Targeting the CMKLR1‐Mediated Signaling Rebalances Immunometabolism State in Middle‐Age Testicular Macrophages

Age-related male hypogonadism is often associated with obesity-related metabolic disorders and impaired regulation of the testicular anti-inflammatory microenvironment. However, how adipose-mediated signals intersect with local testicular immunity remains unclear. In this study, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) of human and mouse testes identified a conserved CD206<sup>Lo</sup>MHCII<sup>Hi</sup> macrophage subset, which undergoes CMKLR1-mediated metabolic reprogramming toward glycolysis and pro-inflammatory state during middle age. This immunometabolic shift is further found to impair spermatogenesis. CMKLR1 is identified as a viable target in vivo for restoring immunometabolic balance in aging testes. Systemic administration of a newly developed CMKLR1 antagonist peptide (P12C5) or non-pharmacological intervention such as high-intensity interval training (HIIT) rescued spermatogenesis in middle-aged humans and mice, and reversed the pro-inflammatory immunometabolic phenotype in testicular macrophages. Together, these findings validate CMKLR1 as a key modulator of testicular immunometabolism and a therapeutic target for mitigating age-related immunometabolic dysfunction.

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Publication Details

Journal
Advanced Science
Published
2026-01-15
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202515166
Primary Topic
Sperm and Testicular Function
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

Targeting the CMKLR1‐Mediated Signaling Rebalances Immunometabolism State in Middle‐Age Testicular Macrophages

Jinchunzi Yang, Yali Yang, Bo Wang, Zhendong Zhu et al.
Advanced Science
Sperm and Testicular Function
article

Targeting the CMKLR1‐Mediated Signaling Rebalances Immunometabolism State in Middle‐Age Testicular Macrophages

Jinchunzi Yang, Yali Yang, Bo Wang, Zhendong Zhu, Lei Ge, Jian V. Zhang, Tianxia Xiao, Feifei Du, Jie Chen, Yang Liu
article en

Abstract

Age-related male hypogonadism is often associated with obesity-related metabolic disorders and impaired regulation of the testicular anti-inflammatory microenvironment. However, how adipose-mediated signals intersect with local testicular immunity remains unclear. In this study, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) of human and mouse testes identified a conserved CD206<sup>Lo</sup>MHCII<sup>Hi</sup> macrophage subset, which undergoes CMKLR1-mediated metabolic reprogramming toward glycolysis and pro-inflammatory state during middle age. This immunometabolic shift is further found to impair spermatogenesis. CMKLR1 is identified as a viable target in vivo for restoring immunometabolic balance in aging testes. Systemic administration of a newly developed CMKLR1 antagonist peptide (P12C5) or non-pharmacological intervention such as high-intensity interval training (HIIT) rescued spermatogenesis in middle-aged humans and mice, and reversed the pro-inflammatory immunometabolic phenotype in testicular macrophages. Together, these findings validate CMKLR1 as a key modulator of testicular immunometabolism and a therapeutic target for mitigating age-related immunometabolic dysfunction.

Advanced ScienceVol. 13(14)
Jinan University (CN), Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health (CN), Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University (CN), Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology (CN), Shenzhen Technology University (CN), University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN), China Medical University (CN), Guangzhou Medical University (CN)
National Natural Science Foundation of China, Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation of Guangdong Province
Openalex Percentile: Top 88%
Sperm and Testicular Function
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