About this Research Topic
The male reproductive tract is the primary site for the maintenance of male reproduction and hormone secretion, as well as the entry point of sexually transmitted pathogens. On the one hand, the immune regulation of the male genital tract maintains normal spermatogenesis while on the other hand, the local microenvironment of the immune system plays a key role in preventing the invasion by pathogenic microorganisms.
Infection and inflammation of the male genital tract are thought to be the primary etiological factors of male infertility. Prevalence rates for male infertility attributable to infection range from 6% to 15% in reports from andrology outpatient clinics. Despite that inflammation of the male genital tract is correlated with infections, there are still other events or diseases that impair germ cells including testis cancer, trauma, toxic agents, cryptorchidism and systemic autoimmune diseases. The constant release of highly immunogenic antigens from the damaged seminiferous epithelium or from mature spermatozoa may damage the immune tolerance to spermatic antigens and induce autoimmune orchitis, sterile epididymitis, or autoimmune prostatitis. Therefore, unraveling the molecular microenvironment of the male genital tract is of great interest to understand the immunopathological mechanisms of male infertility and to design novel effective therapeutics for male reproductive health.
This Research Topic aims at covering the latest research on the immune regulation of the male reproductive tract. We welcome authors to submit Original Research and Review articles focusing on the molecular mechanisms and immune regulation of the male reproductive tract, including:
1. Infectious and autoimmune causes of inflammation of the male genital tract
2. Microenvironment characteristics of the male genital tract following bacterial and viral infection, including chlamydia
Infection and inflammation of the male genital tract are thought to be the primary etiological factors of male infertility. Prevalence rates for male infertility attributable to infection range from 6% to 15% in reports from andrology outpatient clinics. Despite that inflammation of the male genital tract is correlated with infections, there are still other events or diseases that impair germ cells including testis cancer, trauma, toxic agents, cryptorchidism and systemic autoimmune diseases. The constant release of highly immunogenic antigens from the damaged seminiferous epithelium or from mature spermatozoa may damage the immune tolerance to spermatic antigens and induce autoimmune orchitis, sterile epididymitis, or autoimmune prostatitis. Therefore, unraveling the molecular microenvironment of the male genital tract is of great interest to understand the immunopathological mechanisms of male infertility and to design novel effective therapeutics for male reproductive health.
This Research Topic aims at covering the latest research on the immune regulation of the male reproductive tract. We welcome authors to submit Original Research and Review articles focusing on the molecular mechanisms and immune regulation of the male reproductive tract, including:
1. Infectious and autoimmune causes of inflammation of the male genital tract
2. Microenvironment characteristics of the male genital tract following bacterial and viral infection, including chlamydia
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
