Examining potential mechanisms of testicular fibrosis in Klinefelter Syndrome: A review of current understanding. 2023

Aaron W Bradshaw, and Nicholas A Deebel, and Mark C Xu, and Stanley Kogan, and Anthony Atala, and Hooman Sadri-Ardekani
Department of Urology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA.

Men with Klinefelter Syndrome develop some degree of seminiferous tubule degeneration, hyalinization, and fibrosis by adulthood. However, the pathophysiology surrounding testicular fibrosis in Klinefelter Syndrome patients remains incompletely understood. To perform a systematic review of literature studying the mechanisms of fibrosis initiation or propagation in Klinefelter Syndrome testes. PubMed was searched systematically for articles specific to Klinefelter Syndrome and the process of fibrosis. Articles that did not contain original data or specifically addressed the target material were excluded. Additional references were extracted when pertinent from the reference lists of included studies. Primary search yielded 139 articles for abstract review, which was narrowed to 16 for full-text review. Following full-text review, eight contained original data and met topic criteria, with one paper added from reference review for a total of nine papers. The date range for included papers was 1992-2022. The proposed mechanisms of fibrosis mainly were centered around the impact of altered Sertoli cells on germ cells, the hormonal impact on Leydig cells, the inflammation mediated by mast cells, or the fibrous extracellular matrix deposition by peritubular myoid cells. Additionally, discussions of the role of the altered microvasculature and the specific proteins involved in the blood-testis barrier or the seminiferous tubule architecture are reviewed. Recent papers have incorporated advanced sequencing and offer future directions for targeted gene expression analysis. Still, much of the published data consists solely of immunohistological assessment by age range, creating difficulties in extrapolating causality. The specific initiating factors of fibrosis of the seminiferous tubules and the propagation mechanisms unique to Klinefelter Syndrome remain incompletely understood with a relative paucity of data. Nonetheless, academic interest is increasing in this field as it may further elucidate the pathophysiology behind Klinefelter syndrome.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007713 Klinefelter Syndrome A form of male HYPOGONADISM, characterized by the presence of an extra X CHROMOSOME, small TESTES, seminiferous tubule dysgenesis, elevated levels of GONADOTROPINS, low serum TESTOSTERONE, underdeveloped secondary sex characteristics, and male infertility (INFERTILITY, MALE). Patients tend to have long legs and a slim, tall stature. GYNECOMASTIA is present in many of the patients. The classic form has the karyotype 47,XXY. Several karyotype variants include 48,XXYY; 48,XXXY; 49,XXXXY, and mosaic patterns ( 46,XY/47,XXY; 47,XXY/48,XXXY, etc.). 48,XXYY Syndrome,49,XXXXY Syndrome,Klinefelter Syndrome, Variants,Klinefelter's Syndrome,XXXY Males,XXY Syndrome,XXY Trisomy,Xxyy Syndrome,Klinefelter Syndromes,Klinefelter Syndromes, Variants,Klinefelters Syndrome,Syndrome, Klinefelter,Syndrome, Klinefelter's,Syndrome, Variants Klinefelter,Syndrome, XXY,Syndrome, Xxyy,Syndromes, Klinefelter,Syndromes, Variants Klinefelter,Syndromes, XXY,Syndromes, Xxyy,Trisomies, XXY,Trisomy, XXY,XXXY Male,XXY Syndromes,XXY Trisomies,Xxyy Syndromes
D008297 Male Males
D005355 Fibrosis Any pathological condition where fibrous connective tissue invades any organ, usually as a consequence of inflammation or other injury. Cirrhosis,Fibroses
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D012671 Seminiferous Tubules The convoluted tubules in the TESTIS where sperm are produced (SPERMATOGENESIS) and conveyed to the RETE TESTIS. Spermatogenic tubules are composed of developing germ cells and the supporting SERTOLI CELLS. Seminiferous Tubule,Tubule, Seminiferous,Tubules, Seminiferous
D012708 Sertoli Cells Supporting cells projecting inward from the basement membrane of SEMINIFEROUS TUBULES. They surround and nourish the developing male germ cells and secrete the ANDROGEN-BINDING PROTEIN and hormones such as ANTI-MULLERIAN HORMONE. The tight junctions of Sertoli cells with the SPERMATOGONIA and SPERMATOCYTES provide a BLOOD-TESTIS BARRIER. Sertoli Cell,Cell, Sertoli,Cells, Sertoli
D013737 Testis The male gonad containing two functional parts: the SEMINIFEROUS TUBULES for the production and transport of male germ cells (SPERMATOGENESIS) and the interstitial compartment containing LEYDIG CELLS that produce ANDROGENS. Testicles,Testes,Testicle

Related Publications

Aaron W Bradshaw, and Nicholas A Deebel, and Mark C Xu, and Stanley Kogan, and Anthony Atala, and Hooman Sadri-Ardekani
January 2008, Hormone research,
Aaron W Bradshaw, and Nicholas A Deebel, and Mark C Xu, and Stanley Kogan, and Anthony Atala, and Hooman Sadri-Ardekani
April 2013, European journal of endocrinology,
Aaron W Bradshaw, and Nicholas A Deebel, and Mark C Xu, and Stanley Kogan, and Anthony Atala, and Hooman Sadri-Ardekani
March 1991, Endocrinology and metabolism clinics of North America,
Aaron W Bradshaw, and Nicholas A Deebel, and Mark C Xu, and Stanley Kogan, and Anthony Atala, and Hooman Sadri-Ardekani
January 1952, Annales d'endocrinologie,
Aaron W Bradshaw, and Nicholas A Deebel, and Mark C Xu, and Stanley Kogan, and Anthony Atala, and Hooman Sadri-Ardekani
May 2022, Reproductive biomedicine online,
Aaron W Bradshaw, and Nicholas A Deebel, and Mark C Xu, and Stanley Kogan, and Anthony Atala, and Hooman Sadri-Ardekani
December 2004, Urology,
Aaron W Bradshaw, and Nicholas A Deebel, and Mark C Xu, and Stanley Kogan, and Anthony Atala, and Hooman Sadri-Ardekani
December 2022, Scientific reports,
Aaron W Bradshaw, and Nicholas A Deebel, and Mark C Xu, and Stanley Kogan, and Anthony Atala, and Hooman Sadri-Ardekani
January 1988, Urology,
Aaron W Bradshaw, and Nicholas A Deebel, and Mark C Xu, and Stanley Kogan, and Anthony Atala, and Hooman Sadri-Ardekani
January 2024, The Journal of urology,
Aaron W Bradshaw, and Nicholas A Deebel, and Mark C Xu, and Stanley Kogan, and Anthony Atala, and Hooman Sadri-Ardekani
March 2023, Genes,
Copied contents to your clipboard!