Analysis of human sperm membrane antigens reacting with sera from antisperm antibody positive and negative patients by western blotting

• Published in: Andrologia Vol. 25; no. 3; p. 149
• Main Authors: de Beer, P M, Windt, M L, Bouic, P J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Germany 01.05.1993
• Subjects: Antibodies - blood; Antigens, Surface - analysis; Antigens, Surface - immunology; Blotting, Western; Humans; Infertility, Male - immunology; Male; Molecular Weight; Spermatozoa - immunology
• ISSN: 0303-4569
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0272.1993.tb02699.x

Immunological infertility is thought to be caused by the binding of antibodies to 'fertility-related' antigen(s) on the sperm membrane. We compared antibody profiles in sera from 20 ASA(+) and ASA(-) men, using a sperm membrane extract as an antigen. Antigens were separated by SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions. The patients were classed as ASA(+) by the MAR (> 50%), d-IBT (> 20%) and TAT (> 1:64). The results showed that immunoreactive bands in both the ASA(+) and ASA(-) groups were heterogeneous and included bands covering the whole molecular weight range. Statistical analysis showed significantly more patients in the ASA(+) group having immunoreactive bands at molecular weights of 32 Kd (P = 0.006) and 79 Kd (P = 0.02) when compared to the ASA(-) group. In the ASA(-) group significantly more patients had reactive bands at 81 Kd (P = 0.01) when compared to the ASA(+) group. The 32 Kd antigen reacted only with sera from ASA(+) patients. We conclude that differences exist between the ASA(+) and ASA(-) groups when this extraction method is used and that the isolation and purification of the 32 Kd protein may justify further investigation.