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Molecular Immunology of the Male Reproductive System
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Molecular Immunology of the Male Reproductive System

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Immunology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2023) | Viewed by 11002

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Gerhard Haidl

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Andrology, University Hospital Bonn, Campus-Venusberg 1, 53127 Bonn, Germany
Interests: clinical and basic andrology; male infertility; sperm function; sperm morphology; drug treatment of male fertility disturbances; male genital tract inflammation; immunological causes of disturbed male fertility

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The male reproductive system is very specifically related to the immune system, with different tasks in the individual sections. The testis has an immune privilege, which on the one hand is necessary for protection from autoimmune attacks, in which the blood–testis barrier is also involved. On the other hand, there is an obvious capacity of the testis to respond to infection and inflammation. The subsequent sections with epididymis, ductus deferentes, and prostate/seminal vesicles are highly exposed to environmental influences with potentially harmful effects, such as STDs, and—last but not least—spermatozoa have special immunological characteristics to enable them to penetrate the female genital tract without being rejected. At all of these different stages, slight aberrations of the immunological response may lead to functional disturbances and thus negatively influence male fertility. Having this in mind, it is surprising that the impact of immunological/inflammatory factors on male fertility is still widely neglected in clinical andrology in contrast to endocrinological and, more recently, genetic causes of male fertility disturbances. Therefore, it seems that there is time now to pay more attention to this issue with this Special Issue, which ranges from basic immunological processes in the male reproductive tract to more clinical applications.

Prof. Dr. Gerhard Haidl 
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • andrology
  • male infertility
  • testicular immune privilege
  • orchitis
  • male genital tract inflammation
  • cytokines/chemokines
  • immune cells

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review

2 pages, 137 KiB  
Editorial
Special Issue “Molecular Immunology of the Male Reproductive System”
by Gerhard Haidl
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(4), 1981; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25041981 - 6 Feb 2024
Viewed by 494
Abstract
The immunological aspects of male infertility have gradually become the focus of both basic and clinical research [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Immunology of the Male Reproductive System)

Research

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15 pages, 5466 KiB  
Article
Myd88 Signaling Is Involved in the Inflammatory Response in LPS-Induced Mouse Epididymitis and Bone-Marrow-Derived Dendritic Cells
by Jin-Chuan Liu, Peng Wang, Qun-Xiong Zeng, Chen Yang, Minmin Lyu, Yanfeng Li, William Shu-Biu Yeung, Philip Chi-Ngong Chiu, Gerhard Haidl, Jean-Pierre Allam and Yong-Gang Duan
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(9), 7838; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24097838 - 25 Apr 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1892
Abstract
Epididymitis is an epididymal inflammation that may lead to male infertility. Dendritic cells (DCs) and myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (Myd88) were associated with epididymitis in rodents. However, the functions of Myd88 on epididymal DCs remain unclear. This study investigated the role [...] Read more.
Epididymitis is an epididymal inflammation that may lead to male infertility. Dendritic cells (DCs) and myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (Myd88) were associated with epididymitis in rodents. However, the functions of Myd88 on epididymal DCs remain unclear. This study investigated the role of Myd88 in DCs for epididymitis. The Myd88 signaling pathway, phenotypes of DC subsets, and cytokines were investigated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced epididymitis in mice. CRISPR-Cas9 was used to knockout Myd88 in bone-marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) and immortalized mouse epididymal (DC2) cell line. In the vivo experiments, levels of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1α, IL-6, IL-17A, TNF-α, IL-1β, MCP-1, and GM-CSF, mRNA for MyD88 related genes, and the percentages of monocyte-derived DCs (Mo-DCs) were significantly elevated in mice with epididymitis. In the vitro experiments, LPS significantly promoted the apoptosis of BMDCs. In addition, the concentration of inflammatory cytokines in BMDCs and DC2s were increased in the LPS group, while decreasing after the knockout of Myd88. These findings indicate that Myd88 on DCs is involved in the inflammation of epididymitis in mice, which may be a potential target for better strategies regarding the treatment of immunological male infertility. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Immunology of the Male Reproductive System)
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22 pages, 7158 KiB  
Article
Insights into Canine Infertility: Apoptosis in Chronic Asymptomatic Orchitis
by Judith Morawietz, Hanna Körber, Eva-Maria Packeiser, Andreas Beineke and Sandra Goericke-Pesch
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(7), 6083; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24076083 - 23 Mar 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1610
Abstract
Chronic asymptomatic orchitis (CAO) is a common cause of acquired non-obstructive azoospermia in dogs. To understand the impact and mode of action of apoptosis, we investigated TUNEL, Bax, Bcl-2, Fas/Fas ligand, and caspase 3/8/9 in testicular biopsies of CAO-affected dogs and compared [...] Read more.
Chronic asymptomatic orchitis (CAO) is a common cause of acquired non-obstructive azoospermia in dogs. To understand the impact and mode of action of apoptosis, we investigated TUNEL, Bax, Bcl-2, Fas/Fas ligand, and caspase 3/8/9 in testicular biopsies of CAO-affected dogs and compared the results to undisturbed spermatogenesis in healthy males (CG). TUNEL+ cells were significantly increased in CAO, correlating with the disturbance of spermatogenesis. Bcl-2, Bax (p < 0.01 each), caspase 9 (p < 0.05), Fas, caspase 8 (p < 0.01 each), and caspase 3 (p < 0.05) were significantly increased at the mRNA level, whereas FasL expression was downregulated. Cleaved caspase 3 staining was sporadic in CAO but not in CG. Sertoli cells, some peritubular (CAO/CG) and interstitial immune cells (CAO) stained Bcl-2+, with significantly more immunopositive cells in both compartments in CAO compared to CG. Bcl-2 and CD20 co-expressing B lymphocytes were encountered interstitially and in CAO occasionally also found intratubally, underlining their contribution to the maintenance of CAO. Our results support the crucial role of the intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways in the pathophysiology of canine CAO. Autoprotective Bcl-2 expression in Sertoli cells and B lymphocytes seems to be functional, however, thereby also maintaining and promoting the disease by immune cell activation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Immunology of the Male Reproductive System)
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11 pages, 2426 KiB  
Article
C-Type Natriuretic Peptide (CNP) Could Improve Sperm Motility and Reproductive Function of Asthenozoospermia
by Na Li, Xinyi Dong, Sen Fu, Xiaoyan Wang, Huaibiao Li, Ge Song and Donghui Huang
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(18), 10370; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms231810370 - 8 Sep 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2052
Abstract
This study is to analyze the effect of C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) on sperm motility of asthenozoospermia and explore the influence mechanism of CNP on the reproductive system and sperm motility. Our results showed that the concentration of CNP in asthenospermia patients’ semen [...] Read more.
This study is to analyze the effect of C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) on sperm motility of asthenozoospermia and explore the influence mechanism of CNP on the reproductive system and sperm motility. Our results showed that the concentration of CNP in asthenospermia patients’ semen was lower than in normal people’s. The motility of sperm could be improved markedly by CNP and 8-Br-cGMP, while the effect of CNP was inhibited by NPR-B antagonist and KT5823. In the asthenozoospermia mouse model induced by CTX, CNP injection could improve sperm motility in the epididymis, alleviate tissue damage in the testes and epididymis, and increase testosterone levels. The asthenospermia mouse model showed high activity of MDA and proinflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-6), as well as low expression of antioxidants (SOD, GSH-Px, CAT) in the testis and epididymis, but this situation could be significantly ameliorated after being treated with CNP. Those studies indicated that the concentration of CNP in the semen of asthenospermia patients is lower than in normal people and could significantly promote sperm motility through the NPR-B/cGMP pathway. In the asthenospermia mouse model induced by CTX, CNP can alleviate the damage of cyclophosphamide to the reproductive system and sperm motility. The mechanism may involve increasing testosterone and reducing ROS and proinflammatory factors to damage the tissue and sperm. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Immunology of the Male Reproductive System)
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Review

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15 pages, 1277 KiB  
Review
Mechanism of Androgen-Independent Stromal Proliferation in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia
by Junya Hata, Yuki Harigane, Kanako Matsuoka, Hidenori Akaihata, Kei Yaginuma, Satoru Meguro, Seiji Hoshi, Yuichi Sato, Soichiro Ogawa, Motohide Uemura and Yoshiyuki Kojima
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(14), 11634; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241411634 - 19 Jul 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1817
Abstract
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a chronic proliferative disease showing stromal-dominant proliferation. However, the detailed proliferation mechanism has remained unclear. Although aging and androgen have been reported as definitive risk factors for BPH, recent studies have focused on the involvement of androgen-independent factors. [...] Read more.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a chronic proliferative disease showing stromal-dominant proliferation. However, the detailed proliferation mechanism has remained unclear. Although aging and androgen have been reported as definitive risk factors for BPH, recent studies have focused on the involvement of androgen-independent factors. Androgen-independent factors include ischemia, oxidative stress, metabolic syndrome, infection, autoimmune reactions, and inflammation, with inflammation in BPH tissues playing a central role in the BPH proliferative process. Inflammation in BPH tissues by various factors finally leads to tissue remodeling and stromal proliferation through the wound healing process of the prostate. To elucidate the proliferative mechanism of BPH, a study using whole-genome gene expression analysis in a stromal-dominant BPH rat model was performed and showed that immune response-related pathways and complement classical pathways are activated. Furthermore, expression analysis using this BPH rat model showed that the autoimmune reaction triggered complement pathway activation in the proliferative process of BPH. BPH is a multifactorial disease, and understanding the role of androgen-independent factors including immune responses contributes to elucidating the pathogenesis of BPH. Androgen-independent factors may lead to new therapeutic targets for BPH, and further development of this research is expected. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Immunology of the Male Reproductive System)
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25 pages, 4350 KiB  
Review
The Role of Mononuclear Phagocytes in the Testes and Epididymis
by Xu Shi, Hu Zhao, Yafei Kang, Xinyi Dong, Caiqian Yu, Qinying Xie, Yonggang Duan, Aihua Liao and Donghui Huang
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(1), 53; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24010053 - 20 Dec 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2480
Abstract
The mononuclear phagocytic system (MPS) is the primary innate immune cell group in male reproductive tissues, maintaining the balance of pro-inflammatory and immune tolerance. This article aims to outline the role of mononuclear macrophages in the immune balance of the testes and epididymis, [...] Read more.
The mononuclear phagocytic system (MPS) is the primary innate immune cell group in male reproductive tissues, maintaining the balance of pro-inflammatory and immune tolerance. This article aims to outline the role of mononuclear macrophages in the immune balance of the testes and epididymis, and to understand the inner immune regulation mechanism. A review of pertinent publications was performed using the PubMed and Google Scholar databases on all articles published prior to January 2021. Search terms were based on the following keywords: ‘MPS’, ‘mononuclear phagocytes’, ‘testes’, ‘epididymis’, ‘macrophage’, ‘Mφ’, ‘dendritic cell’, ‘DC’, ‘TLR’, ‘immune’, ‘inflammation’, and ‘polarization’. Additionally, reference lists of primary and review articles were reviewed for other publications of relevance. This review concluded that MPS exhibits a precise balance in the male reproductive system. In the testes, MPS cells are mainly suppressed subtypes (M2 and cDC2) under physiological conditions, which maintain the local immune tolerance. Under pathological conditions, MPS cells will transform into M1 and cDC1, producing various cytokines, and will activate T cell specific immunity as defense to foreign pathogens or self-antigens. In the epididymis, MPS cells vary in the different segments, which express immune tolerance in the caput and pro-inflammatory condition in the cauda. Collectively, MPS is the control point for maintaining the immune tolerance of the testes and epididymis as well as for eliminating pathogens. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Immunology of the Male Reproductive System)
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