
TY  - JOUR
A1  - Sharkey, D. J. 
A1  - Robertson, S. A. 
T1  - 229. Seminal plasma TGF&#946; activates pro-inflammatory cytokine synthesis in human cervical epithelial cells
JF  - Reproduction, Fertility and Development
JO  - Reprod. Fertil. Dev.
Y1  - 2004
VL  - 16
IS  - 9
SP  - 229
EP  - 229
KW  - 
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1071/SRB04ABS229 
N2  - Exposure to semen at intercourse in women elicits an inflammation-like response characterised by recruitment of inflammatory cells and expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines including GM-CSF, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-8 (1). Studies in animal models have implicated TGF&#946; as the major active moiety in seminal plasma, and we have shown previously that TGF&#946;1 and TGF&#946;3 are present in high concentrations in human seminal plasma (&#62;100 ng/mL), while TGF&#946;2 is less abundant. To investigate the physiological significance of each of the three TGF&#946; isoforms as pro-inflammatory agents in human seminal plasma, we have established in vitro model systems to measure human cervical cell cytokine synthesis. Primary cervical epithelial cells prepared from ectocervix of hysterectomy tissues or transformed Ect1 cells were incubated for 12 h with human recombinant TGF&#946; (isoforms 1, 2 or 3) or with seminal plasma in the presence or absence of isoform-specific TGF&#946; neutralising antibodies. Epithelial cell supernatants were recovered 24 h later and supernatants were analysed by commercial ELISA to quantify GM-CSF, IL-6 and IL-8 production. Each of the three TGF&#946; isoforms mimicked seminal plasma and were comparable in their capacity to stimulate &#62;10-fold increases in both GM-CSF and IL-6 expression in a dose-responsive manner. In contrast, unlike seminal plasma none of the TGF&#946; isoforms induced IL-8 expression. Addition of neutralising antibodies to TFG&#946;1, TGF&#946;2 and TGF&#946;3 each effected &#62;50% reduction in the ability of seminal plasma to induce GM-CSF and IL-6, but did not impair seminal plasma-stimulated IL-8 production. Together these data show that TGF&#946;1, TGF&#946;2 and TGF&#946;3 are major active constituents of seminal plasma, acting to elicit GM-CSF and IL-6 production in cervical epithelial cells. However, TGF&#946; does not fully account for the pro-inflammatory effects of human seminal plasma, and other active constituents remain to be identified. (1) D. J. Sharkey et al. (2003) Proc. SRB. 
ER  -

