title: Immunoglobulin G Expression in Human Sperm and Possible Functional Significance.
abstract: Immunoglobulin G (IgG), the major molecule of the immune system, which was traditionally thought to be produced by differentiated B-lymphocytes, had recently been found in non-immune cells including spermatozoa of rabbit testis. To study if human sperms could produce IgG that might play a role in fertilization, we employed immunofluorescent staining, Western blot, in situ hybridization, RT-PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) and immunoelectron microscope and found that human sperms were capable of synthesizing IgG. IgG protein and mRNA were detected in the cytoplasm, mainly the neck region of the sperm and IgG immunoreactivity was found to cover the entire sperm cell. The essential enzymes necessary for IgG synthesis and class switching, RAG1 (recombination activating gene 1), RAG2 (recombination activating gene 2) and AID (activation-induced cytidine deaminase), were also detected in the sperm cells. Furthermore, we found that anti-IgG antibody could inhibit sperm from penetrating Zona-free hamster egg with statistical significance. These discoveries suggested that immunoglobulin G could be produced by human sperms and it might play a role during fertilization.
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Immunopathology, Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Meiling
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Immunopathology, Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoyu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Immunopathology, Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Qinxue
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Pu
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Immunopathology, Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China.
authors.forename: Qingdong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Center, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Immunopathology, Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Immunopathology, Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Immunopathology, Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Huan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.affiliation: Jinxin Research Institute for Reproductive Medicine and Genetics, Chengdu Jinjiang Hospital for Maternal and Child Health Care, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Tianhua
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Reproductive Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou University, Shantou, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Zhiling
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Immunopathology, Department of Pathology and Pathophysiology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D006224:Cricetinae; D005306:Fertilization; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006031:Glycosylation; D006801:Humans; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / Q000378:metabolism; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010063:Ovum / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D012333:RNA, Messenger
references.citation: FASEB J. 2007 Sep;21(11):2931-8
references.pmid: 17475920
references.citation: Int J Biochem Cell Biol. 2011 Apr;43(4):556-63
references.pmid: 21167303
references.citation: Fertil Steril. 1982 Oct;38(4):439-46
references.pmid: 7117571
references.citation: Nature. 2005 Mar 10;434(7030):234-8
references.pmid: 15759005
references.citation: Am J Reprod Immunol (1980). 1982 Aug;2(4):222-4
references.pmid: 7137446
references.citation: Mol Gen Genet. 1998 May;258(3):233-9
references.pmid: 9645429
references.citation: Nature. 2014 Apr 24;508(7497):483-7
references.pmid: 24739963
references.citation: J Reprod Fertil. 1982 Sep;66(1):251-8
references.pmid: 7120189
references.citation: Biol Reprod. 1976 Nov;15(4):471-6
references.pmid: 974200
references.citation: Am J Reprod Immunol. 2001 May;45(5):289-94
references.pmid: 11432403
references.citation: Immunology. 1986 Feb;57(2):311-7
references.pmid: 3081439
references.citation: Am J Reprod Immunol. 1996 Oct;36(4):211-5
references.pmid: 8911628
references.citation: Zhonghua Nan Ke Xue. 2010 Oct;16(10):867-71
references.pmid: 21243747
references.citation: J Neurosci. 2008 Nov 19;28(47):12199-211
references.pmid: 19020014
references.citation: Biol Reprod. 2005 Oct;73(4):688-94
references.pmid: 15888731
references.citation: Oncol Rep. 1998 Nov-Dec;5(6):1519-24
references.pmid: 9769398
references.citation: Cell Mol Life Sci. 2011 Jul;68(14):2481-92
references.pmid: 21061041
references.citation: Eur J Immunol. 1995 May;25(5):1143-7
references.pmid: 7774617
references.citation: Hum Reprod. 1996 Jul;11(7):1463-79
references.pmid: 8671487
references.citation: Hum Reprod. 2015 Feb;30(2):380-91
references.pmid: 25505012
references.citation: Int J Mol Sci. 2014 Jun 13;15(6):10652-68
references.pmid: 24933635
references.citation: Lab Invest. 2014 Nov;94(11):1283-95
references.pmid: 25264708
references.citation: J Histochem Cytochem. 2009 Apr;57(4):339-49
references.pmid: 19064717
references.citation: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007 Aug 28;104(35):14104-9
references.pmid: 17715065
references.citation: Genes Chromosomes Cancer. 1998 May;22(1):83-6
references.pmid: 9591639
references.citation: Chem Immunol Allergy. 2005;89:158-168
references.pmid: 16129962
references.citation: Immunology. 1980 Nov;41(3):681-6
references.pmid: 7461708
references.citation: Mod Pathol. 2012 Jan;25(1):36-45
references.pmid: 21909078
references.citation: Immunol Rev. 1998 Jun;163:77-87
references.pmid: 9700503
references.citation: Arthritis Rheum. 2010 Aug;62(8):2239-48
references.pmid: 20506563
references.citation: Nat Cell Biol. 2001 Feb;3(2):E59-64
references.pmid: 11175768
references.citation: Cancer Res. 2003 Oct 1;63(19):6488-95
references.pmid: 14559841
references.citation: Immunol Lett. 1998 Jul;62(3):151-7
references.pmid: 9698113
references.citation: J Reprod Immunol. 1997 Sep;34(2):121-36
references.pmid: 9292779
references.citation: Actas Urol Esp. 2013 Oct;37(9):571-8
references.pmid: 23428233
references.citation: Mol Immunol. 1986 Dec;23(12):1397-400
references.pmid: 3821742
references.citation: J Exp Zool. 1978 Feb;203(2):271-6
references.pmid: 342673