{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,13]],"date-time":"2026-09-13T19:56:17Z","timestamp":1789329377998,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":109,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"9","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,9,12]],"date-time":"2024-09-12T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1726099200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/100000002","name":"National Institute of Health\/the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH\/NCCIH)","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["5R33AT010637-01A1"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["5R33AT010637-01A1"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100000002","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/100000002","name":"National Institute of Health\/the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH\/NCCIH)","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["3R33 AT010637-02S1"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["3R33 AT010637-02S1"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/100000002","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"name":"Malcolm Feist Endowed Chair in Diabetes","award":["5R33AT010637-01A1"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["5R33AT010637-01A1"]}]},{"name":"Malcolm Feist Endowed Chair in Diabetes","award":["3R33 AT010637-02S1"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["3R33 AT010637-02S1"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Genes"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Blood\u2013testis barrier (BTB) genes are crucial for the cellular mechanisms of spermatogenesis as they protect against detrimental cytotoxic agents, chemicals, and pathogens, thereby maintaining a sterile environment necessary for sperm development. BTB proteins predominantly consist of extensive tight and gap junctions formed between Sertoli cells. These junctions form a crucial immunological barrier restricting the intercellular movement of substances and molecules within the adluminal compartment. Epithelial tight junctions are complex membrane structures composed of various integral membrane proteins, including claudins, zonula occludens-1, and occludin. Inter-testicular cell junction proteins undergo a constant process of degradation and renewal. In addition, the downregulation of genes crucial to the development and preservation of cell junctions could disrupt the functionality of the BTB, potentially leading to male infertility. Oxidative stress and inflammation may contribute to disrupted spermatogenesis, resulting in male infertility. L-cysteine is a precursor to glutathione, a crucial antioxidant that helps mitigate damage and inflammation resulting from oxidative stress. Preclinical research indicates that L-cysteine may offer protective benefits against testicular injury and promote the expression of BTB genes. This review emphasizes various BTB genes essential for preserving its structural integrity and facilitating spermatogenesis and male fertility. Furthermore, it consolidates various research findings suggesting that L-cysteine may promote the expression of BTB-associated genes, thereby aiding in the maintenance of testicular functions.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/genes15091201","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,9,12]],"date-time":"2024-09-12T06:31:40Z","timestamp":1726122700000},"page":"1201","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":18,"title":["The Protective Role of L-Cysteine in the Regulation of Blood\u2013Testis Barrier Functions\u2014A Brief Review"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7905-1887","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jeffrey","family":"Justin Margret","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pediatrics, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA 71103, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sushil K.","family":"Jain","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Pediatrics, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA 71103, USA"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,9,12]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"16","DOI":"10.1124\/pr.110.002790","article-title":"The blood-testis barrier and its implications for male contraception","volume":"64","author":"Cheng","year":"2012","journal-title":"Pharmacol. 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