CD4+ cells in human ejaculates

Abstract

Using flow cytometry, we studied the expression of the CD4 antigen within the different cells present in human ejaculate, both in spermatozoa and round cells. In all, 20 samples of semen were obtained from fertile males; in 11 of these, we detected the presence of leukocytes, using the peroxidase test. Swim-up was performed for the analysis of the spermatozoa. From our results it may be concluded that there is no expression of the CD4 antigen on the surface of human spermatozoa or on CD45- ejaculate cells (epithelial and germinal cells). However, we did detect the presence of the CD4 antigen on the surface of the leukocyte cells (CD45+). A better characterization of these CD45+ cells made it apparent that the CD4+ cells of ejaculate are composed of T lymphocytes (helper/inducer T lymphocytes) and monocytes. Thus we may conclude that human spermatozoa do not express the CD4 antigen, the cell surface receptor for human immunodeficiency virus. However, we did detect CD4+ T lymphocytes and CD4+ monocytes in semen.

Viruses in the Mammalian Male Genital Tract and Their Effects on the Reproductive System

“…The CD4 receptor is present on semen lymphocytes and monocytes (125,126), but it is unclear whether it is present on spermatozoa. Ashida and Scofield (21) were the first to describe a sperm ligand that reacts with CD4 antibodies and interactions between sperm and HLA-DR-positive cells, providing strong evidence that CD4 is expressed on spermatozoa.…”

“…Ϫ ejaculate cells (epithelial and germinal cells) (15,110,125,166,240,352). Neither of the two main HIV coreceptors (CXCR4 and CCR5) were detected on the surface of spermatozoa in flow cytometry experiments (166), although the possibility that they are expressed at a very low level cannot be ruled out.…”

Genital Ulcers Facilitate Rapid Viral Entry and Dissemination following Intravaginal Inoculation with Cell-Associated Simian Immunodeficiency Virus SIVmac239

“…Their risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) acquisition is significantly increased by concurrent genital ulcerative diseases (GUD) (3,5,17,21) and other nonulcerative but inflammatory infections or medical conditions (10,14,20). Urogenital inflammation in HIV type 1 (HIV-1)-infected men may also play a role in facilitating transmission, as their semen can contain as many as several thousand infected cells per milliliter of ejaculate capable of delivering cell-associated virus to target cells in the female reproductive tract (1,4,18,25). Defining the events of virus transmission in the setting of genital tract ulceration and inflammation is thus important for the evaluation of vaccines or microbicidal strategies aimed at preventing HIV transmission (6-8, 11, 15, 23).…”

Infection du tractus génital masculin : le point de vue du virologue

“…Au début des années 1990, des images prises en microscopie électronique avaient montré la présence de virus à l'intérieur du spermatozoïde évo-quant une possible infection du spermatozoïde par le VIH [23]. Ces images n'ont jamais été confirmées et de plus on sait maintenant que le spermatozoïde est dépourvu du récep-teur CD4 et des corécepteurs CXCR4 et CCR5 indispensables pour la pénétration du VIH dans une cellule [24,25].…”