Sertoli Cell Immune Regulation: A Double-Edged Sword
The testis must create and maintain an immune privileged environment to protect maturing germ cells from autoimmune destruction. The establishment of this protective environment is due, at least in part, to Sertoli cells. Sertoli cells line the seminiferous tubules and form the blood-testis barrier...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2022-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Immunology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2022.913502/full |
| _version_ | 1818163995740209152 |
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| author | Rachel L. Washburn Rachel L. Washburn Taylor Hibler Taylor Hibler Gurvinder Kaur Gurvinder Kaur Jannette M. Dufour Jannette M. Dufour Jannette M. Dufour |
| author_facet | Rachel L. Washburn Rachel L. Washburn Taylor Hibler Taylor Hibler Gurvinder Kaur Gurvinder Kaur Jannette M. Dufour Jannette M. Dufour Jannette M. Dufour |
| author_sort | Rachel L. Washburn |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The testis must create and maintain an immune privileged environment to protect maturing germ cells from autoimmune destruction. The establishment of this protective environment is due, at least in part, to Sertoli cells. Sertoli cells line the seminiferous tubules and form the blood-testis barrier (BTB), a barrier between advanced germ cells and the immune system. The BTB compartmentalizes the germ cells and facilitates the appropriate microenvironment necessary for spermatogenesis. Further, Sertoli cells modulate innate and adaptive immune processes through production of immunoregulatory compounds. Sertoli cells, when transplanted ectopically (outside the testis), can also protect transplanted tissue from the recipient’s immune system and reduce immune complications in autoimmune diseases primarily by immune regulation. These properties make Sertoli cells an attractive candidate for inflammatory disease treatments and cell-based therapies. Conversely, the same properties that protect the germ cells also allow the testis to act as a reservoir site for infections. Interestingly, Sertoli cells also have the ability to mount an antimicrobial response, if necessary, as in the case of infections. This review aims to explore how Sertoli cells act as a double-edged sword to both protect germ cells from an autoimmune response and activate innate and adaptive immune responses to fight off infections. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T16:58:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ecdf1470c36b457c84e1781a5eb6af85 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-3224 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T16:58:25Z |
| publishDate | 2022-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Immunology |
| spelling | doaj.art-ecdf1470c36b457c84e1781a5eb6af852022-12-22T00:57:54ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242022-06-011310.3389/fimmu.2022.913502913502Sertoli Cell Immune Regulation: A Double-Edged SwordRachel L. Washburn0Rachel L. Washburn1Taylor Hibler2Taylor Hibler3Gurvinder Kaur4Gurvinder Kaur5Jannette M. Dufour6Jannette M. Dufour7Jannette M. Dufour8Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United StatesImmunology and Infectious Disease Concentration, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United StatesDepartment of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United StatesImmunology and Infectious Disease Concentration, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United StatesDepartment of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United StatesDepartment of Medical Education, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United StatesDepartment of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United StatesImmunology and Infectious Disease Concentration, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United StatesDepartment of Medical Education, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United StatesThe testis must create and maintain an immune privileged environment to protect maturing germ cells from autoimmune destruction. The establishment of this protective environment is due, at least in part, to Sertoli cells. Sertoli cells line the seminiferous tubules and form the blood-testis barrier (BTB), a barrier between advanced germ cells and the immune system. The BTB compartmentalizes the germ cells and facilitates the appropriate microenvironment necessary for spermatogenesis. Further, Sertoli cells modulate innate and adaptive immune processes through production of immunoregulatory compounds. Sertoli cells, when transplanted ectopically (outside the testis), can also protect transplanted tissue from the recipient’s immune system and reduce immune complications in autoimmune diseases primarily by immune regulation. These properties make Sertoli cells an attractive candidate for inflammatory disease treatments and cell-based therapies. Conversely, the same properties that protect the germ cells also allow the testis to act as a reservoir site for infections. Interestingly, Sertoli cells also have the ability to mount an antimicrobial response, if necessary, as in the case of infections. This review aims to explore how Sertoli cells act as a double-edged sword to both protect germ cells from an autoimmune response and activate innate and adaptive immune responses to fight off infections.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2022.913502/fullSertoli cellsimmune regulationtransplantationcell therapeuticstestis |
| spellingShingle | Rachel L. Washburn Rachel L. Washburn Taylor Hibler Taylor Hibler Gurvinder Kaur Gurvinder Kaur Jannette M. Dufour Jannette M. Dufour Jannette M. Dufour Sertoli Cell Immune Regulation: A Double-Edged Sword Frontiers in Immunology Sertoli cells immune regulation transplantation cell therapeutics testis |
| title | Sertoli Cell Immune Regulation: A Double-Edged Sword |
| title_full | Sertoli Cell Immune Regulation: A Double-Edged Sword |
| title_fullStr | Sertoli Cell Immune Regulation: A Double-Edged Sword |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sertoli Cell Immune Regulation: A Double-Edged Sword |
| title_short | Sertoli Cell Immune Regulation: A Double-Edged Sword |
| title_sort | sertoli cell immune regulation a double edged sword |
| topic | Sertoli cells immune regulation transplantation cell therapeutics testis |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2022.913502/full |
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