Spermadhesin PSP-I/PSP-II heterodimer induces migration of polymorphonuclear neutrophils into the uterine cavity of the sow.
Seminal plasma (SP) is a complex fluid which exerts biological actions in the female reproductive tract. In pigs, SP elicits endometrial inflammation and consequent immune changes after mating. This study tested whether heparin-binding spermadhesins (HBPs) and the heterodimer of porcine sperm adhesions I and II (PSP-I/PSP-II) in SP recruit different lymphocyte subsets (CD2(+), CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells) or polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) to the superficial endometrium or luminal epithelium and lumen, respectively, of oestrous sows. In Experiment 1, endometrial biopsies were taken between 2 and 120 min after infusion of uterine horns with HBPs, PSP-I/PSP-II or saline and evaluated by immunohistochemistry or histology. In Experiment 2, the uterus of oestrous sows was infused with PSP-I/PSP-II or saline to assess PMN numbers in the uterine lumen 3h later. PSP-I/PSP-II elicited CD2+ T cell recruitment from 10 min, and CD8(+) T cells from 60 min after infusion, while HBPs increased CD4(+) T cell recruitment by 120 min. PSP-I/PSP-II but not HBPs induced PMN migration to the surface epithelium by 10 min. PMN numbers were elevated 5-fold by 30 min and 7-fold from 60 min, with PMNs detectable in the lumen from 30 min after infusion. Six-fold more PMNs were collected from the uterine lumen of PSP-I/PSP-II-infused sows compared to controls at 3h after infusion. These data show that PSP-I/PSP-II heterodimer in seminal plasma has a predominant role in triggering the recruitment of uterine PMNs and T cells after mating, initiating a cascade of transient and long-lasting immunological events.
Rodriguez-Martinez
H
H
Division of Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (FVMAS), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala, Sweden. heriberto.rodriguez@kv.slu.se
Saravia
F
F
Wallgren
M
M
Martinez
E A
EA
Sanz
L
L
Roca
J
J
Vazquez
J M
JM
Calvete
J J
JJ
D000818:Animals; D018801:CD2 Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D002634:Chemotaxis, Leukocyte / Q000276:immunology*; D004717:Endometrium / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology*; D055503:Protein Multimerization; D012661:Semen / Q000276:immunology; D029589:Seminal Plasma Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D029607:Seminal Vesicle Secretory Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D013552:Swine / Q000276:immunology*; D014599:Uterus / Q000276:immunology*
D018801:CD2 Antigens; D029589:Seminal Plasma Proteins; D029607:Seminal Vesicle Secretory Proteins; C074521:seminal vesicle secretory protein II, porcine; C425042:spermadhesin; C074520:seminal vesicle secretory protein 109, porcine