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Gupta SK. Zona pellucida glycoproteins: Relevance in fertility and development of contraceptive vaccines. Am J Reprod Immunol 2023; 89:e13535. [PMID: 35249246 DOI: 10.1111/aji.13535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Mammalian zona pellucida (ZP) is composed of three to four glycoproteins, which plays an important role during fertilization. Mutations in the genes encoding zona proteins are reported in women with empty follicle syndrome, degenerated oocytes and those with an abnormal or no ZP further emphasizing their relevance during fertility. Immunization with either native or recombinant ZP glycoproteins/proteins leads to curtailment of fertility in various animal species. Observed infertility is frequently associated with ovarian pathology characterized by follicular atresia and degenerative changes in ZP, which may be due to oophoritogenic T cell epitope(s) within ZP glycoproteins. To avoid ovarian dystrophy, B cell epitopes of ZP glycoproteins have been mapped by using bio-effective monoclonal antibodies. Immunization with the immunogens encompassing the mapped B cell epitopes by and large led to amelioration of follicular atresia. However, their use for human application will require more rigorous research to establish their safety and reversibility of the contraceptive effect. Nonetheless, to minimize human-animal conflicts, ZP-based contraceptive vaccines have been used successfully in the population management of free-ranging animal species such as feral horses, white-tailed deer and elephants. To control zoonotic diseases, attempts are also underway to control the population of other animal species including stray dogs, which acts as one of the major vectors for the rabies virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satish K Gupta
- Basic Medical Sciences Division, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, India
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Xu WX, Wang J, Tang HP, Chen LH, Lian WB, Zhan JM, Gupta SK, Ji CN, Gu SH, Xie Y. A simpler and more cost-effective peptide biosynthetic method using the truncated GST as carrier for epitope mapping. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0186097. [PMID: 29023483 PMCID: PMC5638316 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0186097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2017] [Accepted: 09/25/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a need to develop better methods for epitope mapping and/or identification of antibody-recognizing motifs. Here, we describe improved biosynthetic peptide (BSP) method using a newly developed plasmid pXXGST-3 as vector, which has a viral E7 gene in the cloning sites of pXXGST-1. It is crucial to employ pXXGST-3 instead of pXXGST-1, since it makes use of the BSP method simpler and easier to perform, and more cost-effective for epitope mapping. These merits are embodied in two aspects: i) convenient recovery of double enzyme-digested product due to the existence of 315 bp inserted between BamH I and Sal I sites, and thus greatly reducing the production of self-ligation clones, and ii) no longer requiring control protein when screening recombinant (r-) clones expressing 8/18mer peptides by running polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The protocol involves the following core steps: (i) design of plus and minus strands of DNA fragments encoding overlapping 8/18mer peptides; (ii) chemical synthesis of the designed DNA fragments; (iii) development of r-clones using pXXGST-3 vector expressing each 8/18mer peptide fused with truncated GST188 protein; (iv) screening r-clones by running the cell pellets from each induced clone on SDS-PAGE gel followed by sequencing of inserted DNA fragments for each verified r-clone; and (v) Western blotting with either monoclonal antibodies or polyclonal antibodies. This improved GST188-BSP method provides a powerful alternative tool for epitope mapping.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wan-Xiang Xu
- Division of Reproductive Immunology, Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation of NPFPC, Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research, Fudan University, Shanghai, P. R. China
- * E-mail: (WXX); (SKG); (YX)
| | - Jian Wang
- Division of Reproductive Immunology, Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation of NPFPC, Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research, Fudan University, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Hai-Ping Tang
- Division of Reproductive Immunology, Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation of NPFPC, Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research, Fudan University, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Ling-Han Chen
- Division of Reproductive Immunology, Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation of NPFPC, Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research, Fudan University, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Wen-Bo Lian
- Division of Reproductive Immunology, Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation of NPFPC, Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research, Fudan University, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Jian-Min Zhan
- Division of Reproductive Immunology, Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation of NPFPC, Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research, Fudan University, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Satish K. Gupta
- Reproductive Cell Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Immunology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi, India
- * E-mail: (WXX); (SKG); (YX)
| | - Chao-Neng Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Institute of Genetics, School of Life Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Shao-Hua Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Institute of Genetics, School of Life Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Yi Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Institute of Genetics, School of Life Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, P. R. China
- * E-mail: (WXX); (SKG); (YX)
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Enhanced magnitude and breadth of neutralizing humoral response to a DNA vaccine targeting the DHBV envelope protein delivered by in vivo electroporation. Virology 2012; 425:61-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2012.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2011] [Revised: 12/23/2011] [Accepted: 01/03/2012] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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Mapping of minimal motifs of B-cell epitopes on human zona pellucida glycoprotein-3. Clin Dev Immunol 2011; 2012:831010. [PMID: 22162720 PMCID: PMC3227431 DOI: 10.1155/2012/831010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2011] [Accepted: 09/02/2011] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The human zona pellucida glycoprotein-3 (hZP3) by virtue of its critical role during fertilization has been proposed as a promising candidate antigen to develop a contraceptive vaccine. In this direction, it is imperative to map minimal motifs of the B cell epitopes (BCEs) so as to avoid ZP-specific oophoritogenic T cell epitopes (TCEs) in the ZP3-based immunogens. In this study, based on known results of mapping marmoset and bonnet monkey ZP3 (mstZP3 and bmZP3), two predictable epitopes23–30 and 301–320 on hZP3 were first confirmed and five minimal motifs within four epitopes on hZP3 were defined using serum to recombinant hZP3a22–176 or hZP3b177–348 as well as a biosynthetic peptide strategy. These defined minimal motifs were QPLWLL23–28 for hZP323–30, MQVTDD103–108 for hZP393–110, EENW178–181 for hZP3172–190, as well as SNSWF306–310 and EGP313–315 for hZP3301–320, respectively. Furthermore, the antigenicity of two peptides for hZP3172–187 and hZP3301–315 and specificity of the antibody response to these peptides were also evaluated, which produced high-titer antibodies in immunized animals that were capable of reacting to ZP on human oocytes, r-hZP3b177–348 protein, as well as r-hZP3172–190, r-hZP3303–310, and r-hZP3313–320 epitope peptides fused with truncated GST188 protein.
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Xu WX, He YP, Tang HP, Jia XF, Ji CN, Gu SH, Sun XX, Xie Y. Minimal motif mapping of a known epitope on human zona pellucida protein-4 using a peptide biosynthesis strategy. J Reprod Immunol 2009; 81:9-16. [PMID: 19539378 DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2009.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2008] [Revised: 04/07/2009] [Accepted: 04/13/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
An important step in the development of a human zona pellucida (huZP) peptide vaccine is to define the minimal amino acid motif for a mapped B cell epitope peptide within huZP4. Identification of this minimal motif is necessary to remove an overlapping T cell epitope that induces a pathogenic T cell response. Here we describe motif (PLTLEL(314-319)) mapping of an 18mer B cell epitope peptide(308-325) on huZP4 protein (previously known as huZP1/ZPB protein), achieved using a set of 22 biosynthetic 8mer peptides fused with truncated glutathione S-transferase (GST) or truncated streptavidin protein, and detected using rabbit anti-porcine zona pellucida (pZP) IgG. The immunogenicity of the B cell epitope peptide was evaluated in rabbits using expressed B cell epitope peptide fused with truncated streptavidin as the antigen. This construct elicited high titer antibody to the 18mer B cell epitope peptide, with reactivity to native human ZP, the biosynthetic 18mer peptide and the 18mer peptide GST fusion protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wan-Xiang Xu
- Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research, Shanghai 200032, China.
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van Leeuwen BH, Kerr PJ. Prospects for fertility control in the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) using myxoma virus-vectored immunocontraception. WILDLIFE RESEARCH 2007. [DOI: 10.1071/wr06167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Research over the last 15 years has examined whether fertility control can reduce overabundant rabbit populations and whether an effective immunocontraceptive agent can be developed and delivered. The results of this research indicate that for fertility control to have an environmental impact at least 80% of females will need to be infertile and that this infertility will need to be permanent. Epidemiological studies suggest that this level of infertility may be very difficult to obtain with a recombinant myxoma virus because of competition with field strains of virus. Research with laboratory rabbits using recombinant myxoma virus to deliver an immunocontraceptive antigen demonstrated that it was possible to obtain the required level of infertility using rabbit zona pellucida C as an antigen. However, only ~50% of animals remained infertile in the medium term. Further research on delivery vector and antigen selection would be needed to produce a practical immunocontraceptive virus for laboratory testing. Such a virus would then need to be optimised for transmissibility before it would be suitable for field testing.
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Abstract
The use of vaccination as a means of controlling fertility was established during the last decade with the publication of a successful Phase II trial demonstrating the efficacy of this approach to family planning. However, only this one Phase II trial has been completed despite a plethora of hormonal and gamete antigens that have been proposed as candidate vaccines. Improvements in the design and formulation of contraceptive vaccines are underway and will be a necessary prelude to further clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter J Delves
- Department of Immunology and Molecular Pathology, Windeyer Institute of Medical Sciences, University College London, UK.
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Lee VH. Expression of rabbit zona pellucida-1 messenger ribonucleic acid during early follicular development. Biol Reprod 2000; 63:401-8. [PMID: 10906043 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod63.2.401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Progress in research on initiation of folliculogenesis has progressed slowly because of a lack of markers for early folliculogenesis. The rabbit zona pellucida protein (ZP1) is synthesized in follicles during early stages of folliculogenesis. In order to establish ZP1 as a marker for initiation of folliculogenesis, in situ hybridization was used to localize ZP1 mRNA in immature follicles. ZP1 mRNA was first detected in oocytes of some but not all primordial follicles. The primordial follicles expressing ZP1 mRNA were located at the cortico-medullary junction, indicating that they were newly activated follicles. ZP1 mRNA accumulated in oocytes of intermediate, primary, and secondary follicles. In contrast, ZP1 mRNA was first detectable in granulosa cells of intermediate follicles and is present in cuboidal granulosa cells of primary and early secondary follicles, but was undetectable in granulosa cells of more mature follicles. These data demonstrate that 1) ZP1 mRNA is expressed in both oocytes and granulosa cells, 2) ZP1 mRNA is initially expressed in oocytes of activated follicles, and 3) ZP1 mRNA is transiently expressed in granulosa cells during early stages of folliculogenesis. Therefore, rabbit ZP1 is a molecular marker that can be used in future studies to measure initiation of folliculogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- V H Lee
- Department of Cell Biology & Biochemistry, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas 79430, USA.
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