Mapping the immune cells of the testis: Key insights into sexual maturation.

Abstract

Background: The testicular immune microenvironment sustains homeostasis and immune privilege. However, the presence and functional significance of B cells within this specialized niche remain poorly characterized. Furthermore, the intricate crosstalk between resident immune populations and testicular stromal cells that may orchestrate the immunological and endocrine microenvironment during sexual maturation warrants systematic investigation.

Objective: To systematically delineate the immune cell atlas and developmental trajectory of testicular leukocytes before and after sexual maturation.

Materials and methods: An integrated analysis of leukocytes in post-sexual maturity (8-week-old) and pre-sexual maturity (2-week-old) mouse testes using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and mass cytometry (CyTOF), was performed. Magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) isolated immune subsets, followed by bioinformatics interrogation of cellular heterogeneity and ligand-receptor network analysis to map intercellular communication pathways.

Results: Through scRNA-seq clustering analysis, we resolved 18 distinct leukocyte populations (11 lymphoid and seven myeloid lineages), which were further validated and expanded to 17 phenotypically discrete subsets (eight lymphoid and nine myeloid) via high-dimensional CyTOF profiling. Notably, we identified a rare but functionally significant B lymphocyte population within the testicular compartment. The myeloid compartment exhibited pronounced developmental plasticity, marked by progressive Il1b⁺Macrophages diminution and regulatory T cell expansion during maturation. Cell communication network analysis revealed intensified ligand-receptor cross-talk between androgen-producing Leydig cells and CD8⁺ T lymphocytes in post-pubertal testes, providing mechanistic insights into age-dependent immune privilege establishment.

Discussion and conclusions: Multi-omics integration reveals dynamic immune remodeling during testicular maturation. These findings underscore the potential involvement of B cells in local immune surveillance while identifying maturation-associated signaling axes between stromal and immune cells. This comprehensive mapping of testicular leukocyte dynamics significantly advances our understanding of reproductive immunology and lays foundation for investigating immune-mediated testicular pathologies.