Nasal immunization with mature sperm specific antigen CD52 for developing a contraceptive vaccine

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Human CD52 has been reported to be a glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor protein that is present in lymphocytes, monocytes, male reproductive tracts, ejaculated sperm and seminal plasma. This antigen induces antibodies causing infertility in women and impairs sperm motility. The present study is conducted as a model experiment to examine whether mouse mrt-CD52 produces antibodies in mice to clarify mer-CD52 antigen cause infertility and also this antigen is available for contraceptive vaccine development. [Methods] mrt-C52 was prepared from ICR mouse vas deferens and injected in male and female C57BL mice with complete Freund's adjuvant. Alternatively, mice were immunized by intranasal route with cholera toxin B. Antibody production was assessed by ELISA, western blotting and immunofluorescent staining. Biological effects of the antibodies were examined by sperm immobilizing test, in-vitro fertilization and mating experiments. [Results] Male and female mice produced auto- and iso-antibodies by immunization with purified mouse mrt-CD52 by a subcutaneous route. All the produced antibodies did not react to the peptide portion of mrt-CD52, suggesting that the carbohydrate moiety is immunogenic. The antibodies immobilized mouse sperm in the presence of complement but not inhibited in-vitro fertilization or in-vivo fertility. [Discussion] The results suggested that the antibody to mrt-C52 possibly cause infertility in some infertile women. Further experiment is necessary to produce IgA class antibody in female genital tracts for developing a contraceptive vaccine by mucosal immunization with mrt-CD52.