Effect of boar seminal immunosuppressive fraction on B lymphocytes and on primary antibody response

Abstract

Repeated i.p. or rectal treatment of male and female mice with an immunosuppressive component isolated from boar seminal vesicle secretion reduced responses of B lymphocytes to mitogen as evaluated by [3H]thymidine or bromo-deoxyuridine incorporation. The proliferative activity of T lymphocytes was not affected. By means of the immunofluorescence method, the seminal immunosuppressive component was detected on the membranes of B lymphocytes separated from the spleens of mice treated in vivo with immunosuppressor. An i.p. injection or rectal infusion of the immunosuppressive component also led to a suppression of primary antibody response to soluble and particulate antigens. These findings indicate that in vivo deposition of semen may compromise some aspects of the immune system and may be an important cofactor in the development of viral and bacterial infections in homosexual men.

Immunobiology of Spermatozoa: A Review

“…As such, seminal plasma is believed to provide the physiologic protective environment to the highly antigenic spermatozoa in the female reproductive tract. 9,14,[16][17][18] The immunosuppressive proteins in the seminal plasma can be separated with different chromatographic separation techniques such as affinity chromatography, size exclusion chromatography, and high-performance liquid chromatography with reversed phase. Similarly, techniques to study the isolation and binding interaction of seminal proteins have also been developed.…”

“…However, the immunosuppressive effect of seminal plasma could also compromise the immune system in females during viral and bacterial attack. 14,[20][21][22][23] Prostasomes are multilamellar submicron organelles present in human semen in large numbers and act as the reservoirs of complement inhibiting activity and also inhibit the lymphocyte proliferation assay. 3 This prostasome activity is responsible for very high amount of immunosuppressive activity in human seminal plasma.…”

“…Indeed, the immunosuppressive components obtained from the seminal fluid have been found to reduce B lymphocyte activity to mitogens. 14 In addition, seminal protein coatings on sperms are essential for several processes in the female reproductive tract, such as formation of the oviductal sperm reservoir, sperm capacitation, oocyte recognition, and sperm binding to the oocyte. 15 Seminal plasma, containing cytokines and prostaglandins (PGs), is believed to provide the physiologically protective environment to the highly antigenic spermatozoa in the female reproductive tract.…”

“…15 Seminal plasma, containing cytokines and prostaglandins (PGs), is believed to provide the physiologically protective environment to the highly antigenic spermatozoa in the female reproductive tract. 9,14,[16][17][18][19] It has been suggested that this immunosuppressive effect of seminal plasma may also compromise the immune system in females for viral and bacterial attack. 14,[20][21][22][23] After the initiation of studies in immunological infertility in 1954 by Rumke who was responsible for the discovery of antibody response to spermatozoa in two infertile men, 24 this field is still in its infancy stage and much work is required to determine the cause of infertility in both men and women.…”

“…This they do by reducing the lymphocytic proliferation and inhibiting the antibody response. 14,71 In some cases, females produce a local immune response to spermatozoa but only in cervical mucus and not in the serum. As such, the local immune response is more common in females than males, and systemic immune response is seen in females in both serum and mucus.…”