PROBLEM: Semen mediates expansion of CD4(+) regulatory T cells (Treg) in the murine female reproductive tract. The impact of semen on Treg in humans, however, remains unclear. METHOD OF STUDY: Using seminal plasma (SP) from 20 healthy donors, we investigated the impact of human semen on CD4(+) T-cell expression of CD127 and CD49d as well as CD4(+) CD127(low) CD49d(low) Treg proliferation, apoptosis, and intracellular expression of FoxP3, TGF-β1, and IL-10. RESULTS: SP reduced CD4(+) T-cell expression of CD127 and CD49d and increased the proportion of CD127(low) CD49d(low) Treg. This increase was non-proliferative, mediated in part via the conversion of CD4(+) helper T cells into FoxP3(-) but not FoxP3(+) Treg. Additionally, SP induced an increase in intracellular expression of the immunosuppressive cytokine TGF-β1 by the FoxP3(-) but not FoxP3(+) Treg. SP had no impact on Treg intracellular expression of IL-10. CONCLUSION: Human seminal plasma fosters the non-proliferative increase in the proportion and immunoregulatory activity of FoxP3(-) Treg.
PROBLEM: Semen mediates expansion of CD4(+) regulatory T cells (Treg) in the murine female reproductive tract. The impact of semen on Treg in humans, however, remains unclear. METHOD OF STUDY: Using seminal plasma (SP) from 20 healthy donors, we investigated the impact of human semen on CD4(+) T-cell expression of CD127 and CD49d as well as CD4(+) CD127(low) CD49d(low) Treg proliferation, apoptosis, and intracellular expression of FoxP3, TGF-β1, and IL-10. RESULTS: SP reduced CD4(+) T-cell expression of CD127 and CD49d and increased the proportion of CD127(low) CD49d(low) Treg. This increase was non-proliferative, mediated in part via the conversion of CD4(+) helper T cells into FoxP3(-) but not FoxP3(+) Treg. Additionally, SP induced an increase in intracellular expression of the immunosuppressive cytokine TGF-β1 by the FoxP3(-) but not FoxP3(+) Treg. SP had no impact on Treg intracellular expression of IL-10. CONCLUSION:Human seminal plasma fosters the non-proliferative increase in the proportion and immunoregulatory activity of FoxP3(-) Treg.
Authors: Leigh R Guerin; Lachlan M Moldenhauer; Jelmer R Prins; John J Bromfield; John D Hayball; Sarah A Robertson Journal: Biol Reprod Date: 2011-03-09 Impact factor: 4.285
Authors: Sarah A Robertson; Ella S Green; Alison S Care; Lachlan M Moldenhauer; Jelmer R Prins; M Louise Hull; Simon C Barry; Gustaaf Dekker Journal: Front Immunol Date: 2019-03-21 Impact factor: 7.561
Authors: Ashley F George; Karen S Jang; Mette Nyegaard; Jason Neidleman; Trimble L Spitzer; Guorui Xie; Joseph C Chen; Eytan Herzig; Anders Laustsen; Erika G Marques de Menezes; Sahar Houshdaran; Christopher D Pilcher; Philip J Norris; Martin R Jakobsen; Warner C Greene; Linda C Giudice; Nadia R Roan Journal: Hum Reprod Date: 2020-03-27 Impact factor: 6.918