title: Anti-ACTL7a antibodies: a cause of infertility.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To show that antibodies against ACTL7a, a spermatozoon-specific protein, may be a cause of immunologic infertility.
  
  
  METHODS
  Determine the presence of anti-ACTL7a antibodies in infertile blood, raise antibodies against ACTL7a in rabbits, and demonstrate that the in vitro treatment of mouse spermatozoa with infertile sera markedly reduces their fertilizing capacity. Demonstrate that the active immunization of mice with ACTL7a protein reduces fertility.
  
  
  METHODS
  National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, World Health Organization Collaboration Center of Human Reproduction, China.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rabbits, ICR mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mass spectrometry, indirect immunostaining, spermatozoa agglutination test, and standard fertility assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The fertilizing potential of mouse spermatozoa was markedly reduced after in vitro treatment with ACTL7a antibody-containing serum from a vasectomized man. Active immunization with ACTL7a significantly reduced the fertility of mice. Anti-ACTL7a antibodies caused the agglutination of mouse and human spermatozoa in vitro. Furthermore, the antibodies were detected in the sera of additional vasectomized men.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anti-ACTL7a antibodies may cause infertility in mice because the in vitro treatment of mouse spermatozoa with ACTL7a antibody-containing serum markedly reduced the fertilizing potential of the spermatozoa. In addition, the active immunization of mice with ACTL7a resulted in significant reductions in fertility.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Tsinghua University, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Kin Lam
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Fok
authors.forename: Dantong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: Hsiao Chang
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Samuel S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Koide
authors.forename: Shiying
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.forename: Linfang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood; D002460:Cell Line; D003269:Contraception, Immunologic; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D051379:Mice; D011817:Rabbits; D013073:Sperm Agglutination; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: C120133:ACTL7A protein, human; D000199:Actins; C483118:Actl7a protein, mouse; D000906:Antibodies; D001323:Autoantibodies