Circulating interferon-gamma in women sensitized to sperm: new mechanisms of infertility.

The relationship between antisperm antibodies and IFN-gamma production was examined. Interferon-gamma was identified in 15 of 40 sera (37.5%) from women with antisperm antibodies, but in only 2 of 28 sera (7.4%) from women who lacked these antibodies. In four of six women with circulating antisperm antibodies, but in zero of six controls, in vitro incubation of their peripheral blood mononuclear cells led to the spontaneous release of both antisperm antibodies and IFN-gamma. In women sensitized to sperm, coitus-induced IFN-gamma production may impair fertility and early embryo development by mechanisms other than a direct effect of antisperm antibodies on the male gamete.