Bacterial infection of the testis leading to autoaggressive immunity triggers apparently opposed responses of alpha beta and gamma delta T cells.
The mechanisms that lead to the breakdown of self-tolerance and testis-specific immune reactivity in the murine orchitis model are understood only in part. We investigated the histopathologic and immunologic consequences of a unilateral bacterial (Listeria monocytogenes) infection of the testis. Both infected and contralateral sides of this bilateral organ suffered severe inflammatory responses despite a conspicuous absence of bacteria in the contralateral tissue. Also, in both testicles, T cell populations increased, involving both alpha beta and gamma delta T cell subsets. Concomitant with the bilateral orchitis, testis-specific delayed type hypersensitivity and Ab responses developed. Ab depletion experiments indicated that in this orchitis model, as in others, alpha beta T cells are initiators of the autoaggressive reactivity. In contrast, Ab depletion of gamma delta T cells accelerated the inflammatory response in both testicles, suggesting a regulatory role for this type of T cells in both infection-induced and autoimmune orchitis.
Mukasa
A
A
Department of Immunology, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Hiromatsu
K
K
Matsuzaki
G
G
O'Brien
R
R
Born
W
W
Nomoto
K
K
D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D016219:Immunotherapy, Adoptive; D008088:Listeriosis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D009920:Orchitis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta / Q000032:analysis*; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000032:analysis*; D013154:Spleen / Q000382:microbiology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013737:Testis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D016693:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, alpha-beta; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta