Cyclic FEE peptide increases human gamete fusion and potentiates its RGD-induced inhibition.

BACKGROUND: α6β1 integrin has been proposed to act as a sperm receptor on the mouse oocyte by interacting with spermatozoon fertilin β. We investigated, in humans, whether oocyte integrins could act similarly in gamete fusion, using a cyclic peptide containing the putative disintegrin-binding domain of human fertilin β [cyclic FEE (cFEE)] and RGD peptide. METHODS: Zona-free eggs were inseminated in the absence or presence of peptides. To maintain the membrane protein pattern, the zona pellucida was removed by microdissection. Immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy were used to detect integrin subunits on the oocyte. RESULTS: Unexpectedly, cFEE alone increased human gamete fusion by 94% instead of inhibiting fertilization. Furthermore, cFEE together with RGD potentiated the RGD-induced inhibition of fertilization in a dose-dependent manner. The data suggested the hypothesis of integrin cross-talk, further supported by the co-localization of α6β1 and αvβ3 integrins, the putative receptors of cFEE and RGD peptides, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: RGD-sensitive and -insensitive integrins may be associated in a multimolecular complex working as a sperm receptor on the human oocyte membrane. Supplementation of human IVF culture medium with cFEE peptide might improve fertilization rates in ART. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]