Increased expression of secretory actin-binding protein on human spermatozoa is associated with poor semen quality

Antibodies to human sperm are useful diagnostic reagents for detection of changes in sperm protein expression and their relationship with sperm defects and male infertility. The specificity of Hs-16 monoclonal antibody (mAb) and the localization and frequency of the occurrence of Hs-16-recognized protein on human spermatozoa were investigated.

Samples from 30 fertile men with normal spermiograms and 30 men with pathological spermiograms were studied. The specificity of Hs-16 mAb was analysed by the western blotting technique and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry. Indirect immunofluorescence with Hs-16 antibody was used to test sperm ejaculates.

The Hs-16 antibody detected a human sperm and seminal plasma protein, which was determined to be secretory actin-binding protein (SABP). This specificity was also verified by co-localization of SABP and actin on spermatozoa with Hs-16 and anti-actin antibodies, and partial co-localization of these proteins was found. SABP was localized on the sperm tail, mainly in the midpiece of the tail. Other parts of spermatozoa were labelled with lower frequency. A significant difference was found in SABP labelling between men with normal spermiograms and donors with asthenozoospermia or oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (both P < 0.01), and asthenozoospermia versus oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (P < 0.05). Increased expression of SABP was observed in men with pathological spermiograms.

Hs-16 antibody reacts specifically with SABP. SABP can serve as a marker of defective sperm and may be associated with fertility failure.