Testicular macrophages are guardians of fertility
From the beginning of the individual's life, the immune system learns to differentiate the cells belonging to the organism - the self - from other potentially pathogenic cells. However, since spermatozoa appear only at puberty, they are likely to be identified as foreign to the organism by some actors of the immune system. Special cells of the immunity, the testicular macrophages, are then mobilized to defend the spermatozoa. By emitting specific molecules, these fertility guardians prevent other actors of the immune system from entering the testicles.
If they are able to infiltrate infectious sites to phagocytate and destroy pathogens, Macrophages can also modulate the activity of the immune system to protect the functioning and regeneration of organs. These cells of immunity may be of embryonic origin or develop in the bone marrow in adults. Michael Sieweke's team at the Marseille-Luminy Immunology Center (CNRS / Inserm / Aix Marseille University) was able to determine the profile of the two types of testicular macrophages. More
