Journal of Andrology
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Published-Ahead-of-Print October 31, 2007, DOI:10.2164/jandrol.106.000604
Journal of Andrology, Vol. 29, No. 3, May/June 2008
Copyright © American Society of Andrology
DOI: 10.2164/jandrol.106.000604

This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
29/3/272    most recent
Author Manuscript (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Wolkowicz, M. J.
Right arrow Articles by Herr, J. C.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Wolkowicz, M. J.
Right arrow Articles by Herr, J. C.

Equatorial Segment Protein (ESP) Is a Human Alloantigen Involved in Sperm-Egg Binding and Fusion

M. J. WOLKOWICZ, L. DIGILIO, K. KLOTZ, J. SHETTY, C. J. FLICKINGER AND J. C. HERR

From the Center for Research in Contraceptive and Reproductive Health, University of Virginia, School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia.

Correspondence to: John C. Herr, Department of Cell Biology, University of Virginia Health System School of Medicine, P.O. Box 800732, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908 (e-mail: jch7k{at}virginia.edu).


The equatorial segment of the sperm head is known to play a role in fertilization; however, the specific sperm molecules contributing to the integrity of the equatorial segment and in binding and fusion at the oolemma remain incomplete. Moreover, identification of molecular mediators of fertilization that are also immunogenic in humans is predicted to advance both the diagnosis and treatment of immune infertility. We previously reported the cloning of Equatorial Segment Protein (ESP), a protein localized to the equatorial segment of ejaculated human sperm. ESP is a biomarker for a subcompartment of the acrosomal matrix that can be traced through all stages of acrosome biogenesis (Wolkowicz et al, 2003). In the present study, ESP immunoreacted on Western blots with 4 (27%) of 15 antisperm antibody (ASA)–positive serum samples from infertile male patients and 2 (40%) of 5 ASA-positive female sera. Immunofluorescent studies revealed ESP in the equatorial segment of 89% of acrosome-reacted sperm. ESP persisted as a defined equatorial segment band on 100% of sperm tightly bound to the oolemma of hamster eggs. Antisera to recombinant human ESP inhibited both oolemmal binding and fusion of human sperm in the hamster egg penetration assay. The results indicate that ESP is a human alloantigen involved in sperm-egg binding and fusion. Defined recombinant sperm immunogens, such as ESP, may offer opportunities for differential diagnosis of immune infertility.

     Key words: Antisperm antibodies, sperm alloantigens, immune infertility, spermatogenesis, acrosome, fertilization




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Hum ReprodHome page
R.-B. Yang, H.-K. Au, C.-R. Tzeng, M.-T. Tsai, P. Wu, Y.-C. Wu, T.-Y. Ling, and Y.-H. Huang
Characterization of a novel cell-surface protein expressed on human sperm
Hum. Reprod., January 1, 2010; 25(1): 42 - 51.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Biol. Reprod.Home page
K. Yamatoya, K. Yoshida, C. Ito, M. Maekawa, M. Yanagida, K. Takamori, H. Ogawa, Y. Araki, K. Miyado, Y. Toyama, et al.
Equatorin: Identification and Characterization of the Epitope of the MN9 Antibody in the Mouse
Biol Reprod, November 1, 2009; 81(5): 889 - 897.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2008 by The American Society of Andrology.