Macrophage transition to a myofibroblast state drives fibrotic disease in uropathogenic E. coli-induced epididymo-orchitis.

ABSTRACT: Bacterial infections, particularly uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC), contribute substantially to male infertility through tissue damage and subsequent fibrosis in the testis and epididymis. The role of testicular macrophages (TMs), a diverse cell population integral to tissue maintenance and immune balance, in fibrosis is not fully understood. Here, we used single-cell RNA sequencing in a murine model of epididymo-orchitis to analyze TM dynamics during UPEC infection. Our study identified a marked increase in S100a4+ macrophages, originating from monocytes, strongly associated with fibrotic changes. This association was validated in human testicular and epididymal samples. We further demonstrated that S100a4+ macrophages transition to a myofibroblast-like phenotype, producing extracellular mat

SUBMITTER: Wang M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12483606 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature