Changes in fucosylation of human seminal IgG and secretory component of IgA in leukocytospermic patients.
Our study compares the status of human seminal plasma immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgA secretory component (SC) fucosylation between infertile leukocytospermic and normal, fertile normozoospermic patients. The seminal IgG and SC are decorated with AAL-reactive core fucose, and antennary UEA- and LTA-reactive fucose of Lewis(y) and Lewis(x) structures, respectively. However, a correlation between IgG core fucosylation and IgG concentration (r = -0.52; p < 0.0003) was observed. The IgG present in leukocytospermic samples is characterized by lower expression of core fucose than in the normal group (0.82 ± 0.3 AU and 1.2 ± 0.3 AU, respectively; p < 0.002). In seminal plasma the SC is present in two forms: 78-kDa and 63-kDa. The present study has also shown a higher AAL and LTA specific reactivity of glycans expressed in 63-kDa SC, in comparison to 78-kDa SC, in the normal group. In leukocytospermia, the values of specific lectin reactivity for core fucose, fucose α(1-2)- and α(1-3)- linked, were similar for both SC bands. Moreover, the present study has shown that in leukocytospermic samples the mean concentrations of IgG and S-IgA are twice as high (131.68 ± 102.6 mg/l and 36 ± 27 mg/l, respectively) as in the normal group (67.68 ± 29.2 mg/l; p < 0.02, and 19 ± 18 mg/l, p < 0.019, respectively). The analysis of IgG and SC fucosylation status and the determination of IgG and S-IgA concentrations in seminal plasma might constitute a valuable diagnosis tools for the evaluation of male infertility associated with leukocytospermia with accompanying inflammation.
Department of Chemistry and Immunochemistry, Wrocław Medical University, Bujwida 44a, 50-345, Wrocław, Poland, ewa.kratz@umed.wroc.pl.
Ewa M
EM
Kratz
Mirosława
M
Ferens-Sieczkowska
Ricardo
R
Faundez
Iwona
I
Kątnik-Prastowska
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005643:Fucose / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006031:Glycosylation; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D037102:Lectins / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D012661:Semen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*
D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D037102:Lectins; D005643:Fucose