PLAC1 immunization does not induce infertility in mice

Aim: Placenta specific 1 (PLAC1) is a protein rarely expressed in normal cells, except it is important for placental development, with a possible role in the establishment of the mother–fetus interface. The gene is also highly active in a wide variety of cancers and therefore, immunization with PLAC1 peptides could possibly be part of future immunotherapeutic strategies. We investigated whether vaccination against PLAC1 could induce infertility. Materials & methods: We inoculated female mice with PLAC1 peptides, put them in mating, measured antibody response (ELISA assay) and checked, in immunohistochemistry, binding of the induced antibodies to the native antigen. Results: We demonstrated that mice consistently develop antibody responses. We also demonstrated that female mice, after being inoculated with the PLAC1 peptide mix, do became pregnant and can give birth to normal infants. Conclusion: PLAC1 antigens as a specific anti-cancer vaccine could induce anti-PLAC1 antibodies which do not necessarily cause infertility.