Antibody-binding proteins in human seminal plasma

The significance of antibody-mediated infertility is unclear and complicated by the finding of that antisperm antibodies are found both in fertile and infertile couples. Seminal plasma contains immunosuppressive factors, one such factor may be antibody-binding proteins (ABP's).

Antibody-binding-proteins were purified using human IgG or IgG-Fc affinity chromatography columns. The purified antibody-binding proteins were characterized by their molecular weights, partial amino acid sequences, and immunoreactivities.

Three proteins of molecular weight 74, 70 and 55 kDa and other low molecular weight proteins specifically bound to the IgG or IgG-Fc affinity columns demonstrating Fc-binding specificities. These proteins were not FcgammaRIII, IgG, or fragments of these proteins by their behaviors under reducing conditions, Western blot, and partial amino acid sequence analyses. Amino acid sequence data demonstrated some of these proteins to be novel.

We have isolated and partially characterized several ABP's from seminal plasma. The IgG-binding proteins we have identified may protect spermatozoa against antibody-mediated damage by conferring protection to antibody-coated spermatozoa. If this hypothesis holds true, differences in the level or function of these ABP's may alter the status of fertility.