Germ cells and fatty acids induce translocation of CD36 scavenger receptor to the plasma membrane of Sertoli cells.
The CD36 scavenger receptor is involved in the uptake and transport of fatty acids, as well as the phagocytosis process in macrophages. We show here that the CD36 protein is expressed by Sertoli cells in the seminiferous epithelium, mainly during the stages where phagocytosis takes place. Using a Sertoli-derived cell line, we show that addition of germ cells and residual bodies triggers a re-localization of CD36 from the cytoplasm to the plasma membrane of the cells, while latex beads do not. Moreover, Sertoli cell phagocytosis of germ cells, but not of latex beads, is reduced by the presence of fatty acids in the culture medium. In the testis, CD36 plays a key role in both phagocytosis and lipid recycling, for constant production of mature spermatozoa.
INSERM UMR 636, Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis, Faculty of Sciences-Parc Valrose, 06108 Nice Cedex 2, France.
Isabelle
I
Gillot
Chantal
C
Jehl-Pietri
Pierre
P
Gounon
Serge
S
Luquet
Minoo
M
Rassoulzadegan
Paul
P
Grimaldi
Frédérique
F
Vidal
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D018955:CD36 Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D051243:Caveolin 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000502:physiology; D002460:Cell Line; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008863:Microspheres; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000502:physiology; D051116:Receptors, Scavenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism
D018955:CD36 Antigens; D051243:Caveolin 2; D005227:Fatty Acids; D051116:Receptors, Scavenger