Pokeweed antiviral protein: a potential nonspermicidal prophylactic antiviral agent.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of pokeweed antiviral protein (PAP), a 29-kDa anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protein purified from the leaves of Phytolacca americana, on human sperm function.


METHODS
Prospective, controlled study.


METHODS
Reproductive biology department.


METHODS
Seven sperm donors.


METHODS
Human sperm and female genital tract epithelial cells were exposed to PAP ranging in concentration from 1 to 1,000 microg/mL.


METHODS
Effect of PAP on sperm motility, kinematics, and sperm penetration through bovine mucus, as well as binding, penetration, and fusion of zona-free hamster eggs.


RESULTS
Exposing human sperm to PAP (IC(50) p24 = 14 +/- 2 nM) did not affect sperm motility and kinematics over a dose range of 1 to 1,000 microg/mL. Treating sperm with either 100 or 1,000 microg/mL of PAP had no effect on cervical mucus penetrability, nor did it affect sperm binding, penetration, and fusion of zona-free hamster eggs. PAP was noncytotoxic to genital-tract epithelial cells.


CONCLUSIONS
The broad-spectrum antiviral agent PAP was nontoxic to human sperm and female genital tract epithelial cells even at a concentration 2,000 times higher than its IC(50) value against HIV-1. PAP has particular clinical usefulness both as a nonspermicidal intravaginal microbicide and as a prophylactic antiviral agent that can inactivate infective viruses and virus-infected cells in semen before assisted reproductive technology procedures are undertaken.
D'Cruz
O J
OJ
Department of Reproductive Biology, Parker Hughes Institute, St. Paul, Minnesota 55113, USA. odcruz@ih.org
Uckun
F M
FM
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002417:Cattle; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002582:Cervix Mucus / Q000187:drug effects; D006224:Cricetinae; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009699:N-Glycosyl Hydrolases; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D054789:Ribosome Inactivating Proteins, Type 1; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects*
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D010940:Plant Proteins; D054789:Ribosome Inactivating Proteins, Type 1; D009699:N-Glycosyl Hydrolases; C024275:pokeweed antiviral protein