Testicular activin and follistatin levels are elevated during the course of experimental autoimmune epididymo–orchitis in mice

• DOI: 10.1038/srep42391
• Publication Date: 2017-02-13T11:03:15Z
• Authors: Nour Nicolas; Vera Michel; Sudhanshu Bhushan; Eva Wahle; Susan Hayward; Helen Ludlow; David M. de Kretser; Kate L. Loveland; Hans-Christian Sc...; Andreas Meinhardt; Mark P. Hedger; Monika Fijak
• Keywords: Follistatin; Orchitis

Experimental autoimmune epididymo-orchitis (EAEO) is a model of chronic inflammation, induced by immunisation with testicular antigens, which reproduces the pathology some types human infertility. Activins A and B regulate spermatogenesis steroidogenesis, but are also pro-inflammatory, pro-fibrotic cytokines. Expression activins their endogenous antagonists, inhibin follistatin, was examined in murine EAEO. Adult untreated adjuvant-treated control mice showed no pathology. All immunised testis antigens developed EAEO 50 days, characterised loss germ cells, immune cell infiltration fibrosis testis, similar to biopsies from inflamed testis. An increase total CD45+ leukocytes, comprising CD3+ T CD4 + CD8- CD25+ novel population CD8+ double positive cells detected testes. This accompanied increased expression TNF, MCP-1 IL-10. Activin follistatin protein levels were elevated testes, peak activin during active phase disease, whereas mRNA subunits (Inha Inhbb) receptor (Acvr1b Acvr2b) downregulated. These data suggest that activin-follistatin regulation may play role development