Antibodies to sperm basic nuclear proteins detected in infertile patients by dot-immunobinding assay and by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

A novel protein biochip screening serum anti-sperm antibody expression and natural pregnancy rate in a follow-up study in Chinese infertility

Production of anti-sperm antibody (ASA) often suffers from autoimmune reaction against sperms in human infertility. The antibodies are measured in both blood and seminal plasma of males. Here, we reported a simple protein biochip methodology that takes advantage of a functionalized self-assembled monolayer modified by N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) and enables identification of anti-sperm antibody in Chinese male infertility. To validate this biochip platform, we immobilized purified sperm protein on the biochip surface and tested a variety of parameters in quality controls for the protein assay, respectively. Then, we analyzed serum samples from 368 patients with infertility and 116 healthy donors by means of this biochip simultaneously. We found that positive rate of serum ASA was 20.92% (77/368) in the cases and 1.72% (2/116) in the controls, respectively. Furthermore, we further corroborated the biochip assay in comparison with ELISA method. We found that both methods were compatible for the detection of serum ASA in the patients. In addition, a follow-up study for natural conception in ASA-positive and ASA-negative patients was conducted. The result showed a significant correlation between serum ASA expression and natural pregnancy rate 6.5% in ASA-positive patients while 18.9% in ASA-negative patients, indicating the potential roles of ASA in naturally reproductive processes.

The role of human xanthine oxidoreductase (HXOR), anti-HXOR antibodies, and microorganisms in synovial fluid of patients with joint inflammation

This work is to investigate the levels of human xanthine oxidoreductase (HXOR), its antibodies, and microorganisms in synovial fluid of patients with untreated rheumatoid joint diseases. Synovial fluids were collected from sixty-four patients with rheumatoid joint diseases. Sixty-four age-matched individuals were included as control. Xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR) proteins level and anti-XOR antibodies were determined in the blood and synovial fluid, using human XOR as antigen, by enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA) assay. Synovial fluids were cultured for bacteria and fungi. The titers of XOR protein in the synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis were 90.43 ± 23.37 μg/ml (mean ± SD, n = 29) and up to 62.42 ± 8.74 μg/ml (mean ± SD, n = 35) in other joint inflammation. Anti-HXOR antibodies titers in patients were 167.72 ± 23.64 μg/ml, n = 64, which was significantly higher in rheumatoid arthritis patients. The results indicated that anti-HXOR antibodies in synovial fluids have a protective role as high concentrations against XOR were detected in inflammatory arthritis. These antibodies play a role in eliminating XOR from synovial fluids. However, immune complex formation could activate complement and participate in propagating the inflammatory cycle. Synovial aspirate ordinary microbial cultures were negative for any bacteria or fungi, but that does not exclude organisms of special culture requirements.