title: Sperm fucosyltransferase-5 mediates spermatozoa-oviductal epithelial cell interaction to protect human spermatozoa from oxidative damage.
abstract: Oxidative damage by reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a major cause of sperm dysfunction. Excessive ROS generation reduces fertilization and enhances DNA damage of spermatozoa. Interaction between spermatozoa and oviductal epithelial cells improves the fertilizing ability of and reduces chromatin damage in spermatozoa. Our previous data showed that oviductal epithelial cell membrane proteins interact with the human spermatozoa and protect them from ROS-induced reduction in sperm motility, membrane integrity and DNA integrity. Sperm fucosyltransferase-5 (sFUT5) is a membrane carbohydrate-binding protein on human spermatozoa. In this study, we demonstrate for the first time that sFUT5 is involved in human spermatozoa-oviduct interaction and the beneficial effects of such interaction on the fertilizing ability of human spermatozoa. Anti-sFUT5 antibody-treated spermatozoa had reduced binding to oviductal membrane proteins. It is consistent with the result that affinity-purified sFUT5 is bound to the epithelial lining of human oviduct and to the immortalized human oviductal epithelial cell line, OE-E6/E7. Pretreatment of spermatozoa with anti-sFUT5 antibody and oviductal membrane proteins with sFUT5 suppressed the protective action of oviductal membrane proteins against ROS/cryopreservation-induced oxidative damage in spermatozoa. Asialofetuin, a reported sFUT5 substrate, can partly mimic the protective effect of oviductal epithelial cell membrane proteins on sperm motility, membrane and DNA integrity. The results enhance our understanding on the protective mechanism of oviduct on sperm functions.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
authors: Venus Wenxin
authors: VW
authors: Huang
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR Centre of Reproduction, Development and Growth, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
authors: Cheuk-Lun
authors: CL
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
authors: Yin-Lau
authors: YL
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
authors: Kevin K W
authors: KK
authors: Lam
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
authors: Jennifer K Y
authors: JK
authors: Ko
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR Centre of Reproduction, Development and Growth, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
authors: William S B
authors: WS
authors: Yeung
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR Centre of Reproduction, Development and Growth, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.
authors: Pak-Chung
authors: PC
authors: Ho
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR Centre of Reproduction, Development and Growth, The University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR pchiucn@hku.hk.
authors: Philip C N
authors: PC
authors: Chiu
mesh_terms: D002450:Cell Communication; D015925:Cryopreservation; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000201:enzymology; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D005647:Fucosyltransferases / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D012662:Semen Preservation; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D005647:Fucosyltransferases
keywords: human spermatozoa; oviductal epithelial cell; oxidative stress; sperm fucosyltransferase-5