Role of Integrins in Sperm Activation and Fertilization

Abstract

In mammals, integrins are heterodimeric transmembrane glycoproteins that represent a large group of cell adhesion receptors involved in cell–cell, cell–extracellular matrix, and cell–pathogen interactions. Integrin receptors are an important part of signalization pathways and have an ability to transmit signals into and out of cells and participate in cell activation. In addition to somatic cells, integrins have also been detected on germ cells and are known to play a crucial role in complex gamete-specific physiological events, resulting in sperm-oocyte fusion. The main aim of this review is to summarize the current knowledge on integrins in reproduction and deliver novel perspectives and graphical interpretations presenting integrin subunits localization and their dynamic relocation during sperm maturation in comparison to the oocyte. A significant part of this review is devoted to discussing the existing view of the role of integrins during sperm migration through the female reproductive tract; oviductal reservoir formation; sperm maturation processes ensuing capacitation and the acrosome reaction, and their direct and indirect involvement in gamete membrane adhesion and fusion leading to fertilization.

Effectiveness of Peng’s Shengjing recipe on male asthenospermia caused by kidney yang deficiency

“…25 Integrin α6/β1 is a determinant of sperm function. 26 In the present study, Shengjing recipe increased the levels of FSH and T, but the exact clinical significance of these changes is unknown since the values were within the normal values at baseline and after treatment. Still, these changes were also observed in previous studies.…”

Distribution of tetraspanins in bovine ovarian tissue and fresh/vitrified oocytes

“…Tetraspanins generally act within the tetraspanin web, a functional multi-molecular complex composed of different tetraspanins and their interacting partner molecules (Zuidscherwoude et al 2015 ). In cell membranes, including those of gametes, tetraspanins usually form complexes with integrins (Maecker et al 1997 ; Berditchevski and Odintsova 1999 ; Stipp 2010 ; Merc et al 2021 ), whose functions also regulate (Hemler 2005 ). Integrins are the adhesion receptors that act as transmembrane linkers between the extracellular matrix and the actin cytoskeleton, with the ability to transmit outside-in and vice versa signaling (Longhurst and Jennings 1998 ).…”

Positive selection on ADAM10 builds species recognition in the synchronous spawning coral Acropora

“…In Acropora , its involvement in sperm and egg interactions ( Iguchi et al, 2007 ) and its divergence in terms of sequences and expression ( Knack et al, 2008 ) have been reported. The ADAM family of disintegrins and metalloproteases includes ADAM2 (a “fertilin”), which is implicated in sperm–egg binding via integrin—ADAM binding ( Evans, 2001 ; Merc et al, 2021 ). However, the function of integrins and ADAM in the fertilization of coral have not yet been investigated.…”