Immunological Aspects Of Reproduction And Fertility Control

The no-man's-land between reproductive physiology and immunology is becoming crowded. The last 10 years have seen a revolution in our under standing of many reproductive processes, brought about by the application of ever more sophisticated immunological methods. The increasing precision of these techniques has given us specific ways of assaying, enhancing or blocking hormonal mechanisms to yield more critical and interpretable information. In this volume eleven authors have presented the current status and future prospects of some immunological aspects of reproduction and fertility con trol. These include the relationships between mother and fetus, the diagnosis of pregnancy, the immunological complications seen in clinical management of human reproduction and some novel approaches for immunological control of fertility. We hope that in these chapters we have achieved an up-to-date account of a fast-moving field that calls on several disciplines. We intend the book to provide an adequate background and a current review for research workers and clinicians who wish both to understand the complex mechanisms involved and to develop improved scientific and clinical methods. We hope too that the student and newcomer will find this a useful reference book.

Contraceptive research has entered the new age of vaccines. Realistic prospects exist for the development of an entirely new battery of vaccines for use in human and veterinary medicine. Among them may be anti-fertility vaccines, based on physiological mechanisms applicable to either the female or male. This volume is a comprehensive review - a status report - of the subjects including fundamental work on the search for useful epitopes and ranging to applied vaccinology. One vaccine to prevent pregnancy, for use by women, has already been studied extensively. G.P. Talwar, the volume's editor and his colleagues in New Oelhi, India, published in 1976 a landmark series of papers describing the immunological properties of a preparation consisting of the alum-precipitated beta-subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) chemically linked to tetanus toxoid. The principle of enhancing antigenicity of a self-protein by linkage of the epitope to a carrier protein was employed and tested clinically. These trials, carried out under the auspices of the Indian Council for Medical Research, were the first application of the carrier protein concept for a vaccine for human use. The encouraging results stimulated a wave of research not only on the use of hCG-based vaccines, but on other antigens as well.

Immunological Influence on Human Fertility covers the proceedings of the Workshop on Fertility in Human Reproduction, held at the Department of Biological Science, University of Newcastle, Australia on July 11 -13, 1977. The book focuses on topics on the immunological control of human and animal fertility. The selection first discusses the zona pellucida as a possible target in immunocontraception, immunological aspects of vasectomy, and the clinical significance of antibodies to spermatozoa. Topics include performance and significance of the SCMC-test, antibodies and fertility after vasovasostomy, vasectomy and the blood-testis barrier, cellular immune response, active and passive immunization, and tissue and species specificity. The book then tackles the nature of the barrier to autoimmunity in the excurrent ducts of the mammalian testis, immune activities of the male and female reproductive tracts, and isolation of spermatozoal antigens. The manuscript examines the immunological capacity of the male genital tract, clinical significance of antibodies to antigens of the reproductive tract, immunological aspects of vasectomy, and antigens of human trophoblasts. The text also takes a look at the immunological and anti-tumor effects of orchidectomy, immune infertility and approaches to treatment, natural insemination as an immune phenomenon, and modified seminal plasma antigens and subfertility. The selection is a valuable source of information for researchers wanting to study the immunological control of human and animal fertility.

Reproductive Immunology is a compilation of research articles presented during the VII International Congress of Reproductive Immunology which was held in New Delhi, India on 27-30 October 1998. The articles pertain to the following six major themes: Molecular and Immunological Aspects of Sperm-Egg Interaction Embryonic-Endometrial Cross-Talk Immunobiology of Pregnancy Autoantibodies and Infertility Immunocontraception Mucosal Immunology and Reproductive Tract Infections . The first section deals with our current understanding of various steps involved in fertilization. The functional significance of sperm surface mannosidase and glutathione S-transferases to bind zona pellucida is described. The role of zona pellucida glycoproteins in the binding of sperm, induction of acrosome reactions and avoidance of polyspermy is discussed. In the second section, the role of various cytokines, growth factors and immunomodulatory agents in implantation of embryos is described. In the field of reproductive immunology, one of the major issues is to explore the successful gestation of the histoincompatible fetus in the uterus of an immunologically competent mother. The Proceedings presents the issues of paternal antigens at the feto-maternal interface and shows that Th2-type of immunity is involved in normal successful conception. The role of membrane-bound and soluble HLA-G in protecting the fetus from the lytic activities of maternal uterine and peripheral blood natural killer (NK) cells is also presented. Nature's experiments suggest that antibodies against sperm-specific antigens are responsible for infertility in some women. The possibility that an immunogenetic background contributes to production of sperm-immobilizing antibodies in infertile women is discussed in the section on autoantibodies and infertility. The Proceedings presents the issue of Th1-type cytokines in inducing recurrent spontaneous abortions of unexplained etiology. The roles of β2-glycoprotein 1 (β2-GP1)-dependent anticardiolipin antibody, lupus anticoagulant, antiphospholipids, anti-thyroid antibody and anti-nuclear antibody in miscarriages are also described. The rising global human population, particularly in the developing countries, has driven the need for new and safer methods of contraception. Fertility regulation by vaccines is thus an interesting proposition. The section on contraceptive vaccines discusses the latest advances in this area and describes the current status of vaccines based on βhCG, sperm antigens, zona pellucida glycoproteins, and riboflavin carrier proteins. The issues of mucosal immunity and strategies for enhancing local genital immune responses to combat HIV infection is discussed. The role of inflammatory and related cytokines in chorioamnionitis is described. The contents of this Proceedings describes various facets of reproductive immunology which will help us to design strategies to combat genital infections and miscarriages caused by immunological etiology. Descriptions of the molecular basis of gamete recognition, implantation and survival of the allogenic fetus will help in designing strategies for overcoming infertility and also new contraceptive approaches. The Proceedings will be useful to researchers and clinicians involved in basic or applied research in the disciplines of reproductive biology, reproductive immunology, and obstetrics and gynecology.

This book offers comprehensive coverage of both basic and clinical aspects of immune reactions responsible for infertility. It has four sections focusing on Sperm antigens, Antisperm antibodies (ASAs), Clinical impact of ASAs, and Immune contraception, and include contributions from leading experts in these fields. This new edition of the book offers a comprehensive update that reflects the very significant advances in reproductive immunology that have been achieved over the past five years, especially related to the sperm proteome, sperm-egg binding/fusion proteins, gene knockout studies, and immunocontraception. Reproductive immunology continues to be a fast-growing discipline in which new knowledge is emerging almost every day. Immune Infertility is a model source of vital and reliable information on the latest scientific developments in the field. It will be of value for clinicians, scientists, students, residents, and fellows working in reproductive biology, obstetrics and gynecology, and urology.