Seminal plasma induces inflammation in the uterus through the γδ T/IL-17 pathway.
After insemination, a large number of leukocytes migrate into the uterus, which is accompanied by intense inflammation. However, the details of how seminal plasma interacts with the uterus are still not very clear. Here, we present that neutrophils migrate and accumulate around the uterine epithelium following insemination, which is accompanied by an increase in interleukin (IL) 17A levels. Additionally, we find that γδ T cells are the major source of IL-17A, and the seminal plasma could induce the γδ T cells to secret IL-17A. Blocking IL-17A could reduce the number of neutrophils in the uterus and prevent them from migrating to the epithelium by decreasing the chemokines CXCL1, CXCL2 and CXCL5. Blocking IL-17A did not affect the Th1/Th2 balance but actually diminished the inflammation in the uterus by reducing the expression of IL-1β and TNF-α. In summary, we found a new mechanism by which seminal plasma could influence the inflammation in the uterus through the γδ T/IL-17 pathway to regulate the expression of various chemokines and cytokines.
State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China.|University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China.
Zhi-Hui
ZH
Song
State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China.
Zhong-Yin
ZY
Li
State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China.|University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China.
Dan-Dan
DD
Li
State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China.|University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China.
Wen-Ning
WN
Fang
State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China.
Hai-Yan
HY
Liu
State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China.|University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China.
Dan-Dan
DD
Yang
State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China.|University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China.
Chao-Yang
CY
Meng
State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China.
Ying
Y
Yang
State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China.
Jing-Pian
JP
Peng
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology*; D020381:Interleukin-17 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology*; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta / Q000378:metabolism*; D012661:Semen / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014599:Uterus / Q000276:immunology*
D020381:Interleukin-17; D016692:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, gamma-delta