Seminal fluid is a protective medium for sperm, but it also represents potential immunogenic structures for the female immune system. Anti-seminal antibodies may threaten early fertilization. The aim of our work is to detect and identify seminal proteins that are related to female isoimmunization. In this report, we quantified serum anti-seminal IgG antibodies. Seminal proteins were analysed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis followed by immunoblotting. To identify IgG-binding proteins of interest, a proteomic approach was selected. The dominant seminal antigens were detected within the relative molecular mass ranging from 25 to 85 kDa and the isoelectric point from 5 to 7. The detected proteins were further identified as prostate-specific antigen, prostatic acid phosphatase, zinc-α-2-glycoprotein and zinc finger protein 778. Since these proteins were recognized by IgGs produced by infertile women and not by fertile women, we presume that major seminal antigens may play an important role in the pathogenesis of female immune infertility. Our study suggests the pattern of seminal proteins for further therapeutic attempts in the diagnosis of female immune infertility.
- MeSH
- Silver Staining MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel MeSH
- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay MeSH
- Immunoblotting MeSH
- Immunodominant Epitopes immunology MeSH
- Immunoglobulin G immunology MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Seminal Plasma Proteins immunology MeSH
- Infertility, Female immunology MeSH
- Check Tag
- Adult MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
One in five couples of reproductive age has been diagnosed with infertility. Some diagnoses indicate an immunological basis for this disorder. Female immune infertility may be caused by iso-immunization by seminal components. We focused on the characterization of seminal proteins to illustrate the IgG, IgA and IgE immune responses of 31 infertile women. The biochemical characterization was performed by one-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing, both of which were followed by immunoblotting analyses. IgG mainly recognized the antigens with relative molecular masses (Mr) 95 and 183 kDa and isoelectric points ranging from 6.9 to 7.0. The immunodominant antigens recognized by IgA had the Mr of 35 kDa and isoelectric points ranging from 6.2 to 7.2. The reactivity of IgE was not confirmed within our group of patients. The seminal IgG- and IgA -binding patterns were analysed immunochemically to determine the characteristics of possible seminal proteins associated with female immune infertility.
- MeSH
- Antigens immunology MeSH
- Child MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel MeSH
- Immunoblotting MeSH
- Immunoglobulin A immunology MeSH
- Immunoglobulin E immunology MeSH
- Immunoglobulin G immunology MeSH
- Isoelectric Focusing MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Semen immunology MeSH
- Infertility, Female immunology MeSH
- Check Tag
- Child MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
