Differential effects of viral nucleic acid sensor signaling pathways on testicular Sertoli and Leydig cells

Endocrinology. 2021 Aug 28:bqab180. doi: 10.1210/endocr/bqab180. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTThe human testis can be infected by a large number of RNA and DNA viruses. While various RNA virus infections may induce orchitis and impair testicular functions, DNA virus infection rarely affects the testis. Mechanisms underlying the differential effects of RNA and DNA viral infections on the testis remain unclear. In the current study, we therefore examined the effects of viral RNA and DNA sensor signaling pathways on mouse Sertoli cells (SC) and Leydig cells (LC). The local injection of viral RNA analogue polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C)) into the testis markedly disrupted spermatogenesis, whereas the injection of the herpes simplex virus (HSV) DNA analogue HSV60 did not affect spermatogenesis. Poly(I:C) dramatically induced the expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 in SC and LC through Toll-like receptor 3 and IFN-β promoter stimulator 1 signaling pathways, impairing the integrity of the blood-testis barrier and testosterone synthesis. Poly(I:C)-induced TNF-α production thus plays a critical role in the impairment of cell functions. In contrast, HSV60 predominantly induced the expression of type 1 interferons and antiviral proteins via the DNA sensor signaling pathway, which did not affect testicular cell functions. Accordingly, the Zika virus induced high levels of TNF-α in SC and LC and impaired their respective cellular functions, whereas ...
Source: Endocrinology - Category: Endocrinology Authors: Source Type: research