Complement components and binding ligands in fertility
AssigneeThe Brigham and Women's Hospital, Inc.
InventorsDeborah J. Anderson, Peter M. Johnson, Richard M. Jack
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Abstract
Methods for detecting and isolating acrosome-reacted sperm and complement receptor-bearing oocytes using the complement component C3, fragments, or variants thereof, antibodies to a complement receptor, or antibodies to C3, are disclosed. These methods have application in the assessment of fertility, in the preparation of sperm or oocytes for in vitro fertilization or for gamete intrafallopian tube transfer, in promoting or inhibiting fertilization in vitro and in vivo, and in diagnosing and treating infertility.
Claims5
A method for detecting an oocyte bearing complement receptor 1, complement receptor 2, or complement receptor 3, in an oocyte-containing sample, said method comprising:
- (a) contacting said sample with a specific binding partner for complement receptor 1, complement receptor 2, or complement receptor 3, or with a specific binding partner for complement component C3 or a fragment or variant of complement component C3;
- and
- (b) detecting the presence of said specific binding partner bound to said oocyte in said sample.
A method for screening for infertility by detecting an oocyte bearing complement receptor 1, complement receptor 2, or complement receptor 3 in an oocyte-containing sample, said method comprising:
- (a) contacting said sample with a specific binding partner for complement receptor 1, complement receptor 2, or complement receptor 3, or with a specific binding partner for complement component C3 or a fragment or variant of complement component C3;
- and
- (b) detecting the presence of said specific binding partner bound to said oocyte in said sample;
- and
- (c) quantitating the amount of bound specific binding partner detected in said sample (b) as an indication of infertility.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.