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Zhang T, Wang J, Niu W, Wang F, Liu J, Xing Y, Jia P, Ren X, Wang J, Zang W, Chen X. Bioinformatic prediction of the structure and characteristics of human sperm acrosome membrane-associated protein 1 (hSAMP32) and evaluation of its antifertility function in vivo. Reprod Fertil Dev 2020; 32:1282-1292. [PMID: 33220718 DOI: 10.1071/rd20198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Human sperm acrosome membrane-associated protein 1 (hSAMP32) plays an important role in the acrosome reaction, sperm-egg primary binding, secondary binding and fusion processes. However, its spatial structural and invivo antifertility function remain unknown. In this study, we first analysed the physical and chemical characteristics and antigenic epitopes of immunised mice using bioinformatics. Then, we constructed the prokaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1-hSAMP32 to immunise BALB/c mice invivo. IgG antibodies in the serum were detected, and the litter size of female mice and the number of the hamster eggs penetrated were counted. hSAMP32 was found to contain six hydrophilic regions and a signal peptide beginning at amino acid position 29. The transmembrane region of hSAMP32 was located within amino acids 217-239 with α-helices and random coil structures. We predicted five antigenic epitopes. The molecular weight of hSAMP32 was 59 kDa. Moreover, the results of invivo studies revealed that 56 days after the first immunisation, the litter size was significantly smaller for female pcDNA-3.1(+)-hSAMP32-immunised (mean±s.d. 4.33±1.21) than control mice (9.50±0.55), indicating that the immunocontraception vaccine had an antifertility effect. This experiment presents a theoretical and experimental basis for in-depth study of the hSAMP32 mechanism within the sperm-egg fusing process and for the screening of antigenic epitopes with immunocontraceptive properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianwu Zhang
- School of Computer Science, Henan University of Engineering, Xinzheng, Henan Province, 451191, China
| | - Junmin Wang
- Department of Human Anatomy, Basic Medical College of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450001, China
| | - Wenbin Niu
- Reproductive Medical Center of the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450052, China
| | - Fang Wang
- Reproductive Medical Center of the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450052, China
| | - Jin Liu
- Department of Human Anatomy, Basic Medical College of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450001, China
| | - Yinpei Xing
- Department of Human Anatomy, Basic Medical College of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450001, China
| | - Peijun Jia
- Department of Human Anatomy, Basic Medical College of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450001, China
| | - Xiuhua Ren
- Department of Human Anatomy, Basic Medical College of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450001, China
| | - Jiarui Wang
- School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Weidong Zang
- Department of Human Anatomy, Basic Medical College of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450001, China
| | - Xuemei Chen
- Department of Human Anatomy, Basic Medical College of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, 450001, China; and Corresponding author.
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Fan S, Zhao Y, Pan Z, Gao Z, Liang Z, Pan Z, Feng W. ZNF185-derived peptide induces fertility suppression in mice. J Pept Sci 2018; 24:e3121. [PMID: 30270484 DOI: 10.1002/psc.3121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2018] [Revised: 08/02/2018] [Accepted: 08/12/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Zinc finger protein 185 (ZNF185) belongs to the ZNF family and is involved in male reproduction. However, it is unclear whether ZNF185 may be a target candidate for contraceptive vaccines. In this study, antigenic peptides derived from ZNF185 were prepared, and their immune contraceptive effects were investigated using mice. Results from enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISAs) showed that peptide immunization induced an antibody titre increase that reached a peak in week 12. Peptide-3 and peptide-4 were then chosen for subsequent experiments. The results of the fertility assays showed that peptide immunization inhibited the mating and fertility rates of the mice, whereas there were no obvious changes in the number of pups per litter. Subsequently, epididymal sperm was analysed. The results demonstrated that the sperm count and sperm motility were significantly decreased in the peptide group, while the amount of abnormal sperm was significantly increased in the peptide-3 group. The male reproductive organs were also evaluated. There were no obvious differences in testis or epididymal weights, in the diameters of the seminiferous tubules, or in the thicknesses of the seminiferous epithelium between the peptide group and the phosphate buffer saline (PBS) group. In addition, histological analysis indicated that there were no obvious pathologic changes in testis and epididymal histology in the peptide group; however, the number of spermatozoa present in the epididymal lumen of the peptide group was significantly decreased when compared with the PBS group. Our study demonstrates for the first time that peptides derived from ZNF185 may induce fertility suppression in mice without damaging reproductive organs. These peptides have the potential to be used as a male contraceptive vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shutong Fan
- College of Bioscience and Technology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Yuhan Zhao
- College of Public Health and Management, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Zhiwei Pan
- Laizhou Development Zone Hospital, Yantai, China
| | - Zhiqin Gao
- College of Bioscience and Technology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Zumu Liang
- College of Bioscience and Technology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Zhifang Pan
- College of Bioscience and Technology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Weiguo Feng
- College of Bioscience and Technology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
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Chen Z, Shen Z, Li J, He W, Yang Y, Liang Z. Nasal immunization using a mimovirus vaccine based on the Eppin B-cell epitope induced suppressed fertility in mice. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2015; 10:2227-34. [PMID: 25424926 DOI: 10.4161/hv.29200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
To elicit potent humoral immunity and produce adequate neutralizing antibody especially in the genital tract and eventually to promote its immunogenicity, we designed an Eppin B-cell-dominant-epitope-based mimovirus vaccine with an RGD motif which can be nasally inoculated into male mice. Our results indicate that this immune strategy successfully generated a high antibody response with significantly higher anti-Eppin IgA in the genital tract, and eventually achieve significant inhibition of fertility without any interference with testis function and alteration in structural integrity. The fertility rate of the females mating with the vaccinated males declined and the progeny size was greatly reduced, but the contraceptive efficacy was still far from that of immunocontraceptives for human use. However, the research showed a new contraceptive vaccine construction and inoculation avenue, that is, mimovirus vaccine delivered nasally. Further investigation geared toward improving fertility inhibition efficacy using this inoculation strategy still remains to be explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengqiong Chen
- a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology; Southwest hospital; Third Military Medical University; Chongqing, PR China
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Yu Q, Mei XQ, Ding XF, Dong TT, Dong WW, Li HG. Construction of a catsper1 DNA vaccine and its antifertility effect on male mice. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0127508. [PMID: 25993432 PMCID: PMC4436331 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0127508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2015] [Accepted: 04/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Cation channel of sperm 1 (CATSPER1) is a unique sperm cation channel protein, and essential for sperm function and male fertility. CATSPER1 exclusively expresses in meiotic and postmeiotic spermatogenic cells, thus belongs to the spermatogenesis-specific antigen that escape central tolerance. We have previously demonstrated the immunocontraceptive potential of its transmembrane domains and pore region, and reported the antifertility effects of its B-cell epitopes on male mice. Aiming to develop DNA vaccine targeting CATSPER1 for male contraception, here the whole open reading frame of mouse Catsper1 was cloned into the plasmid pEGFP-N1 to obtain a DNA vaccine pEGFP-N1-Catsper1. The vaccine was confirmed to be transcribed and translated in mouse N2a cell in vitro and mouse muscle tissue in vivo. Intramuscular injection with the vaccine on male mice induced specific immune reaction and caused significant inhibition on sperm hyperactivated motility and progressive motility (P<0.001 for both), and consequently reduced male fertility. The fertility rate of experimental group was 40.9%, which was significant lower (P=0.012) than control group (81.8%). No significant change in mating behavior, sperm production and histology of testis/epididymis was observed. Given that Catsper1 exhibits a high degree of homology among different species, Catsper1 DNA vaccine might be a good strategy for developing an immunocontraceptive vaccine for human and animal use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiong Yu
- Family Planning Research Institute/Center of Reproductive Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiao-Qin Mei
- Family Planning Research Institute/Center of Reproductive Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiao-Fang Ding
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ting-Ting Dong
- Family Planning Research Institute/Center of Reproductive Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Wei-Wei Dong
- Family Planning Research Institute/Center of Reproductive Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Hong-Gang Li
- Family Planning Research Institute/Center of Reproductive Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Wuhan Tongji Reproductive Medicine Hospital, Wuhan, China
- * E-mail:
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