Alpha 6 beta 1 Integrin is a potential clinical marker for evaluating sperm quality in men.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the clinical significance of alpha6beta1 integrin in human spermatozoa.


METHODS
Prospective case-controlled study.


METHODS
Hospital infertility clinic in India.


METHODS
Sixty-two men undergoing evaluation for infertility and 20 healthy, proven-fertile controls were selected.


METHODS
Role of alpha6beta1integrin in sperm quality evaluation was determined using semen analysis, cell ELISA, flow cytometry, and in vitro sperm-egg binding.


METHODS
Determination of sperm-associated alpha6beta1 integrin may help in assessing the quality of the human spermatozoa.


RESULTS
Expression of alpha6beta1 integrin was significantly low in the spermatozoa obtained from subfertile men. Only 35%-40% of spermatozoa from fertile men showed a positive reaction to alpha6beta1 antibody. The samples with high rate of acrosomal reaction showed a good expression of alpha6beta1 and maximum binding to oocyte in an in vitro binding assay.


CONCLUSIONS
alpha6beta1 Integrin may be used as a clinical marker to evaluate sperm quality.
Reddy
Venkata Rami K
VR
Immunology Laboratory, National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Indian Council of Medical Research, Parel, Mumbai, India. shrichi@rediffmail.com
Rajeev
Shrimali K
SK
Gupta
Vijayalakshmi
V
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000175:diagnosis*; D039121:Integrin alpha6beta1 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000737:chemistry
D015415:Biomarkers; D039121:Integrin alpha6beta1