Prostasomes - their effects on human male reproduction and fertility
Prostasomes - their effects on human male reproduction and fertility
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DOI：
10.1093/humupd/dmi052
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发表时间：
2006-05-01
影响因子：
13.3
通讯作者：
Whittington, K
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Burden, HP;Holmes, CH;Whittington, K
前列腺是一个腺体的男性附属性器官，对正常生育至关重要。它提供了精浆中的前列腺成分，在射精后对精子起保护作用。前列腺体是由前列腺腺泡内衬的上皮细胞产生的小（40-500 nm）膜结合囊泡，并且是前列腺分泌物的组分。虽然人们多年来就知道这些颗粒物的存在，但它们的全部功能及其与生殖健康的相关性在很大程度上仍不为人所知。蛋白质组学研究表明，前列腺体中或表面存在多种蛋白质（酶、结构蛋白和新的、未注释的蛋白质），使其具有多样性。有趣的是，前列腺体能够与精子融合，这一事件以及相关的蛋白质转移是其许多功能的核心。前列腺体的存在增加了精子的活力，它们的融合防止了过早的顶体反应。前列腺素体具有免疫抑制、抗氧化和抗菌特性，已被证明有助于保护女性生殖道内的精子。临床上，这些功能意味着前列腺体在男性因素不育中的作用。然而，促进生育的功能可能在以后的生活中具有负面的含义;最近的工作表明前列腺体与前列腺癌有关。显然，需要更多的工作来阐明这些新颗粒的作用及其对男性健康的影响。
The prostate is a glandular male accessory sex organ vital for normal fertility. It provides the prostatic component of seminal plasma which nourishes and protects sperm following ejaculation. Prostasomes are small (40-500 nm) membrane-bound vesicles produced by epithelial cells lining the prostate acini and are a component of prostatic secretions. Although the existence of these particles has been known for many years, their full function and relevance to reproductive health are largely unknown. Proteomic studies have shown a wide range of proteins (enzymes, structural proteins and novel, unannotated proteins) present in or on the surface of prostasomes providing them with a diverse nature. Interestingly prostasomes are able to fuse with sperm, this event and the associated transfer of proteins lies at the heart of many of their proposed functions. Sperm motility is increased by the presence of prostasomes and their fusion prevents premature acrosome reactions. Prostasomes have been shown to aid protection of sperm within the female reproductive tract because of immunosuppressive, antioxidant and antibacterial properties. Clinically these functions imply a role for prostasomes in male factor infertility. However, the very functions that promote fertility may have negative connotations in later life; recent work has suggested that prostasomes are involved in prostate cancer. Clearly more work is needed to clarify the role of these novel particles and their impact on men's health.