Human sperm carbohydrate antigens defined by an antisperm human monoclonal antibody derived from an infertile woman bearing antisperm antibodies in her serum

J Exp Med. 1988 Jul 1;168(1):343-56. doi: 10.1084/jem.168.1.343.

Abstract

The epitope structure of the human sperm antigen reacting with antibodies present in sera of infertile women has been studied using mAb H6-3C4, which produces immobilization of human sperm in the presence of complement. Another antibody, NUH2, which also induces human sperm immobilization, was used to substantiate the presence of a receptor on sperm involved in susceptibility to immobilization. Both antibodies defined type 2 chain polylactosamine structure. H6-3C4 is directed to internally located repetitive N-acetyllactosamine, i.e., sialyl-i, i, or fucosyl-i. NUH2 defines binary alpha 2----3 sialyl type 2 chain, i.e., sialyl-I. Thus, the presence of antibodies in the sera of infertile women directed to sperm lactosaminoglycan or lactosaminolipid could be the basis for infertility in these cases.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Sugars / immunology
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / immunology*
  • Antibody Specificity
  • Antigens / immunology*
  • Carbohydrate Sequence
  • Carbohydrates / immunology*
  • Chromatography, Thin Layer
  • Complement System Proteins / immunology
  • Female
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Hemagglutination
  • Humans
  • Immunoassay
  • Infertility, Female / immunology*
  • Male
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Radioimmunoassay
  • Sperm Motility
  • Spermatozoa / immunology*

Substances

  • Amino Sugars
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antigens
  • Carbohydrates
  • N-acetyllactosamine
  • Complement System Proteins