Multiple Lesions Contribute to Infertility in Males Lacking Autoimmune Regulator
Male factors, including those of autoimmune origin, contribute to approximately 50% of infertility cases in humans. However, the mechanisms underlying autoimmune male infertility are poorly understood. Deficiency in autoimmune regulator (AIRE) impairs central immune tolerance because of diminished expression of self-antigens in the thymus. Humans with AIRE mutations and mice with engineered ablation of Aire develop multiorgan autoimmunity and infertility. To determine the immune targets contributing to infertility in male Aire-deficient ( −/−) mice, we paired Aire−/− or wild-type (WT) males with WT females.
Source: American Journal of Pathology - Category: Pathology Authors: Bryce D. Warren, Soo H. Ahn, Kathryn Brittain, Manjunatha K. Nanjappa, Hao Wang, Jianrong Wang, Gustavo Blanco, Gladis Sanchez, Yong Fan, Brian K. Petroff, Paul S. Cooke, Margaret G. Petroff Tags: Regular article Source Type: research