Scientific article
OA Policy
English

A dense network of dendritic cells populates the murine epididymis

Published inReproduction, vol. 141, no. 5, p. 653-663
Publication date2011-05
First online date2011-02-10
Abstract

One of the most intriguing aspects of male reproductive physiology is the ability to generate spermatogenic cells - which are 'foreign' to the host - without triggering immune activation. After leaving the testis, spermatozoa enter the epididymis where they mature and are stored. In this study, we report a previously unrecognized dense network of dendritic cells (DCs) located at the base of the epididymal epithelium. This network was detected in transgenic mice expressing CD11c-EYFP and CX3CR1-GFP reporters. Epididymal DCs (eDCs) establish intimate interactions with the epithelium and project long dendrites between epithelial cells toward the lumen. We show that isolated eDCs express numerous leukocyte markers described previously in other organs that are in contact with the external environment, and present and cross-present ovalbumin to T cells in vitro. eDCs are, therefore, strategically positioned to regulate the complex interplay between immune tolerance and activation, a balance that is fundamental to male fertility.

Keywords
  • Animals
  • Antigen Presentation
  • Bacterial Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Biomarkers / metabolism
  • CD11c Antigen / biosynthesis
  • CD11c Antigen / genetics
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Coculture Techniques
  • Dendritic Cells / immunology
  • Dendritic Cells / metabolism
  • Epididymis / cytology
  • Epididymis / immunology
  • Epididymis / metabolism
  • Fertility
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins / genetics
  • Immune Tolerance
  • Immunophenotyping
  • Luminescent Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Luminescent Proteins / genetics
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Ovalbumin / immunology
  • Phenotype
  • Receptors, Chemokine / biosynthesis
  • Receptors, Chemokine / genetics
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
Affiliation entities Not a UNIGE publication
Funding
  • NCI NIH HHS [CA086355]
  • NIDDK NIH HHS [P30 DK057521]
  • NICHD NIH HHS [R01 HD069623]
  • NHLBI NIH HHS [R01 HL095612]
  • NIAID NIH HHS [R01 AI084880]
Citation (ISO format)
DA SILVA, Nicolas et al. A dense network of dendritic cells populates the murine epididymis. In: Reproduction, 2011, vol. 141, n° 5, p. 653–663. doi: 10.1530/rep-10-0493
Main files (1)
Article (Published version)
Identifiers
Journal ISSN1470-1626
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77downloads

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