Ageing and inflammation in the male reproductive tract

Abstract

Ageing is usually characterised by a mild chronic proinflammatory state. Despite the tight association between both processes, the phenomenon has recently been termed inflammageing. Inflammation in the male reproductive tract is frequently linked with bacterial or virus infections but also with a broad range of noninfectious processes. Prostatitis, epididymitis and orchitis, among others, can lead to infertility. However, in spite of the inflammation theory of disease, chronic inflammation in male urogenital system does not always cause symptoms. With advancing age, inflammatory processes are commonly observed in the male reproductive tract. Nevertheless, the incidence of inflammation in reproductive organs and ducts varies greatly among elderly men. Inflammageing is considered a predictor of pathogenesis and the development of age-related diseases. This article briefly summarises the current state of knowledge on inflammageing in the male reproductive tract. Yet, the precise aetiology of inflammageing in the male urogenital system, and its potential contribution not only to infertility but most importantly to adverse health outcomes remains almost unknown. Thus, further investigations are required to elucidate the precise cross-links between inflammation and male reproductive senescence, and to establish the impact of anti-inflammatory drug treatments on elder men's general health status.

Pathomechanisms of Autoimmune Based Testicular Inflammation

“…Also, a number of systemically transmitted viruses (mumps virus, HIV and ZIKV virus, among others) are able to induce orchitis. Inflammation of the male reproductive tract is associated not only with infections but also with aging and diseases that damage germ cells (GC) including testis cancer, obesity, cryptorchidism and systemic autoimmune diseases, as well as trauma and toxic agents (3)(4)(5)(6)(7).…”

In search of new paradigms for epididymal health and disease: innate immunity, inflammatory mediators, and steroid hormones

“…MAGI may result from either acute or chronic diseases, the latter usually being asymptomatic and only diagnosed during the clinical investigation of male infertility (Schuppe et al ., ). Indeed, untreated MAGI conditions may lead to infertility and a constellation of andrological/urological health issues, such as changes in semen volume and composition, hypogonadism, erectile and ejaculatory dysfunctions, as well as serious life‐threatening conditions, such as systemic infections/sepsis (Marconi et al ., ; Pilatz et al ., ; Frungieri et al ., ; Pindar & Viau, ). Currently, there is an unmet need for better and more sensitive diagnostic tools that can identify higher risk male populations earlier to provide a greater window for timely and effective treatment.…”

Methane Ameliorates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Orchitis by Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidative, and Antiapoptotic Effects via Regulation of the PK2/PKR1 Pathway

“…Increasing evidences indicate that the imbalance among these pro- and anti-inflammatory molecules, such as interleukin-1 β (IL-1 β ), IL-6, tumor necrosis factor- α (TNF- α ), and IL-10, in testicular cells can result in orchitis [ 3 , 4 ]. Oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are majorly sourced from macrophages [ 5 ], may be the major contributory factors leading to testicular cell apoptosis and acute inflammation of testes [ 6 ]. Additionally, it has been shown that the PK2/PKR1 pathway contributes to the development of testicular inflammation [ 7 – 9 ].…”