Suppression of Rat Epididymal Sperm Immunogenicity by a Seminal Vesicle Secretory Protein and Transglutaminase Both in Vivo and in Vitro1

Abstract

The pretreatment of epididymal spermatozoa with SV-IV, one of the major secretory protein produced by the epithelium of adult rat seminal vesicles, was found to markedly decrease their ability to induce in vivo peritoneal macrophage activation, measured as class II major histocompatibility complex surface antigen expression, superoxide anion production, phagocytic activity, and antigen presentation. In addition, the treatment of spermatozoa with SV-IV produced a significant decrease of their immunogenicity evaluated in vitro by [3H]thymidine incorporation in splenocyte/spermatozoon co-culture. The concurrent presence of SV-IV and transglutaminase, an enzyme secreted in large amounts from the rat anterior prostate, amplified these phenomena. The suppression of the epididymal sperm immunogenicity is suggested to be of crucial importance for the prevention of the immune response to the sperm introduced in the immunocompetent female genital tract during coitus.

Anti-apoptotic seminal vesicle protein IV inhibits cell-mediated immunity

“…These data confirm the immunosuppressive activity of SV-IV previously observed in other experimental settings (Paonessa et al, 1984;Metafora et al, 1989;Peluso et al, 1994;Romano-Carratelli et al, 1995;RomanoCarratelli et al, 2002).…”

“…SV-IV possesses a nonspecies-specific ability to modulate inflammation and humoral and cellmediated immune response (Metafora et al, 1989;Peluso et al, 1994;Romano-Carratelli et al, 1995;Tufano et al, 1996;Santagada et al, 2002), to stimulate horseradish and Se-dependent peroxidases (Metafora et al, 2001 and unpublished data), to protect its target cells against oxidative stress-associated apoptosis and, in particular, to defend nonself epididymal spermatozoa from immunological or reactive oxygen species (ROS) attacks in the female genital tract (Paonessa et al, 1984;Morelli et al, 2007). The anti-inflammatory properties are related to phospholipase A 2 (PLA 2 ) inhibition (Metafora et al, 1989), whereas the pro-inflammatory features are based on SV-IV ability to stimulate mast-cell and basophil degranulation with concurrent release of histamine and other mediators (Metafora et al, manuscript in preparation).…”

“…The anti-inflammatory properties are related to phospholipase A 2 (PLA 2 ) inhibition (Metafora et al, 1989), whereas the pro-inflammatory features are based on SV-IV ability to stimulate mast-cell and basophil degranulation with concurrent release of histamine and other mediators (Metafora et al, manuscript in preparation). The modulation of immune response is caused by interference of the protein with macrophage-T cell cooperation (Metafora et al, 1989;Peluso et al, 1994;Romano-Carratelli et al, 1995;Tufano et al, 1996;Santagada et al, 2002). Natural killer cells (NKs) and antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) are involved in host resistance to infections, immune surveillance against tumors, and rejection of transplanted tissues.…”

Transglutaminase 3 expression in C57BL/6J mouse embryo epidermis and the correlation with its differentiation

“…Furthermore, it was reported that rat epididymal sperm immunogenicity could be suppressed by transglutaminase both in vivo and in vitro. The suppression of the epididymal sperm immunogenicity is suggested to be of crucial importance to prevent the immune response when the sperm is introduced into the immunocompetent female genital tract during coitus [21].…”

The N-terminal 1-16 peptide derived in vivo from protein seminal vesicle protein IV modulates α-thrombin activity: potential clinical implications

“…), in human seminal fluid and SV secretion (Abrescia, 1985(Abrescia, , 1986Metafora, 1987a). SV-IV possesses potent non-species specific immunomodulatory and antiinflammatory activities, and modulates the coagulation process by affecting the thrombin-antithrombin III (AT) interaction (Galdiero, 1989;Metafora, 1989a, b;Camussi, 1990;Romano-Carratelli 1993;Vuotto, 1993;Di Micco 1994, 2000Peluso, 1994;Mancuso, 1996;Tufano, 1996). Moreover, it can bind the plasma membrane of epididymal spermatozoa, decreasing the immunogenicity of SV-IV (Pavonessa, 1984;Metafora, 1987b;Peluso, 1994).…”