Integrins and disintegrins: the candidate molecular players in sperm-egg interaction.
Fertilization includes sperm-egg recognition, adhesion, binding, fusion and egg activation. Integrin (ITG) receptors which are adhesion molecules are expressed on mouse, hamster and human gametes and their potential ligands also have been identified. Role of ITGs during fertilization is supported by inhibition of sperm-egg adhesion and/or fusion by means of anti-ITG mAbs, Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) or disintegrin-like peptides. This review includes the current understanding of the molecular mechanism that regulates sperm-egg interaction and implications of this knowledge for assessing the fertility potential of men and immunocontraceptive method.
Immunology Division, Institute for Research in Reproduction (ICMR), Parel, Mumbai 400 012, India.
R K
RK
Shrimali
K V
KV
Reddy
D000818:Animals; D006224:Cricetinae; D019483:Disintegrins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000503:physiopathology; D016023:Integrins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions / Q000502:physiology*
D019483:Disintegrins; D016023:Integrins