Biomedical subjects

M Focacci

Publications and source records attributed to M Focacci.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1997

Optimized assay for antisperm cell-mediated immunity.

Previous studies on antisperm cell-mediated immunity (CMI) have been confounded by the presence of immunogenic leukocytes in sperm antigen preparations. In this study we isolated pure populations of viable spermatozoa on discontinuous Percoll gradients, and utilized sonicated and cavitated extracts, as well as live motile spermatozoa, to measure cellular immunity to spermatozoa in vasectomized men, men with proven fertility, infertile women, fertile women and umbilical cord blood. Using a thymidine incorporation assay to assess lymphocyte proliferation, nine out of 13 (69%) vasectomized men and five out of 10 (50%) fertile men responded to sperm extracts. Lymphocyte proliferation to sperm extracts was also observed in both infertile and fertile women (27 and 50% respectively). In addition, viable sperm preparations promoted lymphocyte responses in five out of eight (63%) fertile women, seven out of 11 (63%) healthy men and four out of 11 (45%) cord blood specimens. Furthermore, four out of 11 (36%) healthy normal men responded to autologous spermatozoa. No relationship between serum antisperm antibodies, as measured with the Immunobead test, and sperm CMI was observed in any group. This study provides evidence that lymphocytes from fertile as well as infertile men and women and sperm-naive newborn infants proliferate when exposed to viable spermatozoa or sperm extracts. Thus the lymphocyte proliferation assay does not appear to be useful in the diagnosis of immunological infertility, but immunological recognition of spermatozoa may be a common feature that could have a role in fertility.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Characterization of human sperm antigens reacting with antisperm antibodies from autologous sera and seminal plasma in a fertile population.

Immunoblotting techniques were used to characterize the reactivity of human sperm antigens with antisperm antibodies from a population of fertile individuals. In particular, sperm antigens of each subject were tested with the same subject's antisperm antibodies present in blood serum and seminal plasma in an attempt to construct a preliminary map of the antigen domains of the normal spermatozoon. Fifty-five fertile males, comprising 22 subjects with a pregnant partner and 33 subjects attending assisted reproductive technology sessions for proven partner's infertility and with normal semen quality entered the study. A high proportion of sera (82%) and seminal plasma (62%) showed antisperm antibodies reacting with one or more sperm antigens. Specific immunoreactivity was often demonstrated to 45-kDa, 50-kDa, 55-kDa, 69-kDa, 72-kDa and 85-kDa proteins in serum and to 59-kDa and 72-kDa proteins in seminal plasma. These proteins are the most frequently involved sperm antigens in the immune responses in fertile subjects. Further studies in an infertile population are necessary to distinguish between these antigens of minor relevance in sperm function from others significantly involved in immunological infertility.

Antibodies↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Interleukin-2 in seminal plasma of fertile and infertile men.

The role of cell-mediated immunity in the etiopathogenesis of male infertility is far from being defined. The cytokine interleukin-2 (IL-2) has a key role in T-cell mediated immune responses. The aim of this study was to confirm the presence of IL-2 in human seminal plasma, to show eventual differences between IL-2 concentrations in fertile and infertile subjects, and to show potential relationship between IL-2 amounts in semen and spermiogram parameters. Forty-three subjects entered the study, 20 with proven fertility and normal semen quality (fertile group) and 23 with male infertility of at least 2 years and poor semen quality (infertile group). IL-2 levels of seminal plasma in infertile subjects (444.3 +/- 40.5 fmol/mL) were significantly higher than those in fertile subjects (251.3 +/- 42.7 fmol/mL). There was a significant negative correlation between IL-2 levels and sperm count, motility, and morphology. No correlation was found between IL-2 levels and leukocyte count. These findings confirm IL-2 to be in seminal plasma, show increased IL-2 secretion in the infertile group, demonstrate negative correlations of IL-2 levels with main spermiogram parameters, and indicate no correlation with leukocyte count. IL-2 concentration in seminal plasma may therefore be considered as a potential marker in male infertility.

Biomarkers↗