Immunoregulation in the male reproductive tract
Immunoregulation in the male reproductive tract is a Research Project for the Endocrinology and Immunophysiology Research Group, under the Centre for Reproductive Health.
Project Leader
Sperm do not appear in the reproductive tract until after development of the immune system, naturally suppressing the immune system in the testes. The presence of immunosuppressive molecules in the fluids surrounding the developing germ cells provides an explanation for the curious phenomenon of immune privilege in reproductive tissues. This work also has implications for the development of novel therapeutics for autoimmune disease such as lupus and arthritis, as well as reproductive diseases, including prostatitis and infertility.