ArticleMolecular human reproduction2020
Region-specific transcriptomic and functional signatures of mononuclear phagocytes in the epididymis.
Article in Molecular human reproduction, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 29 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
29 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 61 citations in OpenAlex.
- Immunoregulatory mechanisms between epithelial clear cells and mononuclear phagocytes in the epididymis.Andrology · 2024Pooled it
- Galectin-3 restrains T cell-driven inflammation in the testis and epididymis.Cell death & disease · 2026Article
- Immunological dynamics of the epididymis: from experimental insights to clinical translation.Reproduction & fertility · 2026Review
- Depletion of CX3CR1Mucosal immunology · 2026Article
- Common Environmental Hazards and Male Infertility: Effects on Epididymal Immune Microenvironment.Toxics · 2026Review
- Chronic inflammation drives epididymal tertiary lymphoid structure formation and autoimmune fertility disorders in mice.Nature communications · 2025Article
- Proton-Secreting Cells as Drivers of Inflammation and Sperm Dysfunction in LPS-Induced Epididymitis.Function (Oxford, England) · 2025Article
- Basal and Immune Cells of the Epididymis: An Electron Microscopy View of Their Association.Advances in experimental medicine and biology · 2025Review
- Molecular Pathways Implicated in the Differentiation and Function of Epididymal Basal Cells.Advances in experimental medicine and biology · 2025Review
- Immune Regulation in the Testis and Epididymis.Advances in experimental medicine and biology · 2025Review
- Advancement and Potential Applications of Epididymal Organoids.Biomolecules · 2024Review
- Segmental differentiation of the murine epididymis: identification of segment-specific, GM1-enriched vesicles and regulation by luminal fluid factors†.Biology of reproduction · 2023Article
- Regulatory T cells play a crucial role in maintaining sperm tolerance and male fertility.Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America · 2023Article
- Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals the local cell landscape in mouse epididymal initial segment during aging.Immunity & ageing : I & A · 2023Article
- Identification and Functional Assignment of Genes Implicated in Sperm Maturation of Tibetan Sheep.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2023Article
- Myd88 Signaling Is Involved in the Inflammatory Response in LPS-Induced Mouse Epididymitis and Bone-Marrow-Derived Dendritic Cells.International journal of molecular sciences · 2023Article
- Article
- CX3CR1 deficiency leads to impairment of immune surveillance in the epididymis.Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS · 2022Article
- The Role of Mononuclear Phagocytes in the Testes and Epididymis.International journal of molecular sciences · 2022Review
- Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors at 2 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
In the epididymis, prevention of autoimmune responses against spermatozoa and simultaneous protection against pathogens is important for male fertility. We have previously shown that mononuclear phagocytes (MPs) are located either in the epididymal interstitium or in close proximity to the epithelium. In the initial segments (IS), these 'intraepithelial' MPs extend slender luminal-reaching projections between epithelial cells. In this study, we performed an in-depth characterisation of MPs isolated from IS, caput-corpus and cauda epididymis of CX3CR1EGFP+/- mice that express EGFP in these cells. Flow cytometry analysis revealed region-specific subsets of MPs that express combinations of markers traditionally described in 'dendritic cells' or 'macrophages'. RNA sequencing identified distinct transcriptomic signatures in MPs from each region and revealed specific genes involved in inflammatory and anti-inflammatory responses, phagosomal activity and antigen processing and presentation. Functional fluorescent in vivo labelling assays showed that higher percentages of CX3CR1+ MPs that captured and processed antigens were detected in the IS compared to other regions. Confocal microscopy showed that in the IS, caput and corpus, circulatory antigens were internalised and processed by interstitial and intraepithelial MPs. However, in the cauda only interstitial MPs internalised and processed antigens, while intraepithelial MPs did not take up antigens, indicating that all antigens have been captured before they reached the epithelial lining. Cauda MPs may thus confer a stronger protection against blood-borne pathogens compared to proximal regions. By identifying immunoregulatory mechanisms in the epididymis, our study may lead to new therapies for male infertility and epididymitis and identify potential targets for immunocontraception.
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