Immunocontraception

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In the strictest sense immunocontraception is the use of an animal's immune system to prevent it
from fertilizing offspring. More generally the field of immunocontraception includes related
technologies that prevent embryonic implantation.
Typically immunocontraception involves the administration of a vaccine that induces
an adaptive immune response which causes an animal to become temporarily infertile.
Contraceptive vaccines have been used in numerous settings for the control of wildlife populations.
However, experts in the field believe that major innovations are required before
immunocontraception can become a practical form of contraception for human beings.
[1]

[2]

Thus far immunocontraception has focused on mammals exclusively. There are several targets
in mammalian sexual reproduction for immune inhibition. They can be organized into three
categories.
[3]

Gamete production
Organisms that undergo sexual reproduction must first produce gametes, cells which have
half the typical number of chromosomes of the species. Often immunity that prevents
gamete production also inhibits secondary sexual characteristics and so has effects similar
to castration.
Gamete function
After gametes are produced in sexual reproduction, two gametes must combine during
fertilization to form a zygote, which again has the full typical number of chromosomes of the
species. Methods that target gamete function prevent this fertilization from occurring and are
true contraceptives.
Gamete outcome
Shortly after fertilization a zygote develops into a multicellular embryo that in turn develops
into a larger organism. In placental mammals this process of gestationoccurs inside the
reproductive system of the mother of the embryo. Immunity that targets gamete outcome
induces abortion of an embryo while it is within its mother's reproductive system.
[4][5]

[6][7]

Contents
[hide]

1 Medical use
o 1.1 Obstacles

1.1.1 Variability of immunogenicity

1.1.2 Lack of mucosal immunity

2 Adverse effects

3 Gamete production
o 3.1 Gonadotropin-releasing hormone

4 Gamete function
o 4.1 Zona pellucida

4.1.1 Early research

4.1.2 Zonagen

4.1.3 Application to wildlife population control

4.1.4 SpayVac

4.1.5 Bio Farma

4.1.6 Viral and microbial vectors

o 4.2 Sperm

4.2.1 Early research

4.2.2 Renewed interest

4.2.3 Passive immunity

5 Gamete outcome
o 5.1 Human chorionic gonadotropin

5.1.1 Clinical trials

5.1.2 Application to cancer therapy

5.1.3 Ongoing research

6 Wildlife control

7 References

Medical use[edit]
Immunocontraception promises many advantages over methods of contraception
currently available for human use. It does not require surgical intervention, unlike
procedures such as vasectomy or tubal ligation. It does not require action by
participants concomitant with the act of intercourse, unlike methods such as the use
ofcondoms.
The form of contraception most comparable to prospective immunocontraceptive
products for humans is hormonal contraception, over which immunocontraception offers
several advantages: it can be effective with as infrequent as annual dosing, rather than
a daily pill regimen; it can be used by both males and females, rather than just females;
it does not entail the side effects of ingesting synthetic hormones, where undesired
side effects exist. Furthermore, the demand for contraception is greatest in parts of
the developing world, where population growth is greatest, but this is also where access
to hormonal contraceptives is least. While access to daily pharmaceuticals may be
generally poor in less-developed countries, most countries have an infrastructure for
mass immunization.
[8]

[9]

[10][11]

[12]

Obstacles[edit]
Variability of immunogenicity[edit]

In order for an immunocontraceptive to be palatable for human use, it would need to

meet or exceed the efficacy rates of currently popular forms of contraception. Currently
the maximum reduction of fertility due to sperm vaccines in laboratory experiments with
mice is ~75%. The lack of efficacy is due to variability of immunogenicity from one
animal to another. Even when exposed to the same exact vaccine, some animals will
produce abundant antibody titers to the vaccine's antigen, while others produce
relatively low antibody titers. In the Eppin trial that attained 100% infertility, a small
sample size (only 9 monkeys) was used, and even among this small sample 2 monkeys
were dropped from the study because they failed to produce sufficiently high antibody
titers.
[13]

[12]

[9]

This trendhigh efficacy when antibody titers are above a threshold coupled with
variability in how many animals reach such a thresholdis seen throughout
immunocontraception and immune-based birth control research. A long term study of
PZP vaccination in deer that spanned 6 years found that infertility was directly related to
antibody titers to PZP. The phase II clinical trial of hCG vaccines was quite successful
among women who had antibody titers above 50 ng/mL, but quite poor among those
with antibody titers below this threshold.
[14]

[15]

Lack of mucosal immunity[edit]

Mucosal immunity, which includes immune function in the female reproductive tract, is
not as well understood as humoral immunity. This may be an issue for certain
contraceptive vaccines. For instance, in the second LDH-C primate trial that had
negative results, all of the immunized macaque monkeys developed high antibody titers
against LDH-C in serum, but antibodies against LDH-C were not found in the monkeys'
vaginal fluids. If antibodies against LDH-C do indeed inhibit fertilization, then this result
highlights how the difference in the functioning of mucosal immunity from humoral
immunity may be critical to the efficacy of contraceptive vaccines.
4

[16]

Adverse effects[edit]
Whenever an immune response is provoked, there is some risk of autoimmunity.
Therefore immunocontraception trials typically check for signs of autoimmune disease.
One concern with zona pellucida vaccination, in particular, is that in certain cases it
appears to be correlated with ovarian pathogenesis. However, ovarian disease has not
been observed in every trial of zona pellucida vaccination, and when observed, has not
always been irreversible.
[17]

[2]

[18]

Gamete production[edit]
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone[edit]
The production of gametes is induced in both male and female mammals by the same
two hormones: follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). The
production of these in turn is induced by a single releasing hormone, gonadotropinreleasing hormone (GnRH), which has been the focus of most of the research into
immunocontraception against gamete production. GnRH is secreted by
the hypothalamus in pulses and travels to the anterior pituitary gland through aportal
venous system. There it stimulates the production of FSH and LH. FSH and LH travel
through the general circulatory system and stimulate the functioning of the gonads,
including the production of gametes and the secretion of sex steroid hormones.
Immunity against GnRH thus lessens FSH and LH production which in turn attenuates
gamete production and secondary sexual characteristics.
[19]

While GnRH immunity has been known to have contraceptive effects for some time,
only in the 2000s has it been used to develop several commercial vaccines. Equity
Oestrus Control is a GnRH vaccine marketed for use in non-breeding domestic horses.
Repro-Bloc is GnRH vaccine marketed for use in domestic animals in general.
Improvac is a GnRH vaccine marketed for use in pigs not as a contraceptive, but as
an alternative to physical castration for the control of boar taint. Unlike the other
products which are marketed for use in domestic animals, GonaCon is a GnRH
vaccine being developed as an United States Department of Agriculture initiative for use
for control of wildlife, specifically deer.
[4]

[20]
[4]

[5]

[21]

Gamete function[edit]
The form of sexual reproduction practiced by most placental mammals is anisogamous,
requiring two kinds of dissimilar gametes, and allogamous, such that each individual
only produces one of the two kinds of gametes. The smaller gamete is the sperm cell
and is produced by males of the species. The larger gamete is theovum and is produced
by females of the species. Under this scheme, fertilization requires two gametes, one
from an individual of each sex, in order to occur. Immunocontraception targeting the
female gamete has focused on the zona pellucida. Immunocontraception targeting the
male gamete has involved many differentantigens associated with sperm function.
[3]

Zona pellucida[edit]
The zona pellucida is a glycoprotein membrane surrounding the plasma membrane of
an ovum. The zona pellucida's main function in reproduction is to bind sperm.
Immunity against zonae pellucidae causes an animal to produce antibodies that
themselves are bound by a zona pellucida. Thus when a sperm encounters an ovum in
an animal immunized against zonae pellucidae, the sperm cannot bind to the ovum
because its zona pellucida has already been occupied by antibodies. Therefore
fertilization does not occur.
[19]

[22]

Early research[edit]

Work begun by researchers at the University of Tennessee in the 1970s into immunity
against zonae pellucidae resulted in its identification as a target antigen for
immunocontraception. The zona pellucida's suitability is a result of it being necessary for
fertilization and containing at least one antigen that is tissue-specific and not speciesspecific. The tissue-specificity implies that immunity against zonae pellucidae will not
also affect other tissues in the immunized animal's body. The lack of species-specificity
implies that zonae pellucidae harvested from animals of one species will induce an
immune response in those of another, which makes zona pellucida antigens readily
available, since zonae pellucidae can be harvested from farm animals.
[23]

Zonagen[edit]

In 1987, a pharmaceutical company called Zonagen (later renamed Repros

Therapeutics) was started with the goal of developing zona pellucida vaccines as an
alternative to the surgical sterilization of companion animals and eventually as a
contraceptive for human use. The products would be based on research being done at
the Baylor College of Medicine by Bonnie S. Dunbar that was funded by Zonagen.
However, the relationship between Zonagen and Bonnie Dunbar ended acrimoniously in
1993. Despite claims later that year that development of a contraceptive vaccine was
imminent and an agreement with Schering AG for funding for joint development of a
contraceptive vaccine for human use, no vaccine was made commercially available and
the agreement with Schering was terminated afterprimate studies were disappointing.
The company would go on to pursue other projects and be renamed.
[24]

Application to wildlife population control[edit]

Also in the late 1980s, research began into the use of vaccines based around zonae
pellucidae harvested from pigs for the purpose of wildlife control. Such porcine zona
pellucida (PZP) vaccines were tested in captive and domestic horses in 1986 with
encouraging results. This led to the first successful field trial of contraceptive vaccines
with free-ranging wildlife, which examined PZP vaccines used upon wild horses
of Assateague Island National Seashore in 1988. The successful results of the field
trial were maintained by annual booster inoculations.
[25]

[26]

[8]

Following the success of trials with horses, initial trials using captive animals showed
promise for the use of PZP vaccines with white-tailed deer and with African elephants.
This led to successful field trials of PZP vaccines in white-tailed deer at
the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, VA from September 1992
to September 1994 and in African elephants of Kruger National Park in South Africa in
1996.
[27]

[28]

[29]

[30]

As a result of these successes, PZP vaccination has become the most popular form of
immunocontraception for wildlife. As of 2011, thousands of animals are treated with PZP
vaccination every year, including 6 different species of free-ranging wildlife in 52
different locations and 76 captive exotic species in 67 different zoological gardens.
[1]

SpayVac[edit]

In the early 1990s, researchers at Dalhousie University set out to address a limitation of
PZP vaccines. All the field trials of native PZP vaccines found that 2 or 3 initial doses
spaced out in time were necessary before contraceptive efficacy would begin. The
Dalhousie researchers developed a way to deliver PZP antigens inliposomes, causing
the release of antigens to be delayed. This research would result in the product
SpayVac. Independent trials of SpayVac in deer found that a single initial dose can
function as a contraceptive.
[31]

Bio Farma[edit]

In 2012, researchers from Brawijaya University in conjunction with pharmaceutical

company Bio Farma received a grant from the Indonesian government to develop a
zona pellucida contraceptive vaccine for human use. Instead of pigs, the zonae
pellucidae for the program are harvested from cows. The program hopes to massproduce a contraceptive vaccine in Indonesia in 2013 at the earliest.
[32]

Viral and microbial vectors[edit]

While contraceptive vaccines can be delivered remotely, they still require administration
to each individual animal that is to be made infertile. Thus contraceptive vaccines have
been used to control only relatively small populations of wildlife. Australia and New
Zealand have large populations of European invasive species for which such approach
will not scale. Research in these countries has therefore focused on genetically
modifying viruses or microorganisms that infect the unwanted invasive species to
contain immunocontraceptive antigens.
[33]

Such research has included targeting the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in
Australia by engineering rabbit zona pellucida glycoproteins into a recombinantmyxoma
virus. This approach has induced marginal reduction of fertility in laboratory rabbits with
some of the glycoproteins. Further improvement of efficacy is necessary before such
an approach is ready for field trials. Research has also targeted the house mouse
(Mus domesticus) in Australia by engineering murinezona pellucida antigens into a
recombinant ectromelia virus and a recombinant cytomegalovirus. The latter approach
[34]

[35]

[36]

has induced permanent infertility when injected into laboratory mice. However, there is
some attenuation of efficacy when it is actually transmitted virally.
[37]

[38]

In addition to rabbits and mice, this approach has been explored for other animals.
Researchers have attempted to replicate similar results when targeting the red fox
(Vulpes vulpes) in Australia using such vectors as Salmonella typhimurium, vaccinia,
and canine herpesvirus, but no reduction in fertility has been achieved thus far for a
variety of reasons. Initial exploration into the control of the common brushtail possum
(Trichosurus vulpecula) in New Zealand using the nematodeParastrongyloides
trichosuri has identified it as a possible immunocontraceptive vector.
[39]

[40]

Sperm[edit]
In placental mammals, fertilization typically occurs inside the female in the oviducts. The
oviducts are positioned near the ovaries where ova are produced. An ovum therefore
needs only to travel a short distance to the oviducts for fertilization. In contrast sperm
cells must be highly motile, since they are deposited into the female reproductive tract
during sexual intercourse and must travel through the cervix (in some species) as well
as the uterus and the oviduct (in all species) to reach an ovum. Sperm cells that are
motile are spermatozoa.
[19]

Spermatozoa are protected from the male's immune system by the blood-testis barrier.
However, spermatozoa are deposited into the female in semen, which is mostly the
secretions of the seminal vesicles, prostate gland, and bulbourethral glands. In this way
antibodies generated by the male are deposited into the female along with
spermatozoa. Because of this and the extensive travel in the female reproductive tract,
spermatozoa are susceptible to anti-sperm antibodies generated by the male in addition
to waiting anti-sperm antibodies generated by the female.
[12]

Early research[edit]

In 1899, the discovery of the existence of antibodies against sperm was made
independently both by Serge Metchnikoff of the Pasteur Institute and by Nobel prize
laureate Karl Landsteiner.
[41]

[42]

In 1929, the first recorded attempt at immunocontraception was made by Morris Baskin,
clinical director of the Denver Maternal Hygiene Committee. In this trial 20 women who
were known to have at least 1 prior pregnancy were injected with their husband's
semen, and no conception was recorded in 1 year of observation of these couples. A
United States patent (number 2103240) was issued in 1937 for this approach as a
contraceptive, but no product for widespread consumption ever came from this
approach.
[43]

[12]

Renewed interest[edit]

Throughout the 1990s, there was a resurgence of research in immunocontraception

targeting sperm with the hope of developing a contraceptive vaccine for human use.
Unlike earlier research which explored the contraceptive effect of immune responses to
whole sperm cells, contemporary research has focused on searching for specific
molecular antigens that are involved with sperm function.
Antigens that have been identified as potential targets for immunocontraception include
the sperm-specific peptides or proteins ADAM, LDH-C4, sp10, sp56, P10G,
fertilization antigen 1 (FA-1), sp17, SOB2, A9D, CD52, YLP12, Eppin,
CatSper, Izumo, sperm associated antigen 9 (SPAG9), 80 kilodalton human
sperm antigen (80 kDa HSA), and nuclear autoantigenic sperm protein (tNASP).
[44]

[48]
[55]

[49]

[56][57]

[58]

[50]

[51]

[45]

[52]

[46]

[53]

[47]

[54]

[59]

[60]

[61]

Early primate trials had mixed results. One study examined the spermspecific isozyme of human lactate dehydrogenase (LDH-C ) combined with a Tcell epitope to create a synthetic peptide that acted as a more potent chimeric antigen.
Vaccination of female baboons with this synthetic peptide resulted in a reduced fertility
in the trial. However, a second study that examined vaccination of
female macaque monkeys with the same synthetic peptide did not find reduced fertility.
4

[62]

[16]

Since then, a study examining vaccination based on an epididymal protease

inhibitor (Eppin) in male macaque monkeys demonstrated that vaccination against
sperm antigens could be an effective, reversible contraceptive in male primates. While 4
of 6 control monkeys impregnated females during the trial, none of the 7 monkeys
included in the trial that were vaccinated against Eppin impregnated females, and 4 of
these 7 vaccinated monkeys recovered their fertility within a year and a half of
observation after the trial.
[9]

This illustrated that not only could sperm immunocontraception be effective, but it could
have several advantages over zona pellucida vaccines. For instance, sperm vaccines
could be used by males, in addition to females.
[9]

Additionally, while there are relatively few glycoproteins in the zona pellucida and thus
relatively few target antigens for zona pellucida vaccines, more than a dozen
prospective target antigens for the inhibition of sperm function have been identified. This
relative abundance of prospective target antigens makes the prospects of amultivalent
vaccine better for sperm vaccines. A study which examined the use of one such
multivalent vaccine in female macaque monkeys found that the monkeys produced
antibodies against all antigens included in the vaccine, suggesting the efficacy of the
multivalent approach.
[63]

Finally, while there has been autoimmmune ovarian pathogenesis found in some trials
using zona pellucida vaccines, anti-sperm antibodies are not likely to have adverse
health effects, since anti-sperm antibodies are produced by up to 70% of men who have
had vasectomies, and there has been much investigation into possible adverse health
side-effects of the vasectomy procedure.
[2]

[64]

Passive immunity[edit]

A vaccine induces active immunity when antigens are injected into an animal that cause
it to produce desired antibodies itself. In passive immunity the desiredantibody titers are
achieved by injecting antibodies directly into an animal. The efficacy of such an
approach for immunocontraception was demonstrated as early as the 1970s with
antibodies against zonae pellucidae in mice during the investigation of the mechanism
by which such antibodies inhibited fertility. Because the variability of individual
immune response is an obstacle to bringing contraceptive vaccines to market, there has
been research into the approach of contraception through passive immunization as an
alternative that would be of less duration, but be closer to market. Research done
using phage display technology onlymphocytes from immunoinfertile men led to the
isolation, characterization, and synthesis of specific antibodies that inhibit fertility by
acting against several of the known sperm antigens. This detailed molecular
knowledge of anti-sperm antibodies may be of use in the development of a passive
immunocontraceptive product.
[65][66]

[67]

[68]

[12]

Gamete outcome[edit]
Human chorionic gonadotropin[edit]

Most of the research into immunity that inhibits gamete outcome has focused on human
chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). hCG is not necessary for fertilization, but is secreted by
embryos shortly thereafter. Therefore immunity against hCG does not prevent
fertilization. However, it was found that that anti-hCG antibodies
prevent marmoset embryos from implanting in the endometrium of their mother's uterus.
[69][70]

[6]

The main function of hCG is to sustain the ovarian corpus luteum during pregnancy past
the time it would normally decay as part of the regular menstrual cycle. For the first 79
weeks in humans, the corpus luteum secretes the progesterone necessary to maintain
the viability of the endometrium for pregnancy. Therefore immunity against hCG during
this time frame would function as an abortifacient, as confirmed by experiments
in baboons. In the scientific literature the more inclusive term "birth control vaccine"
rather than "contraceptive vaccine" is used to refer to hCG vaccines.
[71]

[7]

[3]

Clinical trials[edit]

Research begun in the 1970s led to clinical trials in humans of a hCG birth control
vaccine. A phase I (safety) clinical trial examined 15 women from clinics in Helsinki,
Finland, Uppsala, Sweden, Bahia, Brazil, and Santiago, Chile with a vaccine formed by
conjugating the beta subunit of hCG with a tetanus toxoid. The women had previously
had tubal ligations. In the trial the immune response was reversible and no significant
health issues were found.
[72]

This was followed by another phase I trial in 1977-1978 examining previously sterilized
women at 5 institutions in India with a more potent vaccine that combined the beta
subunit of hCG with the alpha subunit of ovine luteinizing hormone to form a
heterospecies dimer conjugated with both tetanus toxoid and diphtheria toxoid. The
multiple carriers were used because it was found that a small percentage of women
acquired carrier-specific immunosuppression due to repeated injection of conjugates
with the same carrier.
[73]

[74]

This more potent version of the vaccine was used in a phase II (efficacy) trial during
1991-1993 conducted at 3 locations: the All India Institute of Medical
Sciences,Safdarjung Hospital in New Dehli, and the Post Graduate Institute of Medical
Education and Research in Chandigarh. Primary immunization consisted of 3 injections
at 6 week intervals, and 148 women known to be previously fertile completed primary
immunization. All women generated antibodies against hCG, but only 119 (80%)
generated antibody titers clearly above 50 ng/mL, which was the estimated level for
efficacy. Blood samples were taken twice a month, and booster injections were given
when antibody titers declined below 50 ng/mL in women who wished to continue using
the vaccine. At the completion of the study after 1224 menstrual cycles observed, only 1
pregnancy occurred in a woman having an antibody titer level above 50 ng/mL, and 26
pregnancies occurred among women who had titers below 50 ng/mL.
[15]

Application to cancer therapy[edit]

Following these clinical trails of hCG vaccination as a birth control method, hCG was
discovered to be expressed in certain kinds of malignant neoplasms, including breast
cancer, adenocarcinoma of the prostate, progressive vulvar carcinoma, carcinoma
of the bladder, pancreatic adenocarcinoma, cervical carcinoma, gastric carcinoma,
squamous-cell carcinoma of the oral cavity and oropharynx, lung carcinoma, and
colorectal cancer. Therefore immunity against hCG has applications such as imaging
of cancer cells, selective delivery of cytotoxic compounds to tumor cells, and in at least
one case, direct therapeutic effect by preventing establishment, inhibiting the growth,
and causing the necrosis of tumors. This has led to interest in developing hCG
vaccines specifically for cancer treatment.
[75]

[76]

[78]

[77]

[79]

[81]

[80]

[82]

[84]

[13]

[85]

[83]

Ongoing research[edit]

The vaccine tested in the phase II clinical trial in India did not proceed further because it
produced antibody titers of 50 ng/mL for at least 3 months duration in only 60% of
women in the trial. Ongoing research in hCG birth control vaccines has focused on
improving immunogenicity. A vaccine in which the beta subunit of hCG is fused to the B
subunit of Escherichia coli heat-labile enterotoxin has been effective in laboratory mice.
It has been approved by the Indian National Review Committee on Genetic
Manipulation and is being produced for pre-clinical toxicology testing. If it is determined
to be safe, it is planned for clinical trials.
[13]

Wildlife control[edit]
Immunocontraception is one of the few alternatives to lethal methods for the direct
control of wildlife populations. While there was research into the use of hormonal
contraception for wildlife control as early as the 1950s that produced pharmacologically
effective products, they all proved to be ineffective for wildlife control for a variety of
practical reasons.
Field trials of immunocontraception in wildlife, on the other hand,
established that contraceptive vaccines could be delivered remotely by capture gun,
were safe to use in pregnant animals, were reversible, and induced long-lasting
infertility, overcoming these practical limitations.
[86][87][88]

[1]

One concern about the use of hormonal contraceptives in general, but especially in
wildlife, is that the sex steroid hormones that are used are easily passed from animal to
animal. This can lead to unintended ecological consequences. For instance, fish
exposed to treated sewage effluents were found to have concentrations of the synthetic
hormone levonorgestrel in blood plasma higher than those found in humans taking
hormonal contraceptives. Because the antigens used in contraceptive vaccines are
protein, not steroids, they are not easily passed from animal to animal without loss of
function.
[89]

[26]

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