Autoantibodies and common idiotypes in men and women with sperm antibodies.

Antisperm antibodies have been implicated as a causative factor of infertility and pregnancy wastage. Since concomitant autoimmune phenomena were reported in men with antisperm antibodies, we investigated known antisperm antibody-positive sera from 25 women, 27 men, and the respective seminal plasma samples. The investigated autoimmune panel included a search for antinuclear antibodies, autoantibodies (in IgG, IgM and IgA isotypes) to seven phospholipids (cardiolipin, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, and phosphatidic acid), to four histone subfractions (H1, H2A, H3, H4), and to four polynucleotides [ssDNA, dsDNA, poly(I), and poly(dT)], total immunoglobulin levels, and sperm antibody titers. The sera were also evaluated for the presence of a common anti-deoxyribonucleic acid antibody, and anticardiolipin antibody idiotypes. Levels of sperm antibody titers were significantly lower in women than in men. Both men and women with antisperm antibodies demonstrated elevated total IgG levels compared with those of normal control subjects. Only women showed elevated levels of total IgM. Sera from 24% of women and 11% of men with antisperm antibodies demonstrated antinuclear antibody titers >1:40. The most striking autoantibody abnormalities were found among antiphospholipid antibodies. Sera from women with antisperm antibodies demonstrated higher autoantibody production that was found in their male counterparts. A significant correlation was found between antisperm antibodies and IgM anticardiolipin and IgA anti-phosphatidylinositol in women and between sperm antibodies and IgA phosphatidylserine antibodies in men. The presence of anticardiolipin and anti-deoxyribonucleic acid antibody idiotypes was significantly more frequent in women than in men. By means of discriminant analysis and variables selected by this mathematical model, the identification of 24 of 25 women and 26 of 27 men with antisperm antibodies was correctly predicted. These results suggest that women and men respond differently to sperm antigens. The apparent cross-reactivity between sperm antibodies and other autoantibodies, usually associated with autoimmune disease, suggests that a polyclonal B cell activation, similar to that seen in autoimmune diseases, occurs in patients with sperm antibodies

Locatization of Human Herpesvirus 8 in Human Sperms by \u3ci\u3eIn Situ\u3c/i\u3e PCR

Objectives: Defining the mechanism of infection with human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) or Kaposi’s sarcoma associated herpesvirus (KSHV) is an important clinical issue. HHV-8 has been linked to Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS) development in HIV-1-infected individuals, and KS develops in 40% of those infected with both viruses. A series of epidemiological data suggest that sexual transmission is one of the routes of transmission for HHV-8. In our studies, we sought to assess the cellular reservoirs of HHV-8 DNA in the semen of HIV-1-infected men and the potential role of HHV-8 infected spermatozoa in horizontal transmission. Design and methods: A nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR), in situ PCR (ISPCR) and a sodium iodide (NaI) DNA isolation technique that extracts both nuclear and episomal DNA were utilized to amplify specific genes in vitro and within intact cells to evaluate the types of seminal cells infected with HHV-8 in HIV-1-infected and uninfected men. Results: HHV-8 was present in the spermatozoa and mononuclear cells of the semen in 64 of 73 (88%) HIV-1 infected individuals. Both the sperms as well as the mononuclear cells of the semen specimens of HIV-1 infected men were found to be infected with HHV-8. Multiplex ISPCR revealed that a significantly higher percentage of semen cells were infected with HHV-8 than HIV-1 (p \u3e0.001). Rare (less than one in a 100,000) sperm cells were co-infected with both viruses. A co-culture of HHV-8 infected sperm with uninfected 293 or Sup-T1 cell lines resulted in an abortive infection of these cells with HHV-8. DNA isolation by NaI yielded 73% of the positive sperm, whereas the standard phenol/chloroform method resulted in significantly lower positives (45%) from the same specimens. Conclusions: Design and methods: Our data strongly suggest a potential sexual/horizontal route of transmission of HHV-8, via the HHV-8 infected sperm and other semen cells, where a large percentage of HIV-1 infected men’s sperm and other semen cells are infected with HHV-8. Co-culture studies have further supported the observations that HHV-8 in the sperm cells is infectious and capable of transmission of the virus to uninfected cells