Lack of HLA-molecules on human spermatozoa and in seminal plasma

Abstract

Summary. The expression of human leukocyte antigens (HLA) on ejaculated spermatozoa and on lymphocytes was compared by flow cytometry using monoclonal antibodies towards HLA class I (pan‐HLA‐A, ‐B, ‐C) and class II (DR) antigens. Soluble antigens of HLA class I (s HLA‐A, ‐B, ‐C) in seminal plasma and in blood plasma were monitored with an elisa technique. Lymphocytes showed specific fluorescence after incubation with the antibodies against HLA class I and class II (DR), whereas, on spermatozoa no positive immunofluorescence could be detected. No antibodies were bound to any significant extent either after modifications of sperm preparation (density gradient centrifugation, swim up‐technique, addition of azide, foetal calf serum or benzamidine chloride) or after treatment of spermatozoa with detergens. Furthermore, different concentrations of soluble HLA‐A, ‐B, ‐C in seminal plasma and in blood plasma were detected. The latter one showed soluble HLA about four‐fold more concentrated than the seminal plasma (x ± SD: 262.5 ± 144.4 nmol 1‐1vs. 62.5 ± 27.1 nmol 1‐1). These results suggest, that the HLA‐expression differs between human spermatozoa and somatic cells.

The expression of human leukocyte antigen by human ejaculated spermatozoa

“…The expression of polymorphic HLA antigens by ejaculated spermatozoa has been a matter of controversy. Some studies reported that ejaculated spermatozoa express both HLA class Ia & class II (Chiang, Steuerwald, Lambert, Main, & Steinleitner, ; Martin‐Villa, Longás, & Arnáiz‐Villena, ; MartinVilla et al, ; Paradisi et al, , ; Rodriguezcordoba, Regueiro, & Villena, ), but others described the contrary (Castilla et al, ; Haas & Nahhas, ; Law & Bodmer, ; Schaller, Glander, Ladusch, Westhoff, & Grossewilde, ). Also, some authors reported that spermatozoa express one of the HLA class Ia or class II (Bishara et al, ; Ohashi, Saji, Kato, Wakimoto, & Tanizawa, ).…”

Peptides Derived From Mismatched Paternal Human Leukocyte Antigen Predicted to Be Presented by HLA-DRB1, -DRB3/4/5, -DQ, and -DP Induce Child-Specific Antibodies in Pregnant Women

“…However, a variety of immunoregulatory processes are known to be induced by pregnancy as reviewed by Abu-Raya et al (11), which may limit child-HLA-specific antibody responses. Despite that only women with no prior record of major alloimmunization events were enrolled in the study and given the presence of soluble HLA in seminal plasma (32,33), prior HLA-specific immunization, e.g., by unprotected sex (34), cannot be fully ruled out in the present cohort due to the unavailability of pre-pregnancy samples. Conversely, Kakaiya et al (35) reported an HLA antibody prevalence of only 1.6% in healthy female blood donors, suggesting a limited impact of preformed antibodies on the study.…”

Post-copulatory genetic matchmaking: HLA-dependent effects of cervical mucus on human sperm function

“…Accordingly, a number of studies have demonstrated that both women and men show pre-copulatory mating preferences for the body odours of HLA (human leucocyte antigen)-dissimilar partners [36][37][38][39]. Interestingly, recent studies have shown that both HLA molecules and HLA-linked olfactory receptors that detect these molecules are present on the surface of human sperm ( [40][41][42][43], although HLA expression on mature sperm remains controversial [44,45]). Furthermore, in addition to these sperm surface molecules, soluble HLAs are found in the secretions of the female reproductive tract [46,47].…”