Human epididymis protein 4(HE4) is a secretory glycoprotein found in human distal epididymis epithelial cells. It is often used in the early diagnosis, efficacy evaluation and monitoring of ovarian cancer, and also has been considered as an effective serum marker for many other types of cancer. However, its function in the process of sperm maturation is not fully unknown. The maturation of sperm in epididymis is characterized by the acquisition of motility and fertilization. As a member of the whey acid protein (WAP) family, several studies proposed the importance of HE4 in the maturity of sperm in epididymis. This article reviews the effect of HE4 on spermatozoa maturation in epididymis, which provides basis for the evaluation of male reproductive ability, early detection, early diagnosis and pathogenesis of male infertility.
人附睾蛋白4（human epididymis protein 4，HE4）是在人类附睾远端上皮细胞中发现的一种分泌性糖蛋白。目前临床上常用于卵巢恶性肿瘤的早期诊断、疗效评估及监测等，同时也被认为是其他类型癌症的有效血清标志物。然而，其在精子成熟过程中的作用尚不完全清楚。精子在附睾中的成熟表现为运动能力和受精能力的获得。研究表明乳清酸性蛋白（whey acidic protein，WAP）家族成员HE4在精子附睾中的成熟等方面有着重要的作用。本文就精浆中HE4对精子在附睾中成熟的影响进行阐述，为男性生殖能力的评估，以及男性不育症的早发现、早诊断及发病机制研究等方面提供依据。.