Differential effects of activin A on macrophage responses: Implications for testis immunology

The germ cells in the testis are protected from inflammatory damage through a mechanism termed immune privilege, which involves immunosuppressive macrophages. It was investigated whether the factor activin A contributes to the immunosuppressive characteristics of the testicular macrophages. The study found that activin A can have both pro- and anti inflammatory effects on immune responses in macrophages that depend on the context. Moreover, activin A can induce changes in the cell metabolism. These findings could indicate an involvement of activin A in the protection of the germ cells in the testis through facilitating immunosuppressive characteristics of macrophages.