Mumps Virus-Induced TNF-α Production Through Toll-Like Receptor 2 Mediates Testicular Dysfunction in Male Mice

Mumps virus (MuV) infection may lead to male infertility. However, the pathological mechanisms of testicular dysfunctions are largely unknown. This study aims to the mechanisms by which MuV infection induces testicular dysfunctions in mice. Intraperitoneal injection of MuV induced up-regulation of cytokines and chemokines including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), monocyte tractant-1, IP-10. Moreover, MuV infection induced male germ cell apoptosis and impaired spermatogenesis. Notably, MuV injection did not evidently induce dysfunction in Toll-like receptor 2 knockout (TLR2^-/-) or TNF-α^-/- mice. MuV did not induce TNF-α production in TLR2^-/- mice. The results suggest that MuV induces TNF-α production through TLR2, and TNF-α leads to testicular dysfunction. Data of this study provide novel insights into the mechanisms underlying MuV-induced testicular dysfunction in mice.