Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Battistone MA
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7003979 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Battistone Maria A MA Spallanzani Raul German RG Mendelsohn Alexandra C AC Capen Diane D Nair Anil V AV Brown Dennis D Breton Sylvie S
Journal of cell science 20191118 5
Epithelial cells are immune sensors and mediators that constitute the first line of defense against infections. Using the epididymis, a model for studying tubular organs, we uncovered a novel and unexpected role for professional proton-secreting 'clear cells' in sperm maturation and immune defense. The epididymal epithelium participates in the maturation of spermatozoa via the establishment of an acidic milieu and transfer of proteins to sperm cells, a poorly characterized process. We show that ...[more]