Indentification and functionality of antigens reacting with antisperm antibodies and their role in male immunoinfertility

Abstract

Antisperm antibodies (ASA) are a leading cause of male associated infertility. The male partner of 1 in 10 couples tests positive for sperm bound antibodies with immunoglobulins of the IgG class being found in all patients and IgA to a lower extent. This study used several approaches to identify novel sperm surface antigens. Firstly, reactivity to mouse reproductive tract antigens were invesigated, indentitying CRISP 1 and MVDP as targets for human ASA. Both proteins were purified to homogeneity. CRISP 1 was shown to be involved in sperm-egg binding, as polyclonal anti-CRISP 1 antibodies blocked mouse ova fertilization in vitro. MVDP, a member of the aldo-keto reductase family, was revealed to function in the detoxification of acrolein, a reactive aldehyde produced by the catabolism of the polyamines, spermine and spermidine, which are abundant in seminal plasma. Secondly, human seminal plasma proteins were explored as targets for ASA.