Immune Infertility

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xi

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2. Sperm Antigens

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

      PDF

   2. Proteomics of Human Spermatozoa

      • Brett Nixon, R. John Aitken

      Pages 3-12

   3. Methods of Analysis of Sperm Antigens Related to Fertility

      • Jagathpala Shetty, John C. Herr

      Pages 13-31

   4. Sperm Surface Proteomics

      • B. M. Gadella

      Pages 33-48

   5. Sperm Functions Influenced by Immune Reactions

      • Walter K. H. Krause

      Pages 49-65

3. Antisperm Antibodies (ASA)

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 66-66

      PDF

   2. The Immune Privilege of the Testis

      • Monika Fijak, Sudhanshu Bhushan, Andreas Meinhardt

      Pages 69-77

   3. Immune Chemistry of ASA

      • Maciej Kurpisz, Marzena Kamieniczna

      Pages 79-90

   4. Sperm-Specific T Lymphocytes

      • Walter K. H. Krause, Michael Hertl

      Pages 91-96

   5. Site and Risk Factors of Antisperm Antibodies Production in the Male Population

      • Marcelo Marconi, Wolfgang Weidner

      Pages 97-109

   6. Biologic Substrates Containing ASA

      • Walter K. H. Krause

      Pages 111-120

   7. ASA in the Female

      • Gary N. Clarke

      Pages 121-130

   8. Sperm-Immobilizing Antibody and Its Target Antigen (CD52)

      • Akiko Hasegawa, Koji Koyama

      Pages 131-141

4. The Clinical Impact of Sperm Antibodies

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 142-142

      PDF

   2. Male Autoimmune Infertility

      • Felice Francavilla, Arcangelo Barbonetti

      Pages 145-153

   3. Tests for Sperm Antibodies

      • A. Agarwal, T. M. Said

      Pages 155-164

   4. Impact on Fertility Outcome

      • Z. Ulcova-Gallova

      Pages 165-173

   5. Sperm Antibodies and Assisted Reproduction

      • Jerome H. Check

      Pages 175-184

   6. Treatment of Immune Infertility

      • Rajesh K. Naz

      Pages 185-194

Infertility is defned as the inability to conceive after having unprotected intercourse for a year. Infertility is increasing worldwide and has various causes both in the male and the female partner. Immune reactions to sperm can contribute up to 2–30% of infertility. The sperm has both autoantigenic as well as isoantigenic potential, and is thus capable of p- ducing antisperm antibodies (ASAs) and sperm-reactive T cells in both infertile men and women. Also, over 75% vasectomized men produce autoantibodies to sperm that can cause a problem in regaining fertility even after successful re-anastomosis in vasovasostomy. Early claims regarding the incidence and involvement of ASAs in involuntary human infertility were probably overemphasized because of unreliable techniques and naivety concerning the complexity of the immune response and antigenic nature of the sperm cell. These factors, the lack of well-designed and controlled experimental studies, and the dearth of effective therapeutic modalities resulted in the confusion of the occurrence and importance of ASAs in human infertility. Consequently, evaluation of infertile couples for ASAs and their possible role in infertility was not considered a signifcant proposition. The development of more accurate assays and the discovery of mucosal immunity capable of responses independent of systemic immunity have caused inclusion of sperm cells and genital tract secretions in the analysis of ASAs.

• Antigen
• assisted reproduction
• clinical trial
• contraception
• fertility
• immune chemistry
• immune contraception
• infertility
• lymphocytes
• medicine
• reproduction
• sperm antibodies
• testis
• treatment
• vaccine

From the reviews: “The authors direct their work to clinicians, scientists, trainees in reproductive biology, obstetricians/gynecologists, and urologists. … This highly specialized field is clearly depicted with the aid of graphs, tables, schematic diagrams, and exquisite photomicrographs. … This is a unique, comprehensive, and cogent update of basic and therapeutic advances in the field of immunoinfertility.” (Irvin H. Hirsch, Doody’s Review Service, December, 2009)

• Klinik für Andrologie und Venerologie, Universitätsklinikum Marburg, Marburg, Germany

  Walter K.H. Krause

• School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, U.S.A.

  Rajesh K. Naz

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