ArticleJournal of reproduction & infertility
Altered Expression of Toll-Like Receptors and Key Signaling Genes in Sertoli Cells of Azoospermic Patients.
Article in Journal of reproduction & infertility. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
Background: Azoospermia, the complete absence of sperm in the ejaculate, is a major cause of male infertility. Sertoli cells are essential for spermatogenesis, and disruptions in innate immune immune pathways, particularly Toll-like receptors (TLRs), may impair their function. This study investigated the expression of TLR1-10 and downstream signaling molecules (MYD88, NFKB, TRIF, IRF3, and TRAM) in Sertoli cells of azoospermic patients. Methods: Testicular tissue were collected from 20 azoospermic men undergoing testicular sperm extraction (TESE). Patients were categorized into two TESE positive (sperm present, n=10) and TESE negative (sperm absent, n=10). Sertoli cells were isolated using enzyme digestion and purified via fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). Gene expression of TLR1-10 and signaling molecules was quantified by RTPCR. Data were analyzed using independent-samples T-test, with significance set at p< 0.05. Results: Significant downregulation was detected in TLR10 (20.6-fold, p<0.0001), TLR9 (4.6-fold, p<0.05), TLR7 (4.8-fold, p<0.01), TLR6 (12.4-fold, p<0.05), TLR5 (13.5-fold, p<0.001), TLR4 (3.2-fold, p<0.05), and TLR3 (3.1-fold, p<0.01). Among signaling molecules, MYD88 (4.1-fold, p<0.01) and IRF3 (4.2-fold, p<0.05) showed significant reductions, indicating impaired immune signaling in Sertoli cells of TESE-negative men. Conclusion: Altered expression of TLRs and associated signaling molecules in Sertoli cells of azoospermic men suggests innate immune dysregulation as a potential mechanism underlying defective spermatogenesis. These findings highlight immune privilege-associated pathways as possible targets for developing diagnostic biomarkers and novel therapeutic approaches for male infertility.
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