Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UNIPROT:P56851 (epididymal)
 11,273 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Male mice were vasectomized by 'open-ended' or 'closed' techniques. After 4 weeks the cell-mediated immune reactions were compared with those of sham-operated animals by immunohistochemical localization of leucocytes, using specific monoclonal antibodies. Macrophages and MHC class II antigen-positive cells were the major cell types to appear in all regions of the epididymis after both types of operation. There was recruitment of T-helper/inducer leucocytes but not of T-suppressor-cytotoxic cells. An increased presentation of macrophage-migration inhibiting factor antigen appeared in interstitial and peritubular locations. After 'closed' and 'open-ended' vasectomy granulomata developed in the epididymis. The sperm-containing lumen of these granulomata was invaded by macrophages, MHC class II-positive cells and T-helper/inducer lymphocytes. This mouse model thus reveals a significant epididymal inflammatory response of the epididymis to vasectomy.
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PMID:Presence and distribution of leucocyte subsets in the murine epididymis after vasectomy. 217 42

Cryostat sections of epididymides from mice were stained with monoclonal antibodies against immuno-competent cells. This investigation was undertaken to gain basic data about the distribution of macrophages. T lymphocytes, MHC class II and MIF in the normal murine epididymis to establish the mouse as a model for immunological epididymal research. The most important findings were as follows. (1) Macrophages, T lymphocytes, MHC class II and MIF positive cells were distributed similarly in the caput, corpus and cauda epididymis. (2) Macrophages were the most frequent leucocytes and the majority were located in the peritubular layer. (3) The MHC class II determinant was also expressed mostly in the peritubular layer and interstitium. These cells were similar in appearance and location to macrophages. (4) Significantly fewer T lymphocytes were found and their main location was the interstitium. T-helper and T-suppressor/cytotoxic lymphocytes did not differ significantly in their regional or histological distribution patterns. (5) The ratio of T-helper to T-suppressor/cytotoxic lymphocytes was 1:1. (6) MIF was detected almost exclusively in blood vessels and the surrounding connective tissue. (7) No invasion of leucocytes into the epididymal lumen was observed. It is concluded that macrophages seem to be the most important immunological cell type in the murine epididymis.
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PMID:Immuno-competent cells in the murine epididymis. 265 22

Histopathologically, sperm granulomas consist of a central mass of degenerating spermatozoa surrounded by many epithelioid macrophages and lymphocytes. Using monoclonal antibodies (ED1, ED2, and OX6), the authors investigated immunohistochemically the participation of different macrophage populations in epididymal sperm granulomas induced in pubertal rats by repeated injection of L-cysteine. Monocyte-like and epithelioid macrophages expressed the ED1 antigen found on activated lysosomal membranes in rat blood monocytes and exudate macrophages, but did not express the ED2 antigen found on the membrane antigens of rat resident macrophages. Cells expressing MHC class II antigens (as detected by the OX6 antibody) were present in the granulomas in moderate numbers, particularly in the early stages. Ultrastructurally, fragmented spermatozoa were observed in the cytoplasm of epithelioid macrophages. These findings suggest that macrophages appearing in rat sperm granulomas originate mainly from blood monocytes, and that they have a high phagocytic activity and a potential for antigen presentation.
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PMID:Macrophage populations in L-cysteine-induced rat sperm granulomas. 1455 29

Obesity is a metabolic disease characterized by low-level chronic inflammation. Obese individuals are susceptible to infection by viruses, and vaccination against these pathogens is less effective than in nonobese individuals. Here, we sought to explore the immunological environment in a mouse model of obesity induced by a high-fat diet (HFD). HFD treatment increased the body weight and epididymal fat mass. The proportion of activated B cells, T cells, and macrophages was similar between mice in the HFD group and the regular-fat diet (RFD) group. The Th1 cell subpopulation in the HFD group was increased, whereas the proportion of Treg cells was reduced compared with the RFD group. Moreover, T-cell proliferation and cytokine production did not differ between the groups when cells were stimulated with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 antibodies in vitro. In macrophages, phagocytic activity was higher in mice fed an HFD than in those fed an RFD, but expression levels of CD86 and MHC class II antigens were similar. When macrophages were cultured in vitro, the proportion of CD86-expressing macrophages was lower in those isolated from mice in the HFD group than in those isolated from the RFD group. Furthermore, lipopolysaccharide-induced interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha secretions were significantly reduced in macrophages isolated from the HFD group. In addition, influenza vaccine-induced antibodies in the HFD group diminished more rapidly than in the RFD group. These results suggest that poor functionality of macrophages during obesity might contribute to a reduction in vaccine efficacy.
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PMID:Diet-induced obesity reduces the production of influenza vaccine-induced antibodies via impaired macrophage function. 2764 Apr 40