Research progress of gonad tissue-resident macrophages

VernacularTitle:性腺组织驻留巨噬细胞的研究进展
Author: Nianyu LI ¹ ; Xue JIAO ¹ ; Yingying QIN ¹
Author Information

1. 山东大学生殖医学研究中心，济南　250012
Publication Type:Journal Article
Keywords: Macrophages; Immunity; Gonad; Testis; Ovary; Tissue-resident macrophages
From: Chinese Journal of Reproduction and Contraception 2022;42(4):419-424
CountryChina
Language:Chinese
Abstract: Tissue-resident macrophages (TRMs) are innate immune cells located in most tissues and organs of the human body, and are independent of peripheral circulation and capable of self-renewal. They are highly heterogeneous, with different origins, phenotypes, and functions in different tissues. As the important reproductive organs in human, the testis and ovary contain a highly complicated reproductive-endocrine-immune regulatory network. TRMs can interact with a variety of cells in the gonadal tissue. The gonad-specific microenvironment could confer the tissue-specific regional immune identities and functional remodeling to TRMs. Meanwhile, the TRMs are adapted to maintain gonad homeostasis and regulate gametes development and steroidogenesis. In this review, we reviewed the origin, phenotype, polarization, subgroup classification, and other regional immune characteristics of TRMs in testis and ovary, and discussed the important role of TRMs in maintaining gonadal tissue homeostasis and regulating reproductive endocrine function.