial cells composed of Leydig cells from the mouse testis. We examined Mø/monocyte marker expression in propagated testicular Mø using flow cytometry; gene expression involved in testosterone production as well as spermatogenesis in testicular Mø and interstitial cells propagated by mixed culture via RT-PCR; and progesterone (P4) de novo production in propagated testicular Mø treated with cyclic adenosine monophosphate, isoproterenol, and M1 polarization inducers using ELISA. Mø marker expression patterns in the propagated Mø were identical to those in testicular interstitial Mø with a CD206-positive/major histocompatibility complex (MHC) II-negative M2 phenotype. We identified the genes involved in P4 production, transcription factors essential for steroidogenesis, and androgen receptors, and showed that P4 production de novo was upregulated by cyclic adenosine monophosphate and β2-adrenergic stimulation and was downregulated by M1 polarization stimulation in Mø. We also demonstrated the formation of gap junctions between Leydig cells and interstitial Mø. This is the first study to demonstrate de novo P4 production in tissue-resident Mø. Based on previous studies revealing inhibition of testosterone production by P4, we propose that local feedback machinery between Leydig cells and adjacent interstitial Mø regulates testosterone production. The results presented in this study can facilitate future studies on immune-endocrine interactions in gonads that are related to infertility and hormonal disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sawako Yamauchi
- Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Life, Environment and Advanced Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, 1-58 Rinku-Ourai-Kita, Izumisano 598-8531, Osaka, Japan; (S.Y.); (K.Y.)
| | - Kousuke Yamamoto
- Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, College of Life, Environment and Advanced Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, 1-58 Rinku-Ourai-Kita, Izumisano 598-8531, Osaka, Japan; (S.Y.); (K.Y.)
| | - Kazushige Ogawa
- Laboratory of Veterinary Anatomy, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, 1-58 Rinku-Ourai-Kita, Izumisano 598-8531, Osaka, Japan
- Correspondence:
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Gayer FA, Reichardt SD, Bohnenberger H, Engelke M, Reichardt HM. Characterization of testicular macrophagesubpopulations in mice. Immunol Lett 2022; 243:44-52. [PMID: 35149127 DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2022.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Testis is an immune privileged site, a feature that prevents germ cells from eliciting an autoimmune response. Macrophages contribute to this state of tolerance by adopting an immunoregulatory phenotype. Here, we further characterized their features in mice by analyzing surface markers, anatomic localization as well as morphology and function. Testicular macrophages (TMF) were stained for various surface receptors, and MHCII and CD206 were found to be most suitable to discriminate between two subpopulations. Our immunohistochemical analysis further confirmed a predominant localization of CD206+ cells in the interstitial space. Imaging flow cytometry revealed that both subtypes of TMF differed in size and contrast, and to some extent also in their ability to engulf high-molecular dextran. To investigate whether the polarization of the immune system had any influence on the phenotype of TMF, we compared C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice. Importantly, our analysis revealed that the abundance of cells expressing either MHCII or any of the scavenger receptors CD206, CD163 and CD71 differed between both mouse strains. In addition, the presence of the glucocorticoid receptor in macrophages affected the ratio between individual subpopulations, which is consistent with a crucial role of glucocorticoids in macrophage polarization. Collectively, our results indicate that TMF are composed in a variable ratio of distinct subsets with characteristic features, which may shape the immune privilege of the testis also in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian A Gayer
- University Medical Center Göttingen, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Göttingen, Germany; University Medical Center Göttingen, Clinic of Urology, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Sybille D Reichardt
- University Medical Center Göttingen, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Göttingen, Germany
| | | | - Michael Engelke
- University Medical Center Göttingen, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Holger M Reichardt
- University Medical Center Göttingen, Institute for Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Göttingen, Germany.
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Nikovics K, Favier AL. Macrophage Identification In Situ. Biomedicines 2021; 9:1393. [PMID: 34680510 PMCID: PMC8533306 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9101393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the processes of inflammation and tissue regeneration after injury is of great importance. For a long time, macrophages have been known to play a central role during different stages of inflammation and tissue regeneration. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which they exert their effects are as yet mostly unknown. While in vitro macrophages have been characterized, recent progress in macrophage biology studies revealed that macrophages in vivo exhibited distinctive features. Actually, the precise characterization of the macrophages in vivo is essential to develop new healing treatments and can be approached via in situ analyses. Nowadays, the characterization of macrophages in situ has improved significantly using antigen surface markers and cytokine secretion identification resulting in specific patterns. This review aims for a comprehensive overview of different tools used for in situ macrophage identification, reporter genes, immunolabeling and in situ hybridization, discussing their advantages and limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krisztina Nikovics
- Imagery Unit, Department of Platforms and Technology Research, French Armed Forces Biomedical Research Institute, 91223 Brétigny-sur-Orge, France;
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Azizi H, NiaziTabar A, Mohammadi A, Skutella T. Characterization of DDX4 Gene Expression in Human Cases with Non-Obstructive Azoospermia and in Sterile and Fertile Mice. J Reprod Infertil 2021; 22:85-91. [PMID: 34041004 PMCID: PMC8143011 DOI: 10.18502/jri.v22i2.5793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In mammals, spermatogenesis is the main process for male fertility that is initiated by spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) proliferation. SSCs are unipotent progenitor cells accountable for transferring the genetic information to the following generation by differentiating to haploid cells during spermato-and spermiogenesis. DEAD-box helicase 4 (DDX4) is a specific germ cell marker and its expression pattern is localized to, spermatocytes, and spermatids. The expression in the SSCs on the basement membrane of the seminiferous tubules is low. Methods Immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Fluidigm reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used to analyze the expression of DDX4 in testis tissue of fertile and sterile mice and human cases with non-obstructive azoospermia. Results Our immunohistochemical findings of fertile and busulfan-treated mice showed expression of DDX4 in the basal and luminal compartment of seminiferous tubules of fertile mice whereas no expression was detected in busulfan-treated mice. The immunohistochemical analysis of two human cases with different levels of non-obstructive azoospermia revealed more luminal DDX4 positive cells. Conclusion Our findings indicate that DDX4 might be a valuable germ cell marker for analyzing the pathology of germ cell tumors and infertility as global urological problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hossein Azizi
- Department of Nanobiotechnology, Faculty of Biotechnology, Amol University of Special Modern Technologies, Amol, Iran
| | - Amirreza NiaziTabar
- Department of Nanobiotechnology, Faculty of Biotechnology, Amol University of Special Modern Technologies, Amol, Iran
| | - Atiyeh Mohammadi
- Department of Nanobiotechnology, Faculty of Biotechnology, Amol University of Special Modern Technologies, Amol, Iran
| | - Thomas Skutella
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical Faculty, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
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Wang L, Jiang G, Jing N, Liu X, Zhuang H, Zeng W, Liang W, Liu Z. Downregulating testosterone levels enhance immunotherapy efficiency. Oncoimmunology 2021; 10:1981570. [PMID: 34595060 PMCID: PMC8477942 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2021.1981570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Low response rates to certain tumor types remain a major challenge for immune checkpoint blockade therapy. In this study, we first conducted an integrated biomarker evaluation of bladder cancer patients from confirmatory cohorts (IMvigor210) and found that no significant differences exist between sexes before acceptance of anti-PD-L1 treatment, whereas male patients showed a better response. Thus, we then focused on sex-related changes post anti-PD-L1 treatment and found no obvious impact on the gut microbiota in male mice but a significant decrease in the sex hormone levels. Further, castration dramatically enhanced the antitumor efficacy against murine colon adenocarcinoma in male mice. Moreover, a narrow-spectrum antibiotic, colistin was innovatively used for deregulation of testosterone levels to enhance the immunotherapy efficiency in male mice. These findings indicate that the impact on the sex hormone levels in males may contribute to the sexual dimorphism in response and provide a promising way to enhance immunotherapy efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luoyang Wang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Key Lab of Industrial Biocatalysis, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Guoqiang Jiang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Key Lab of Industrial Biocatalysis, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
- CONTACT Guoqiang Jiang
| | - Nan Jing
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Key Lab of Industrial Biocatalysis, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Xuerun Liu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Key Lab of Industrial Biocatalysis, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Huiren Zhuang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Key Lab of Industrial Biocatalysis, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
| | - Wenfeng Zeng
- Protein and Peptide Pharmaceutical Laboratory, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Liang
- Protein and Peptide Pharmaceutical Laboratory, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zheng Liu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- Key Lab of Industrial Biocatalysis, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
- Zheng Liu Department of Chemical Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China; Key Lab of Industrial Biocatalysis, Ministry of Education, Beijing, China
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Zhang Z, Jiang Z, Zhang Y, Zhang Y, Yan Y, Bhushan S, Meinhardt A, Qin Z, Wang M. Corticosterone Enhances the AMPK-Mediated Immunosuppressive Phenotype of Testicular Macrophages During Uropathogenic Escherichia coli Induced Orchitis. Front Immunol 2020; 11:583276. [PMID: 33363533 PMCID: PMC7752858 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.583276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Testicular macrophages (TM) play a central role in maintaining testicular immune privilege and protecting spermatogenesis. Recent studies showed that their immunosuppressive properties are maintained by corticosterone in the testicular interstitial fluid, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are unknown. In this study, we treated mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) with corticosterone (50 ng/ml) and uncovered AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation as a critical event in M2 polarization at the phenotypic, metabolic, and cytokine production level. Primary TM exhibited remarkably similar metabolic and phenotypic features to corticosterone-treated BMDM, which were partially reversed by AMPK-inhibition. In a murine model of uropathogenic E. coli-elicited orchitis, intraperitoneal injection with corticosterone (0.1mg/day) increased the percentage of M2 TM in vivo, in a partially AMPK-dependent manner. This study integrates the influence of corticosterone on M2 macrophage metabolic pathways, phenotype, and function, and highlights a promising new avenue for the development of innovative therapeutics for orchitis patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengguo Zhang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Ziming Jiang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yiming Zhang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yan Yan
- Medical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Sudhanshu Bhushan
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Andreas Meinhardt
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Justus-Liebig-University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Zhihai Qin
- Medical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Academy of Medical Sciences of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Ming Wang
- Medical Research Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
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Tsetsarkin KA, Acklin JA, Liu G, Kenney H, Teterina NL, Pletnev AG, Lim JK. Zika virus tropism during early infection of the testicular interstitium and its role in viral pathogenesis in the testes. PLoS Pathog 2020; 16:e1008601. [PMID: 32614902 PMCID: PMC7331987 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 05/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexual transmission and persistence of Zika virus (ZIKV) in the testes pose new challenges for controlling virus outbreaks and developing live-attenuated vaccines. It has been shown that testicular infection of ZIKV is initiated in the testicular interstitium, followed by spread of the virus in the seminiferous tubules. This leads to testicular damage and/or viral dissemination into the epididymis and eventually into semen. However, it remains unknown which cell types are targeted by ZIKV in the testicular interstitium, and what is the specific order of infectious events leading to ZIKV invasion of the seminiferous tubules. Here, we demonstrate that interstitial leukocytes expressing mir-511-3p microRNA are the initial targets of ZIKV in the testes, and infection of mir-511-3p-expressing cells in the testicular interstitium is necessary for downstream infection of the seminiferous tubules. Mir-511-3p is expressed concurrently with CD206, a marker of lineage 2 (M2) macrophages and monocyte derived dendritic cells (moDCs). Selective restriction of ZIKV infection of CD206-expressing M2 macrophages/moDCs results in the attenuation of macrophage-associated inflammatory responses in vivo and prevents the disruption of the Sertoli cell barrier in vitro. Finally, we show that targeting of viral genome for mir-511-3p significantly attenuates early ZIKV replication not only in the testes, but also in many peripheral organs, including spleen, epididymis, and pancreas. This incriminates M2 macrophages/moDCs as important targets for visceral ZIKV replication following hematogenous dissemination of the virus from the site of infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantin A. Tsetsarkin
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Joshua A. Acklin
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States of America
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Guangping Liu
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Heather Kenney
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Natalia L. Teterina
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Alexander G. Pletnev
- Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jean K. Lim
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, United States of America
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Deng B, Pakhomov OV, Bozhok GA. Long-term effects of acute cadmium exposure on testis immune privilege. REGULATORY MECHANISMS IN BIOSYSTEMS 2020. [DOI: 10.15421/022027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) is a widespread and non-biodegradable pollutant of great concern to human health. This element can affect cellular signal transduction and cell-to-cell interaction in the testis. Immune tolerance towards auto- and alloantigens is an important component of testis immunity. It is involved in spermatogenesis and hormone secretion. Plus, the immune tolerance may help to reveal the changes in testis immunity over a long period after Cd exposure. The current research was aimed at investigating the long-term effects of acute Cd exposure on testis immunity by means of elicitation of testicular immune cell composition shift induced by Cd. Cadmium chloride was intraperitoneally injected at 3 mg Cd/kg to mice. After that testis interstitial cells were stained with surface markers for leukocyte and lymphocyte subpopulations (CD45, CD11b, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD25) and analyzed cytofluorimetrically by week 4, 6, 8 and 12 after Cd administration (Cd group). To identify the delayed effects of cadmium on immune tolerance two groups of animals were subjected to intratesticular allotransplantation of neonatal testis (groups ITT and Cd+ ITT). One of the groups was administered with Cd four weeks before the transplantation (Cd+ITT group). I group served as a control that did not undergo any transplantation or Cd injection. For a better demonstration of the phenomenon of immunological tolerance of the testicles, an additional group (UKT group) was used which got grafts under the kidney capsule (non-immune privileged site).Investigation of the cell population showed that CD45+, CD11b+, CD4+, CD8+ cells were permanently present in testicular interstitial tissue in I group. Intratesticular testis transplantation increased the proportion of CD11b+ but did not have such a pronounced effect on CD8+ cells in ITT group. Moreover, the transplantation elevated CD4+ CD25+ cells known for their immunosuppressive property and promoted graft development by week 2 (histological data). Cd injection resulted in severe inflammation that quenched by week 4 (Cd and Cd+ ITT groups). This time point was chosen for transplantation in Cd+ ITT group. Such Cd pretreatment led to a high CD8+ cell proportion and to the delayed appearance of CD4+ CD25+ cells by week 2 (Cd+ ITTgroup). The finding is consistent with the impairment of graft development in Cd+ ITTgroup pretreated with Cd. Observation suggest that Cd pretreatment was associated with disproportion of interstitial immune cell populations which resulted in the impairment of immunoprotective function of the testis. The impairment of testis immunity showed itself only after several weeks of Cd administration, and only when the recipient testis immunity was provoked by alloantigens of donor testes.
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