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Ligands and Receptors Involved in the Sperm-Zona Pellucida Interactions in Mammals. Cells 2021; 10:cells10010133. [PMID: 33445482 PMCID: PMC7827414 DOI: 10.3390/cells10010133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Sperm-zona pellucida (ZP) interaction, involving the binding of sperm surface ligands to complementary carbohydrates of ZP, is the first direct gamete contact event crucial for subsequent gamete fusion and successful fertilization in mammals. It is a complex process mediated by the coordinated engagement of multiple ZP receptors forming high-molecular-weight (HMW) protein complexes at the acrosomal region of the sperm surface. The present article aims to review the current understanding of sperm-ZP binding in the four most studied mammalian models, i.e., murine, porcine, bovine, and human, and summarizes the candidate ZP receptors with established ZP affinity, including their origins and the mechanisms of ZP binding. Further, it compares and contrasts the ZP structure and carbohydrate composition in the aforementioned model organisms. The comprehensive understanding of sperm-ZP interaction mechanisms is critical for the diagnosis of infertility and thus becomes an integral part of assisted reproductive therapies/technologies.
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Lekhwani S, Vaswani ND, Ghalaut VS, Shanker V, Singh R. Immunocontraceptives: How far from reality? Adv Biomed Res 2014; 3:247. [PMID: 25590025 PMCID: PMC4283252 DOI: 10.4103/2277-9175.146369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2012] [Accepted: 03/06/2013] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite high expectations of safer, effective, economical, longer acting contraceptives, to date, there are no licensed contraceptive vaccines available in the market. Nevertheless, a role for vaccines undoubtedly exists as an aid to birth spacing and as a nonsurgical means of generating sterility. The research concerned in the area so far has been successful on the feline population, with room still for exhaustive studies on humans. The future of contraceptive vaccines holds great promise in terms of comfort, price, efficacy, rare complications, and possibly nonselective action on animal populations as well as on humans. This brief review deals with the basic aspects of immunocontraceptives along with the efforts done so far. There is a need for further research in aspects involving the rate of evolution of contraception resistance based on genetics, resistance phenotypes, or cross generation effects. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone and luteinizing-hormone have not been investigated in humans, as both reported impotency in animals; the follicle-stimulating hormone has been shown to cause oligospermia; zona pellucida has also not been studied in humans as it causes irreversible oophoritis, while the sperm has the potential for success in humans based on the data from immunoreproductive studies. Even as the position of the human chorionic gonadotropin vaccine looks hopeful, research on other possible targets continue with an eventual aim of discovering a vaccine that is more immunogenically effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seema Lekhwani
- Department of Biochemistry, Pt. B. D. Sharma PGIMS, Rohtak, Haryana, India
| | - ND Vaswani
- Department of Pediatrics, Pt. B. D. Sharma PGIMS, Rohtak, Haryana, India
| | | | - Vijay Shanker
- Department of Biochemistry, Pt. B. D. Sharma PGIMS, Rohtak, Haryana, India
| | - Ragini Singh
- Department of Pathology, Pt. B. D. Sharma PGIMS, Rohtak, Haryana, India
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Gupta SK, Shrestha A, Minhas V. Milestones in contraceptive vaccines development and hurdles in their application. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2013; 10:911-25. [PMID: 24262991 DOI: 10.4161/hv.27202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Contraceptive vaccines have been proposed for controlling the growing human population and wildlife population management. Multiple targets such as gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH), luteinizing hormone, follicle stimulating hormone, gonadotropin receptors, sperm-specific proteins and zona pellucida glycoproteins have been exploited to develop contraceptive vaccine and their efficacy investigated and shown in various experimental animal models. Vaccines based on GnRH have found application in immuno-castration of male pigs for prevention of boar-taint. Vaccines based on zona pellucida glycoproteins have shown promising results for population management of wild horses and white-tailed deer. Phase II clinical trials in women with β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG)-based contraceptive vaccine established proof of principle that these can be developed for human application. Block in fertility by β-hCG contraceptive vaccine was reversible. Further research inputs are required to establish the safety of contraceptive vaccines, improve their immunogenicity and to develop novel vaccine delivery platforms for providing long lasting immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satish Kumar Gupta
- Reproductive Cell Biology Laboratory; National Institute of Immunology; Aruna Asaf Ali Marg; New Delhi, India
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Clark S, Naz RK. Presence and Incidence of Izumo Antibodies in Sera of Immunoinfertile Women and Men. Am J Reprod Immunol 2012; 69:256-63. [DOI: 10.1111/aji.12060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2012] [Accepted: 11/09/2012] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Sydney Clark
- Reproductive Immunology and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; West Virginia University, School of Medicine; Morgantown; WV; USA
| | - Rajesh K. Naz
- Reproductive Immunology and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; West Virginia University, School of Medicine; Morgantown; WV; USA
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Hoover P, Naz RK. Do men with prostate abnormalities (prostatitis/benign prostatic hyperplasia/prostate cancer) develop immunity to spermatozoa or seminal plasma? ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 35:608-15. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2605.2011.01246.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Abstract
This is a review of current status and future perspectives on the development of antisperm contraceptive vaccines (CV) and immunocontraceptives. The development of antisperm CV is an exciting proposition. There is a strong rationale and recent data indicating that this proposition can translate into reality. The search for novel sperm-specific antigens/genes, that can be used for CV, continues using various recent developing technologies. Various approaches of proteomics, genomics, reproductive biology, mucosal immunity and vaccinology and several novel technologies such as gene knockout technology, phage display technology, antibody engineering, differential display technique, subtractive hybridization, and hybridoma technology are being used to delineate sperm-specific antigens and construct CV. Various sperm antigens/genes have been delineated, cloned, and sequenced from various laboratories. Vaccination with these sperm antigens (recombinant/synthetic peptide/DNA) causes a reversible contraceptive effect in females and males of various animal species, by inducing a systemic and local antisperm antibody response. The efficacy is enhanced by combination vaccination, including peptides based on various sperm antigens. Several human novel scFv antibodies with unique complementarity-determining regions (CDRs), that react with specific well-defined fertility-related sperm antigens, have been synthesized. These human infertility-related antibodies may find application in the development of novel immunocontraceptives. Besides finding the novel sperm antigens, the present and future focus is on enhancing the immunogenicity, bioefficacy, and on obliterating the inter-individual variability of the immune response, and proceeding for primate and human clinical trials. Multi-epitope vaccines combining sperm proteins involved in various steps of fertilization cascade have been found to enhance the immunogenicity and bioefficacy of the contraceptive effect. The in vitro synthesis of infertility-related human scFv antibodies may provide unique once-a-month immunocontraceptives, the first of its kind, for human use. The multi-epitope CV and preformed engineered human antibodies of defined specificity may obliterate the concern related to inter-individual variability of the immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajesh K Naz
- Reproductive Immunology and Molecular Biology Laboratories, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, 1 Medical Center Drive, Morgantown, WV 26506-9186, USA.
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Gupta SK, Srinivasan VA, Suman P, Rajan S, Nagendrakumar SB, Gupta N, Shrestha A, Joshi P, Panda AK. Contraceptive vaccines based on the zona pellucida glycoproteins for dogs and other wildlife population management. Am J Reprod Immunol 2011; 66:51-62. [PMID: 21501280 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0897.2011.01004.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Zona pellucida (ZP) glycoproteins, by virtue of their critical role in fertilization, have been proposed as candidate antigens for the development of contraceptive vaccines. In this review, the potential of a ZP-based contraceptive vaccine for the management of wildlife population, with special reference to street dogs, is discussed. Immunization of various animal species, including female dogs, with native porcine ZP led to inhibition of fertility, which was associated with the ovarian dysfunction. Immunization of female dogs with Escherichia coli-expressed recombinant dog ZP glycoprotein-3 (ZP3) either coupled to diphtheria toxoid or expressed as fusion protein with 'promiscuous' T non-B-cell epitope of tetanus toxoid also led to inhibition of fertility. To improve the contraceptive efficacy of ZP-based contraceptive vaccine, various groups are working on improving the immunogen, use of DNA vaccine as prime-boost strategy, and delivering the zona proteins/peptides presented on either virus-like particles or entrapped in microsphere. Host-specific live vectors such as ectromelia virus and cytomegalovirus have also been used to deliver mouse ZP3 in mice. Various studies show the enormous potential of the ZP-based vaccine for the management of wildlife population, where permanent sterilization may be desirable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satish K Gupta
- Reproductive Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, India.
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Vaccines for immunological control of fertility. Reprod Med Biol 2009; 9:61-71. [PMID: 29699331 DOI: 10.1007/s12522-009-0042-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2009] [Accepted: 11/06/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Vaccines have been proposed as one of the strategies for population control. Immunocontraceptive vaccines can be designed to inhibit: (1) production of gametes (sperm and egg); (2) functions of gametes, leading to blocking of fertilization; and (3) gamete outcome (pregnancy). Immunization with gonadotropin-releasing hormone coupled to different carriers has shown curtailment in the production of sperm with concomitant infertility in various species. Immunization of nonhuman primates and men with ovine follicle stimulating hormone has also resulted in reduced sperm output. Various spermatozoa-specific proteins such as FA1, PH-20, LDH-C4, SP-10, SP-17, sp56, SPAG9, and Izumo have been proposed as candidate antigens to develop contraceptive vaccines, which have shown efficacy in inhibiting fertility in different animal models. Immunization with zona pellucida glycoproteins-based immunogens also results in curtailment of fertility in a variety of species. However, ways to overcome the observed oophoritis associated with zona proteins immunization have yet to be discovered, a necessary step before their proposal for control of human population. Nonetheless, this is a very promising approach to control wildlife animal population. Phase II clinical trials of β-human chorionic gonadotropin-based vaccine in women have established the proof of principle that it is possible to inhibit fertility without any untoward side-effects by vaccination. Further scientific inputs are required to increase the efficacy of contraceptive vaccines and establish their safety beyond doubt, before they can become applicable for control of fertility in humans.
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Wang M, Shi JL, Cheng GY, Hu YQ, Xu C. The antibody against a nuclear autoantigenic sperm protein can result in reproductive failure. Asian J Androl 2009; 11:183-92. [PMID: 19219058 DOI: 10.1038/aja.2008.59] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
To study whether the antibody against the testis form of the nuclear autoantigenic sperm protein (tNASP) could result in reproductive failure, we successfully cloned and expressed a 339-bp cDNA fragment of mouse tNASP (mtNASP). Using mouse as a model, recombinant mtNASP (rmtNASP) and a synthetic peptide, human tNASP(393-408) (htNASP(393-408)), were investigated for their antifertility effect. Active immunization with rmtNASP or the synthesized peptide raised high antibody titers in the immunized mice. Sperm-egg binding and fusion assay were carried out in 8-10-week-old BALB/c mice. Sperm-egg binding and in vitro fertilization of mouse oocytes were inhibited by co-incubation of zona-free mouse oocytes with capacitated mouse spermatozoa in the presence of varying concentrations of the antisera against rmtNASP. There was a significant antifertility effect in animals immunized with rmtNASP or the synthesized peptide. The effect on fertility in the mice immunized with the synthesized peptide was reversible. Our data indicate that active immunization with rmtNASP antigen may induce a strong antibody response that causes an inhibition of fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Wang
- Department of Histology & Embryology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
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Williams J, Samuel A, Naz RK. ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Presence of Antisperm Antibodies Reactive with Peptide Epitopes of FA-1 and YLP12 in Sera of Immunoinfertile Women. Am J Reprod Immunol 2008; 59:518-24. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0897.2008.00581.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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Samuel AS, Naz RK. Isolation of human single chain variable fragment antibodies against specific sperm antigens for immunocontraceptive development. Hum Reprod 2008; 23:1324-37. [PMID: 18372255 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/den088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Contraceptive vaccines can provide valuable alternatives to current methods of contraception. We describe here the development of sperm-reactive human single chain variable fragment (scFv) antibodies of defined sperm specificity for immunocontraception. METHODS Peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) from antisperm antibody-positive immunoinfertile and vasectomized men were activated with human sperm antigens in vitro, and the complementary DNA prepared and PCR-amplified using primers based on all the variable regions of heavy and light chains of immunoglobulins. The scFv repertoire was cloned into pCANTAB5E vector to create a human scFv antibody library. RESULTS Panning of the library against specific sperm antigens yielded several clones, and the four strongest reactive were selected for further analysis. These clones had novel sequences with unique complementarity-determining regions. ScFv antibodies were expressed, purified and analyzed for human sperm reactivity and effect on human sperm function. AFA-1 and FAB-7 scFv antibodies both reacted with fertilization antigen-1 antigen, but against different epitopes. YLP20 antibody reacted with the expected human sperm protein of 48 +/- 5 kDa. The fourth antibody, AS16, reacted with an 18 kDa sperm protein and seems to be a human homologue of the mouse monoclonal recombinant antisperm antibody that causes sperm agglutination. All these antibodies inhibited human sperm function. CONCLUSIONS This is the first study to report the use of phage display technology to obtain antisperm scFv antibodies of defined antigen specificity. These antibodies will find clinical applications in the development of novel immunocontraceptives, and specific diagnostics for immunoinfertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- A S Samuel
- Reproductive Immunology and Molecular Biology Laboratories, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West Virginia University, School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV 26506-9186, USA
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Abstract
Sperm proteins are being investigated for their applications in the development of contraceptive vaccines (CV) in several laboratories. In the present study, various synthetic peptides based upon four sperm proteins, namely Izumo, fertilization antigen-1 (FA-1), YLP(12), and SP56 that are involved in various steps of the fertilization cascade were examined for their immunocontraceptive effect. The synthetic peptides were conjugated to four carrier proteins namely keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), bovine serum albumin (BSA), chicken gamma-globulin, and chicken ovalbumin. Female mice were immunized with various peptide vaccines and each booster injection was given with the peptide conjugated to a different carrier protein. Two different fertility trials with different doses of the peptide vaccines were conducted to examine the contraceptive effect. Injection of 150 microg of the peptides (Trial II) caused a significantly higher immune response in serum as well as in the vaginal tract causing enhanced contraceptive effect than those observed after injection with 75 microg of the peptides (Trial I). Immunization with the peptide vaccines based upon Izumo, which is involved in sperm-egg plasma membrane fusion, caused a significant reduction in fertility. The contraceptive effect was enhanced by immunizing with the peptides based upon other antigens (FA-1, YLP(12), and SP56), resulting in an overall 73.33% reduction in fertility. When the antibodies against the peptides disappeared after >9-10 months from circulation and genital tract, all the animals regained fertility. These findings indicate for the first time that the immunization with Izumo and other sperm peptides namely FA-1, YLP(12), and SP56 induces antibodies in serum and genital tract that cause a reversible long-term contraceptive effect in female mice. The data further indicate that the proteins involved in sperm-egg fusion can also be used for contraceptive vaccine development. The contraceptive effects are enhanced by immunizing with the multipeptide vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajesh K Naz
- Reproductive Immunology and Molecular Biology Laboratories, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The West Virginia University, School of Medicine, Morgantown, WV 26505-9186, USA.
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Cao JX, Yin GL, Yang WJ. Identification of a novel male reproduction-related gene and its regulated expression patterns in the prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii. Peptides 2006; 27:728-35. [PMID: 16225960 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2005.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2005] [Revised: 09/02/2005] [Accepted: 09/02/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
To identify male-specific genes that could be involved in male development, we screened a subtracted male reproductive tract library and isolated a novel gene named Mar-Mrr (M. rosenbergii male reproduction-related gene). The Mar-Mrr cDNA sequence consists of 683 nucleotides with a 333 nucleotide open reading frame, encoding putative 110 amino acids (11.7473 kDa) precursor protein and a signal peptide consisting of 24 amino acids. Significant developmentally dependent accumulation of the mRNA was observed in the male reproductive tract, specifically in epithelial cells of vas deferens and terminal ampullae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun-Xia Cao
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Department of Marine Biology, 232 Wensan Road, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310012, PR China
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Abstract
Our laboratory has identified a sperm-specific dodecamer peptide sequence, designated as YLP(12), vaccination with which causes a long-term reversible immunocontraceptive effect in female mice. In the present study, the effects of YLP(12) DNA vaccine were examined. YLP(12) 36 bp cDNA was cloned into pVAX1 vector to prepare the DNA vaccine. Two additional vaccine constructs were made by in frame cloning of one and two CpG repeats in the YLP(12)-cDNA vaccine. Five groups of female mice were immunized intradermally by using gene gun with YLP(12)-cDNA, YLP(12)-cDNA-CpG, YLP(12)-cDNA-CpG-CpG, YLP(12)-cDNA mixed with exogenous synthetic CpG oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN), or vector DNA alone, respectively. Vaccination with all three constructs and the YLP(12) vaccine mixed with exogenous ODN raised antibody response both in the sera as well as locally in the vaginal tract. There was no antibody response in the mice injected with the vector alone. In sera, the highest titers were obtained for the IgG class for all constructs and formulation followed by IgA class. In vaginal washings the highest titers were obtained for the IgA class followed by IgG class. Within the IgG class, the titers for the IgG2a subclass were significantly greater than the IgG1 subclass. Immunization with all constructs and formulation caused a significant (P < 0.05 to <0.001) reduction (20-43%) in fertility of female mice. The highest reductions were seen in mice immunized with YLP(12)-cDNA-CpG-CpG (two repeats) (43% reduction) and with the YLP(12) vaccine administered with exogenous CpG ODN (42% reduction). T lymphocytes obtained from DNA-vaccinated mice showed clearly distinguished comparative RT-PCR analysis of cytokine mRNA expression for Th1 and Th2 immune responses compared to T lymphocytes obtained from control animals injected with vector DNA. Expression of both Th1 cytokines (IL-2 and IFN-gamma) and Th2 cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10) was enhanced after DNA vaccination as compared to controls, with a bias towards Th1 response. The immunocontraceptive effects were long-lasting observed up to 1.3 years of the observation period and increased with time. These novel findings indicate that the intradermal immunization with a sperm-specific DNA vaccine causes a long-term circulating and local immune response resulting in immunocontraceptive effects in female mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajesh K Naz
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Immunology and Molecular Biology Laboratories, The West Virginia University, School of Medicine, Morgantown, West Virginia 26505-9186, USA.
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Abstract
Vaccination of female mice with recombinant fertilization antigen (FA-1) causes a long-term reversible contraceptive effect. Also, a DNA vaccine based upon a dodecamer sequence YLP(12) present in sperm causes a reduction in fertility. In the present study, the effects of FA-1 DNA vaccine alone, and FA-1 and YLP(12) DNA vaccines together were examined. FA-1 495-bp DNA was cloned into pVAX1 vector to prepare the DNA vaccine. Four groups of female mice were immunized intradermally by using a gene gun with FA-1 DNA, FA-1 DNA + YLP(12) DNA, FA-1 DNA + YLP(12) DNA mixed with exogenous synthetic CpG oliogodeoxynucleotide (ODN), or vector DNA alone, respectively. Vaccination with all three formulations caused a significant reduction in fertility, with FA-1 DNA + YLP(12) DNA mixed with exogenous synthetic CpG ODN showing the highest reduction. Vaccination with all three formulations raised antibody response in both the sera as well as locally in the vaginal tract, with ODN mixed group demonstrating the highest titers. There was no antibody response in the mice injected with the vector alone. In sera, the highest titers were obtained for the IgG class for all vaccine formulations followed by the IgA class. In vaginal washing, the highest titers were obtained by the IgA class followed by the IgG class. Within the IgG class, the titers for the IgG2a subclass were significantly greater than the IgG1 subclass. The immunocontraceptive effects were long-lasting over 1 year of the observation period and increased with time. These novel findings indicate that the intradermal immunization with a sperm-specific FA-1 DNA vaccine causes a long-term circulating and local immune response resulting in immunocontraceptive effects in female mice. The anti-fertility effects were enhanced when FA-1 DNA vaccine was combined with YLP(12) DNA vaccine and injected with ODN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajesh K Naz
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Immunology and Molecular Biology Laboratories, The West Virginia University, School of Medicine, Morgantown, West Virginia 26505, USA.
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Bhande S, Naz RK. Molecular identities of human sperm proteins reactive with antibodies in sera of immunoinfertile women. Mol Reprod Dev 2006; 74:332-40. [PMID: 16998854 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.20643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Antisperm antibodies (ASA) can cause infertility in both men and women. It is important to delineate the sperm antigens against which these ASA are directed. Sperm proteins were separated by 2D gel electrophoresis and transferred to nitrocellulose membrane and incubated with sera from fertile women or immunoinfertile women having ASA. The corresponding immunoreactive peptide spots were cored from the gel and analyzed by the two-dimensional (2D) gel electrophoresis/matrix-assisted laser desoprtion ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS/LC-MS). A total of 68 spots belonging to 38 different proteins and their isomers were identified. Fourteen of these proteins and their isomers reacted with both the fertile and immunoinfertile sera. Twenty-four of these proteins reacted specifically only with the immunoinfertile sera and not with the fertile sera. Among them was a novel protein designated as a hypothetical protein FLJ32704 (accession # Q96MA6). An immunodominant sequence (amino acid 151-159) of this protein was identified and a nonamer peptide based upon this sequence (IQTLG1TPR) was synthesized and examined for its immunoreactivity. This synthetic peptide reacted with 90% (36/40) of immunoinfertile sera and not with any of the fertile sera (0/40) in the enzyme-linked immnosorbent assay (ELISA). In conclusion, using the 2D gel electrophoresis/MALDI-TOF-MS/LC-MS procedure, we have identified several known and at least one novel antigen against which the antibodies are present in sera of immunoinfertile but not fertile women. Some of these antigens may find applications in specific diagonsis and treatment of infertility/immunoinfertility, and in the development of new generation of contraceptive modalities including contraceptive vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satish Bhande
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Immunology and Molecular Biology Laboratories, School of Medicine, The West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia 26505-9186, USA
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Abstract
PROBLEM This study is a review of antisperm contraceptive vaccine (CV) development with the main focus on research going on in our laboratory. METHOD OF STUDY Various methods of proteomics and genomics, hybridoma technology, substractive libraries, differential display method, and phage display technology were used to obtain sperm-specific genes and proteins. The present study will primarily focus on the sequences obtained by using the phage display technology and their role in CV development and human immunoinfertility. RESULT Four novel peptides, delineated by using the phage display technology, were found to be involved in human immunoinfertility. The vaccine based on one of these peptides, designated as YLP(12), caused a reversible contraception in female mice. CONCLUSIONS The vaccine targeting sperm is a feasible and exciting approach to contraception. The phage display technology is a powerful tool to delineate sperm-specific peptide sequences that can be used for the CV development and in the diagnosis and treatment of infertility mediated through antisperm antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajesh K Naz
- Reproductive Immunology and Molecular Biology Laboratories, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, West Virginia University, School of Medicine, Morgantown, 26505, USA.
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Pang ALY, Johnson W, Ravindranath N, Dym M, Rennert OM, Chan WY. Expression profiling of purified male germ cells: stage-specific expression patterns related to meiosis and postmeiotic development. Physiol Genomics 2005; 24:75-85. [PMID: 16291737 DOI: 10.1152/physiolgenomics.00215.2004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene expression profiling was performed using the National Institute on Aging 15,000-cDNA microarray to reveal the differential expression pattern of 160 genes between meiotic pachytene spermatocytes and postmeiotic round spermatids of the mouse. Our results indicate that more genes are expressed in spermatids than in spermatocytes. Genes participating in cell cycle regulation and chromatin structure and dynamics are preferentially expressed in spermatocytes, while genes for protein turnover, signal transduction, energy metabolism, and intracellular transport are prevalent in spermatids. This suggests that a switch of functional requirement occurs when meiotic germ cells differentiate into haploid spermatids. Concordant expression patterns were obtained when quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to verify the microarray data. Interestingly, the majority of the differentially expressed genes were underrepresented in mitotic type A spermatogonia, and they were preferentially expressed in the testis. Our results suggest that an even higher proportion of the mouse genome is devoted to male gamete development from meiosis than was previously estimated. We also provide evidence that underscores the advantage of using purified germ cells over whole testes in profiling spermatogenic gene expression to identify transcripts that demonstrate stage-specific expression patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan L Y Pang
- Laboratory of Clinical Genomics, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-4429, USA.
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Abstract
The world's population is growing at a tremendous rate, affecting growth and development. Apart from this population growth, unintended pregnancies resulting in elective abortions continue to be a major public health issue. In over half of these unintended pregnancies, the women have used some type of contraception. Thus, there is an urgent need for a better method of contraception that is acceptable, effective and available. The contraceptive choices available to women at this time include steroid contraceptives, intrauterine devices, barrier methods, spermicides, natural family planning, male and female sterilisation, and recently available emergency contraceptives. Contraceptive vaccines (CVs) may provide viable and valuable alternatives that can fulfill most, if not all, properties of an ideal contraceptive. Since both the developed and most of the developing nations have an infrastructure for mass immunisation, the development of vaccines for contraception is an exciting proposition. The molecules that are being explored for CV development either target gamete production (gonadotropin releasing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinising hormone), gamete function (zona pellucida [ZP] proteins and sperm antigens) or gamete outcome (human chorionic gonadotropin [hCG]). Disadvantages of CVs targeting gamete production are that they affect sex steroids and/or show only a partial effect in reducing fertility. CVs targeting gamete function are better choices. Vaccines based on ZP proteins are quite efficacious in producing contraceptive effects. However, they invariably induce oophoritis affecting sex steroids. Sperm antigens constitute the most promising and exciting targets for CVs. Several sperm-specific antigens have been delineated in several laboratories and are being actively explored for CV development. Antisperm antibody-mediated immunoinfertility provides a naturally occurring model to indicate how an antisperm vaccine will work in humans. Vaccines targeting gamete outcome primarily focus on the hCG molecule. The hCG vaccine is the first vaccine to undergo phase I and II clinical trials in humans. Both the efficacy and the lack of immunotoxicity have been reasonably well demonstrated for this vaccine. The present studies focus on increasing the immunogenicity and efficacy of this birth control vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajesh K Naz
- Division of Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical College of Ohio, Toledo, Ohio 43614-5806, USA.
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21
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Naz RK. Search for peptide sequences involved in human antisperm antibody-mediated male immunoinfertility by using phage display technology. Mol Reprod Dev 2005; 72:25-30. [PMID: 15895468 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.20315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to delineate peptide sequences against which antisperm antibodies (ASA) are raised in immunoinfertile men. Using the phage display technology, seven unique and novel dodecamer amino acid sequences were identified that reacted with the sera of immunoinfertile men. The peptides were synthesized based upon these amino acid sequences and examined for their immunoreactivity with sera from ASA-positive immunofertile men (n = 15) and ASA-negative fertile men (n = 18) for IgM, IgG, and IgA class of antibody in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). All the seven synthetic peptides showed a significantly (P < 0.001) higher mean absorbance values for IgG and/or IgA class of antibody with the immunoinfertile sera compared to fertile control sera. Three of the seven peptides demonstrated a stronger reaction (>2 SD units) with 27%-40% of immunoinfertile sera compared to fertile controls. These peptide sequences may find applications in the specific diagnosis and treatment of immunoinfertility and in contraceptive vaccine development. The phage display technique provides an exciting and novel technology to delineate sperm epitopes involved in immunoinfertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajesh K Naz
- Division of Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Health Education Building, Medical College of Ohio, Toledo, Ohio, USA.
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22
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Kim JY, Kwon J, Kim JE, Koh WS, Chung MK, Yoon S, Song CW, Lee M. Identification of potential biomarkers of genotoxicity and carcinogenicity in L5178Y mouse lymphoma cells by cDNA microarray analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS 2005; 45:80-89. [PMID: 15612046 DOI: 10.1002/em.20077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
In the present study, cDNA microarray analyses were performed with mouse cDNA chips in order to evaluate similarities and differences in the gene expression profiles for compounds differing in their genotoxic and carcinogenic potential. Eight test substances were evaluated, two each from four classes of compounds: genotoxic carcinogens (1,2-dibromoethane and glycidol), genotoxic noncarcinogens (8-hydroxyquinoline and emodin), nongenotoxic carcinogens (methyl carbamate and o-nitrotoluene), and nongenotoxic noncarcinogens (D-mannitol and 1,2-dichlorobenzene). Quadruplicate hybridization experiments were performed in order to identify a set of genes with significant expression changes for these four classes of substances. Twelve genes were consistently altered more than twofold by the genotoxic noncarcinogens while four genes were consistently regulated by the nongenotoxic carcinogens. One gene (Trp63) was identified whose expression was upregulated by all four genotoxic substances regardless of the presence or absence of carcinogenicity; this finding, however, was not confirmed by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. RT-PCR did confirm the change in expression of 9 of 15 genes (60%) identified by microarray analysis. Interestingly, the downregulated genes were least likely to be validated by real-time RT-PCR. Those genes showing more than a twofold change in expression level in response to at least one substance were further analyzed with hierarchical clustering after category assignment of each gene according to its main cellular function. Clustering revealed differences in the gene expression profiles between the genotoxic and nongenotoxic substances for genes involved in cell cycle control, the stress response, and the immune response. However, no clustering specific to all four carcinogenic substances was observed in any of the functional categories. Taken together, these results suggest that gene expression profiling in mouse lymphoma cells can provide valuable information for the evaluation of potential genotoxicity but may have limitations in predicting carcinogenicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji-Young Kim
- Korea Institute of Toxicology, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, Daejeon, South Korea
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23
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Abstract
Immunoinfertility because of antisperm antibodies (ASA) is an important cause of infertility in humans. The incidence of ASA in infertile couples is 9-36% depending on the reporting center. Early claims regarding the incidence and involvement of ASA in involuntary infertility were probably overemphasized, which has resulted in subsequent confusion, doubt, and underestimation of their clinical significance. No immunoglobulin that binds to sperm should be called an antisperm antibody in a strict sense unless it is directed against a sperm antigen that plays a role in fertilization and fertility. ASA directed against the fertilization-related antigens are more relevant to infertility than the immunoglobulins that bind to sperm associated antigens. Several methods have been reported for treatment of immunoinfertility. These include: immunosuppressive therapies using corticosteroids or cyclosporine; assisted reproductive technologies such as intrauterine insemination, gamete intrafallopian transfer, in vitro fertilization, and intracytoplasmic sperm injection; laboratory techniques such as sperm washing, immunomagnetic sperm separation, proteolytic enzyme treatment, and use of immunobeads. Most of the available techniques have side effects, are invasive and expensive, have low efficacy, or provide conflicting results. Recent findings using defined sperm antigens that have a role in fertilization/fertility have provided animal models and innovative novel perspectives for studying the mechanism of immunoinfertility and possible modalities for treatment. The better understanding of local immunity and latest advances in hybridoma and recombinant technologies, proteomics and genomics leading to characterization of sperm antigens relevant to fertility will help to clarify the controversy and to establish the significance of ASA in infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajesh K Naz
- Division of Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical College of Ohio, OH 43614-5806, USA.
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24
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Domagala A, Kurpisz M. Identification of sperm immunoreactive antigens for immunocontraceptive purposes: a review. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2004; 2:11. [PMID: 15035665 PMCID: PMC400756 DOI: 10.1186/1477-7827-2-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2003] [Accepted: 03/18/2004] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Antisperm antibodies (ASA) may be a reason of infertility in some individuals. They may affect pre- as well as post-fertilization stages of the reproductive process. There is ongoing progress in the identification of sperm antigens related to fertilization. The employed methods for this purpose include recombinant DNA technology and the most advanced proteomic analysis. This paper enlists the different approaches undertaken in order to identify and characterize the immunoreactive sperm antigens. We have mainly focused on those, which have been already studied in regard of their immunocontraceptive potential, although it has been impossible to include all published data concerning the topic in a single article. Few novel sperm auto- and isoantigens, discovered recently, have also been reviewed even if their role in fertilization has not been yet established.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alina Domagala
- Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Maciej Kurpisz
- Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland
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25
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Naz RK, Santhanam R, Tyagi N. Novel human prostate-specific cDNA: molecular cloning, expression, and immunobiology of the recombinant protein. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2002; 297:1075-84. [PMID: 12372395 DOI: 10.1016/s0006-291x(02)02349-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The differential display-polymerase chain reaction technique was employed to obtain a prostate-specific approximately 300-bp cDNA fragment. On screening the human prostate-lambdagt10 library with this fragment, a full-length approximately 1.5-kb cDNA encoding for a prostate antigen, designated as human novel prostate-specific antigen (hNPSA), was found. Extensive database searches revealed that the hNPSA cDNA is a novel sequence. It has an open reading frame (ORF) of 735-bp encoding for 245 amino acids (aa), with a calculated molecular mass of approximately 27kDa. Hydrophilicity analysis of the deduced aa sequence indicated that hNPSA is a membrane-anchored peptide. Analysis for tissue-specificity by Northern blot and RT-PCR-Southern blot procedures indicated that hNPSA is specifically expressed only in human prostate. The hNPSA (ORF) was subcloned into pET22b(+) vector and expressed using the histidine-tagged gene fusion system. The recombinant (r) protein of approximately 27kDa was purified and antibodies (Ab) were raised in rabbits. The rhNPSA Ab recognized a specific protein band of approximately 35kDa in solubilized human prostate tissue and not in any of the other 10 human tissues tested in the Western blot procedure. The hNPSA expression is upregulated 2.5- to 3-fold, both at the mRNA and protein levels in androgen-dependent LNCaP cells, as compared to normal whole prostate tissue. Antisense, but not the sense, phosphothiorate-conjugated oligonucleotides based on the hNPSA cDNA sequence significantly (p<0.001) inhibited proliferation of LNCaP cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Thus, the novel hNPSA, which has prostate-specific expression and seems to be involved in carcinogenesis, may have applications in the specific diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer.
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MESH Headings
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Animals
- Antigens, Neoplasm/biosynthesis
- Antigens, Neoplasm/genetics
- Antigens, Surface/biosynthesis
- Antigens, Surface/genetics
- Base Sequence
- Blotting, Northern
- Blotting, Southern
- Blotting, Western
- Cell Division
- Cell Membrane/metabolism
- Cloning, Molecular
- DNA, Complementary/metabolism
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
- Gene Expression Profiling
- Gene Library
- Humans
- Hyperplasia/pathology
- Male
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Oligonucleotides, Antisense/pharmacology
- Open Reading Frames
- Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Prostatic Neoplasms/genetics
- Prostatic Neoplasms/metabolism
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- Rabbits
- Recombinant Proteins/metabolism
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Tissue Distribution
- Tumor Cells, Cultured
- Up-Regulation
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajesh K Naz
- Division of Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Health Education Building, Rm. 211, Medical College of Ohio, 3055 Arlington Avenue, Toledo, OH 43614-5806, USA.
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26
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Abstract
The cDNA encoding for the human FA-1 sperm antigen was cloned and sequenced from the in-house constructed subtractive human testis cDNA expression library in lambda Ziplox using the FA-1 monoclonal antibody (mAb). The full--length sequence was obtained by using the 5' rapid amplification of 5'-cDNA end (5'-RACE) procedure. It is 1,576-bp long, and has an open reading frame (ORF) of 283 amino acids (aa) with the first ATG Met start codon at nucleotide (nt) 57 and the stop codon TAG at nt 906. It has two termination codons at the 5' end before the ATG start codon. The translated protein has a calculated molecular weight of 32.1 kDa and estimated isoelectric point (pI) of 11.59. It has one potential N-linked glycosylation site and one tyrosine phosphorylation site, besides several O-linked glycosylation and serine and threonine phosphorylation sites. Hydrophilicity analysis of the deduced aa sequence showed it to be a membrane-anchored protein. Extensive computer search in the database did not identify any known nt/aa sequence having homology with FA-1 cDNA or deduced aa, indicating it to be a novel gene. The Northern blot and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-Southern blot analyses indicated the testis-specific expression of FA-1 antigen at the mRNA level. The ORF of the FA-1 was subcloned into pGEX- 1lambda T for expression. The expressed FA-1 recombinant protein had a molecular size of approximately 40 kDa, and was recognized by the FA-1 mAb, and not by the myeloma control Ig. The rabbit antibodies (Ab) raised against the recombinant (r) FA-1 antigen recognized the rFA-1 antigen as well as the native (n) FA-1 antigen. The rFA-1 Ab specifically recognized a protein band of approximately 50 kDa in human testis extract in the Western blot involving 11 types of human tissue extracts, indicating the testis-specific expression of FA-1 at the protein level. The Ab showed binding with live and methanol-fixed human sperm at the post-acrosomal, mid-piece, and tail regions. The Ab caused a significant (P < 0.001) and concentration-dependent inhibition of human sperm capacitation/acrosome reaction by blocking tyrosine phosphorylation of the FA-1 antigen. The sperm-specific human FA-1 recombinant antigen may find applications in immunocontraception, and diagnosis and treatment of immunoinfertility in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajesh K Naz
- Division of Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical College of Ohio, Toledo 43614-5806, USA.
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27
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Naz RK, Chauhan SC. Human sperm-specific peptide vaccine that causes long-term reversible contraception. Biol Reprod 2002; 67:674-80. [PMID: 12135913 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod67.2.674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
A novel dodecamer peptide sequence, YLP(12), was identified on human sperm that is involved in oocyte binding. We investigated its immunocontraceptive effects in a murine model. A vaccine was prepared by conjugating the synthetic YLP(12) peptide with the binding subunit of recombinant cholera toxin. Vaccination of female mice by i.m. or intranasal routes without any additional adjuvant induced a sperm-specific immune response in serum and the vaginal tract that caused a long-term contraceptive state. Fertility was fully regained when antibody reactivity diminished at 305-322 days. The contraceptive effect was also completely reversed voluntarily by intravaginal administration of the peptide. Antibodies affected fertility at the prefertilization stage by inhibiting sperm capacitation and the acrosome reaction, and sperm-oocyte binding. The peptide sequence is an epitope of a 50 +/- 5-kDa membrane protein localized on the acrosome and tail of spermatozoa. Thus, the sperm-specific YLP(12) is an attractive candidate for contraceptive vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajesh K Naz
- Division of Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical College of Ohio, 3055 Arlington Avenue, Toledo, OH 43614, USA.
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28
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Naz RK, Chauhan SC, Trivedi RN. Monoclonal antibody against human sperm-specific YLP12 peptide sequence involved in oocyte binding. ARCHIVES OF ANDROLOGY 2002; 48:169-75. [PMID: 11964208 DOI: 10.1080/01485010252869243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
The monoclonalantibody (mAb) against YLP12 peptide was raised and its immunobiological properties were examined. In the Western blot procedure, the YLP12 mAb recognized a specific protein band of approximately 50 +/- 5 kD in human sperm extract and approximately 72 +/- 5 kD in human testis extract. The myeloma Ig control did not recognize these specific protein bands. In the immunofluorescence studies, the YLP12 mAb, and not the myeloma Ig, predominantly reacted with the acrosome regions of methanol-fixed human sperm. In the acrosome reaction assay, the YLP12 mAb showed a significant (p < .001) and a concentration-dependent inhibition of acrosome reaction. The myeloma Ig did not affect the acrosome reaction. There was no apparent effect of antibodies on sperm motility. Thus, the monoclonal antibody, if humanized by genetic engineering technology, may provide a useful immunocontraceptive agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- R K Naz
- Division of Research, Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, Medical College of Ohio, Toledo 43614-5806, USA.
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29
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Abstract
Development of a vaccine(s) based on sperm antigens represents a promising approach to contraception. The utility of an antigen in immunocontraception is contingent upon sperm/testis-specificity and its involvement in the fertilization process. Since, the sperm-zona pellucida (ZP) recognition and binding constitutes the most important event in the fertilization process, molecules involved at this site are attractive candidates for immunocontraception. Using hybridoma technology, subtractive hybridization, and differential display technology, our laboratory has delineated several sperm antigens. These antigens have testis-specific expression and have a role in the fertilization process. The cDNAs encoding for the antigens have been cloned and sequenced. Among these, the fertilization antigen (FA-1) is particularly interesting, because it is involved in immuno-infertility in humans. Using the phage peptide display technique, a novel dodecamer sequence of a approximately 72+/-5 kD antigen, designated as YLP(12), that is testis-specific and involved in human sperm-ZP recognition/binding, was identified. A synthetic 12-mer peptide was generated based on this sequence. In the hemizona assay, YLP(12) peptide and its monovalent Fab' antibodies specifically and significantly inhibited human sperm-ZP binding. Furthermore, the presence of specific antibodies reactive with YLP(12) peptide, were identified in the serum and seminal plasma of immuno-infertile men. Thus, FA-1 and YLP(12) are promising target antigens for the development of contraceptive vaccines as well as for specific diagnosis and treatment of male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajesh K Naz
- Room 211, Division of Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Health Education Building, Medical College of Ohio, 3055 Arlington Avenue, Toledo, OH 43614-5806, USA.
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30
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Naz RK, Zhu X, Kadam AL. Cloning and sequencing of cDNA encoding for a novel human testis-specific contraceptive vaccinogen: role in immunocontraception. Mol Reprod Dev 2001; 60:116-27. [PMID: 11550275 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.1068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Sperm-specific antigens are attractive candidates for the development of a contraceptive vaccine. Using the subtractive cDNA hybridization technology, the present study was conducted to obtain a human sperm-specific antigen. The 32P-labeled single stranded cDNA of human testis, subtracted with poly(A)+ RNA of human peripheral white blood cells, was used to screen the human testis cDNA-ZAP II library. The putative positive clones were further screened for binding with the solubilized human oocyte zona pellucida preparation (HZP). After screening 10(7) colonies, one positive clone, designated contraceptive vaccinogen (CV), was obtained. It had an insert of approximately 1.3 kb, that was cloned and sequenced. The sense strand was identified by using the in vitro transcription and translation procedures, and the full-length sequence was obtained by using the 5' rapid amplification of 5' -cDNA ends (5'-RACE) procedure. The full-length CV cDNA has an ORF of 312 amino acids (aa) with the first ATG Met start codon at nucleotide (nt) 35 and the stop codon TAA, at nt 959. The translated protein has a calculated molecular mass of 35.3 kD and four potential N-linked glycosylation and several phosphorylation sites. Hydropathy plot generated from the deduced aa sequence showed it to be a membrane-anchored peptide. Extensive computer search in the database did not find any homology of existing sequences with CV both for nt and aa. Northern blot analysis indicated the human testis-specific expression of CV antigen. The coding region of CV cDNA was subcloned into pET22b(+) vector and expressed. The expressed recombinant (r)CV protein had a molecular size of approximately 44 kD, and it specifically reacted with the ZP3 component of HZP. Rabbit rCV antibodies recognized the rCV, and a cognate antigen of approximately 64 kD in the human sperm extract. The antibodies showed binding with the live and methanol-fixed human sperm, and significantly (P < 0.001) inhibited human sperm penetration of zona-free hamster oocytes, as well as human sperm binding to human oocyte zona pellucida. These findings indicate that the testis/sperm- specific CV antigen has a role in human sperm function and may find clinical applications in the contraceptive vaccine development and in the specific diagnosis and treatment of male infertility.
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MESH Headings
- Adult
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Antibodies/immunology
- Antigens, Surface/chemistry
- Antigens, Surface/genetics
- Antigens, Surface/immunology
- Antigens, Surface/metabolism
- Base Sequence
- Blotting, Western
- Cloning, Molecular
- Contraception, Immunologic/methods
- DNA, Complementary/genetics
- Female
- Gene Expression Profiling
- Humans
- Infertility/immunology
- Infertility/therapy
- Male
- Microscopy, Fluorescence
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Molecular Weight
- Organ Specificity
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- Recombinant Proteins/chemistry
- Recombinant Proteins/immunology
- Recombinant Proteins/metabolism
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Testis/metabolism
- Vaccines, Contraceptive/genetics
- Zona Pellucida/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- R K Naz
- Division of Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical College of Ohio, Toledo, Ohio 43614-5806, USA.
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31
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Naz RK, Zhu X. Molecular cloning and sequencing of a novel cDNA encoding for a protein involved in human sperm function. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2001; 284:911-7. [PMID: 11409879 DOI: 10.1006/bbrc.2001.5061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
A cDNA encoding for an antigen, designated as NZ-3, was cloned and sequenced from human testis. The 1481-bp NZ-3 cDNA yielded an open reading frame (ORF) of 231 amino acids (aa) with the first ATG, Met start codon at nucleotide (nt) 104 and the stop codon TGA at nt 797. Extensive computer search indicated it to be a novel cDNA/protein. The ORF of NZ-3 cDNA was subcloned into pGEX-1lambdaT vector and expressed in glutathione S-transferase gene fusion system. The expressed recombinant protein had a molecular size of approximately 25 kDa, and the rabbit antibodies (Ab) against the recombinant antigen recognized a specific protein band of 63 +/- 3 kDa in the human testis extract. The NZ-3 antigen was located on the acrosomal and tail regions of human sperm cell and the NZ-3 Ab significantly (P < 0.001) inhibited human sperm capacitation and/or acrosome reaction. The novel recombinant NZ-3 antigen may find applications in immunocontraception and in specific diagnosis of human infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- R K Naz
- Division of Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical College of Ohio, 3055 Arlington Avenue, Toledo, Ohio, 43614-5806, USA.
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32
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Kuang Y, Yan YC, Gao AW, Zhai YM, Miao SY, Wang LF, Koide SS. Immune responses in rats following oral immunization with attenuated Salmonella typhimurium expressing human sperm antigen. ARCHIVES OF ANDROLOGY 2000; 45:169-80. [PMID: 11111865 DOI: 10.1080/01485010050193940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
The HSD-I gene codes a human sperm membrane protein (hSMP-1) and has been assigned the accession number U12978. The gene is located on human chromosome 9, region p12-p13. When the 1.7-kb cDNA of HSD-I was digested sequentially with EcoRI, BamHI, and HindIII, a 550-bp cDNA fragment was formed, which codes for the extracellular domain. This fragment was cloned into the asd+ vector pYA3149 to construct pYA3149R. The recombinant plasmid was used to transform an avirulent deltacva, deltacrp, deltaasd vaccine strain of Salmonella typhimurium chi4550. The hSMP-1 component was localized on the surface of the head of mature rat spermatozoa by an immunofluorescence technique using polyclonal anti-hSMP-1 antibodies. Since rat sperm contain hSMP-1, this rodent can be used to assay the immunogenicity of pYA3149R. Female Wistar rats were immunized by oral administration of the recombinant Salmonella. Anti-hSMP-1 antibodies in blood and vaginal washes of immunized animals were determined. Both body fluids contained significant amounts of the antibodies, showing that the recombinant Salmonella is an effective oral immunogen in rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Kuang
- Institute of Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences
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33
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Rivkin E, Tres LL, Kaplan-Kraicer R, Shalgi R, Kierszenbaum AL. Molecular cloning of rat sperm galactosyl receptor, a C-type lectin with in vitro egg binding activity. Mol Reprod Dev 2000; 56:401-11. [PMID: 10862008 DOI: 10.1002/1098-2795(200007)56:3<401::aid-mrd11>3.0.co;2-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Rat sperm galactosyl receptor is a member of the C-type animal lectin family showing preferential binding to N-acetylgalactosamine compared to galactose. Binding is mediated by a Ca(2+)-dependent carbohydrate-recognition domain (CRD) identical to that of the minor variant of rat hepatic lectin receptor 2/3 (RHL-2/3). The molecular organization of the genomic DNA, cDNA, and derived amino acid sequence of rat testis galactosyl receptor have been determined and in vitro fertilization studies were conducted to ascertain its role. We have determined that the rat testis galactosyl receptor gene generates two mRNA species: one species, designated liver-type, is identical to RHL-2/3; the other, designated testis-type, contains one unspliced intron (86 nt) which alters the reading frame and changes the amino acid sequence of the carboxyl terminus. As a result, the CRD (glutamine-proline-aspartic acid/QPD) and flanked Ca(2+)-binding amino acid sequences were not present in the testis-type protein. Northern and Southern blots demonstrated presence of transcripts with unspliced intron in rat sperm but not liver. Similarly, antibody, raised against a synthetic 12-amino acid peptide (p12) encoded by the unspliced intron, recognized in immunoblots a 54 kDa receptor protein in protein extracts from testis but not from liver. Immunofluorescence and immunogold electron microscopy studies demonstrated that both protein species localized on the plasma membrane surface of the head and tail of rat sperm. Furthermore, capacitated rat sperm preincubated with polyclonal antisera to RHL-2/3 or to the CRD of the liver-type galactosyl receptor showed a statistically significant decrease in the in vitro fertilization rate. We conclude that rat sperm galactosyl receptor may play a role in egg binding and that an undetermined molecular mechanism operates to generate two proteins with identical intracellular amino terminal domain but only one of them displays a CRD and associated Ca(2+)-binding sites at the carboxyl terminal extracellular domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Rivkin
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomical Sciences, The City University of New York Medical School, New York, New York
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34
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Naz RK, Zhu X, Kadam AL. Identification of human sperm peptide sequence involved in egg binding for immunocontraception. Biol Reprod 2000; 62:318-24. [PMID: 10642568 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod62.2.318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Development of a vaccine based on sperm antigens represents a promising approach to contraception. The sperm-zona pellucida (ZP) interaction constitutes the most important event in the fertilization process, and the molecular sequences involved at this site may provide the most attractive candidates for immunocontraception. In the present study, using the phase peptide display technique, a novel dodecamer sequence, designated as YLP(12), was identified that is involved in sperm-ZP recognition/binding. The synthetic 12-mer peptide based on this sequence and its monovalent Fab' antibodies specifically and significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited human sperm-ZP binding. In Western blot and immunoprecipitation procedures, the YLP(12) peptide recognized the ZP3 component of solubilized human ZP proteins. In the Western blot procedure involving 10 different human tissue extracts, the anti-YLP(12) Fab' antibodies recognized a protein band of approximately 72 +/- 2 kDa only in the testis lane. The peptide sequence was localized on the acrosomal region of the human sperm cell. These findings indicate that the novel testis-specific 12-mer YLP(12) that is present in the acrosomal region and is involved in human sperm-ZP interaction may find applications in contraceptive vaccine development, as well as in diagnosis and treatment of male infertility mediated through sperm dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- R K Naz
- Division of Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical College of Ohio, Toledo, Ohio 43614, USA.
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Naz RK, Leslie MH. Sperm surface protein profiles of fertile and infertile men: search for a diagnostic molecular marker. ARCHIVES OF ANDROLOGY 1999; 43:173-81. [PMID: 10624499 DOI: 10.1080/014850199262463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
The present study was conducted to examine whether there is any difference in the protein profiles of sperm membranes of fertile (n = 37) and infertile (n = 29) men. In the sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) procedure, the sperm extracts of fertile and infertile men showed 12-16 major and 8-14 minor common protein bands in various molecular regions. However, there was an additional band of approximately 78 kD present in the sperm extracts of approximately 80% of infertile men that was absent in the sperm extracts of fertile men. In the remaining approximately 20% of the infertile men, it was of relatively weaker intensity. This band was present only in the sperm extracts and not in the seminal plasma, whether of fertile or infertile men, and was designated as the infertility-associated sperm protein (IASP). Antibodies to IASP specifically immunoprecipitated the approximately 78-kD protein from the sperm extracts of only infertile and not the fertile men. In the immunofluorescence technique, the anti-IASP antibodies reacted strongly with the head and/or midpiece regions of morphologically abnormal sperm and cross-reacted with a protein in the equatorial regions of morphologically normal sperm of fertile men. The IASP molecule and its antibodies may provide molecular tools to differentiate between the normal and abnormal sperm, and, thus, may be useful markers for the diagnosis of male-factor infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- R K Naz
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical College of Ohio, Toledo 43614-5806, USA.
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Abstract
Development of a vaccine(s) based on sperm antigens represents a promising approach to contraception. The utility of a sperm antigen in immunocontraception is contingent upon its tissue specificity, involvement in fertility and on raising high antibody titer, especially locally in the genital tract, that is capable of inducing reversible infertility. Several sperm antigens, such as lactate dehydrogenase C4, PH-20, sperm protein (SP)-10, fertilization antigen (FA)-1, FA-2, cleavage signal (CS)-1, NZ-1, and NZ-2 have been proposed as potential candidates for the vaccine development. Spermzona pellucida (ZP) binding is a pivotal tissue- and mostly species-specific event in the fertilization process, and the molecules involved in this site constitute the most exciting candidates for immuno-contraception. FA-1 is a sperm-specific glycoprotein having receptor activity for ZP recognition and binding. Complementary DNA encoding for FA-1 antigen has been cloned and sequenced. Active immunization of animals with recombinant FA-1 antigen causes a long-lasting reversible inhibition in fertility by raising a sperm-specific immune response. This antigen is also involved in human immunoinfertility. The exciting findings from the recent trial in immunoinfertile couples indicate that the FA-1 antigen may have clinical application in the treatment of male infertility. A vaccine having most appropriate tissue-specific and effective recombinant and/or synthetic epitopes of various sperm antigens, such as the FA-1 antigen, in a single formulation may provide a highly immunogenic and efficacious antisperm vaccine for contraception. The advances made during the last 5 years suggest that it may be a realistic proposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- R K Naz
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical College of Ohio, Toledo 43614-5806, USA.
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Abstract
The involvement of serine and threonine phosphorylation in human sperm capacitation was investigated. Anti-phosphoserine monoclonal antibody (mAb) recognized six protein bands in the 43-55-kDa, 94 +/- 2-kDa, 110-kDa, and 190-kDa molecular regions, in addition to a faint band each in the 18-kDa and 35-kDa regions. Anti-phosphothreonine mAb recognized protein bands in six similar regions, except that the 18-kDa, 35-kDa, and 94 +/- 2-kDa protein bands were sharper and thicker, and an additional band was observed in the 110-kDa molecular region. In the 43-55-kDa molecular region, there was a well-characterized glycoprotein, designated fertilization antigen, that showed a further increase in serine/threonine phosphorylation after exposure to solubilized human zona pellucida. In a cell-free in vitro kinase assay carried out on beads or in solution, four to eight proteins belonging to similar molecular regions, namely 20 +/- 2 kDa, 43-55 kDa, 94 +/- 2 kDa, and 110 +/- 10 kDa, as well as in 80 +/- 4 and 210 +/- 10 kDa regions, were phosphorylated at dual residues (serine/tyrosine and threonine/tyrosine). Capacitation increased the intensity of serine/threonine phosphorylation per sperm cell, increased the number of sperm cells that were phosphorylated, and induced a subcellular shift in the serine/threonine-specific fluorescence. These findings indicate that protein serine/threonine phosphorylation is involved and may have a physiological role in sperm capacitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- R K Naz
- Division of Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical College of Ohio, Toledo, Ohio 43614, USA.
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Lefevre A, Duquenne C, Rousseau-Merck MF, Rogier E, Finaz C. Cloning and characterization of SOB1, a new testis-specific cDNA encoding a human sperm protein probably involved in oocyte recognition. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 1999; 259:60-6. [PMID: 10334916 DOI: 10.1006/bbrc.1999.0728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
A human sperm-oocyte binding protein, SOB1, was purified by two dimensional gel electrophoresis and sequenced. This protein was selected because it was recognized by a monoclonal antibody that inhibited the binding of human sperm to zona-free hamster oocytes. The sequences of the tryptic peptides were used to design degenerate primers. These were used to amplify a specific fragment from human testis cDNA by the polymerase chain reaction. This 1233 bp fragment was extended in 3' and 5' by RACE to obtain the 3 kb full length SOB1 cDNA. Sequence analysis indicated that the deduced open reading frame encodes a 853 amino acid protein, with a molecular mass of 94. 7 kDa. This is a new testis-specific cDNA. It is 27, 32.8 and 34.4% homologous to three sperm proteins, HI, Fsc1 and AKAP82 respectively. A single 3kb transcript was demonstrated only in the testis by northern blot analysis. It is a single copy gene, well conserved among mammals and located on human chromosome 12 at band p13.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Lefevre
- INSERM U 355, Maturation Gamétique et Fécondation, IPSC, 32 rue des Carnets, Clamart, 92140, France.
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Lutwick LI. Unconventional vaccine targets. Immunization for pregnancy, peptic ulcer, gastric cancer, cocaine abuse, and atherosclerosis. Infect Dis Clin North Am 1999; 13:245-64, ix. [PMID: 10198802 DOI: 10.1016/s0891-5520(05)70053-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Vaccine technology can be applied to targets of intervention that currently have not been considered preventable by immunization. Targets include some diseases caused by, or related to, infectious agents, and other conditions clearly unassociated with disease pathogens. This article considers vaccines for pregnancy, peptic ulcer disease, gastric cancer, cocaine abuse and atherosclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- L I Lutwick
- Department of Medicine, VA Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York, USA
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Menge AC, Christman GM, Ohl DA, Naz RK. Fertilization antigen-1 removes antisperm autoantibodies from spermatozoa of infertile men and results in increased rates of acrosome reaction. Fertil Steril 1999; 71:256-60. [PMID: 9988394 DOI: 10.1016/s0015-0282(98)00468-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine if fertilization antigen (FA)-1 will remove autoantibodies from the surface of sperm cells of immunoinfertile men by immune adsorption and permit an increased acrosome reaction (AR). DESIGN Prospective analytic study. SETTING University medical center. PATIENT(S) Men from 18 infertile couples with autoantibodies present on their spermatozoa. INTERVENTION(S) Sperm samples after processing were examined for antibody binding and AR before and after adsorption with control medium or FA-1. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Sperm-bound antibody was assessed by the immunobead assay (immunoglobulin [Ig] A and IgG) and the AR by induction with ionophore A23187. RESULT(S) Adsorption with FA-1 compared with control medium increased immunobead-free swimming sperm an average of 50% and 76% for IgA and IgG antisperm antibodies, respectively, with 78% and 100% of the 18 semen specimens increasing significantly. The AR rate increased an average of 10.3% compared with control medium and showed improvement in 78% of the sperm samples after FA-1 adsorption. CONCLUSION(S) The FA-1 sperm antigen appears to significantly free sperm cells coated with autoantibodies in the semen of most infertile men examined. Reducing sperm-bound antibodies that inhibited the AR allowed the sperm cells to undergo successful AR induction by calcium ionophore.
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Affiliation(s)
- A C Menge
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor 48109-0272, USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- P M Wassarman
- Department of Cell Biology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York 10029-6574, USA.
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Naz RK, Zhu X. Recombinant fertilization antigen-1 causes a contraceptive effect in actively immunized mice. Biol Reprod 1998; 59:1095-100. [PMID: 9780314 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod59.5.1095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Recombinant (r) fertilization antigen (FA)-1 was investigated for its immunocontraceptive effect using the mouse as a model. Active immunization with the murine rFA-1 antigen raised high antibody titers in all the immunized mice (n = 16 in two trials); these titers were long lasting and reached preimmunization levels by the 255th day. There was a significant (p < 0.0001) effect (64% reduction in trial I and 70% reduction in trial II) in fertility of immunized animals compared to PBS-control animals (n = 22 in two trials). The effect on fertility was reversible. When the antibody titers declined to control levels, all the animals conceived and delivered healthy babies without a significant (p > 0.05) effect on the litter size compared to that of controls. There was a significant (p = 0.025) correlation (r = 0.76) between the reduction in fertility and the circulating rFA-1 antibody titers. Anti-rFA-1 antibodies from immunized mice, and not the immunoglobulins from the PBS-control mice, significantly (p < 0.001) blocked murine sperm binding to zona pellucida and in vitro fertilization of murine oocytes. In a Western blot procedure, the anti-rFA-1 antibodies specifically recognized the protein band of approximately 47 kDa (dimeric form of cognate FA-1 antigen) only in the protein extract of testes and not in the extracts of somatic tissues tested, namely kidney, liver, intestine, spleen, muscle, heart, lung, brain, and ovary. In conclusion, our data indicate that active immunization with rFA-1 antigen induces a strong and sperm/testis-specific antibody response that causes a reversible inhibition of fertility by affecting sperm-zona binding and the fertilization process. These findings suggest that rFA-1 antigen is an exciting candidate for the development of a contraceptive vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- R K Naz
- Division of Research, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical College of Ohio, Toledo, Ohio 43614, USA. rnaz@gemini/mco.edu
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Abstract
The presence and possible role of c-Abl proto-oncoprotein was investigated in human sperm cell. The c-Abl monoclonal antibody (mAb), against the protein tyrosine kinase domain of v-Abl protein, reacted specifically with the acrosomal region of methanol-fixed capacitated and non-capacitated human sperm cell in the indirect immunofluorescence technique. The c-Abl mAb predominantly recognized two protein bands of 145 kD and 95 kD in detergent-solubilized (Triton X-100 and NP-40) sperm and testes preparations in the Western blot procedure. The 95 kD protein band reacted stronger than the 145 kD band and was the only band detected in the lithium diiodosalicylate (LIS)-solubilized sperm preparation, and even in the Triton X-100/NP-40 extracts of sperm of some men. In the in vitro kinase assay using the Triton X-100-solubilized capacitated sperm preparation, the 95 kD protein was autophosphorylated at the tyrosine residues, which was inhibited in the presence of c-Abl mAb. The tyrosine phosphorylation of sperm proteins, especially of the 95 kD protein, has been shown to have a vital role in human sperm function, namely, the sperm capacitation/acrosomal exocytosis and binding to zona pellucida of oocyte. These findings suggest that the c-Abl or c-Abl-like proteins are present in mature sperm cells that are tyrosine autophosphorylated and may have a role in human sperm cell function.
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Affiliation(s)
- R K Naz
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical College of Ohio, Toledo 43614, USA.
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Abstract
A cDNA encoding for a sperm antigen, designated NZ-2, was cloned and sequenced from human testis cDNA-lambda gt11 expression library by using antibodies to human sperm surface antigens belonging to 14-18 kD molecular regions. These sperm antigens are involved in binding to zona pellucida of the human oocyte. Computer generated translation analysis of 963-bp cDNA yielded an open reading frame (ORF) of 163 amino acids (aa) with first ATG, Met start codon at nucleotide (nt) 335 and the stop codon TAA at nt 824. The NZ-2 cDNA has 335-bp 5' and 139-bp 3' noncoding regions. The translated protein has a calculated molecular weight of approximately 19 kD, and has two casein kinase II (CK-2) sites at aa 94-97 and 149-152, respectively. Extensive computer search in the GenBank, National Biomedical Research Foundation (NBRF), and Swiss database indicates it to be a novel protein, having 99.5% nt sequence similarity, except for the first 40-bp, only with the human bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) containing cloned human sperm DNA, at position 76935-76009. The in vitro translated product of T3 RNA polymerase by using NZ-2 cDNA digested with XhoI yielded a protein band of approximately 20 kD, indicating it to be sense strand. The in vitro translated product of T7 RNA polymerase by using NZ-2 cDNA digested with NotI did not yield any protein band, indicating it to be antisense strand. The approximately 20 kD protein was recognized specifically by the antisperm IgG, not by the control IgG in the Western blot procedure. Neither antisperm IgG nor control IgG recognized any protein band in the in vitro translation products of the antisense strand. The human genomic DNAs from three different cells/tissues namely, sperm, kidney, and testis when cut by HindIII, and then hybridized with the NZ-2 cDNA probe in the Southern blot procedure, showed restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). The recombinant human sperm NZ-2 antigen may find applications in the development of a contraceptive vaccine, and diagnosis and treatment of infertility in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- X Zhu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical College of Ohio, Toledo 43614, USA
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Abstract
The effects of actinomycin D and cycloheximide on human spermatozoal function were examined to investigate the potential transcriptional and translational activities of human sperm cell during capacitation/acrosome reaction. Treatment with actinomycin D significantly increased and treatment with cycloheximide decreased the acrosome reaction, and the penetration rates in the human sperm penetration of zona-free hamster oocytes assay (SPA). [35(S)]Methionine got incorporated into 3-9 de novo synthesized proteins present in the head and midpiece regions of the swim-up population of human sperm. Treatment with actinomycin D completely blocked and treatment with cycloheximide slightly reduced the synthesis of proteins. There seem to be some transcriptional and translational activities in the head and midpiece regions of human sperm during capacitation/acrosome reaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- R K Naz
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical College of Ohio, Toledo 43614-5809, USA.
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Abstract
A new isoform of cyclin I, designated cyclin ITI, was cloned from the human testis cDNA-lambda gt10 library by using a approximately 0.5 kb PCR fragment that was obtained by using primers based on the published cyclin I sequence from the human brain. The cyclin ITI cDNA is 1443-bp long and has an ORF of 178 aa with the first ATG Met start codon at nt 1 and has the well-conserved sequence of cyclin box. The 5' flanking sequence of 728-bp has a high similarity (99.6%) with the 5'-intron of the human beta-polymerase gene. The nt sequence of cyclin ITI cDNA has high similarity (99.3%) with the cyclin I gene sequence. The cyclin ITI was found to have three amino acids mutations at nt 25, 172, 223, respectively, including one in the well-conserved sequence of cyclin box. Northern blot analysis indicated that the cyclin ITI is expressed in human testis at increased level compared to other tissues. The in vitro translated protein of the cyclin ITI cDNA was recognized specifically by the antibodies raised against the human sperm proteins, indicating its presence in human sperm. This new isoform may have a physiological role in spermatogenesis and/or human sperm cell function--especially in capacitation and/or acrosome reaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- X Zhu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical College of Ohio, Richard D. Ruppert Health Center, Toledo 43614, USA
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Yurewicz EC, Sacco AG, Gupta SK, Xu N, Gage DA. Hetero-oligomerization-dependent binding of pig oocyte zona pellucida glycoproteins ZPB and ZPC to boar sperm membrane vesicles. J Biol Chem 1998; 273:7488-94. [PMID: 9516448 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.273.13.7488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The zona pellucida surrounding the pig oocyte contains two Mr 55,000 glycoproteins, pZPB and pZPC, which are orthologues of mouse zona proteins ZP1 and ZP3, respectively. We previously reported that isolated boar sperm membrane vesicles possess high affinity binding sites for partially purified pZPB, but not pZPC. Interestingly, co-incubation experiments also implicated pZPB-pZPC complexes as potential ligands. We now report that when depleted of a minor pZPC contaminant by size exclusion chromatography, pZPB lacks independent binding activity. In solid phase binding assays employing immobilized boar sperm membranes, pZPB failed to compete with biotin-(pZPB+pZPC) probe, and biotin-labeled pZPB yielded negligible binding. However, when co-incubated with pZPC prior to the binding assays, pZPB acted as a potent competitor, and biotin-labeled pZPB exhibited high affinity, saturable binding. Binding activity was attributed to pZPB-pZPC heterocomplexes, which were detected in co-incubation mixtures by size exclusion chromatography and Western blot analysis. In the pig, therefore, sperm membranes possess a zona-binding protein with high affinity sites for pZPB-pZPC heterocomplexes, but not free glycoprotein subunits. Consequently, associative interactions between zona molecules can contribute toward both the assembly of the zona matrix and generation of ligands important for sperm-zona interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- E C Yurewicz
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA.
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Abstract
cDNA encoding for a sperm antigen, designated NZ-1, was cloned and sequenced from murine testis cDNA-lambda gt11 expression library using antibodies to human sperm surface antigens belonging to 14-18 kD molecular region. These sperm antigens are involved in zona pellucida binding and have tyrosine phyosphorylation activity. Computer generated translation analysis of 1395-bp cDNA yielded an open reading frame (ORF) of 152 aa with first ATG, Met start codon at nt 32 and the stop codon TGA at nt 487. The translated protein has a calculated molecular weight of 17.9 kD and a potential tyrosine phosphorylation site at aa 46-54, besides at least two O-linked glycosylation sites. The hydropathy plot generated from the deduced aa sequence indicated it to be a membrane-anchored peptide with a hydrophobic NH2-terminus that is characteristic of a signal peptide. Extensive computer search in the GenBank, NBRF, and Swiss sequence banks, indicating it to be a novel protein. Northern blot analysis indicated testis-specific expression of NZ-1 antigen. The NZ-1 cDNA was subcloned into pGEX-1 lambda T vector and expressed in glutathione-S-transferase gene fusion system to obtain the recombinant protein. The recombinant protein specifically reacted with the original antibodies raised against the native 14-18 kD sperm proteins. These findings suggest that the sperm-specific recombinant NZ-1 may find applications in the development of a contraceptive vaccine, and in studying the normal and abnormal sperm function and the signal transduction mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- R K Naz
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Medical College of Ohio, Toledo 43699-0008, USA.
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