title: TNF-alpha induces surface modifications in mouse Sertoli cells: physiopathological implications.
abstract: The expression of the adhesion molecules ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 has been measured in mouse Sertoli cells cultured in vitro. Cytometric analysis revealed that, in basal conditions, low levels of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 were present on the surface of the cells, whereas treatment with TNF-alpha induced an increase in their expression. Binding experiments using both 51Cr-labelled lymphocytes, for quantitative analysis, and scanning electron microscopy demonstrated that increased expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 on the surface of Sertoli cells, induced by TNF-alpha, determines an augmented adhesion between the two cell types. These results suggest the presence of a specific mechanism of interaction between Sertoli and immune-competent cells, possibly involved in the control of the immune response in the testis following an inflammatory reaction in situ. Such mechanism is of interest for the understanding of auto-immune pathologies of the testis and, if confirmed in humans, it could be involved in the sexual transmission of HIV infection.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ziparo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Riccioli
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Filippini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De Cesaris
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barbacci
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D048429:Cell Size / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1