Identification of evolutionary conserved mouse sperm surface antigens by human antisperm antibodies (ASA) from infertile patients.
OBJECTIVE
The presence of antisperm antibodies (ASA) in semen may impair sperm function leading to immunological infertility. The aim of the study was to identify the evolutionary conserved antigens on mouse sperm surface that react with human ASA in order to study the mechanism of autoimmune infertility.


METHODS
The binding of human ASA to mouse sperm was investigated by means of indirect immunofluorescence. 2D-electrophoresis was applied to separate the biotin-labelled mouse membrane proteins using isoelectric focusing followed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Cognate antigens of ASA from seminal plasma of infertile patients were analysed by Western blotting. Performing avidin-blots it was detected which of the proteins recognized were sperm surface proteins. The spots of interest were analysed by means of mass spectrometry.


RESULTS
ASA bound most frequently (36%) to the post-acrosomal region and to the midpiece of mouse spermatozoa. About 30% of ASA recognized apo lactate dehydrogenase (LDHC4) as a cognate antigen, 30% voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC2). ASA of 20% bound to outer dense fibre protein and 20% of samples recognized glutathione S-transferase mu5.


CONCLUSIONS
Human ASA bound to specific cognate antigens of mouse spermatozoa, offering the possibility to study their functional relevance in the mouse model.
Paradowska
Agnieszka
A
Department of Andrology, Clinical Training Center of the European Academy of Andrology, University Hospital Marburg, Marburg, Germany. paradows@staff.uni-marburg.de
Bohring
Claudia
C
Krause
Eberhard
E
Krause
Walter
W
D000818:Animals; D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000378:metabolism*; D001324:Autoantigens; D005075:Biological Evolution; D001710:Biotin; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D012661:Semen / Q000276:immunology; D013045:Species Specificity; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000276:immunology*
D000954:Antigens, Surface; D001323:Autoantibodies; D001324:Autoantigens; D001710:Biotin