Exploring chemokine-mediated inflammatory responses in the testis and epididymis: insights into ectopic lymphoid organ formation

This thesis examined how inflammatory mediators potentially affect the testis. In an experimental model and in human testicular sections, it was revealed that chemokines responsible for macrophages attraction are altered in inflammatory setting. This alteration is ameliorated when a receptor responsible for attraction of macrophages is deleted (CCR2). Activin A was revealed to be expressed by macrophages and to modulate the expression of these chemokine. This highlights macrophages expressing Activin A/ CCR2 as therapeutic targets. In another part, it was uncovered that the epididymis is susceptible to the formation of lymphoid organs under inflammatory conditions which could potentially affect fertility