THE 60 KDA HEAT-SHOCK PROTEIN IN HUMAN SEMEN - RELATIONSHIP WITH ANTIBODIES TO SPERMATOZOA AND CHLAMYDIA-TRACHOMATIS

The presence of the 60 kDa heat shock protein (hsp60) in seminal fluid and its relationship to sperm autoimmunity or a localized immune resp onse to Chlamydia trachomatis were examined. Semen from 64 male partne rs of infertile couples with no history of a chlamydial infection were investigated. Hsp60 was identified by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using a monoclonal anti-hsp60 antibody bound to wells of a microtitre plate and a polyclonal anti-hsp60 antibody for detection . Antisperm antibodies on motile spermatozoa were detected bg immunobe ad binding, while antichlamydial immunoglobulin (Ig) A and IgG in semi nal fluid were identified by a commercial ELISA (SeroELISA; Savyon Dia gnostics, Beer-Sheva, Israel). RNA was purified from isolated seminal round mononuclear cells and tested fur hsp60-specific mRNA by a revers e transcription polymerase chain reaction ELISA. Hsp60 was present in semen from nine (14.1%) men, 12 (18.8%) men had antisperm autoantibodi es, 16 (25.0%) were positive for antichlamydial IgA and 17 (26.6%) had detectable hsp60-specific mRNA. The presence of hsp60 in semen correl ated with the occurrence of antichlamydial IgA (P = 0.0005), hsp60 mRN A (P = 0.04) and antisperm antibodies (P = 0.05). Thus, hsp60 was pres ent in a soluble form in semen primarily in men with evidence of immun e system activation within their genital tract, The role of hsp60 in p romoting or inhibiting immune responses within the genital tract remai ns to be determined.