卵透明带ZP3的研究及其应用

卵透明带蛋白围绕在卵母细胞外,在受精过程中起着重要作用。ZP3蛋白是卵透明带蛋白家族中的重要成员,在功能上,ZP3作为初级精子受体,起始精卵结合和顶体反应。由于ZP3在受精中的重要作用,它成为免疫避孕的有效靶点。ZP3蛋白疫苗和DNA疫苗可以诱导机体产生较强的免疫反应,导致生育降低,同时带来一定程度的副作用。本文重点介绍了ZP3的免疫特性及其应用。     

人精子抗原决定簇的末端单糖参与小鼠IgA单抗与抗原的结合

研究消化道免疫后获得的抗人精子单抗(特别是IgA单抗)的靶抗原分子性质,有助于了解哪一些抗原可以通过消化道免疫,刺激机体产生局部分泌性兔疫反应。这对于抗精子避孕疫苗研制中精子有效抗原和免疫避孕投药途径的选择,阐明精子局部免疫的发生机制和弄清免疫性不育病人的病因有一定的意义。本文对消化道免疫获得的33个抗精子IgA单抗,12个IgG和35个IgM单抗靶抗原的生化性质及末端单糖做了鉴定。免疫印迹的结果显示,IgA,IgM和IgG类单抗靶抗原的分子量范围分别为10—89,11—75和12—94 KDa。有12个单抗的靶抗原为非蛋白类的糖复合物,一个IgA单抗(A 22)的靶抗原为不含糖的蛋白。凝集素封闭和糖苷酶消化试验的结果显示,98.7%单抗的靶抗原分子末端含一种或几种糖。五种凝集素对IgA类单抗靶抗原的封闭效应均较强,表明IgA类单抗靶抗原的抗原决定簇含有岩藻糖,乙酰氨基葡萄糖,乙酰氨基半乳精,半乳糖和甘露糖等末端单糖者较多。IgG类单抗靶抗原的抗原决定簇则含有带岩藻糖,乙酰氨基半乳糖和α-甘露糖等末端单糖者较多。内切-β-半乳糖苷酶消化试验的结果表明,54.4%IgA类单抗的靶抗原为依赖半乳糖苷连接的糖肽化合物。这些结果表明,经消化道免疫能产生IgA及其它类别抗体的绝大多数人精子抗原为含多种类型末端单糖的膜表面分子。     

精子膜表面蛋白的研究进展

动物的精子是一类结构和功能都十分特化的细胞,其膜表面存在多种糖蛋白或糖复合物,它们与精卵识别、结合以及质膜融合等受精活动密切相关,同时,作为精子膜抗原,在免疫避孕和免疫不育的治疗中具有广阔的应用前景。本文扼要概述了精子膜蛋白的研究进展。     

透明体蛋白的克隆

兵库医科大学妇产科教授礒岛浩二、助教授香山晋三等成功地克隆了作为人避孕疫苗开发的猪透明体蛋白ZP4。目前难以大量生产的透明体蛋白是简单地从重组体入手的。礒岛等于11月20日在名古屋召开的日本不孕学会上发表了这项成果。抗卵抗体有阻碍受精的作用。得知在卵抗原中透明体抗原的免疫原性特别强。因此,正在进行作为避孕疫苗开发透明体蛋白的尝试。但是,透明体蛋白都是糖蛋白,抗原决定基、糖链部分多,而难以大量生产抗原。磷岛等看准了ZP4糖链小这一特性,制作单克隆抗体时能获得与去除糖链的ZP4反应的抗体。     

人及哺乳动物受精与糖蛋白的关系

越来越多的研究表明精卵识别与精子质膜及卵透明带中所含糖蛋白有直接关系。在精卵识别中存在着精子受体和卵透明带（zona pellucida,ZP）配体相互作用的糖类识别机制及精子质膜与卵子质膜的糖蛋白识别。本文主要从结构功能上对与受精相关的精卵表面糖蛋白作一介绍。卵子表面受精相关的糖蛋白主要是ZP1、ZP2、ZP3。与卵子表面糖蛋白相比,精子表面参与精卵识别的糖蛋白种类较多,在SP56、SP95、PH－20、FA－1、甘露糖结合蛋白、顶体素、fertilin蛋白等。     

哺乳动物受精过程中精子和透明带的初级及次级结合

在哺乳动物的受精过程中,获能的精子穿过卵丘细胞层到达卵子透明带后,精子头部便结合在透明带的表面上.精子和透明带的结合可以分为初级结合和次级结合两个阶段,初级结合是指二者在顶体反应之前的结合,次级结合是指二者在顶体反应之后的结合.精子和透明带的结合是精子顶体反应和精子入卵的先决条件,是哺乳动物受精过程中非常重要的环节,涉及到精子以及透明带的多种蛋白质分子之间的相互作用.这方面的研究工作主要是以小鼠为实验对象进行的,在其他哺乳动物中也有很多报道.本文将主要以小鼠为例,概述哺乳动物受精过程中精子和透明带结合的分子机制,并兼述在二者的结合过程中透明带糖蛋白ZP3对精子顶体反应的诱导作用.     

避孕疫苗的现状及展望

简述了近年来国内外在避孕疫苗方面的研究情况。重点介绍了抗卵透明带（ＺＰ）避孕疫苗、抗精子抗原避孕疫苗和抗人绒毛膜促性腺激素（ｈＣＧ）避孕疫苗研究的现状以及近年来取得的进展,对这三种避孕疫苗的优缺点进行了评价。阐述了作者对免疫途径避孕的观点,展望了避孕疫苗的发展前景     

哺乳动物受精的生物学

哺乳动物的受精(Mammalian Fertilization)是两性配子(精子和卵子)相结合而形成合子的过程,它标志着胚胎发育的开始,也即是一个新生命的起点。受精是生物学家饶有兴味的课题。因为它不仅涉及到一个理论问题,更重要的是当今节育和不育的世界性问题尚未解决,因此,受精的重要性是不言而喻的。当然,受精是一个极其复杂的生命现象,涉及到两性配子的发育和成熟、精子获能、顶体反应、精卵激活、精子     

小鼠卵ZP3蛋白的可溶性表达、纯化及免疫活性鉴定

哺乳动物卵透明带3(Zona pellucida 3,ZP3)在诱导获能精子发生顶体反应中发挥着重要作用,其在大肠杆菌中主要以包涵体形式表达。本研究在大肠杆菌中诱导表达可溶性的mZP3融合蛋白,并鉴定该蛋白的免疫活性。将小鼠卵透明带3克隆至pMAL-p2x质粒,转化至大肠杆菌BL21表达菌中。用不同温度、不同IPTG浓度、不同诱导时间及不同浓度的添加剂诱导目的蛋白表达,以筛选出mZP3融合蛋白可溶性表达的最佳条件。大量表达纯化后以Western blotting和ELISA检测蛋白的免疫活性。酶切鉴定及DNA测序表明mZP3已克隆入pMAL-p2x质粒。经优化诱导表达条件,筛选出mZP3融合蛋白可溶性表达的最佳条件为:当A600为0.6时添加0.02 mol/L葡萄糖,以0.6 mmol/L IPTG于25oC条件下诱导表达4 h。ELISA及Western blotting检测结果表明诱导表达的蛋白具有免疫活性。在大肠杆菌中表达并纯化获得可溶性mZP3蛋白,为mZP3免疫不育疫苗研制及其免疫效果检测提供了可溶性抗原。     

抗独特型抗体与T细胞记忆的关系

记忆T细胞作为人体免疫系统中的一个组成部分,在免疫应答中发挥着至关重要的作用,因此利用抗独特型抗体制备诱导产生记忆T细胞的疫苗是免疫学领域的一个重要方向。抗独特型抗体Fab段具有与特异性抗原相似的抗原决定簇的结构,其作为抗原替代物制备的疫苗所激发机体产生的记忆T细胞具有特异性强和安全性高的特点,成为一种比较理想的疫苗.就抗独特型抗体与T细胞记忆之间的联系及其应用效果作一简要综述。     

Localization and functional importance of a conserved zona pellucida 2 protein domain in the human and bovine ovary using monoclonal anti-ZP2 peptide antibodies

In mammals, gamete recognition and sperm binding to the oocyte are mediated by the zona pellucida (ZP), an acellular coat surrounding the plasma membrane of the oocyte that consists of particular ZP proteins. The ZP2 protein mediates secondary sperm binding to the ZP. Its primary structures are highly conserved as revealed by cDNA cloning. In the present study, we investigated the localization of ZP2 in human and bovine ovaries and oocytes and the influence of monoclonal anti-ZP2 peptide antibodies upon bovine sperm-egg interactions. We generated a monoclonal anti-ZP2 synthetic peptide antibody, mAb ZP2-20, against a sequence that is strongly conserved in the mammalian ZP2 amino acid sequence. Specificity of mAb ZP2-20 was determined by ELISA and immunoblotting, respectively. Our results show that mAb ZP2-20 specifically detected the peptide used as an antigen and reacted with its corresponding protein antigen in human and bovine ovaries. In order to elucidate effects of mAb ZP2-20 upon bovine sperm-ZP binding, we used the competitive hemizona assay (cHZA) and found that the antibodies clearly inhibit sperm binding to the ZP. We conclude that (i). monoclonal antibodies against ZP2 peptides react with ZP proteins present in bovine and human ovaries and can be used as a specific marker for ZP2; and that (ii). mAb ZP2-20 detects a ZP2 epitope that is of functional relevance for sperm-ZP interactions.     

Zona pellucida glycoproteins based immunocontraceptive vaccines: strategies for development and their applications

The mammalian oocyte is surrounded by an extra-cellular matrix, the zona pellucida (ZP), composed of three major glycoproteins (ZP1, ZP2 and ZP3). The ZP glycoproteins, by virtue of their tissue specificity and critical role during mammalian fertilization, have emerged as potential candidate antigens for the development of an immunocontraceptive vaccine. Molecular characterization of ZP glycoproteins from several species, reveals a variable degree of homology among the deduced primary amino acid sequences, which provided an opportunity to undertake active immunization studies in heterologous animal models. Active immunization of various animal species with either native ZP glycoproteins or those obtained by recombinant DNA technology led to the inhibition of fertility. Thus ZP glycoproteins based immunocontraceptive vaccines offer an attractive proposition for controlling wild life population. To make it a practical proposition, additional research inputs are required to optimize and devise novel strategies for vaccine delivery. Observed ovarian dysfunction, often associated with immunization by ZP glycoproteins is one of the major stumbling blocks for their use in humans. Ongoing studies to delineate appropriate B cell epitopes of ZP glycoproteins that are devoid of oophoritogenic T-cell epitopes, which will inhibit fertility without concomitant oophoritis, will be critical to determine their feasibility for human use.     

Molecules involved in sperm-zona pellucida interaction in mammals. Role in human fertility

Fertilization in mammals requires an initial interaction of sperm with the oocyte envelope, the zona pellucida (ZP), before it reaches the oocyte. ZP is a highly glycosylated structure, composed of three (mouse) or four (rabbit, boar, bovine, humans...) glycoproteins. The presence of ZP around the oocyte does not allow heterospecific fertilization. This barrier is principally due to the presence of species-specific glycosylations on ZP proteins. Sperm bind ZP by means of membrane receptors which recognize carbohydrate moieties on ZP glycoproteins according to a well-precised sequential process. Upon initial attachment, spermatozoa bind ZP3/ZP4 which induces the sperm acrosome exocytosis followed by a secondary binding of acrosome reacted spermatozoa to ZP2 and by ZP penetration. The sperm receptors are adhesive proteins or integral plasma membrane proteins linked to intraspermatic signalling pathways activating the acrosome reaction. Over the last twenty years, numerous studies have been carried out to identify sperm receptors to ZP in several species, but the data in humans are still incomplete. Work initiated in our research group has identified several proteins interacting with recombinant human ZP2, ZP3 and ZP4, among which are glycolytic enzymes. These enzymes are involved in the gamete interaction by means of their affinity to sugars and not by their catalytic properties. From a clinical point of view, an observed lack or weak expression of some sperm receptors to ZP3 in cases of idiopathic infertility associated with in vitro fertilization failure suggests that knowing the molecular mechanism driving the gamete recognition can be important at the diagnostic level. Furthermore, it has been shown that proteins that mediate gamete recognition diverge rapidly, as a result of positive darwinian selection. A sexual conflict can drive co-evolution of reproductive molecules in both sexes resulting in reproductive isolation and species emergence.     

Efficacy of antibodies against a chimeric synthetic peptide encompassing epitopes of bonnet monkey (Macaca radiata) zona pellucida-1 and zona pellucida-3 glycoproteins to inhibit in vitro human sperm-egg binding

Immunocontraception achieved by immunization with zona pellucida (ZP) glycoproteins is invariably associated with ovarian dysfunction. Use of ZP glycoprotein-based synthetic peptides as immunogens has been proposed to overcome adverse side effects on ovaries. In the present study, a chimeric peptide encompassing the epitopes of bonnet monkey (Macaca radiata) ZP glycoprotein-1 (bmZP1; amino acid residues 251-273) and ZP glycoprotein-3 (bmZP3; amino acid residues 324-347), separated by a tri-glycine spacer, was synthesized and conjugated to diphtheria toxoid (DT). Immunization of female BALB/cJ mice and bonnet monkeys with the chimeric peptide led to generation of antibodies that reacted with the chimeric peptide, individual bmZP1 & bmZP3 peptides, and also recombinant bmZP1 and bmZP3 proteins expressed by E. coli in an ELISA. Indirect immunofluorescence studies revealed that the immune serum also recognized human as well as bonnet monkey ZP. A significant inhibition of human sperm binding to ZP was observed with antibodies generated against the chimeric peptide in mice (P = 0.0001) as well as monkeys (P = 0.0002) in a hemizona assay (HZA). The inhibition efficacy was significantly higher than that observed by using antibodies against the individual bmZP1 and bmZP3 peptides. Interestingly, no ovarian pathology was observed in female bonnet monkeys immunized with the chimeric peptide. These studies have demonstrated that the chimeric peptide encompassing peptides of multiple ZP glycoproteins may be a promising candidate antigen for designing immunocontraceptive vaccines.     

Recombinant Hamster Oviductin Is Biologically Active and Exerts Positive Effects on Sperm Functions and Sperm-Oocyte Binding

Studies carried out in several mammalian species suggest that oviductin, also known as oviduct-specific glycoprotein or OVGP1, plays a key role in sperm capacitation, fertilization, and development of early embryos. In the present study, we used recombinant DNA technology to produce, for the first time, recombinant hamster OVGP1 (rHamOVGP1) in human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells. rHamOVGP1 secreted in the culture medium was purified by affinity chromatography. The resulting protein migrated as a poly-dispersed band of 160-350 kDa on SDS-PAGE corresponding to the molecular mass of the native HamOVGP1. Subsequent mass spectrometric analysis of the purified rHamOVGP1 confirmed its identity as HamOVGP1. Immunocytochemistry demonstrated binding of rHamOVGP1 to the mid-piece and head of hamster sperm and to the zona pellucida (ZP) of ovarian oocytes. In vitro functional experiments showed that addition of rHamOVGP1 in the capacitation medium further enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation of two sperm proteins of approximately 75 kDa and 83 kDa in a time-dependent manner. After 3 hours of incubation in the presence of rHamOVGP1, a significant increase in acrosome reaction was measured. Pretreatment of either sperm or oocyte with 20 μg/ml of rHamOVGP1 prior to sperm-egg binding assay significantly increased the number of sperm bound to the ZP. Addition of rHamOVGP1 in the medium during sperm-egg binding with either oocyte or sperm pretreated with rHamOVGP1 also saw an increase in the number of sperm bound to ZP. In all experimental conditions, the effect of rHamOVGP1 on sperm-oocyte binding was negated by the addition of monoclonal anti-HamOVGP1 antibody. The successful production and purification of a biologically active rHamOVGP1 will allow further exploration of the function of this glycoprotein in reproductive function.     

Species-specific effect of oviductal glycoproteins on hamster sperm binding to hamster oocytes

The secretory cells of the oviductal epithelium secrete a high- molecular-weight glycoprotein (OGP). OGPs from different mammalian species show similar immunological characteristics, their cDNAs show high homologies, and they associate with the zona pellucida of oviductal oocytes in vivo. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of OGP obtained from different species on the binding of hamster sperm to hamster oocytes. Hamster oocytes were inseminated (30 min) in the presence or absence of homologous or heterologous OGPs, and sperm bound/oocyte were counted after removing loosely attached sperm. Ovarian oocytes had an average of 2.9 ± 0.6 sperm bound/oocyte, whereas oviductal oocytes had 36.3 ± 2.7. Hamster OGP (0.1 mg/ml) significantly increased sperm binding to ovarian oocytes twofold and had no effect on sperm bound/oviductal oocytes. Human OGP (0.5 mg/ml) significantly decreased sperm binding to ovarian oocytes (0.9 ± 0.3 sperm bound/oocyte). This effect was dose dependent for oviductal oocytes and could be blocked by preincubating human OGP with a specific antibody to human OGP. The presence of baboon and cow OGP during the insemination of hamster oviductal oocytes also resulted in a significant decrease in sperm bound/oocyte, whereas the addition of hamster OGP to hamster oviductal oocytes had no effect. These results show that homologous OGP enhances sperm binding to the ZP, whereas heterologous OGP inhibits that effect. Thus, our results suggest that OGP plays a role in the species-specific characteristics of sperm/ZP interaction, and that one must use a homologous system (OGP and gametes from the same species) to study the biological effect of OGP. Mol Reprod Dev 46:201–207, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Porcine zona pellucida glycoprotein ZP4 is responsible for the sperm-binding activity of the ZP3/ZP4 complex

Summary The zona pellucida (ZP) is a transparent envelope that surrounds the mammalian oocyte and mediates species-selective sperm-egg interactions. Porcine and bovine ZPs consist of glycoproteins ZP2, ZP3, and ZP4. In both pig and bovine a heterocomplex consisting of ZP3 and ZP4 binds to sperm, however it is not clarified whether ZP3 or ZP4 in the complex is responsible for the sperm binding. Previously, we have established a baculovirus-Sf9 cell expression system for porcine ZP glycoproteins. A mixture of recombinant ZP3 (rZP3) and rZP4 displayed sperm-binding activity toward bovine sperm but not porcine sperm, probably due to differences in carbohydrate structure between the native and recombinant ZP glycoproteins. In this study, a mixture of porcine rZP3 and native ZP4 (nZP4) inhibited the binding of porcine sperm to the ZP. In contrast, a mixture of porcine nZP3 and rZP4 did not inhibit the binding of porcine sperm, although the mixture inhibited the binding of bovine sperm. The porcine rZP3/nZP4 mixture bound to the acrosomal region of porcine sperm, in a manner similar to that of the nZP3/nZP4 mixture. nZP3 was precipitated with rZP4, and nZP4 was precipitated with rZP3 by utilising the N-terminal tags on the recombinant proteins. These results indicated that nZP4, but not rZP4, is necessary for binding activity of porcine ZP3/ZP4 complex towards porcine sperm and further suggested that the carbohydrate structures of ZP4 in the porcine ZP3/ZP4 complex are responsible for porcine sperm-binding activity of the complex.     

猪精子凝集素在精卵结合中的作用机制

猪精子凝集素（ＢＳＬ）位于精子头部,既与精子蛋白结合,亦与透明带糖蛋白ＺＰ３结合。并且ＢＳＬ自身分子间亦会聚合。与ＺＰ３结合的片段亦结合于岩藻素－Ｓｅｐｈａｒｏｓｅ亲和柱,但不与胎球蛋白－Ｓｅｐｈａｒｏｓｅ柱结合。该片段具有较强的抑制精卵结合的活性。ＢＳＬ经ＮＢＳ修饰后,血凝活力大大下降,同时推动与精子结合的活性,但不影响它与ＺＰ３的结合。修饰后的ＢＳＬ亦显著抑制精卵结合。表明ＢＳＬ以两个不同的部     

Mapping of dominant B-cell epitopes of a human zona pellucida protein (ZP1)

Zona pellucida (ZP) glycoproteins contain numerous antigenic determinants including carbohydrate, protein, and conformational epitopes; and the immunogenicity of these complex glycoproteins varies in different mammalian hosts. Studies have now shown that antibodies from primates immunized with a cDNA-expressed recombinant rabbit ZP protein (the homologue of the human ZP1 [hZP1]) inhibit sperm binding to the ZP without altering ovarian function, unlike immunization with ZP3 and ZP2 protein families. The ZP1 protein or peptides derived from it (recombinant or synthetic) are therefore primary candidates for use in designing safe and reversible human and animal contraceptive vaccines. In order to define peptide epitope(s) that may be critical for eliciting an immune response sufficient to effect immunological contraception without causing any adverse effects on ovarian physiology, studies have been carried out to identify immunodominant B-cell epitopes of the ZP1 protein. The amino acid sequence of the hZP1 was used to design a set of 94 (15-mer) biotinylated peptides having an overlap of 9 amino acids. Using these peptides in a modified enzyme-linked immunoassay, antibodies in sera from rabbits or baboons immunized with native porcine ZP protein were screened for ZP1 peptide recognition. These studies demonstrate that there are a limited number of peptides recognized by primate antibodies but that the overlapping peptides sharing the sequence GPLTLELQI are recognized by both rabbit and baboon antibodies regardless of the adjuvant system used to induce the immune response. This peptide is 100% conserved in amino acid sequence between the human and pig, although the rabbit protein has two conserved amino acid substitutions (100% similar, 77% identical). Because this peptide is immunogenic as well as antigenic in primates, it could play a major role in the development of human contraceptive vaccines.