Association of Antisperm Antibodies with Bacterial Infection: An Insight to Infertility

Prabha, Vijay

doi:10.4172/2327-4360.1000118

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 61 publications

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“…Since then (particularly during the period between 1960 and 2000), researchers have focused their attention on ASAs. More recently, research has been focused on the use of ASAs as a contraceptive [10,11]. For human males, risk factors associated with ASA formation include the blood–testis barrier breakdown, surgical trauma, various microbial infections, prostitis and orchitis, testicular cancer, varicocele, and unsafe sex (either anal or oral sex).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Role of Antisperm Antibodies in Infertility, Pregnancy, and Potential for Contraceptive and Antifertility Vaccine Designs: Research Progress and Pioneering Vision

Vickram

Dhama

Chakraborty³

et al. 2019

Vaccines

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Sperm of humans, non-human primates, and other mammalian subjects is considered to be antigenic. The effect of changes in autoimmunity on reproductive cells such as spermatozoa and oocytes play a critical but indistinct role in fertility. Antisperm antibodies (ASAs) are invariably present in both females and males. However, the degree of ASA occurrence may vary according to individual and gender. Although the extent of infertility due to ASAs alone is yet to be determined, it has been found in almost 9–12% of patients who are infertile due to different causes. Postcoital presence of spermatozoa in the reproductive tract of women is not a contributory factor in ASA generation. However, ASA generation may be induced by trauma to the vaginal mucosa, or by anal or oral sex resulting in the deposition of sperm inside the digestive tract. It is strongly believed that, in humans and other species, at least some antibodies may bind to sperm antigens, causing infertility. This form of infertility is termed as immunological infertility, which may be accompanied by impairment of fertility, even in individuals with normozoospermia. Researchers target ASAs for two major reasons: (i) to elucidate the association between ASAs and infertility, the reason ASAs causes infertility, and the mechanism underlying ASA-mediated infertility; and (ii) to assess the potential of ASAs as a contraceptive in humans in case ASAs influences infertility. Therefore, this review explores the potential application of ASAs in the development of anti-spermatozoa vaccines for contraceptive purposes. The usefulness of ASAs for diagnosing obstructive azoospermia, salpingitis, and oligoasthenoteratozoospermia has been reviewed extensively. Important patents pertaining to potential candidates for spermatozoa-derived vaccines that may be utilized as contraceptives are discussed in depth. Antifertility vaccines, as well as treatments for ASA-related infertility, are also highlighted. This review will address many unresolved issues regarding mechanisms involving ASAs in the diagnosis, as well as prognoses, of male infertility. More documented scientific reports are cited to support the mechanisms underlying the potential role of ASA in infertility. The usefulness of sperm antigens or ASAs (recombinant) in human and wild or captive animal contraceptive vaccines has been revealed through research but is yet to be validated via clinical testing.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Role of Antisperm Antibodies in Infertility, Pregnancy, and Potential for Contraceptive and Antifertility Vaccine Designs: Research Progress and Pioneering Vision

Vickram

Dhama

Chakraborty³

et al. 2019

Vaccines

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Molecular Characterization of Sperm Antigens with In Vivo Developed Antisperm Antibodies in Variably Inseminated Cross Bred-Heifers/Cows

Cheema

Bansal

2015

IJAVST

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Molecular characterization of sperm proteins and their immunoreactions to sera from subfertile/infertile animals may give deeper insight to the immunological reason of infertility. The purpose of this study was to characterize antigenic sperm proteins by reacting with blood serum and cervical mucus of variably inseminated heifers/cows using immunoblotting and immunofluorescence techniques. Immunoblot analysis of sperm proteins with blood serum/CM of variably inseminated cows/heifers revealed around 23 polypeptides in cattle sperm, but all proteins did not react with blood serum and cervical mucus of all tested animals. Number of sperm polypeptides that reacted with blood serum of non-inseminated, 1-3, 4-6 and >6 times inseminated heifers/cows were in the range of 11-14, 8-13, 3-14 and 5-13 respectively. Correspondingly cervical mucus of 1-3, 4-6 and >6 times inseminated heifers/cows also recognized about 2-7, 2-13 and 2-12 sperm polypeptides respectively. Immunofluorescence of sperm smears with blood serum and cervical mucus of variably inseminated heifer/cows indicated the presence of antisperm antibodies (ASA) mainly against acrosome surface, post -acrosome and principal piece surface proteins. There was not any difference in range of number of polypeptides detected with blood serum in regard to number of insemination. But range of number of polypeptides detected was higher with cervical mucus of >3 times inseminated animals, which indicated increase in ASA against antigenic sperm proteins in cervical mucus with increase in number of inseminations. It was concluded that ASA are produced in blood serum and cervical mucus of cows/heifers against sperm proteins, irrespective of number of inseminations. In future further characterization of sperm proteins and their homogeneity with bacterial proteins is needed to understand the mechanism of ASA mediated fertility impairment and to develop treatment protocol on the basis of purified antigens.

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Association of Antisperm Antibodies with Bacterial Infection: An Insight to Infertility

Cited by 2 publications

References 61 publications

Role of Antisperm Antibodies in Infertility, Pregnancy, and Potential for Contraceptive and Antifertility Vaccine Designs: Research Progress and Pioneering Vision

Role of Antisperm Antibodies in Infertility, Pregnancy, and Potential for Contraceptive and Antifertility Vaccine Designs: Research Progress and Pioneering Vision

Molecular Characterization of Sperm Antigens with In Vivo Developed Antisperm Antibodies in Variably Inseminated Cross Bred-Heifers/Cows

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