CEDIE   05498
CENTRO DE INVESTIGACIONES ENDOCRINOLOGICAS "DR. CESAR BERGADA"
Unidad Ejecutora - UE
congresos y reuniones científicas
Título:
Interleukin-17 impairs blood-testis barrier integrity and induces the recruitment of immune cells to the interstitium of rat testis.
Autor/es:
CECILIA VALERIA PÉREZ; PATRICIA JACOBO; PELLIZZARI ELIANA; CIGORRAGA SELVA; MUNEKAZU NAITO; VANESA ANABELLA GUAZZONE; LIVIA LUSTIG
Lugar:
Boston
Reunión:
Congreso; 14th International Symposium for Immunology of Reproduction; 2013
Institución organizadora:
International Society for Immunology of Reproduction
Resumen:
Experimental autoimmune orchitis (EAO) is a useful model to study testicular inflammation and germ/immune cell interactions. EAO is characterized by an interstitial cell infiltrate of macrophages and Th1 and Th17 lymphocytes concomitant with a severe damage of seminiferous tubules (ST) presenting germ cell sloughing and apoptosis. In contrast with normal rats, IL-17 was detected in the interstitial fluid of EAO rats. Also, IL-17 receptor mRNA expression is increased in EAO rats. Previous results showed increased blood-testis barrier (BTB) permeability associated with a reduced expression of the tight junction molecule occludin in rats with autoimmune orchitis. With the aim of analyzing the effects of IL-17 on Sertoli cell tight junctions, in vitro experiments were performed. The addition of IL-17 on normal rat Sertoli cell cultures induced a significant decline in transepithelial electrical resistance and a redistribution of occludin and claudin-11, altering the Sertoli cell tight junction barrier. Intratesticular injection of 1 µg of recombinant rat IL-17 to Sprague-Dawley rats induced increased BTB permeability, as shown by the presence of biotin tracer in the ST adluminal compartment and reduced occludin expression. Testicular histopathology analyzed 72 hs after injection showed foci of few ST with different degrees of germ cell sloughing as well as interstitial lymphomononuclear cell infiltrates (mainly pro-inflammatory ED1+ macrophages) close to damaged ST. Overall results suggest a relevant role of IL-17 in the development of testicular inflammation facilitating the recruitment of immune cells to the testicular interstitium and inducing impairment of BTB function.