Disruption of tight junctions between which testicular cells leads to an autoimmune response to germ cell products?

Disruption of tight junctions between which testicular cells leads to an autoimmune response to germ cell products?

• A. Leydig
• B. Sertoli
• C. Fibroblasts
• D. Capillary endothelium

Answer: (B)

The important idea here is the blood-testis barrier, which is formed by tight junctions between adjacent Sertoli cells in the seminiferous tubules. This barrier isolates developing germ cells from the systemic immune system, since germ cell antigens appear after tolerance is established. If these Sertoli cell tight junctions are disrupted, germ cell products can be exposed to immune cells, leading to an autoimmune response against germ cell antigens. Leydig cells, capillary endothelium, and fibroblasts do not create this barrier, so disrupting them wouldn’t specifically provoke autoimmunity to germ cell products.

The important idea here is the blood-testis barrier, which is formed by tight junctions between adjacent Sertoli cells in the seminiferous tubules. This barrier isolates developing germ cells from the systemic immune system, since germ cell antigens appear after tolerance is established. If these Sertoli cell tight junctions are disrupted, germ cell products can be exposed to immune cells, leading to an autoimmune response against germ cell antigens. Leydig cells, capillary endothelium, and fibroblasts do not create this barrier, so disrupting them wouldn’t specifically provoke autoimmunity to germ cell products.