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BOR - Papers in Press, published online ahead of print October 14, 2002.
Biol Reprod 2002, 10.1095/biolreprod.102.005389
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Emmanuelle Com
Frédéric Bourgeon
Bertrand Evrard
Bernard Jégou
Charles Pineau
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Submitted March 12, 2002
Returned for revision April 8, 2002
Accepted July 1, 2002

Male Reproductive Tract


Expression of Antimicrobial Defensins in the Male Reproductive Tract of Rats, Mice, and Humans

Emmanuelle Com 1, Frédéric Bourgeon 1, Bertrand Evrard 1, Tomas Ganz 2, Daniel Colleu 3, Bernard Jégou 1, Charles Pineau 4*
1 GERM-INSERM U.435
2 UCLA School of Medicine, Department of Medicine
3 Centre de fecondation in vitro, Clinique de la Sagesse
4 INSERM U.435

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: charles.pineau{at}rennes.inserm.fr.

Abstract

Defensins are antimicrobial peptides that play a major role in innate immunity. Here, we have performed a search of all presently known defensins using RT-PCR and/or immunochemistry experiments in rat testis, epididymis and isolated testicular cells, in mouse testis and epididymis, and in human testis and ejaculates. In the rat, {alpha}- and ß-defensins were all expressed within the testis, except RNP-4, while {alpha}-defensins RNP1-2, RNP-4, and ß-defensins RBD-1 and RBD-2 were present within the epididymis. In the mouse, the cryptdin transcripts, CRS1C, mBD-1 and mBD-2 were detected in the testis, as well as in the epididymis, whereas mBD-3 and mBD-4 were only expressed in the epididymis and CRS4C absent from the testis and epididymis. In the human testis, transcripts for 4 known defensins were shown to be expressed with the consistent exception of HBD-2 and HBD-3. In rat interstitial tissue, resident macrophages expressed most of the defensins studied, while Leydig cells only produced RBD-2. In contrast, all studied defensins were present in the seminiferous tubules except RNP-4. Within these tubules, peritubular and Sertoli cells expressed most of the {alpha} and ß-defensins studied, while the mitotic germ cells spermatogonia only displayed {alpha}-defensins, but at relatively high levels. The meiotic pachytene spermatocytes only expressed ß-defensins, while the post-meiotic spermatids and their cytoplamic lobes displayed both types. In humans, the HBD-1 peptide was mainly expressed in the germ line, from pachytene spermatocytes to late spermatids. The peptide was also present in ejaculated spermatozoa and seminal plasma where multiple soluble forms were present. Finally, high salt concentration or DTT sensitive cationic extracts from human seminal plasma were found to indeed display an antimicrobial activity. We conclude that the male reproductive tract produce defensins that most probably assume an important innate organ defense system against pathogens.



Key words: Gamete Biology • Testis • Epididymis • Sperm • Spermatogenesis


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