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Predomination of IL ‐17‐producing tryptase‐positive/chymase‐positive mast cells in azoospermic chronic testicular inflammation
Author(s) -
Chen S.J.,
Duan Y.G.,
Haidl G.,
Allam J.P.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
andrologia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.633
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1439-0272
pISSN - 0303-4569
DOI - 10.1111/and.12487
Subject(s) - tryptase , chymase , inflammation , pathogenesis , azoospermia , immunology , male infertility , infertility , biology , obstructive azoospermia , spermatogenesis , medicine , endocrinology , mast cell , pregnancy , genetics
Summary Chronic testicular inflammation and infection have been regarded as important factors in the pathogenesis of azoospermia. As key effector cells in innate and adaptive immune system, mast cells ( MC s) were observed in inflammation and autoimmune disease. Furthermore, increased expression of tryptase‐positive MC s has been reported in testicular disorders associated with male infertility/subfertility. However, little is known about the potential relationship between MC s and chronic testicular inflammation in azoospermic patients. Moreover, the preferential expression of MC s' subtypes in testis of these patients is still far from being understood. Thus, this study aimed to investigate characteristics of testicular MC s as well as their subtypes in azoospermic men with chronic testicular inflammation ( AZI , n = 5) by immunohistochemical techniques. Our results showed significant increase of MC s in AZI , and more importantly, considerable numbers of tryptase‐positive/chymase‐positive MC s could also be demonstrated in AZI , when compared to control groups representing azoospermia without chronic testicular inflammation ( AZW , n = 5) and normal spermatogenesis ( NT , n = 5) respectively. Most interestingly, immunofluorescence staining revealed autoimmune‐associated interleukin ( IL )‐17‐producing MC s in AZI , whereas co‐expression of MC markers with tumour necrosis factor ( TNF )‐α, IL ‐10 and IL ‐1β could not be detected. In conclusion, AZI is associated with significant increase of tryptase‐positive/chymase‐positive MC s expressing IL ‐17, and these MC s might contribute to the pathogenesis of AZI .