Human prostasomes an extracellular vesicle - Biomarkers for male infertility and prostrate cancer: The journey from identification to current knowledge

Int J Biol Macromol. 2020 Mar 1:146:946-958. doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.09.218. Epub 2019 Nov 12.

Abstract

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are gaining attention among the cell biologists and researchers over the last two decades. Prostasomes are considered to be (Evs) secreted by prostate epithelial cells into the semen during emission or ejaculation. Prostasomes contain various proteins required for immune regulation namely, amino and dipeptidyl peptidase; endopeptidase (neutral); decay accelerating factor; angiotensin-converting enzyme. Sperm cells need a few prerequisites in order to fertilize the egg. The role of prostasomes in enhancing the male fertility was reviewed extensively throughout the manuscript. Also, prostasomes have an immunosuppressive, immunomodulatory, antibacterial role in the female reproductive tract, and in some cases they can be used as immunocontraceptive agent to regulate the fertility status. This review will give insights to many active researchers in the field of prostasomal research and male infertility/fertility research. This review will open many unanswered mechanisms of prostasomes with respect to structure-function analysis, fatty acids patterns in diagnosis as well as prognosis of male infertility/fertility. More scientific reports are in need to support the mechanism of prostasomes and its role in immunomodulation. The development of prostasomes as a biomarker for the prostate cancer is still miserable with a lot of controversial results by various researchers.

Keywords: Complement regulation; Female reproductive tract; Immunomodulation; Immunosuppressive agents; Prostasomes.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antioxidants / metabolism
  • Extracellular Vesicles / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Infertility, Male / immunology
  • Infertility, Male / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Prostate / metabolism*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / immunology
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Spermatozoa / metabolism

Substances

  • Antioxidants