ABSTRACT
Immune regulation within the testis is necessary to prevent an autoimmune response to developing germ cells. Sertoli cells are one of the key players involved in establishing this immune protective milieu by forming the blood-testis barrier/Sertoli cell barrier and modulating the immune response. In this chapter, we will describe the role of Sertoli cells in testicular immune privilege. Specifically, we will examine the role of the blood-testis barrier/Sertoli cell barrier in sequestering the advanced germ cells within the adluminal compartment of the seminiferous tubules and Sertoli cell modulation of the immune response by expressing immunoregulatory factors and inducing regulatory immune cells. The potential downsides of immune privilege, such as infections and cancer and their associated pathologies, will also be discussed. Overall a delicate balance between immune privilege and inflammation is necessary to create an environment optimal for germ cell development and at the same time to protect the host from pathogens. Therefore, understanding immune modulation by Sertoli cells has important clinical implications for health and disease.
