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Nagahori K, Hirai S, Hatayama N, Kuramasu M, Omotehara T, Kawata S, Li Z, Miyaso H, Ogawa Y, Qu N, Terayama H, Hayashi S, Yi SQ, Naito M, Itoh M. Heat shock protein A4L is a potent autoantigen for testicular autoimmunity in mice. J Reprod Immunol 2021; 145:103318. [PMID: 33894646 DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2021.103318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Experimental autoimmune orchitis (EAO) may be used as a model to investigate immunological infertility in men. Murine EAO is induced via immunization with auto-immunogenic antigens (AIAgs) from testicular germ cells (TGCs). CD4 + T cells play a crucial role in EAO induction. However, whether AIAgs induce an immune response remains unclear. We aimed to identify self-antigens that induce EAO by screening a phage display library of random TGC peptides using IgG from EAO-induced A/J mice. Twenty TGC-specific AIAgs were detected, and G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 interacting protein-1 (GIT1) and heat shock protein A4L (HSPA4L) were identified as candidate AIAgs that induce EAO. Immunization with GIT1 or HSPA4L, emulsified in complete Freund's adjuvant, resulted in 66 % or 100 % incidence of EAO, respectively, indicating that HSPA4L is a most potent AIAg that induces EAO in mice. These findings may expectedly help improve the diagnostic procedures and treatment of immunological infertility in men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenta Nagahori
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical University, 6-1-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8402, Japan.
| | - Shuichi Hirai
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Aichi Medical University, 1-1 Yazakokarimata, Nagakute, Aichi, 480-1195, Japan.
| | - Naoyuki Hatayama
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical University, 6-1-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8402, Japan; Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Aichi Medical University, 1-1 Yazakokarimata, Nagakute, Aichi, 480-1195, Japan.
| | - Miyuki Kuramasu
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical University, 6-1-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8402, Japan.
| | - Takuya Omotehara
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical University, 6-1-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8402, Japan.
| | - Shinichi Kawata
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical University, 6-1-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8402, Japan.
| | - Zhonglian Li
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical University, 6-1-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8402, Japan.
| | - Hidenobu Miyaso
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical University, 6-1-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8402, Japan.
| | - Yuki Ogawa
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical University, 6-1-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8402, Japan.
| | - Ning Qu
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical University, 6-1-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8402, Japan; Department of Anatomy, Division of Basic Medical Science, Tokai University School of Medicine, 143 Shimokasuya, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan.
| | - Hayato Terayama
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical University, 6-1-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8402, Japan; Department of Anatomy, Division of Basic Medical Science, Tokai University School of Medicine, 143 Shimokasuya, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan.
| | - Shogo Hayashi
- Department of Anatomy, Division of Basic Medical Science, Tokai University School of Medicine, 143 Shimokasuya, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan.
| | - Shuang-Qin Yi
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical University, 6-1-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8402, Japan; Department of Frontier Health Sciences, Graduate School of Human Health Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 7-2-10 Higashiogu, Arakawa-ku, Tokyo, 116-8551, Japan.
| | - Munekazu Naito
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Aichi Medical University, 1-1 Yazakokarimata, Nagakute, Aichi, 480-1195, Japan.
| | - Masahiro Itoh
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical University, 6-1-1 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 160-8402, Japan.
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Qu N, Ogawa Y, Kuramasu M, Nagahori K, Sakabe K, Itoh M. Immunological microenvironment in the testis. Reprod Med Biol 2020; 19:24-31. [PMID: 31956282 PMCID: PMC6955586 DOI: 10.1002/rmb2.12293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2019] [Revised: 07/17/2019] [Accepted: 07/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The testis is specific in that it produces haploid germ cells of which autoantigens newly appear long after the neonatal immune tolerance. Under normal condition, these autoantigens are protected by the blood-testis barrier formed by Sertoli cells. Thus, the testis is an immunologically privileged site where haploid cells are protected from autoimmune attack. METHODS The immunological microenvironment in the testis was experimentally investigated using mice and rats. MAIN FINDINGS Not only the blood-testis barrier but also various immuno-suppressive factors are involved in the immune-privileged testis. Indeed, germ cells transplanted into the xenogeneic seminiferous tubules could proliferate and differentiate with no aid of artificial immunosuppression. On the other hand, autoimmune orchitis could be experimentally produced by various methods of immunization with syngeneic or xenogeneic germ cell antigens. CONCLUSION Our results indicate that the testis is immunologically privileged but also immunologically fragile organ. Therefore, the dual nature is critical for immunoregulation of testicular function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Qu
- Department of AnatomyTokyo Medical UniversityTokyoJapan
- Department of Anatomy, Division of Basic Medical ScienceTokai University School of MedicineKanagawaJapan
| | - Yuki Ogawa
- Department of AnatomyTokyo Medical UniversityTokyoJapan
| | | | | | - Kou Sakabe
- Department of Anatomy, Division of Basic Medical ScienceTokai University School of MedicineKanagawaJapan
| | - Masahiro Itoh
- Department of AnatomyTokyo Medical UniversityTokyoJapan
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