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Immunoregulatory properties of human spermatozoa
164
P 236
IMMUNOREGULATORY PROPERTIES OF HUMAN SPERMATOZOA DR. STEVENS. WITKIN DEPT. OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY CORNELL UNIVERSITY MEDICAL COLLEGE, NEW YORK, N.Y. 10021 Sperm are immunosuppresslve following intravenous injection in mice and following rectal deposition in rabbits. The immunosuppresslve properties of human sperm and its relationship to antisperm antibody formation and infertility were investigated. Human sperm did not induce interferon (IFN) gamma production or proliferation following co-culture with allogeneic lymphocytes. On the contrary, lymphocyte proliferative responses were strongly inhibited by sperm. The extent of inhibition was proportional to the sperm concentration, suggesting that sperm induced active suppression. Lymphocytes preincubated with sperm were still inhibited from proliferating after sperm removal. Suppressor cell induction by sperm may be one mechanism inducing T suppressor cell predominance in the male genital tract. The ability of sperm to inhibit ceil-mediated immunity in females may also explain the need for having millions of sperm in the ejaculate. Antisperm antibodies convert sperm to IFN inducers and activators of T helper cells. Thus, a productive immune response is initiated following coitus iX women sensitized to sperm. This is harmful to sperm survival and inhibitory to fertility.
Keywords:
Sperm antibodies, infertility, i~mnunosuppression,
interferon
P 237 IMMUNOREGULATORY PROPERTIESOF SEMINAL FLUID.
R.J. ABLIN. Department of Urology, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, New York 11794-8093, USA. Seminal f l u i d
possesses a variety of
distinct
molecules
which from an
immunobiological point of view, may be involved in: i) hypersensitivity (allergy); i i ) antibacterial (microbial) and/or i i i ) immunoregulatory activity. The presence of seminal fluid as a participant in perhaps seemingly divergent biological phenomena, has attracted attention of late, to its immunoregulatory activity (IRA). The significance of the IRA of seminal fluid may range from protection of inseminated spermatozoa (Sp), and later the foetus itself, to the antithetic and permissive development of aberrant and retrogenic cellular alterations, i.e., AIDS and malignancy. In terms of f e r t i l i t y , genetic variability in the concentration and avidity of select IR components in seminal fluid for Sp may provide an explanation, in part, for development of antisperm antibodies, and the occasional hypersensitivity (allergic) reactions to Sp, in the female. Similarily, localized IRA of seminal fluid may facilitate an asymptomatic carrier-state of select urogenital infections.
Keywords: seminal f l u i d ; immunoregulatory a c t i v i t y
P 236
IMMUNOREGULATORY PROPERTIES OF HUMAN SPERMATOZOA DR. STEVENS. WITKIN DEPT. OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY CORNELL UNIVERSITY MEDICAL COLLEGE, NEW YORK, N.Y. 10021 Sperm are immunosuppresslve following intravenous injection in mice and following rectal deposition in rabbits. The immunosuppresslve properties of human sperm and its relationship to antisperm antibody formation and infertility were investigated. Human sperm did not induce interferon (IFN) gamma production or proliferation following co-culture with allogeneic lymphocytes. On the contrary, lymphocyte proliferative responses were strongly inhibited by sperm. The extent of inhibition was proportional to the sperm concentration, suggesting that sperm induced active suppression. Lymphocytes preincubated with sperm were still inhibited from proliferating after sperm removal. Suppressor cell induction by sperm may be one mechanism inducing T suppressor cell predominance in the male genital tract. The ability of sperm to inhibit ceil-mediated immunity in females may also explain the need for having millions of sperm in the ejaculate. Antisperm antibodies convert sperm to IFN inducers and activators of T helper cells. Thus, a productive immune response is initiated following coitus iX women sensitized to sperm. This is harmful to sperm survival and inhibitory to fertility.
Keywords:
Sperm antibodies, infertility, i~mnunosuppression,
interferon
P 237 IMMUNOREGULATORY PROPERTIESOF SEMINAL FLUID.
R.J. ABLIN. Department of Urology, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, New York 11794-8093, USA. Seminal f l u i d
possesses a variety of
distinct
molecules
which from an
immunobiological point of view, may be involved in: i) hypersensitivity (allergy); i i ) antibacterial (microbial) and/or i i i ) immunoregulatory activity. The presence of seminal fluid as a participant in perhaps seemingly divergent biological phenomena, has attracted attention of late, to its immunoregulatory activity (IRA). The significance of the IRA of seminal fluid may range from protection of inseminated spermatozoa (Sp), and later the foetus itself, to the antithetic and permissive development of aberrant and retrogenic cellular alterations, i.e., AIDS and malignancy. In terms of f e r t i l i t y , genetic variability in the concentration and avidity of select IR components in seminal fluid for Sp may provide an explanation, in part, for development of antisperm antibodies, and the occasional hypersensitivity (allergic) reactions to Sp, in the female. Similarily, localized IRA of seminal fluid may facilitate an asymptomatic carrier-state of select urogenital infections.
Keywords: seminal f l u i d ; immunoregulatory a c t i v i t y