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Guseva EA, Buev VS, Mirzaeva SE, Pletnev PI, Dontsova OA, Sergiev PV. Structure and Composition of Spermatozoa Fibrous Sheath in Diverse Groups of Metazoa. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7663. [PMID: 39062905 PMCID: PMC11276731 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25147663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2024] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The proper functioning and assembly of the sperm flagella structures contribute significantly to spermatozoa motility and overall male fertility. However, the fine mechanisms of assembly steps are poorly studied due to the high diversity of cell types, low solubility of the corresponding protein structures, and high tissue and cell specificity. One of the open questions for investigation is the attachment of longitudinal columns to the doublets 3 and 8 of axonemal microtubules through the outer dense fibers. A number of mutations affecting the assembly of flagella in model organisms are known. Additionally, evolutionary genomics data and comparative analysis of flagella morphology are available for a set of non-model species. This review is devoted to the analysis of diverse ultrastructures of sperm flagellum of Metazoa combined with an overview of the evolutionary distribution and function of the mammalian fibrous sheath proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterina A. Guseva
- Center of Life Sciences, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, 143025 Skolkovo, Russia; (E.A.G.); (O.A.D.)
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia
- Faculty of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia; (V.S.B.); (S.E.M.); (P.I.P.)
| | - Vitaly S. Buev
- Faculty of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia; (V.S.B.); (S.E.M.); (P.I.P.)
- Faculty of Bioengeneering and Bioinformatics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - Sabina E. Mirzaeva
- Faculty of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia; (V.S.B.); (S.E.M.); (P.I.P.)
| | - Philipp I. Pletnev
- Faculty of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia; (V.S.B.); (S.E.M.); (P.I.P.)
| | - Olga A. Dontsova
- Center of Life Sciences, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, 143025 Skolkovo, Russia; (E.A.G.); (O.A.D.)
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia
- Faculty of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia; (V.S.B.); (S.E.M.); (P.I.P.)
- Shemyakin–Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, 117997 Moscow, Russia
| | - Petr V. Sergiev
- Center of Life Sciences, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, 143025 Skolkovo, Russia; (E.A.G.); (O.A.D.)
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia
- Faculty of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119991 Moscow, Russia; (V.S.B.); (S.E.M.); (P.I.P.)
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Hernández-Avilés C, Ramírez-Agámez L, Weintraub ST, Scoggin CF, Davis BW, Raudsepp T, Varner DD, Love CC. Proteomic analysis of sperm from fertile stallions and subfertile stallions due to impaired acrosomal exocytosis. Sci Rep 2024; 14:12446. [PMID: 38816557 PMCID: PMC11139894 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63410-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Thoroughbred stallions that carry a double-homozygous genotype A/A-A/A for SNPs rs397316122 and rs69101140 in exon 5 of the FKBP6 gene (chr13; EquCab3.0) are uniquely subfertile due to impaired acrosomal exocytosis (IAE). In this study, the sperm proteome in frozen/thawed semen from subfertile Thoroughbred stallions was studied and compared to that of frozen/thawed sperm from fertile Thoroughbred stallions. A total of 2,220 proteins was identified, of which 140 proteins were found to be differentially abundant in sperm from the subfertile stallions compared to that of fertile stallions (83 less and 57 more abundant). Proteins of differential abundance in sperm from the subfertile stallions were mainly overrepresented in the "metabolism" and the "metabolism of lipids" pathways. One of these proteins, arylsulfatase F (ARSF), was studied by immunofluorescence. A lower proportion of sperm displaying ARSF signal at the acrosome region was observed in sperm from subfertile Thoroughbred stallions. In addition, heterologous zona pellucida binding assays revealed that sperm from subfertile Thoroughbred stallions bound at a lower proportion to zonae pellucidae than sperm from fertile Thoroughbred stallions. In conclusion, a group of differential abundance proteins, including some of acrosome origin, were identified in sperm from subfertile stallions with acrosome dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camilo Hernández-Avilés
- Equine Fertility Laboratory, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, 500 Raymond Stotzer Parkway, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
| | - Luisa Ramírez-Agámez
- Equine Fertility Laboratory, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, 500 Raymond Stotzer Parkway, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Susan T Weintraub
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Charles F Scoggin
- LeBlanc Reproduction Center, Rood & Riddle Equine Hospital, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Brian W Davis
- Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Terje Raudsepp
- Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Dickson D Varner
- Equine Fertility Laboratory, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, 500 Raymond Stotzer Parkway, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Charles C Love
- Equine Fertility Laboratory, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, 500 Raymond Stotzer Parkway, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
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Zhang K, Xu XH, Wu J, Wang N, Li G, Hao GM, Cao JF. Decreased AKAP4/PKA signaling pathway in high DFI sperm affects sperm capacitation. Asian J Androl 2024; 26:25-33. [PMID: 37695244 PMCID: PMC10846834 DOI: 10.4103/aja202329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) is a metric used to assess DNA fragmentation within sperm. During in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET), high sperm DFI can lead to a low fertilization rate, poor embryo development, early miscarriage, etc. A kinase anchoring protein (AKAP) is a scaffold protein that can bind protein kinase A (PKA) to subcellular sites of specific substrates and protects the biophosphorylation reaction. Sperm protein antigen 17 (SPA17) can also bind to AKAP. This study intends to explore the reason for the decreased fertilization rate observed in high sperm DFI (H-DFI) patients during IVF-ET. In addition, the study investigates the expression of AKAP, protein kinase A regulatory subunit (PKARII), and SPA17 between H-DFI and low sperm DFI (L-DFI) patients. SPA17 at the transcriptional level is abnormal, the translational level increases in H-DFI patients, and the expression of AKAP4/PKARII protein decreases. H 2 O 2 has been used to simulate oxidative stress damage to spermatozoa during the formation of sperm DFI. It indicates that H 2 O 2 increases the expression of sperm SPA17 protein and suppresses AKAP4/PKARII protein expression. These processes inhibit sperm capacitation and reduce acrosomal reactions. Embryo culture data and IVF outcomes have been documented. The H-DFI group has a lower fertilization rate. Therefore, the results indicate that the possible causes for the decreased fertilization rate in the H-DFI patients have included loss of sperm AKAP4/PKARII proteins, blocked sperm capacitation, and reduced occurrence of acrosome reaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Zhang
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Infertility and Genetics, Department of Reproductive Medicine, Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050000, China
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221000, China
| | - Xiu-Hua Xu
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Infertility and Genetics, Department of Reproductive Medicine, Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050000, China
| | - Jian Wu
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Infertility and Genetics, Department of Reproductive Medicine, Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050000, China
| | - Ning Wang
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Infertility and Genetics, Department of Reproductive Medicine, Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050000, China
| | - Gang Li
- Department of Neurology, The 980 Hospital of the People’s Liberation Army Joint Logistics Support Force (Bethune International Peace Hospital), Shijiazhuang 050000, China
| | - Gui-Min Hao
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Infertility and Genetics, Department of Reproductive Medicine, Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050000, China
| | - Jin-Feng Cao
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Infertility and Genetics, Department of Reproductive Medicine, Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050000, China
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The stallion sperm acrosome: Considerations from a research and clinical perspective. Theriogenology 2023; 196:121-149. [PMID: 36413868 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2022.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
During the fertilization process, the interaction between the sperm and the oocyte is mediated by a process known as acrosomal exocytosis (AE). Although the role of the sperm acrosome on fertilization has been studied extensively over the last 70 years, little is known about the molecular mechanisms that govern acrosomal function, particularly in species other than mice or humans. Even though subfertility due to acrosomal dysfunction is less common in large animals than in humans, the evaluation of sperm acrosomal function should be considered not only as a complementary but a routine test when individuals are selected for breeding potential. This certainly holds true for stallions, which might display lower levels of fertility in the face of "acceptable" sperm quality parameters determined by conventional sperm assays. Nowadays, the use of high throughput technologies such as flow cytometry or mass spectrometry-based proteomic analysis is commonplace in the research arena. Such techniques can also be implemented in clinical scenarios of males with "idiopathic" subfertility. The current review focuses on the sperm acrosome, with particular emphasis on the stallion. We aim to describe the physiological events that lead to the acrosome formation within the testis, the role of very specific acrosomal proteins during AE, the methods to study the occurrence of AE under in vitro conditions, and the potential use of molecular biology techniques to discover new markers of acrosomal function and subfertility associated with acrosomal dysfunction in stallions.
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Liang J, Zheng Y, Zeng W, Chen L, Yang S, Du P, Wang Y, Yu X, Zhang X. Proteomic Profile of Sperm in Infertile Males Reveals Changes in Metabolic Pathways. Protein J 2021; 40:929-939. [PMID: 34213690 PMCID: PMC8593027 DOI: 10.1007/s10930-021-10013-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The objective of the present study was to investigate the differences in the proteomic profiles of sperm from infertile males with severe oligoasthenoteratozoospermia requiring intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and normal control sperm from fertile males. Isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantitation labeling and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was performed for identifying proteins in the sperm of infertile and fertile males. Differentially expressed proteins were analyzed via the Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) databases through the Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery, and protein-protein networks were produced using the Search Tool for Retrieval of Interacting Genes. Immunofluorescence and western blotting verified the differential expression of Y-box-binding protein 1(YBX1), adenylate kinase 1 (AK1), and aconitase 2, mitochondrial (ACO2) proteins. Altogether, 3444 proteins were identified in the sperm of infertile and fertile males, and 938 were differentially expressed between the two groups. Pairwise comparisons revealed that 226 and 712 proteins were significantly upregulated and downregulated in infertile males, respectively. These proteins were significantly enriched in metabolic pathways as per KEGG enrichment analysis. YBX1 expression was upregulated in the sperm heads of patients requiring ICSI treatment, whereas AK1 and ACO2, which are critical enzymes involved in energy metabolism, were downregulated in the sperm tails of the same patients. This result indicates that metabolism may have a crucial role in maintaining normal sperm function. Overall, our results provide insights that will further help in investigating the pathogenic mechanisms of infertility and possible therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaying Liang
- Reproductive Medical Center, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, No. 521 Xingnan Road, Guangzhou, 511400, Guangdong, China
| | - Yichun Zheng
- Reproductive Medical Center, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, No. 521 Xingnan Road, Guangzhou, 511400, Guangdong, China.
| | - Weihong Zeng
- Children Inherit Metabolism and Endocrine Department, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, 511400, China
| | - Liuqing Chen
- Reproductive Medical Center, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, No. 521 Xingnan Road, Guangzhou, 511400, Guangdong, China
| | - Shaofen Yang
- Reproductive Medical Center, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, No. 521 Xingnan Road, Guangzhou, 511400, Guangdong, China
| | - Peng Du
- Reproductive Medical Center, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, No. 521 Xingnan Road, Guangzhou, 511400, Guangdong, China
| | - Yujiang Wang
- Reproductive Medical Center, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, No. 521 Xingnan Road, Guangzhou, 511400, Guangdong, China
| | - Xingsu Yu
- Reproductive Medical Center, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, No. 521 Xingnan Road, Guangzhou, 511400, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiqian Zhang
- Reproductive Medical Center, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, No. 521 Xingnan Road, Guangzhou, 511400, Guangdong, China.
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Pelloni M, Paoli D, Majoli M, Pallotti F, Carlini T, Lenzi A, Lombardo F. Molecular study of human sperm RNA: Ropporin and CABYR in asthenozoospermia. J Endocrinol Invest 2018; 41:781-787. [PMID: 29247344 DOI: 10.1007/s40618-017-0804-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2017] [Accepted: 12/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sperm motility is an essential aspect of human fertility. Sperm contain an abundance of transcripts, thought to be remnants of mRNA, which comprise a genetic fingerprint and can be considered a historic record of gene expression during spermatogenesis. The aberrant expression of numerous genes has been found to contribute to impaired sperm motility; these include ROPN1 (rhophilin associated tail protein 1), which encodes a component of the fibrous sheath of the mammalian sperm flagella, and CABYR (calcium-binding tyrosine-(Y)-phosphorylation-regulated protein), which plays an important role in calcium activation and modulation. The aim of this study was to investigate ROPN1 and CABYR gene co-expression in asthenozoospermic semen samples in comparison with normozoospermic samples. METHODS We studied 120 semen samples (60 normozoospermic and 60 asthenozoospermic) from Caucasian patients attending our centre for an andrological check-up. Total RNA was extracted from purified spermatozoa with RNeasy mini kit. ROPN1 and CABYR mRNA expression was analysed using RT-qPCR. Continuous variables were described as means ± standard deviations. RESULTS ROPN1 and CABYR mRNA were simultaneously downregulated in asthenozoospermic in comparison with normozoospermic samples. There was also a positive correlation between total progressive motility and ROPN1 and CABYR gene expression and between total motile sperm number and ROPN1 and CABYR gene expression. CONCLUSIONS The results demonstrated downregulation of both ROPN1 and CABYR in asthenozoospermic samples and importantly, a positive correlation between the expression of the two genes, suggesting that ROPN1 and CABYR co-expression is a prerequisite for normal flagellar function and sperm motility.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Pelloni
- Laboratory of Seminology-Sperm Bank "Loredana Gandini", Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - D Paoli
- Laboratory of Seminology-Sperm Bank "Loredana Gandini", Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy.
| | - M Majoli
- Laboratory of Seminology-Sperm Bank "Loredana Gandini", Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - F Pallotti
- Laboratory of Seminology-Sperm Bank "Loredana Gandini", Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - T Carlini
- Laboratory of Seminology-Sperm Bank "Loredana Gandini", Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - A Lenzi
- Laboratory of Seminology-Sperm Bank "Loredana Gandini", Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - F Lombardo
- Laboratory of Seminology-Sperm Bank "Loredana Gandini", Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161, Rome, Italy
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Li Z, Qiu Y, Lu W, Jiang Y, Wang J. Immunotherapeutic interventions of Triple Negative Breast Cancer. J Transl Med 2018; 16:147. [PMID: 29848327 PMCID: PMC5977468 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-018-1514-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2018] [Accepted: 05/09/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is a highly heterogeneous subtype of breast cancer that lacks the expression of oestrogen receptors, progesterone receptors and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2. Although TNBC is sensitive to chemotherapy, the overall outcomes of TNBC are worse than for other breast cancers, and TNBC is still one of the most fatal diseases for women. With the discovery of antigens specifically expressed in TNBC cells and the developing technology of monoclonal antibodies, chimeric antigen receptors and cancer vaccines, immunotherapy is emerging as a novel promising option for TNBC. This review is mainly focused on the tumour microenvironment and host immunity, Triple Negative Breast Cancer and the clinical treatment of TNBC, novel therapies for cancer and immunotherapy for TNBC, and the future outlook for the treatment for TNBC and the interplay between the therapies, including immune checkpoint inhibitors, combination of immune checkpoint inhibitors with targeted treatments in TNBC, adoptive cell therapy, cancer vaccines. The review also highlights recent reports on the synergistic effects of immunotherapy and chemotherapy, antibody-drug conjugates, and exosomes, as potential multifunctional therapeutic agents in TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zehuan Li
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, 2901 Caolang Road, Jinshan District, Shanghai, 201508 People’s Republic of China
| | - Yiran Qiu
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, 2901 Caolang Road, Jinshan District, Shanghai, 201508 People’s Republic of China
| | - Weiqi Lu
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, 2901 Caolang Road, Jinshan District, Shanghai, 201508 People’s Republic of China
| | - Ying Jiang
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 180 Fenglin Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032 People’s Republic of China
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, 2901 Caolang Road, Jinshan District, Shanghai, 201508 People’s Republic of China
| | - Jin Wang
- Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, 2901 Caolang Road, Jinshan District, Shanghai, 201508 People’s Republic of China
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Intasqui P, Agarwal A, Sharma R, Samanta L, Bertolla RP. Towards the identification of reliable sperm biomarkers for male infertility: A sperm proteomic approach. Andrologia 2017; 50. [DOI: 10.1111/and.12919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- P. Intasqui
- American Center for Reproductive Medicine; Cleveland Clinic; Cleveland OH USA
- Department of Surgery; Division of Urology; Human Reproduction Section; Sao Paulo Federal University - Sao Paulo Hospital; Sao Paulo Brazil
| | - A. Agarwal
- American Center for Reproductive Medicine; Cleveland Clinic; Cleveland OH USA
| | - R. Sharma
- American Center for Reproductive Medicine; Cleveland Clinic; Cleveland OH USA
| | - L. Samanta
- Department of Zoology; Ravenshaw University; Cuttack India
| | - R. P. Bertolla
- Department of Surgery; Division of Urology; Human Reproduction Section; Sao Paulo Federal University - Sao Paulo Hospital; Sao Paulo Brazil
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Minhas V, Shrestha A, Wadhwa N, Singh R, Gupta SK. Novel Sperm and Gonadotropin-releasing Hormone-based Recombinant Fusion Protein: Achievement of 100% Contraceptive Efficacy by Co-immunization of Male and Female Mice. Mol Reprod Dev 2016; 83:1048-1059. [DOI: 10.1002/mrd.22743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2016] [Accepted: 09/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Vidisha Minhas
- Reproductive Cell Biology Lab; National Institute of Immunology; New Delhi India
- Lab of Molecular Reproduction, Department of Zoology; Delhi University; New Delhi India
| | - Abhinav Shrestha
- Reproductive Cell Biology Lab; National Institute of Immunology; New Delhi India
| | - Neerja Wadhwa
- Embryo Biotechnology Lab; National Institute of Immunology; New Delhi India
| | - Rita Singh
- Lab of Molecular Reproduction, Department of Zoology; Delhi University; New Delhi India
| | - Satish Kumar Gupta
- Reproductive Cell Biology Lab; National Institute of Immunology; New Delhi India
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Tanphaichitr N, Kongmanas K, Kruevaisayawan H, Saewu A, Sugeng C, Fernandes J, Souda P, Angel JB, Faull KF, Aitken RJ, Whitelegge J, Hardy D, Berger T, Baker M. Remodeling of the plasma membrane in preparation for sperm-egg recognition: roles of acrosomal proteins. Asian J Androl 2016; 17:574-82. [PMID: 25994642 PMCID: PMC4492047 DOI: 10.4103/1008-682x.152817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The interaction of sperm with the egg's extracellular matrix, the zona pellucida (ZP) is the first step of the union between male and female gametes. The molecular mechanisms of this process have been studied for the past six decades with the results obtained being both interesting and confusing. In this article, we describe our recent work, which attempts to address two lines of questions from previous studies. First, because there are numerous ZP binding proteins reported by various researchers, how do these proteins act together in sperm–ZP interaction? Second, why do a number of acrosomal proteins have ZP affinity? Are they involved mainly in the initial sperm–ZP binding or rather in anchoring acrosome reacting/reacted spermatozoa to the ZP? Our studies reveal that a number of ZP binding proteins and chaperones, extracted from the anterior sperm head plasma membrane, coexist as high molecular weight (HMW) complexes, and that these complexes in capacitated spermatozoa have preferential ability to bind to the ZP. Zonadhesin (ZAN), known as an acrosomal protein with ZP affinity, is one of these proteins in the HMW complexes. Immunoprecipitation indicates that ZAN interacts with other acrosomal proteins, proacrosin/acrosin and sp32 (ACRBP), also present in the HMW complexes. Immunodetection of ZAN and proacrosin/acrosin on spermatozoa further indicates that both proteins traffic to the sperm head surface during capacitation where the sperm acrosomal matrix is still intact, and therefore they are likely involved in the initial sperm–ZP binding step.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nongnuj Tanphaichitr
- Chronic Disease Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Ottawa; Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada,
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Agarwal A, Sharma R, Durairajanayagam D, Ayaz A, Cui Z, Willard B, Gopalan B, Sabanegh E. Major protein alterations in spermatozoa from infertile men with unilateral varicocele. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2015; 13:8. [PMID: 25890347 PMCID: PMC4383193 DOI: 10.1186/s12958-015-0007-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2014] [Accepted: 02/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The etiology of varicocele, a common cause of male factor infertility, remains unclear. Proteomic changes responsible for the underlying pathology of unilateral varicocele have not been evaluated. The objective of this prospective study was to employ proteomic techniques and bioinformatic tools to identify and analyze proteins of interest in infertile men with unilateral varicocele. METHODS Spermatozoa from infertile men with unilateral varicocele (n=5) and from fertile men (control; n=5) were pooled in two groups respectively. Proteins were extracted and separated by 1-D SDS-PAGE. Bands were digested and identified on a LTQ-Orbitrap Elite hybrid mass spectrometer system. Bioinformatic analysis identified the pathways and functions of the differentially expressed proteins (DEP). RESULTS Sperm concentration, motility and morphology were lower, and reactive oxygen species levels were higher in unilateral varicocele patients compared to healthy controls. The total number of proteins identified were 1055, 1010 and 1042 in the fertile group, and 795, 713 and 763 proteins in the unilateral varicocele group. Of the 369 DEP between both groups, 120 proteins were unique to the fertile group and 38 proteins were unique to the unilateral varicocele group. Compared to the control group, 114 proteins were overexpressed while 97 proteins were underexpressed in the unilateral varicocele group. We have identified 29 proteins of interest that are involved in spermatogenesis and other fundamental reproductive events such as sperm maturation, acquisition of sperm motility, hyperactivation, capacitation, acrosome reaction and fertilization. The major functional pathways of the 359 DEP related to the unilateral varicocele group involve metabolism, disease, immune system, gene expression, signal transduction and apoptosis. Functional annotations showed that unilateral varicocele mostly affected small molecule biochemistry and post-translational modification proteins. Proteins expressed uniquely in the unilateral varicocele group were cysteine-rich secretory protein 2 precursor (CRISP2) and arginase-2 (ARG2). CONCLUSIONS The expression of these proteins of interest are altered and possibly functionally compromised in infertile men with unilateral varicocele. If validated, these proteins may lead to potential biomarker(s) and help better understand the mechanism involved in the pathophysiology of unilateral varicocele in infertile men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashok Agarwal
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Mail Code X-11, 10681 Carnegie Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA.
| | - Rakesh Sharma
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Mail Code X-11, 10681 Carnegie Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA.
| | - Damayanthi Durairajanayagam
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Mail Code X-11, 10681 Carnegie Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA.
| | - Ahmet Ayaz
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Mail Code X-11, 10681 Carnegie Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA.
| | - Zhihong Cui
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Mail Code X-11, 10681 Carnegie Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA.
| | - Belinda Willard
- Proteomics Research Core Services, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA.
| | - Banu Gopalan
- Proteomics Research Core Services, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA.
| | - Edmund Sabanegh
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Mail Code X-11, 10681 Carnegie Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA.
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12
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Arnaboldi F, Menon A, Menegola E, Di Renzo F, Mirandola L, Grizzi F, Figueroa JA, Cobos E, Jenkins M, Barajon I, Chiriva-Internati M. Sperm protein 17 is an oncofetal antigen: a lesson from a murine model. Int Rev Immunol 2014; 33:367-74. [PMID: 24811209 DOI: 10.3109/08830185.2014.911856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Sperm protein 17 (Sp17) was originally identified in the flagellum of spermatozoa and subsequently included in the subfamily of tumor-associated antigens known as cancer-testes antigens (CTA). Sp17 has been associated with the motility and migratory capacity in tumor cells, representing a link between gene expression patterns in germinal and tumor cells of different histological origins. Here we review the relevance of Sp17 expression in the mouse embryo and cancerous tissues, and present additional data demonstrating Sp17 complex expression pattern in this murine model. The expression of Sp17 in embryonic as well as adult neoplastic cells, but not normal tissues, suggests this protein should be considered an "oncofetal antigen." Further investigations are necessary to elucidate the mechanisms and functional significance of Sp17 aberrant expression in human adult cells and its implication in the pathobiology of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Arnaboldi
- 1Department of Human Morphology and Biomedical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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13
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Pandey A, Kurup A, Shrivastava A, Radhi S, Nguyen DD, Arentz C, D'Chuna N, Hardwick F, D'Souza MJ, Jenkins M, Grizzi F, Kast WM, Cobos E, Rahman R, Chiriva-Internati M, Chiaramonte R, Platonova N. Cancer testes antigens in breast cancer: biological role, regulation, and therapeutic applicability. Int Rev Immunol 2013; 31:302-20. [PMID: 23083343 DOI: 10.3109/08830185.2012.723511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer remains one of the leading causes of death among women across the world. The last few decades have seen significant reduction in mortality owing to earlier detection and better adjuvant treatments that were developed based on clinical staging and morphological features. As these treatments have evolved, the heterogeneity of breast cancer poses a new challenge, since there is no standard gold-therapy suitable for all tumors of the mammary gland. Therefore, contemporary management and research efforts are directed toward specific prognostic and predictive molecular signatures that can guide targeted individualized therapy. The goal of ongoing research in this field is to identify specific molecular targets for developing novel therapeutic approaches. These targets can also serve to improve screening of breast cancer. This review focuses on the role of cancer testis antigens (CTAs) in breast carcinogenesis and explores the potential for development of targeted screening and therapeutic approaches. Normally found in the testes, these antigens are highly correlative with cancers of the breast, skin, and ovaries. These implications have been further corroborated through uncovering the interaction of CTAs with genes and proteins involved in tumor suppression and homeostasis like p53. There is some evidence that these genes can be targeted for early detection in addition to being candidates for cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Apurva Pandey
- Department of Internal Medicine at the Division of Hematology & Oncology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center and Southwest Cancer Treatment and Research Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA
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14
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Fiedler SE, Dudiki T, Vijayaraghavan S, Carr DW. Loss of R2D2 proteins ROPN1 and ROPN1L causes defects in murine sperm motility, phosphorylation, and fibrous sheath integrity. Biol Reprod 2013; 88:41. [PMID: 23303679 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.112.105262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The fibrous sheath (FS) is a flagellar cytoskeletal structure unique to sperm that surrounds the outer dense fibers and axoneme. Its primary components are A-kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs) 3 and 4, which suggests that the FS affects flagellar beating via the scaffolding of signaling pathways necessary for motility. Sperm proteins ROPN1 and ROPN1L bind AKAP3. To determine the role of ROPN1 and ROPN1L in sperm function, we created mice deficient in ROPN1 (RKO), mice deficient in ROPN1L (RLKO), and double knockout mice (DKO). All three strains of mice had normal testicular morphology and spermatogenesis. Only the DKOs had obvious defects in sperm morphology (thinning and shredding of the principal piece), which was accompanied by a reduction in AKAP3 levels. RLKO mice had slightly reduced sperm motility and increased levels of ROPN1. RKO mice had moderately impaired motility and increased levels of ROPN1L. DKO sperm were immotile. We have previously determined that RKO male mice are subfertile, and DKO males are infertile. Together these data indicate that ROPN1L and ROPN1 compensate for each other in the absence of the opposing protein, possibly to maintain AKAP3 incorporation in the FS. Sperm from mice lacking ROPN1L exhibited reductions in both cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) phosphorylation of a 270-kDa protein (perhaps FSCB), and in capacitation-induced tyrosine phosphorylation. Sperm from mice lacking ROPN1 had reduced levels of FSCB and increased tyrosine phosphorylation of noncapacitated sperm. These data demonstrate that mutations in ROPN1 and ROPN1L can cause defects in FS integrity, sperm motility, and PKA-dependent signaling processes, leading to male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Fiedler
- Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Department of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
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15
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Gomez G, Lee JH, Veldman MB, Lu J, Xiao X, Lin S. Identification of vascular and hematopoietic genes downstream of etsrp by deep sequencing in zebrafish. PLoS One 2012; 7:e31658. [PMID: 22438865 PMCID: PMC3306315 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0031658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2011] [Accepted: 01/17/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The transcription factor etsrp/Er71/Etv2 is a master control gene for vasculogenesis in all species studied to date. It is also required for hematopoiesis in zebrafish and mice. Several novel genes expressed in vasculature have been identified through transcriptional profiling of zebrafish embryos overexpressing etsrp by microarrays. Here we re-examined this transcriptional profile by Illumina RNA-sequencing technology, revealing a substantially increased number of candidate genes regulated by etsrp. Expression studies of 50 selected candidate genes from this dataset resulted in the identification of 39 new genes that are expressed in vascular cells. Regulation of these genes by etsrp was confirmed by their ectopic induction in etsrp overexpressing and decreased expression in etsrp deficient embryos. Our studies demonstrate the effectiveness of the RNA-sequencing technology to identify biologically relevant genes in zebrfish and produced a comprehensive profile of genes previously unexplored in vascular endothelial cell biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gustavo Gomez
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States of America
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16
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Song JX, Cao WL, Li FQ, Shi LN, Jia X. Anti-Sp17 monoclonal antibody with antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity and complement-dependent cytotoxicity activities against human ovarian cancer cells. Med Oncol 2011; 29:2923-31. [PMID: 22198696 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-011-0137-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2011] [Accepted: 12/09/2011] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Sperm protein 17 (Sp17) is a cancer testis antigen that has been shown to be overexpressed in a variety of gynecologic malignancies, in particular ovarian cancer. Emerging evidences indicate that Sp17 is involved in tumorigenesis and in the migration of malignant cells. It has been proposed as a useful target for tumor-vaccine strategies and a novel marker to define tumor subsets and predict drug response. However, the antitumor activity of anti-Sp17 monoclonal antibody (anti-Sp17 mAb) has not been investigated. In this study, the in vitro cytotoxicity, antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) and complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) activities of anti-Sp17 mAb were evaluated using Sp17-positive ovarian cancer cells as targets, Sp17-negative ovarian cancer cells as the control, and healthy human peripheral blood monocytes and healthy human serum as effectors. Our preliminary results indicate that the direct cytotoxicity of anti-Sp17 mAb against the investigated ovarian cancer cells was very weak. However, the cytotoxicity of anti-Sp17 mAb, mediated by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), as ADCC, or by human serum, as CDC, was relatively strong in the Sp17-positive ovarian cancer cells. This finding suggested that anti-Sp17 mAb could be a useful tool against ovarian cancer and may provide insight into the development of low side-effect targeting therapy for this malignant disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-xi Song
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Jinling Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210002, People's Republic of China.
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17
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Giesecke K, Hamann H, Stock K, Klewitz J, Martinsson G, Distl O, Sieme H. Evaluation of ACE, SP17, and FSHB as candidates for stallion fertility in Hanoverian warmblood horses. Anim Reprod Sci 2011; 126:200-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2011.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2010] [Revised: 04/29/2011] [Accepted: 05/17/2011] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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18
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Chiriva-Internati M. Sperm Protein 17: Clinical Relevance of a Cancer/Testis Antigen, from Contraception to Cancer Immunotherapy, and Beyond. Int Rev Immunol 2011; 30:138-49. [DOI: 10.3109/08830185.2011.569903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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19
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Giesecke K, Sieme H, Distl O. Infertility and candidate gene markers for fertility in stallions: A review. Vet J 2010; 185:265-71. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2009.07.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2008] [Revised: 07/16/2009] [Accepted: 07/27/2009] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
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20
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Li FQ, Liu Q, Han YL, Wu B, Yin HL. Sperm protein 17 is highly expressed in endometrial and cervical cancers. BMC Cancer 2010; 10:429. [PMID: 20712874 PMCID: PMC2931487 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-10-429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2010] [Accepted: 08/16/2010] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Sperm protein 17 (Sp17) is a highly conserved mammalian protein in the testis and spermatozoa and has been characterized as a tumor-associated antigen in a variety of human malignancies. Many studies have examined the role of Sp17 in tumorigenesis and the migration of malignant cells. It has been proposed as a useful target for tumor-vaccine strategies and a novel marker to define tumor subsets and predict drug response. This study aimed to investigate the expression of Sp17 in endometrial and cervical cancer specimens, its possible correlation with the pathological characteristics, and its value in the diagnosis and immunotherapy of the related cancers. Methods The monoclonal antibodies against human Sp17 were produced as reagents for the analysis and immunohistochemistry was used to study two major kinds of paraffin-embedded gynecological cancer specimens, including 50 cases of endometrial cancer (44 adenous and 6 adenosquamous) and 31 cases of cervical cancer (15 adenous and 16 squamous). Normal peripheral endometrial and cervical tissues were used as controls. Results Sp17 was found in 66% (33/50) of the patients with endometrial cancer and 61% (19/31) of those with cervical cancer. Its expression was found in a heterogeneous pattern in the cancer tissues. The expression was not correlated with the histological subtype and grade of malignancy, but the staining patterns were different in endometrial and cervical cancers. The hyperplastic glands were positive for Sp17 in the normal peripheral endometrial and cervical tissues in 10% (8/81) of the patients. Conclusions Sp17 is highly expressed in human endometrial and cervical cancers in a heterogeneous pattern. Although the expression frequency of Sp17 is not correlated with the histological subtype, the staining pattern may help to define endometrial and cervical cancers. Sp17 targeted immunotherapy of tumors needs more accurate validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang-Qiu Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Jinling Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210002, China.
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21
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Konno A, Padma P, Ushimaru Y, Inaba K. Multidimensional Analysis of Uncharacterized Sperm Proteins inCiona intestinalis: EST-Based Analysis and Functional Immunoscreening of Testis-Expressed Genes. Zoolog Sci 2010; 27:204-15. [DOI: 10.2108/zsj.27.204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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22
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Chiriva-Internati M, Gagliano N, Donetti E, Costa F, Grizzi F, Franceschini B, Albani E, Levi-Setti PE, Gioia M, Jenkins M, Cobos E, Kast WM. Sperm protein 17 is expressed in the sperm fibrous sheath. J Transl Med 2009; 7:61. [PMID: 19604394 PMCID: PMC2727497 DOI: 10.1186/1479-5876-7-61] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2008] [Accepted: 07/15/2009] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Sperm protein 17 (Sp17) is a highly conserved mammalian protein characterized in rabbit, mouse, monkey, baboon, macaque, human testis and spermatozoa. mRNA encoding Sp17 has been detected in a range of murine and human somatic tissues. It was also recognized in two myeloma cell lines and in neoplastic cells from patients with multiple myeloma and ovarian carcinoma. These data all indicate that Sp17 is widely distributed in humans, expressed not only in germinal cells and in a variety of somatic tissues, but also in neoplastic cells of unrelated origin. Methods Sp17 expression was analyzed by immunocytochemistry and transmission electron microscopy on spermatozoa. Results Here, we demonstrate the ultrastructural localization of human Sp17 throughout the spermatozoa flagellar fibrous sheath, and its presence in spermatozoa during in vitro states from their ejaculation to the oocyte fertilization. Conclusion These findings suggest a possible role of Sp17 in regulating sperm maturation, capacitation, acrosomal reaction and interactions with the oocyte zona pellucida during the fertilization process. Further, the high degree of sequence conservation throughout its N-terminal half, and the presence of an A-kinase anchoring protein (AKAP)-binding motif within this region, suggest that Sp17 might play a regulatory role in a protein kinase A-independent AKAP complex in both germinal and somatic cells.
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23
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Abstract
It has been estimated that 500 million couples world-wide have no access to contraception and that approximately 20% of births between 1995 and 2000 will be unwanted. Such statistics have important implications for the rate of world population growth and the possibility of maintaining a sustainable population. Although political change and the empowerment of women across the world will help address these issues, it will also be important to increase the availability of contraceptives; not only the modalities that are in current use, but also novel methods that will satisfy needs that are presently unfulfilled. One such alternative could be a vaccine targeting the human spermatozoon.
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24
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Abstract
Genes expressed in testes are critical to male reproductive success, affecting spermatogenesis, sperm competition, and sperm-egg interaction. Comparing the evolution of testis proteins at different taxonomic levels can reveal which genes and functional classes are targets of natural and sexual selection and whether the same genes are targets among taxa. Here we examine the evolution of testis-expressed proteins at different levels of divergence among three rodents, mouse (Mus musculus), rat (Rattus norvegicus), and deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus), to identify rapidly evolving genes. Comparison of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from testes suggests that proteins with testis-specific expression evolve more rapidly on average than proteins with maximal expression in other tissues. Genes with the highest rates of evolution have a variety of functional roles including signal transduction, DNA binding, and egg-sperm interaction. Most of these rapidly evolving genes have not been identified previously as targets of selection in comparisons among more divergent mammals. To determine if these genes are evolving rapidly among closely related species, we sequenced 11 of these genes in six Peromyscus species and found evidence for positive selection in five of them. Together, these results demonstrate rapid evolution of functionally diverse testis-expressed proteins in rodents, including the identification of amino acids under lineage-specific selection in Peromyscus. Evidence for positive selection among closely related species suggests that changes in these proteins may have consequences for reproductive isolation.
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25
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Serres C, Auer J, Petit F, Patrat C, Jouannet P. Les partenaires moléculaires impliqués dans l'interaction entre spermatozoïdes et zone pellucide chez les mammifères. Conséquences pour la fertilité humaine. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008; 202:119-28. [DOI: 10.1051/jbio:2008015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
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26
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Gupta G, Sharma R, Chattopadhyay TK, Gupta SD, Ralhan R. Clinical significance of sperm protein 17 expression and immunogenicity in esophageal cancer. Int J Cancer 2007; 120:1739-47. [PMID: 17230514 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.22463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
We recently identified sperm protein 17 (Sp17) transcripts in esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCCs) by differential display. This study was designed to determine the clinical significance of Sp17 protein in different stages of esophageal tumorigenesis and to test the hypothesis that aberrant localization of Sp17 protein to immunosurveillant site may lead to production of anti-Sp17 antibodies in serum, which may be of clinical relevance in ESCCs. Sp17 transcripts were detected by RT-PCR in 26 of 30 (86%) ESCCs, while no transcripts were detected in normal esophageal tissues. Rabbit polyclonal antibody was raised against an immunogenic peptide of Sp17 and used to evaluate protein expression by immunohistochemistry. Expression of Sp17 protein was observed in 60/80 (75%) of ESCCs and 27/30 (90%) dysplastic tissues, while no detectable Sp17 expression was observed in 13 distant histologically normal epithelia. Sixteen of the 60 immunopositive ESCCs showed nuclear expression in addition to cytoplasmic localization of the protein. The circulating levels of anti-Sp17 antibodies, determined by ELISA, were significantly elevated in ESCC patients when compared with normal subjects (p < 0.001). Increasing Sp17 antibody titers were observed to be associated with the progressive disease in 4 patients. In conclusion, the study demonstrates expression of Sp17 protein in esophageal tumor as well as dysplastic tissues, suggesting it to be an early event in the development of ESCC. To our knowledge, this is the first report showing elevated levels of anti-Sp17 antibodies in ESCC patients.
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MESH Headings
- Adult
- Animals
- Antibodies, Neoplasm/immunology
- Antibodies, Neoplasm/metabolism
- Antigens, Surface/genetics
- Antigens, Surface/immunology
- Antigens, Surface/metabolism
- Autoantigens/immunology
- Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics
- Biomarkers, Tumor/immunology
- Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism
- Blotting, Northern
- Blotting, Western
- Calmodulin-Binding Proteins
- Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/genetics
- Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/immunology
- Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/metabolism
- Carrier Proteins/genetics
- Carrier Proteins/immunology
- Carrier Proteins/metabolism
- Cell Nucleus/metabolism
- Cytoplasm/metabolism
- Esophageal Neoplasms/genetics
- Esophageal Neoplasms/immunology
- Esophageal Neoplasms/metabolism
- Esophagus/immunology
- Esophagus/metabolism
- Female
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Humans
- Male
- Membrane Proteins
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- Rabbits
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
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Affiliation(s)
- Garima Gupta
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 110029, India
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27
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Nakazato T, Kanuma T, Tamura T, Faried LS, Aoki H, Minegishi T. Sperm protein 17 influences the tissue-specific malignancy of clear cell adenocarcinoma in human epithelial ovarian cancer. Int J Gynecol Cancer 2007; 17:426-32. [PMID: 17309563 DOI: 10.1111/j.1525-1438.2007.00815.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Clear cell adenocarcinoma of the ovary has a poor prognosis due to chemoresistance and early metastasis to the lymph nodes. It also can result in endometriosis and is the second most frequent type of ovarian cancer in Japan. Serous adenocarcinoma of the ovary is another common epithelial cancer tissue subtype in Japan, and it is highly sensitive to chemotherapy. In the current study, we examined the differential expression of genes in these types of ovarian cancer and tried to analyze their functions, especially as they relate to chemoresistance. We used differential display to compare clear cell carcinoma and serous adenocarcinoma of the ovary. We identified sperm protein 17 (SP17) as a candidate gene related to the chemoresistance of clear cell carcinoma. Its differential expression was confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Because the function of the SP17 gene in ovarian cancer is not known, we examined the effect of small interfering RNA targeting the SP17 gene on the chemoresistance and proliferation of ES-2 ovarian cancer cells to paclitaxel, currently the most effective treatment for ovarian cancer. We found that this treatment decreased the chemoresistance of these cells to paclitaxel. Our results strongly suggest that SP17 plays a role in the resistance of clear cell carcinoma to chemotherapy without influencing their ability to proliferate
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MESH Headings
- Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell/genetics
- Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell/metabolism
- Adenocarcinoma, Clear Cell/pathology
- Antigens, Surface/genetics
- Antigens, Surface/metabolism
- Calmodulin-Binding Proteins
- Carrier Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors
- Carrier Proteins/genetics
- Carrier Proteins/metabolism
- Cells, Cultured
- Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous/genetics
- Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous/metabolism
- Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/genetics
- Female
- Gene Expression Profiling
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/drug effects
- Humans
- Membrane Proteins
- Ovarian Neoplasms/genetics
- Ovarian Neoplasms/metabolism
- Ovarian Neoplasms/pathology
- RNA, Small Interfering/pharmacology
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
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Affiliation(s)
- T Nakazato
- Department of Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan
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28
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Yu Y, Xu W, Yi YJ, Sutovsky P, Oko R. The extracellular protein coat of the inner acrosomal membrane is involved in zona pellucida binding and penetration during fertilization: characterization of its most prominent polypeptide (IAM38). Dev Biol 2005; 290:32-43. [PMID: 16386726 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2005.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2005] [Revised: 11/01/2005] [Accepted: 11/04/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
A consequence of the acrosome reaction is to expose the inner acrosomal membrane (IAM), which is a requirement for the sperm's ability to secondarily bind to and then penetrate the zona pellucida (ZP) of the mammalian oocyte. However, the proteins on the IAM responsible for binding and presumably penetrating the zona have not been identified. This issue can be resolved if direct information is made available on the composition of the IAM. For this purpose, we devised a methodology in order to obtain a sperm head fraction consisting solely of the IAM bound to the detergent-resistant perinuclear theca. On the exposed IAM surface of this fraction, we defined an electron dense protein layer that we termed the IAM extracellular coat (IAMC), which was visible on sonicated and acrosome-reacted sperm of several mammalian species. High salt extraction removed the IAMC coincident with the removal of a prominent 38 kDa polypeptide, which we termed IAM38. Antibodies raised against this polypeptide confirmed its presence in the IAMC of intact, sonicated and acrosome-reacted sperm. By immunoscreening of a bovine testicular cDNA library and sequencing the resulting clones, we identified IAM38 as the equivalent of porcine Sp38 [Mori, E., Kashiwabara, S., Baba, T., Inagaki, Y., Mori, T., 1995. Amino acid sequences of porcine Sp38 and proacrosin required for binding to the zona pellucida. Dev. Biol., 168, 575-583], an intra-acrosomal protein with ZP-binding ability, whose precise localization in sperm was unknown. The blockage of IVF at the level of the zona with anti-IAM38 antibodies and the retention of IAM38 after sperm passage through the zona support its involvement in secondary sperm-zona binding. This study provides a novel approach to obtain direct information on the peripheral and integral protein composition of the IAM for identifying other candidates for sperm-zona interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Yu
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 3N6
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29
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Yang C, Yang P. The flagellar motility of Chlamydomonas pf25 mutant lacking an AKAP-binding protein is overtly sensitive to medium conditions. Mol Biol Cell 2005; 17:227-38. [PMID: 16267272 PMCID: PMC1345661 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e05-07-0630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Radial spokes are a conserved axonemal structural complex postulated to regulate the motility of 9 + 2 cilia and flagella via a network of phosphoenzymes and regulatory proteins. Consistently, a Chlamydomonas radial spoke protein, RSP3, has been identified by RII overlays as an A-kinase anchoring protein (AKAP) that localizes the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) holoenzyme by binding to the RIIa domain of PKA RII subunit. However, the highly conserved docking domain of PKA is also found in the N termini of several AKAP-binding proteins unrelated to PKA as well as a 24-kDa novel spoke protein, RSP11. Here, we report that RSP11 binds to RSP3 directly in vitro and colocalizes with RSP3 toward the spoke base near outer doublets and dynein motors in axonemes. Importantly, RSP11 mutant pf25 displays a spectrum of motility, from paralysis with flaccid or twitching flagella as other spoke mutants to wildtype-like swimming. The wide range of motility changes reversibly depending on the condition of liquid media without replacing defective proteins. We postulate that radial spokes use the RIIa/AKAP module to regulate ciliary and flagellar beating; absence of the spoke RIIa protein exposes a medium-sensitive regulatory mechanism that is not obvious in wild-type Chlamydomonas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun Yang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee WI 53233, USA
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Dadabayev AR, Wang Z, Zhang Y, Zhang J, Robinson WR, Lim SH. Cancer immunotherapy targeting Sp17: when should the laboratory findings be translated to the clinics? Am J Hematol 2005; 80:6-11. [PMID: 16138340 DOI: 10.1002/ajh.20415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Despite advances in chemotherapeutic agents, the prognosis for some cancers remains extremely poor, suggesting the need for other treatment modalities. Immunotherapy appears an ideal approach because the mechanisms of tumor cell killing induced by tumor vaccines are different from those from chemotherapy. Various investigations are ongoing to identify suitable targets for this purpose. Sperm protein 17 (Sp17) was originally identified by our group as a novel cancer-testis antigen in various malignancies, including multiple myeloma. Sp17 is a highly immunogenic protein and the observation that more than 90% of vasectomized males develop immunity against Sp17 suggests the opportunity and safety of Sp17 for tumor vaccines. Recent works by other workers suggest a low level of expression of Sp17 in some normal tissues, and investigators have questioned whether Sp17 is in fact a suitable target for immunotherapy. In this paper, we review the general principles of immunotherapy and provide evidence supporting the highly immunogenic nature of Sp17. We also address the discrepancies between the objectives of oncologists involved in treating cancer patients and their familiarity with acceptable levels of toxicity of any effective therapy and those of pure laboratory-based investigators. Finally, we present some early clinical data supporting the rationale for further investigations of Sp17 for tumor vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alisher R Dadabayev
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, 79106, USA
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Bukovsky A, Caudle MR, Svetlikova M, Wimalasena J, Ayala ME, Dominguez R. Oogenesis in adult mammals, including humans: a review. Endocrine 2005; 26:301-16. [PMID: 16034186 DOI: 10.1385/endo:26:3:301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2005] [Revised: 04/26/2005] [Accepted: 04/26/2005] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The origin of oocytes and primary follicles in ovaries of adult mammalian females has been a matter of dispute for over 100 yr. The prevailing belief that all oocytes in adult mammalian females must persist from the fetal period of life seems to be a uniquely retrogressive reproductive mechanism requiring humans to preserve their gametes from the fetal period for several decades. The utilization of modern techniques during last 10 yr clearly demonstrates that mammalian primordial germ cells originate from somatic cell precursors. This indicates that if somatic cells are precursors of germ cells, then somatic mutations can be passed on to progeny. Mitotically active germline stem cells have been described earlier in ovaries of adult prosimian primates and recently have been reported to also be present in the ovaries of adult mice. We have earlier shown that in adult human females, mesenchymal cells in the ovarian tunica albuginea undergo a mesenchymal-epithelial transition into ovarian surface epithelium cells, which differentiate sequentially into primitive granulosa and germ cells. Recently, we have reported that these structures assemble in the deeper ovarian cortex and form new follicles to replace earlier primary follicles undergoing atresia (follicular renewal). Our current observations also indicate that follicular renewal exists in rat ovaries, and human oocytes can differentiate from ovarian surface epithelium in fetal ovaries in vivo and from adult ovaries in vitro. These reports challenge the established dogma regarding the fetal origin of eggs and primary follicles in adult mammalian ovaries. Our data indicate that the pool of primary follicles in adult human ovaries does not represent a static but a dynamic population of differentiating and regressing structures. Yet, the follicular renewal may cease at a certain age, and this may predetermine the onset of the natural menopause or premature ovarian failure. A lack of follicular renewal in aging ovaries may cause an accumulation of spontaneously arising or environmentally induced genetic alterations of oocytes, and that may be why aging females have a much higher chance of having oocytes with more mutations in persisting primary follicles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonin Bukovsky
- Laboratory of Development, Differentiation and Cancer and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine, Knoxville, 37920, USA.
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Zhang Y, Wang Z, Robinson WR, Lim SH. Combined real time PCR and immunohistochemical evaluation of sperm protein 17 as a cancer-testis antigen. Eur J Haematol 2004; 73:280-4. [PMID: 15347315 DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0609.2004.00308.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
We previously identified sperm protein 17 (Sp17) as a normal testicular protein aberrantly expressed in a proportion of multiple myeloma (MM). However, recent studies have generated controversies on the normal tissue expression of Sp17 and whether or not it is a suitable target for immunotherapy. In this study, we have used a combination of real time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry on a large panel of normal tissues. Although Sp17 transcripts could be detected in some normal tissues, the levels of expression were <2% of those in normal testis. In contrast, Sp17+ myeloma cells expressed 3-18% of normal testis levels of Sp17 transcript. Immunohistochemistry using two Sp17 murine monoclonal antibodies, each directed at a non-overlapping B-cell epitope, showed Sp17 protein to be expressed only in testis and not any other normal tissues. Specificity of binding of the antibodies to testis was also confirmed in competitive binding assays. Our results therefore further suggest Sp17 as a cancer-testis antigen in MM and support its suitability as a target for immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yana Zhang
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, USA
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Wang Z, Zhang Y, Ramsahoye B, Bowen D, Lim SH. Sp17 gene expression in myeloma cells is regulated by promoter methylation. Br J Cancer 2004; 91:1597-603. [PMID: 15381930 PMCID: PMC2409933 DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6602160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms underlying sperm protein 17 (Sp17) gene expression in myeloma cells remained unclear. Using reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR), Sp17 transcripts were detected in ARK-B, ARP-1, RPMI-8226 and KMS-11 but not in H929, IM-9, MM1-R and U266 cells. Using a panel of primer pairs in methylation-sensitive PCR to amplify overlapping gene segments, our screening studies showed that the HpaII sites at −359 and −350 are involved in the regulation of Sp17 gene expression. To confirm the differences in methylation status between Sp17-positive and Sp17-negative cell lines, KMS-11 cells (Sp17-positive) and IM-9 cells (Sp17-negative) were subjected to the more accurate method of bisulphite conversion. KMS-11 cells were more hypomethylated at these HpaII sites of exon 1 compared to IM-9 cells, indicating the association of hypomethylated promoter with Sp17 gene expression. In addition, the level of methylation at other CpG sites within the promoter sequence was also higher in IM-9 than KMS-11. Exon 1 was cloned into a reporter vector, pCAT*3 Enhancer. Chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) activity was restored in cells transfected with the recombinant plasmid, indicating the promoter function of exon 1. Exposure of Sp17-negative cell lines to the hypomethylating agent, 5-azacytidine, resulted in the upregulation of Sp17 gene expression. Our results therefore provide evidence for the regulation of Sp17 gene expression by promoter methylation.
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MESH Headings
- Antigens, Surface
- Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic/pharmacology
- Azacitidine/pharmacology
- Calmodulin-Binding Proteins
- Carrier Proteins/genetics
- Carrier Proteins/metabolism
- Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase/metabolism
- CpG Islands
- DNA Methylation
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Humans
- Membrane Proteins
- Multiple Myeloma/genetics
- Multiple Myeloma/metabolism
- Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- RNA, Neoplasm/genetics
- RNA, Neoplasm/metabolism
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Transcription, Genetic
- Tumor Cells, Cultured
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Affiliation(s)
- Z Wang
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX, USA
- Biotherapy and Stem Cell Transplant Program, Don and Sybil Harrington Cancer Center, 1500 Wallace Boulevard, Amarillo, TX 79106, USA
| | - Y Zhang
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX, USA
- Biotherapy and Stem Cell Transplant Program, Don and Sybil Harrington Cancer Center, 1500 Wallace Boulevard, Amarillo, TX 79106, USA
| | - B Ramsahoye
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX, USA
- Biotherapy and Stem Cell Transplant Program, Don and Sybil Harrington Cancer Center, 1500 Wallace Boulevard, Amarillo, TX 79106, USA
| | - D Bowen
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX, USA
- Biotherapy and Stem Cell Transplant Program, Don and Sybil Harrington Cancer Center, 1500 Wallace Boulevard, Amarillo, TX 79106, USA
| | - S H Lim
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX, USA
- Biotherapy and Stem Cell Transplant Program, Don and Sybil Harrington Cancer Center, 1500 Wallace Boulevard, Amarillo, TX 79106, USA
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Amarillo, TX, USA. E-mail:
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Yenugu S, Richardson RT, Sivashanmugam P, Wang Z, O'rand MG, French FS, Hall SH. Antimicrobial Activity of Human EPPIN, an Androgen-Regulated, Sperm-Bound Protein with a Whey Acidic Protein Motif1. Biol Reprod 2004; 71:1484-90. [PMID: 15229136 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.104.031567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of epididymal sperm-binding proteins in reproductive tract immunity is now well recognized in addition to their role in sperm maturation. Spermatozoa acquire forward motility and fertilizing ability during their passage through the epididymis, where they acquire a wide variety of proteins belonging to different classes. Previously, we demonstrated that EPPIN (epididymal protease inhibitor), an androgen-regulated, sperm-binding protein containing protease-inhibitory motifs, is expressed specifically in the testis and epididymis. In the present study, we investigated the antibacterial activity of EPPIN against Escherichia coli and the mechanism of antimicrobial action. EPPIN exhibited dose- and time-dependent antibacterial activity that was relatively insensitive to salt. However, EPPIN lost its antibacterial activity completely on reduction and alkylation of its cysteines, indicating the importance of disulfide bonds for its activity. EPPIN permeabilized the outer and inner membranes of E. coli, which is consistent with its ability to induce striking morphological alterations of E. coli membranes as shown by scanning electron microscopy. EPPIN did not cause disruption of eukaryotic membranes in the rat erythrocyte hemolytic assay. The present results indicate that EPPIN has a role in the innate immune system of human epididymis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suresh Yenugu
- Laboratories for Reproductive Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7500, USA
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Lea IA, Widgren EE, O'Rand MG. Association of sperm protein 17 with A-kinase anchoring protein 3 in flagella. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2004; 2:57. [PMID: 15257753 PMCID: PMC484205 DOI: 10.1186/1477-7827-2-57] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2004] [Accepted: 07/16/2004] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sperm protein 17 (Sp17) is a three-domain protein that contains: 1) a highly conserved N-terminal domain that is 45% identical to the human type II alpha regulatory subunit (RII alpha) of protein kinase A (PKA); 2) a central sulphated carbohydrate-binding domain; and 3) a C-terminal Ca++/calmodulin (CaM) binding domain. Although Sp17 was originally discovered and characterized in spermatozoa, its mRNA has now been found in a variety of normal mouse and human tissues. However, Sp17 protein is found predominantly in spermatozoa, cilia and human neoplastic cell lines. This study demonstrates that Sp17 from spermatozoa binds A-kinase anchoring protein 3 (AKAP3), confirming the functionality of the N-terminal domain. METHODS In this study in vitro precipitation and immunolocalization demonstrate that Sp17 binds to AKAP3 (AKAP110) in spermatozoa. RESULTS Sp17 is present in the head and tail of spermatozoa, in the tail it is in the fibrous sheath, which contains AKAP3 and AKAP4. Recombinant AKAP3 and AKAP4 RII binding domains were synthesized as glutathione S-transferase (GST) fusion proteins immobilized on glutathione-agarose resin and added to CHAPS extracts of human spermatozoa. Western blots of bound and eluted proteins probed with anti-Sp17 revealed that AKAP3 bound and precipitated a significant level of Sp17 while AKAP4 did not. AKAP4 binds AKAP3 and expression of AKAP3 is reduced in AKAP4 knockout sperm, therefore we tested AKAP4 knockout spermatozoa for Sp17 and found that there was a reduction in the amount of Sp17 expressed when compared to wild type spermatozoa. Co-localization of AKAP3 and Sp17 by immunofluorescence was demonstrated along the length of the principal piece of the flagella. CONCLUSIONS As predicted by its N-terminal domain that is 45% identical to the human RIIalpha of PKA, Sp17 from spermatozoa binds the RII binding domain of AKAP3 along the length of the flagella.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel A Lea
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Esther E Widgren
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Michael G O'Rand
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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Chiu PCN, Tsang HY, Koistinen R, Koistinen H, Seppala M, Lee KF, Yeung WSB. The Contribution of d-Mannose, l-Fucose, N-Acetylglucosamine, and Selectin Residues on the Binding of Glycodelin Isoforms to Human Spermatozoa1. Biol Reprod 2004; 70:1710-9. [PMID: 14973265 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.103.023259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous data showed that glycodelin-A from amniotic fluid and glycodelin-F from follicular fluid inhibited sperm-zona pellucida binding. Solubilized zona pellucida reduced the binding of glycodelin-F to sperm extract dose dependently. This study demonstrated that the zona pellucida proteins also reduced the binding of glycodelin-A to sperm extract. Ionophore-induced acrosome reaction reduced the binding of iodinated glycodelin-A and -F to sperm, indicating that the glycodelin-binding sites are on the outer acrosomal membrane or on the sperm plasma membrane overlying the acrosome. While the binding of glycodelin-A to sperm was suppressed by mannose and fucose neoglycoproteins, that of glycodelin-F was also reduced by acetylglucosamine neoglycoprotein. Pretreatment of sperm with inhibitors of mannosidase and acetylglucosaminidase reduced the binding of glycodelin-F to sperm. On the other hand, inhibitor of mannosidase but not of acetylglucosaminidase inhibited the binding of glycodelin-A. In a competition binding assay, mannosidase reduced both glycodelin-A and -F binding whereas acetylglucosaminidase reduced only glycodelin-F binding. While fucosidase reduced the binding of both glycodelins, fucosidase inhibitor was marginally active in suppressing the binding of glycodelins to human sperm. Among the selectins tested, only E-selectin had a slight inhibitory effect on the binding of glycodelin-A to sperm. The binding of glycodelin-F was unaffected by selectins and their antibodies. In conclusion, the binding of glycodelin-A to sperm involves mannose, fucose, and possibly E- selectin residues, while that of glycodelin-F involves mannose, fucose, and N-acetylglucosamine but not the selectin residue.
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Affiliation(s)
- P C N Chiu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China
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37
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Straughn JM, Shaw DR, Guerrero A, Bhoola SM, Racelis A, Wang Z, Chiriva-Internati M, Grizzle WE, Alvarez RD, Lim SH, Strong TV. Expression of sperm protein 17 (Sp17) in ovarian cancer. Int J Cancer 2004; 108:805-11. [PMID: 14712480 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.11617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Sperm protein 17 (Sp17) is an antigenic protein highly expressed in spermatozoa. Sp17 expression was demonstrated recently in multiple myeloma, suggesting that it may be a novel cancer-testis antigen. Expression of Sp17 mRNA and protein was examined in human ovarian tumors. Sp17 mRNA was evaluated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Northern blot analysis of RNA derived from epithelial ovarian tumors and normal tissues. RT-PCR analysis detected Sp17 transcripts in 15 of 18 (83%) primary ovarian tumors. The transcript was not detected in RNA derived from normal uterus or cervix, whereas weak expression was noted in some normal ovarian tissue samples. Northern blot analysis showed no detectable Sp17 mRNA expression in normal tissues, including normal ovary, but showed Sp17 expression in 17 of 25 ovarian tumors (68%). To evaluate protein expression, mouse monoclonal antibodies were produced against recombinant Sp17 protein and used in Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses of normal reproductive tissue and primary ovarian tumor samples. Sp17 protein was detected by Western blot analysis in normal spermatozoa and in 8 of 19 ovarian tumor samples. Immunohistochemical studies showed Sp17 expression in spermatozoa, ciliated cells of the female reproductive tract, and most ovarian tumors evaluated. Tumors showed a predominantly nuclear localization of Sp17 expression, with some cytoplasmic staining. These results demonstrate that Sp17, a protein with restricted expression in somatic tissues, is expressed in ovarian tumors. Because Sp17 is immunogenic, it may represent a novel target for immunotherapeutic interventions for ovarian cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Michael Straughn
- Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
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Abstract
Mammalian fertilization exhibits species specificity, and the proteins mediating sperm-egg interactions evolve rapidly between species. In this study, we demonstrate that the evolution of seven genes involved in mammalian fertilization is promoted by positive Darwinian selection by using likelihood ratio tests (LRTs). Several of these proteins are sperm proteins that have been implicated in binding the mammalian egg coat zona pellucida glycoproteins, which were shown previously to be subjected to positive selection. Taken together, these represent the major candidates involved in mammalian fertilization, indicating positive selection is pervasive amongst mammalian reproductive proteins. A new LRT is implemented to determine if the d(N)/d(S) ratio is significantly greater than one. This is a more refined test of positive selection than the previous LRTs which only identified if there was a class of sites with a d(N)/d(S) ratio >1 but did not test if that ratio was significantly greater than one.
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De Jong A, Buchli R, Robbins D. Characterization of sperm protein 17 in human somatic and neoplastic tissue. Cancer Lett 2002; 186:201-9. [PMID: 12213290 DOI: 10.1016/s0304-3835(02)00350-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Sperm protein 17 (Sp17) is a highly antigenic, testes-specific protein whose known function is to bind sperm to the zona pellucida. However, the Sp17 gene has been recently detected in normal non-testes tissues and malignant neoplasias. As the role of Sp17 in non-testes tissues is unknown, the characterization of the Sp17 gene in highly proliferating tissues may provide further insight into the regulation and alternative function of Sp17. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to amplify the Sp17-1 transcript in multiple normal human tissues and cancer cell lines. Similarly, the Sp17-2 gene was examined by PCR. In addition, Northern and Western blot analyses were used to detect Sp17 mRNA and protein expression. The Sp17-1a and Sp17-1b transcripts were amplified from cancer cell lines. Similarly, an Sp17-2 transcript was also detected in cancer cell lines. Furthermore, Northern blot analysis revealed Sp17 mRNA expression in all cancer cell lines examined. However, Sp17 protein expression was not detected. The differential detection of the Sp17 transcripts in cancer cell lines as compared to normal non-testes tissues, suggests a potential pathogenic role for Sp17 in diseased cells. Moreover, the Sp17-2 transcript may be a marker for highly proliferating cells. Collectively, these data implicate Sp17 as a cancer testis antigen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann De Jong
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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Buchli R, De Jong A, Robbins DL. Genomic organization of an intron-containing sperm protein 17 gene (Sp17-1) and an intronless pseudogene (Sp17-2) in humans: a new model. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA 2002; 1578:29-42. [PMID: 12393185 DOI: 10.1016/s0167-4781(02)00478-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Sp17 was initially thought to be a sperm specific protein involved in the interaction of the spermatozoon with the oocyte's surrounding extracellular glycoprotein matrix. Recent reports, however, indicate that Sp17 expression is neither testis-specific nor is it exclusively used for binding to the zona pellucida of the oocyte. In this study, we provide comprehensive characterization of the genomic structure of Sp17. We identified an intron-containing gene (Sp17-1) containing five exonic and four intronic sequences. Analysis of Sp17 transcripts using rapid amplification of DNA complementary to RNA (cDNA) ends (RACE) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques showed the presence of alternative polyadenylation resulting in the production of varying lengths of mRNAs as well as the usage of different transcriptional start sites. Moreover, an earlier description of the human Sp17 mRNA describing a splice variant could not be confirmed. Comparison to mouse Sp17 gene organization demonstrated a high degree of conservation, suggesting selective evolutionary pressure for this protein to retain a conserved gene architecture. Additionally, we identified a second gene (Sp17-2), whose most striking characteristic was the complete absence of introns. This Sp17-2 gene has likely arisen by reverse transcription (RT) of a spliced Sp17-1 mRNA with subsequent integration into the human genome. Its open reading frame (ORF) is interrupted by stop codons, giving rise to a pseudogene. Furthermore, Southern blot analysis of human genomic DNA indicated the possibility of additional Sp17 species within the human genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rico Buchli
- Division of Rheumatology/Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of California-Davis, 1 Shields Avenue, TB 192, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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Chiriva-Internati M, Wang Z, Salati E, Timmins P, Lim SH. Tumor vaccine for ovarian carcinoma targeting sperm protein 17. Cancer 2002; 94:2447-53. [PMID: 12015770 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.10506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The authors previously identified sperm protein 17 (Sp17) as being expressed in patients with multiple myeloma. The restricted expression of Sp17 in normal tissue makes it an ideal target for tumor vaccine. In the current study, the authors extended their research to include ovarian carcinoma. METHODS A pair of sequence specific primers was used in reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction to determine the gene expression of Sp17. A recombinant Sp17 protein was used with monocyte-derived dendritic cells and autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells to generate Sp17 specific cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTLs). The successful generation of Sp17 specific CTLs was confirmed using standard (51)chromium-release assays. RESULTS Sp17 was found to be expressed in the primary tumor cells from 70% of the patients with ovarian carcinoma. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I- restricted Sp17 specific CTLs were generated successfully from the peripheral blood of three patients with ovarian carcinoma at the time of disease presentation. These CTLs were able to lyse autologous Epstein-Barr virus-transformed lymphoblastoid cells in a Sp17-dependent manner. Target lysis was HLA class I-dependent and could be blocked by antibodies against monomorphic HLA class I but not HLA class II molecules. The CTLs also lysed Sp17-positive autologous tumor cells, suggesting that Sp17 is processed and presented in association with the HLA class I molecules in Sp17- positive tumor cells in a concentration and configuration that could be recognized by recombinant protein-primed CTLs. Tumor cell killing by the CTLs appeared to be mediated through the perforin pathway. Flow cytometric analysis of the CTLs indicated that they predominantly were CD8 in phenotype and produced interferon-gamma and scant amounts of interleukin-4. CONCLUSIONS The results of the current study suggest the potential of Sp17 as a target for immunotherapy in patients with ovarian carcinoma.
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Lea IA, Widgren EE, O'Rand MG. Analysis of recombinant mouse zona pellucida protein 2 (ZP2) constructs for immunocontraception. Vaccine 2002; 20:1515-23. [PMID: 11858857 DOI: 10.1016/s0264-410x(01)00514-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
In this study we have examined the potential of recombinant mouse zona pellucida glycoprotein 2 (ZP2) as a target for immunocontraception. Immunogenicity studies and fertility trials were performed in outbred Swiss-Webster mice using four ZP2 constructs: Val(35)-Gly(200) (ZP2(V35-G200)), Val(35)-Leu(331) (ZP2(V35-L331)), Pro(325)-Ala(637) (ZP2(P325-A637)), and Val(35)-Ala(637) (ZP2(V35-A637)). A significant antibody response occurred to three of the four immunogens, however antibodies capable of recognizing native ZP occurred only after immunization with ZP2(V35-A637) and ZP2(P325-A637). Only immunization with ZP2(V35-A637) correlated with a reduction in fertility. Examination of the physiological basis for infertility revealed that: (1) passive transfer of ZP2 antiserum induced infertility in non-immune mice; (2) ovaries of infertile mice appeared histologically normal; (3) infertile mice produced normal numbers of eggs and (4) ZP of ovulated eggs from infertile mice demonstrated a significant reduction in the number of sperm bound compared to eggs from adjuvant controls. Infertility can be caused entirely by ZP2 antibodies without the incidence of significant ovarian pathology. This study also demonstrated that immunization with the bioactive (sperm binding) region of ZP2, recombinant ZP2(V35-G200), did not result in a significant immune response that recognized native ZP or inhibited fertility. Consequently we designed a ZP2-sperm antigen construct, replacing the C-terminal region of ZP2 with Sp17. This construct proved to be immunogenic and reduce fertility while directing the immune response to the Val(35)-Gly(200) region of ZP2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel A Lea
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, CB #7090, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7090, USA
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Naaby-Hansen S, Mandal A, Wolkowicz MJ, Sen B, Westbrook VA, Shetty J, Coonrod SA, Klotz KL, Kim YH, Bush LA, Flickinger CJ, Herr JC. CABYR, a novel calcium-binding tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated fibrous sheath protein involved in capacitation. Dev Biol 2002; 242:236-54. [PMID: 11820818 DOI: 10.1006/dbio.2001.0527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 139] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
To reach fertilization competence, sperm undergo an incompletely understood series of morphological and molecular maturational processes, termed capacitation, involving, among other processes, protein tyrosine phosphorylation and increased intracellular calcium. Hyperactivated motility and an ability to undergo the acrosome reaction serve as physiological end points to assess successful capacitation. We report here that acidic (pI 4.0) 86-kDa isoforms of a novel, polymorphic, testis-specific protein, designated calcium-binding tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated protein (CABYR), were tyrosine phosphorylated during in vitro capacitation and bound (45)Ca on 2D gels. Acidic 86-kDa calcium-binding forms of CABYR increased during in vitro capacitation, and calcium binding to these acidic forms was abolished by dephosphorylation with alkaline phosphatase. Six variants of CABYR containing two coding regions (CR-A and CR-B) were cloned from human testis cDNA libraries, including five variants with alternative splice deletions. A motif homologous to the RII dimerization domain of PK-A was present in the N-terminus of CR-A in four CABYR variants. A single putative EF handlike motif was noted in CR-A at aas 197-209, while seven potential tyrosine phosphorylation-like sites were noted in CR-A and four in CR-B. Pro-X-X-Pro (PXXP) modules were identified in the N- and C-termini of CR-A and CR-B. CABYR localizes to the principal piece of the human sperm flagellum in association with the fibrous sheath and is the first demonstration of a sperm protein that gains calcium-binding capacity when phosphorylated during capacitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soren Naaby-Hansen
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Royal Free and University College School of Medicine, London, W1P 8BT, United Kingdom
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Howes L, Jones R. Interactions between zona pellucida glycoproteins and sperm proacrosin/acrosin during fertilization. J Reprod Immunol 2002; 53:181-92. [PMID: 11730915 DOI: 10.1016/s0165-0378(01)00101-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Fertilization is one of the most specific and carefully regulated cell-cell interactions in the animal body and is determined to a large extent by compatibility between ligand and receptor molecules on the surface of each gamete. On the zona pellucida (ZP), sperm receptor activity is associated with glycoproteins ZP3 (primary receptor for acrosome-intact sperm) and ZP2 (secondary receptor for acrosome-reacted sperm) but their complementary binding proteins on sperm are less well defined. In this communication we review the evidence for proacrosin as a secondary ZP binding protein. Proacrosin/acrosin binds non-enzymically to ZP glycoproteins. Binding is a strong ionic interaction between polysulphate groups on ZP glycoproteins (probably on their carbohydrate moieties) and basic residues on the surface of proacrosin. The stereochemistry of the reactants is crucial and determines to a large extent the affinity of binding. Site-directed mutagenesis and a 3D-structural analysis of boar and ram acrosin have identified 2 clusters of basic residues potentially involved in binding. A polysulphonated anticancer drug, suramin, has been shown to bind strongly to proacrosin/acrosin and to inhibit sperm-egg binding in vitro. In the mouse model, 125I-ZP2 and 3H-suramin bind approximately 65% less effectively to acrosin 'null' sperm than to wild-type sperm. Neither ZP2 nor suramin bind to acrosome intact sperm and can, therefore, only exert their effects after exposure of the acrosomal contents. Overall, this combination of biochemical, genetic and functional data supports the hypothesis that proacrosin is a multifunctional protein with a significant role in retaining acrosome-reacted sperm on the ZP surface long enough to enable ZP penetration to begin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liz Howes
- Gamete Signalling Laboratory, The Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB2 4AT, UK
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Singson A, Zannoni S, Kadandale P. Molecules that function in the steps of fertilization. Cytokine Growth Factor Rev 2001; 12:299-304. [PMID: 11544100 DOI: 10.1016/s1359-6101(01)00013-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A Singson
- Department of Genetics, Waksman Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA.
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Lacy HM, Sanderson RD. Sperm protein 17 is expressed on normal and malignant lymphocytes and promotes heparan sulfate-mediated cell-cell adhesion. Blood 2001; 98:2160-5. [PMID: 11568003 DOI: 10.1182/blood.v98.7.2160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Sperm protein 17 (Sp17) is a highly conserved mammalian protein present on acrosome-reacted sperm that is thought to promote fertilization by binding sulfated carbohydrates of the oocyte zona pellucida. Although Sp17 was originally described as a testis-specific antigen, emerging evidence indicates that it may be more ubiquitously expressed than was previously thought. With the use of a specific antiserum, Sp17 was found to be present on the surface of malignant lymphoid cells, including B- and T-lymphoid cell lines, and on the surface of primary cells isolated from 2 patients having B-lymphoid tumors. Surprisingly, circulating B lymphocytes isolated from healthy volunteers also expressed Sp17, while circulating T lymphocytes exhibited only very weak expression. The role of Sp17 in promoting lymphoid cell adhesion was addressed with the use of recombinant Sp17 (rSp17). The rSp17 binds to the surface of myeloma cells but not to cells pretreated with heparitinase, an enzyme that removes heparan sulfate from the cell surface. Moreover, rSp17 promotes extensive aggregation of cells that express the syndecan-1 heparan sulfate proteoglycan, but in contrast, cells lacking syndecan-1 expression fail to aggregate in the presence of rSp17. These findings suggest that Sp17 promotes heparan sulfate-mediated cell aggregation and thereby plays a role in regulating adhesion and migration of normal and malignant lymphocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- H M Lacy
- Arkansas Cancer Research Center, Departments of Pathology and Anatomy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
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48
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Richardson RT, Bencic DC, O'Rand MG. Comparison of mouse and human NASP genes and expression in human transformed and tumor cell lines. Gene 2001; 274:67-75. [PMID: 11674998 DOI: 10.1016/s0378-1119(01)00605-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
We previously cloned and sequenced cDNAs encoding mouse NASP (mNASP), a cell cycle regulated histone H1 binding protein. Here we report the genomic sequence and organization for mNASP along with its 5' regulatory region and compare these with human NASP (hNASP). The mNASP gene contains 16 exons interrupted by 15 introns. The sequence encoding testis mNASP uses all 16 exons while the somatic form uses 13 exons by differential splicing. All the exons conform to the AG/GT splicing rule. Putative TATA box-containing transcription initiation sites are present for somatic NASP in human and mouse and for testis hNASP. Comparison of the promoter regions of mNASP and hNASP approximately 1 kb upstream of the transcription start sites for the two splice variants revealed a number of possible transcription factor binding sites relevant to specific patterns of NASP tissue expression. The presence of single bands on Southern blots of mouse genomic DNA suggests that mNASP is a single copy gene although pseudogenes exist in both the mouse and human genomes. Chromosome fluorescence by in situ hybridization revealed that mNASP is present on chromosome 4, in an area that corresponds to band 4D1, a region syntenic to the locus of hNASP on chromosome 1. Additionally, we report that human somatic and testis NASP mRNAs are expressed at varying levels in all the transformed cell lines and human tumors tested, further supporting NASP's role in the cell cycle of dividing cells.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Autoantigens/genetics
- Base Sequence
- Blotting, Northern
- Blotting, Southern
- Carrier Proteins/genetics
- Cell Cycle Proteins
- Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone
- Chromosome Mapping
- Chromosomes, Human, Pair 1/genetics
- Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8/genetics
- DNA/chemistry
- DNA/genetics
- Exons
- Female
- Gene Dosage
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Genes/genetics
- HL-60 Cells
- HeLa Cells
- Humans
- In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
- Introns
- K562 Cells
- Male
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred Strains
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Nuclear Proteins/genetics
- Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics
- Pseudogenes/genetics
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- Sequence Alignment
- Sequence Analysis, DNA
- Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid
- Tumor Cells, Cultured
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Affiliation(s)
- R T Richardson
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7090, USA.
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Wen Y, Richardson RT, Widgren EE, O'Rand MG. Characterization of Sp17: a ubiquitous three domain protein that binds heparin. Biochem J 2001; 357:25-31. [PMID: 11415432 PMCID: PMC1221924 DOI: 10.1042/0264-6021:3570025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Sp17 is a protein that was originally thought to be expressed exclusively in the testis and whose primary function was binding to the extracellular matrix of the oocyte. Several recent reports have implicated Sp17 as having a role in cell-cell adhesion and/or cell migration in transformed, lymphocytic and haematopoietic cells, possibly through its interaction with extracellular heparan sulphate. In the present study, we report that Sp17's central domain (amino acids 61-117), spanning exon 3, is critical for heparin binding. Sp17 has two additional functional domains, an N-terminal domain similar to the dimer-interaction site in the cAMP-dependent protein kinase IIalpha regulatory subunit and a C-terminal calmodulin-binding domain. The mouse gene for Sp17 is 6.5 kb and contains four exons. Although Sp17 expression is highest in the testis, it is present in all of the mouse somatic tissues examined and is highly conserved throughout all mammalian species. Sp17's central domain, which is necessary for heparin binding, exhibits the greatest sequence divergence of all three domains. The Sp17 gene is induced in metastatic cells and during mucosal immune responses, and the protein appears to play an important role in cell migration and/or adhesion in somatic cells, as well as in male germ cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Wen
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, CB#7090, 210 Taylor Hall, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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Richardson RT, Sivashanmugam P, Hall SH, Hamil KG, Moore PA, Ruben SM, French FS, O'Rand M. Cloning and sequencing of human Eppin: a novel family of protease inhibitors expressed in the epididymis and testis. Gene 2001; 270:93-102. [PMID: 11404006 DOI: 10.1016/s0378-1119(01)00462-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
In this report we describe the discovery of Eppin (Epididymal protease inhibitor), a gene on human chromosome 20 expressing three mRNAs encoding two isoforms of a cystine-rich protein containing both Kunitz-type and WAP-type four disuffide core protease inhibitor consensus sequences. Analysis of Eppin's genomic sequence from chromosome 20q12-13.2 predicts the existence of all three splice variants of Eppin and that all the exons conform to the AG/GT splicing rule. The presence of single bands on a Southern blot of human genomic DNA suggests that Eppin is a single copy gene. TATA box transcription initiation sites are present for both of the different Eppin 5' UTRs and examination of the promoter region 1800 bp upstream of the start codon revealed a number of putative transcription enhancer binding sites typical of genes expressed in the epididymis or testis. Northern blot and tissue specific PCR data indicate Eppin-1 is expressed only in the testis and epididymis; Eppin-2 is expressed only in the epididymis and Eppin-3 only in the testis. Antiserum prepared against recombinant EPPIN recognizes several strong bands on Western blots of human epididymal extracts from the caput and corpus regions. Immunohistochemistry indicates a strong pattern of expression by the ciliated cells of the efferent ducts and strong staining of ejaculated spermatozoa. Eppin represents the first member of a family of protease inhibitors characterized by dual inhibitor consensus sequences, both WAP-type and Kunitz-type consensus sequences. A second family member is predicted to exist on chromosome 20 approximately 4 kb downstream from Eppin's exon I, which has two WAP-type sequences and one Kumtz-type consensus sequence.
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MESH Headings
- Alternative Splicing
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Base Sequence
- Blotting, Northern
- Blotting, Southern
- Blotting, Western
- Cloning, Molecular
- DNA, Complementary/chemistry
- DNA, Complementary/genetics
- Epididymis/metabolism
- Exons
- Female
- Gene Expression
- Genes/genetics
- Humans
- Immunohistochemistry
- Introns
- Male
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Protease Inhibitors/metabolism
- Protein Isoforms/genetics
- Protein Isoforms/metabolism
- Proteinase Inhibitory Proteins, Secretory
- Proteins/genetics
- Proteins/metabolism
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- Sequence Analysis, DNA
- Testis/metabolism
- Tissue Distribution
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Affiliation(s)
- R T Richardson
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, Chapel Hill, USA.
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