Lipopolysaccharide-binding protein is produced in the epididymis and associated with spermatozoa and prostasomes

J. Malm*, E.A. Nordahl, A. Bjartell, O.E. Sorenson, B. Frohm, M.A. Dentener, A. Egesten

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Lipopolysaccharide-binding protein is produced in the epididymis and associated with spermatozoa and prostasomes.

Malm J, Nordahl EA, Bjartell A, Sorensen OE, Frohm B, Dentener MA, Egesten A.

Department of Clinical Chemistry, Malmo University Hospital, SE-205 02 Malmo, Sweden. johan.malm@klkemi.mas.lu.se

Lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (LBP) is an acute phase protein known to play a central role in the defense against Gram-negative bacteria. It binds lipopolysaccharides of Gram-negative bacteria and, after binding to CD14, the complex signals through Toll-like receptor (TLR)-4, eliciting host-defense responses, such as cytokine production, in inflammatory cells. The present study demonstrates constitutive expression of the gene encoding lipopolysaccharide-binding protein in the epithelium of the human epididymis by in situ hybridization. Using immunohistochemistry lipopolysaccharide-binding protein was shown to be present in the same cells and also attached to the heads and tails of spermatozoa. Cell-free seminal plasma, lysed spermatozoa and lysed prostasomes were subjected to Western blot; all showed immunoreactive bands corresponding to the size of lipopolysaccharide-binding protein. Gel filtration demonstrated that lipopolysaccharide-binding protein colocalizes with prostasomes. The concentration of lipopolysacharide-binding protein in seminal plasma was 127+/-42ng/mL (mean+/-S.D.; range 73-215ng/mL). Taken together, our results suggest roles for lipopolysaccharide-binding protein during human reproduction
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)33-34
JournalJournal of Reproductive Immunology
Volume66
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2005

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