Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37572347›Full record

SynthesisAndrology2024

Immunoregulatory mechanisms between epithelial clear cells and mononuclear phagocytes in the epididymis.

Maria Agustina Battistone, Maia L Elizagaray, Ferran Barrachina, Kiera Ottino, Alexandra C Mendelsohn, Sylvie Breton

Open access · bronzeAbstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Andrology, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 11 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
11citing papers in PubMed
3.1field-weighted citation impact, top 8% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

11 citing papers in PubMed, 19 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Depletion of CX3CR1Mucosal immunology · 2026
    Article
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. In vitro models of the male reproductive system: applications for developmental and reproductive toxicology.Toxicological sciences : an official journal of the Society of Toxicology · 2025
    Review
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Article
  9. Review
  10. Immune Regulation in the Testis and Epididymis.Advances in experimental medicine and biology · 2025
    Review
  11. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.

Maria Agustina BattistoneProgram in Membrane Biology, Nephrology Division, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.ORCID 0000-0003-0490-9548
Maia L ElizagarayProgram in Membrane Biology, Nephrology Division, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.ORCID 0000-0002-4570-172X
Ferran BarrachinaProgram in Membrane Biology, Nephrology Division, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.ORCID 0000-0003-3138-4142
Kiera OttinoProgram in Membrane Biology, Nephrology Division, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
Alexandra C MendelsohnProgram in Membrane Biology, Nephrology Division, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
Sylvie BretonFaculty of Medicine, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec-Research Center, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproduction, Université Laval, Québec, Canada.
Harvard University · USCentre hospitalier universitaire de Québec · CA

Funding

Pilot & Feasibility ProgramP30DK043351 · NIDDK · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · PI Ramnik J Xavier · 1991 to 2026
$35.3M
Transgenic CoreP30DK057521 · NIDDK · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · PI BROWN, DENNIS · 2000 to 2019
$31.4M
Transfer of grant 5R01HD040793 - Intercellular networks and luminal acidification in the male reproductive tractR01HD040793 · NICHD · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · PI BRETON, SYLVIE · 2001 to 2021
$6.6M
P&F programP30DK135043 · NIDDK · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · PI Aaron S Leong · 2023 to 2026
$5.4M
Role of epididymal macrophages and dendritic cells in male reproductive functionR01HD069623 · NICHD · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · PI BRETON, SYLVIE · 2011 to 2020
$3.6M
Proton-secreting epithelial cells as key modulators of epididymal mucosal immunity - Administrative SupplementR01HD104672 · NICHD · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · PI Maria Agustina Battistone · 2021 to 2026
$2.5M
A Zeiss LSM800 confocal microscope with AiryscanS10OD021577 · OD · MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL · PI BROWN, DENNIS · 2016 to 2016
$374k
2022 MGH Claflin Distinguished Scholar Research Award2023 MGH Physician/Scientist Development AwardBoston Area Diabetes and Endocrinology Research Center DK57521Center for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease DK43351Lalor Foundation 183711NICHD NIH HHS R01 HD040793NICHD NIH HHS R01 HD069623NICHD NIH HHS R01 HD104672NIDDK NIH HHS P30 DK043351NIDDK NIH HHS P30 DK057521NIDDK NIH HHS P30 DK135043NIH HHS HD040793NIH HHS HD069623NIH HHS HD104672NIH HHS S10 OD021577NIH Shared Instrumentation S10-OD-021577-01
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionOne of the most intriguing aspects of male reproductive physiology is the ability of the epididymis to prevent the mounting of immune responses against the onslaught of foreign antigens carried by spermatozoa while initiating very efficient immune responses versus stressors. Epithelial clear cells are strategically positioned to work in a concerted manner with region-specific heterogeneous subsets of mononuclear phagocytes to survey the epididymal barrier and regulate the balance between inflammation and immune tolerance in the post-testicular environment.

objectiveThis review aims to describe how clear cells communicate with mononuclear phagocytes to contribute to the unique immune environment in which sperm mature and are stored in the epididymis. MATERIALS/

methodsA comprehensive systematic review was performed. PubMed was searched for articles specific to clear cells, mononuclear phagocytes, and epididymis. Articles that did not specifically address the target material were excluded.

resultsIn this review, we discuss the unexpected roles of clear cells, including the transfer of new proteins to spermatozoa via extracellular vesicles and nanotubes as they transit along the epididymal tubule; and we summarize the immune phenotype, morphology, and antigen capturing, processing, and presenting abilities of mononuclear phagocytes. Moreover, we present the current knowledge of immunoregulatory mechanisms by which clear cells and mononuclear phagocytes may contribute to the immune-privileged environment optimal for sperm maturation and storage. DISCUSSION AND

conclusionNotably, we provide an in-depth characterization of clear cell-mononuclear phagocyte communication networks in the steady-state epididymis and in the presence of injury. This review highlights crucial concepts of mucosal immunology and cellcell interactions, all of which are critical but understudied facets of human male reproductive health.

Indexed as

EpididymisEpithelial CellsAnimalsHumansImmune ToleranceMalePhagocytesSpermatozoaimmune activationimmunologyimmunotolerancemale fertilitymale reproductive tract

Identifiers

PMID37572347
PMCPMC10859549
OpenAlexW4385775370

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.