Testicular Immunity and Its Connection with the Microbiota. Physiological and Clinical Implications in the Light of Personalized Medicine
Reproduction is a complex process, which is based on the cooperation between the endocrine–immune system and the microbiota. Testicular immunity is characterized by the so-called immune privilege, a mechanism that avoids autoimmune attacks against proteins expressed by spermatozoa. Testicular microb...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Journal of Personalized Medicine |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4426/12/8/1335 |
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| author | Luigi Santacroce Ciro Imbimbo Andrea Ballini Felice Crocetto Salvatore Scacco Stefania Cantore Erika Di Zazzo Marica Colella Emilio Jirillo |
| author_facet | Luigi Santacroce Ciro Imbimbo Andrea Ballini Felice Crocetto Salvatore Scacco Stefania Cantore Erika Di Zazzo Marica Colella Emilio Jirillo |
| author_sort | Luigi Santacroce |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Reproduction is a complex process, which is based on the cooperation between the endocrine–immune system and the microbiota. Testicular immunity is characterized by the so-called immune privilege, a mechanism that avoids autoimmune attacks against proteins expressed by spermatozoa. Testicular microbiota is connected with the gut microbiota, the most prevalent site of commensals inthe body. Both microbiotas take part inthe development of the immune system and protection againstpathogen invasion. Dysbiosis is caused by concurrent pathologies, such as obesity, diabetes, infections and trauma. The substitution of beneficial bacteria with pathogens may lead to destruction of spermatozoa directly or indirectly and, ultimately, to male infertility. Novel therapeutic interventions, i.e., nutritional interventions and supplementation of natural products, such as, probiotics, prebiotics, antioxidants and polyphenols, may lead to the restoration of the otherwise-impaired male reproductive potential, even if experimental and clinical results are not always concordant. In this review, the structure and immune function of the testis will be described with special reference to the blood–testisbarrier. The regulatory role of both the gut and testicular microbiota will be illustrated in health and disease, also emphasizing therapeutic attempts with natural products for the correction of male infertility, in the era of personalized medicine. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:07:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-63154257fa3749de8dbe38a16b0145f5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4426 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:07:36Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Personalized Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-63154257fa3749de8dbe38a16b0145f52023-11-30T21:46:37ZengMDPI AGJournal of Personalized Medicine2075-44262022-08-01128133510.3390/jpm12081335Testicular Immunity and Its Connection with the Microbiota. Physiological and Clinical Implications in the Light of Personalized MedicineLuigi Santacroce0Ciro Imbimbo1Andrea Ballini2Felice Crocetto3Salvatore Scacco4Stefania Cantore5Erika Di Zazzo6Marica Colella7Emilio Jirillo8Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Microbiology and Virology, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, ItalyDepartment of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, School of Medicine, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80131Naples, ItalyDepartment of Precision Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, ItalyDepartment of Neuroscience, Reproductive Sciences and Dentistry, School of Medicine, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80131Naples, ItalyDepartment of Basic Medical Sciences, Neurosciences and Sense Organs, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, ItalyIndependent Researcher, Sorriso & Benessere—Ricerca e Clinica, 70129 Bari, ItalyDepartment of Medicine and Health Sciences “V. Tiberio”, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, ItalyInterdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Microbiology and Virology, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, ItalyInterdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Microbiology and Virology, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, 70124 Bari, ItalyReproduction is a complex process, which is based on the cooperation between the endocrine–immune system and the microbiota. Testicular immunity is characterized by the so-called immune privilege, a mechanism that avoids autoimmune attacks against proteins expressed by spermatozoa. Testicular microbiota is connected with the gut microbiota, the most prevalent site of commensals inthe body. Both microbiotas take part inthe development of the immune system and protection againstpathogen invasion. Dysbiosis is caused by concurrent pathologies, such as obesity, diabetes, infections and trauma. The substitution of beneficial bacteria with pathogens may lead to destruction of spermatozoa directly or indirectly and, ultimately, to male infertility. Novel therapeutic interventions, i.e., nutritional interventions and supplementation of natural products, such as, probiotics, prebiotics, antioxidants and polyphenols, may lead to the restoration of the otherwise-impaired male reproductive potential, even if experimental and clinical results are not always concordant. In this review, the structure and immune function of the testis will be described with special reference to the blood–testisbarrier. The regulatory role of both the gut and testicular microbiota will be illustrated in health and disease, also emphasizing therapeutic attempts with natural products for the correction of male infertility, in the era of personalized medicine.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4426/12/8/1335immune privilegemicrobiotamale infertilityspermatogenesistestispolyphenols |
| spellingShingle | Luigi Santacroce Ciro Imbimbo Andrea Ballini Felice Crocetto Salvatore Scacco Stefania Cantore Erika Di Zazzo Marica Colella Emilio Jirillo Testicular Immunity and Its Connection with the Microbiota. Physiological and Clinical Implications in the Light of Personalized Medicine Journal of Personalized Medicine immune privilege microbiota male infertility spermatogenesis testis polyphenols |
| title | Testicular Immunity and Its Connection with the Microbiota. Physiological and Clinical Implications in the Light of Personalized Medicine |
| title_full | Testicular Immunity and Its Connection with the Microbiota. Physiological and Clinical Implications in the Light of Personalized Medicine |
| title_fullStr | Testicular Immunity and Its Connection with the Microbiota. Physiological and Clinical Implications in the Light of Personalized Medicine |
| title_full_unstemmed | Testicular Immunity and Its Connection with the Microbiota. Physiological and Clinical Implications in the Light of Personalized Medicine |
| title_short | Testicular Immunity and Its Connection with the Microbiota. Physiological and Clinical Implications in the Light of Personalized Medicine |
| title_sort | testicular immunity and its connection with the microbiota physiological and clinical implications in the light of personalized medicine |
| topic | immune privilege microbiota male infertility spermatogenesis testis polyphenols |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4426/12/8/1335 |
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