精子特异性蛋白：在诊断开发和癌症免疫治疗中的新意义。

Sperm-specific proteins: new implications for diagnostic development and cancer immunotherapy.

机构信息

College of Engineering, Science and Environment, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; Centre for Reproductive Health, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, 3168, Victoria, Australia; Monash University, Clayton, 3168, Victoria, Australia.

College of Engineering, Science and Environment, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK; Griffith University, Parklands Drive, Southport, 4222, Queensland, Australia.

出版信息

Curr Opin Cell Biol. 2022 Aug;77:102104. doi: 10.1016/j.ceb.2022.102104. Epub 2022 Jun 4.

DOI:10.1016/j.ceb.2022.102104

PMID:35671587

Abstract

Spermatozoa are comprised of many unique proteins not expressed elsewhere. Sperm-specific proteins are first expressed at puberty, after the development of immune tolerance to self-antigens, and have been assumed to remain confined inside the seminiferous tubules, protected from immune cell recognition by various mechanisms of testicular immune privilege. However, new data has shown that sperm-specific proteins are released by the tubules into the surrounding interstitial fluid; from here they can contact immune cells, potentially promote immune tolerance, and enter the circulation. These new findings have clinical implications for diagnostics and therapeutics targeted at a specific class of proteins known as cancer-testis antigens (CTA), the opportunity to identify new communication pathways in the testis, and to discover new ways to monitor testis function.

摘要

精子由许多在其他地方不表达的独特蛋白质组成。精子特异性蛋白首先在青春期表达，此时对自身抗原产生免疫耐受，并且据认为它们一直局限在生精小管内，通过各种睾丸免疫特权的机制来防止免疫细胞识别。然而，新的数据表明，精子特异性蛋白由小管释放到周围的间质液中；从这里它们可以与免疫细胞接触，可能促进免疫耐受，并进入循环。这些新发现对针对特定蛋白类别的诊断和治疗具有临床意义，这些蛋白被称为癌症睾丸抗原（CTA），为鉴定睾丸内新的通讯途径和发现监测睾丸功能的新方法提供了机会。