Expression of IL-12, IL-10, PGE2, sIL-2R and sIL-6R in seminal plasma of fertile and infertile men

Abstract

The involvement of cytokines and other immunoregulatory factors in male infertility is still unclear. In the present study we compared the levels of IL-12, IL-10, PGE2, sIL-2R and sIL-6R in the seminal plasma (SP) of fertile and infertile men. Four groups were included: fertile donors (FERT), infertile men with azoospermia (AZOO), and infertile men with either oligoterato-asthenoazoospermia (OTA), or OTA with genital infection (OTA-INF). Cytokines and cytokine-soluble receptors in semen were evaluated by specific ELISA commercial kits. The levels of IL-12, sIL-2R and sIL-6R were similar in SP of fertile and infertile men. The mean levels of IL-10 in the SP of FERT, OTA and AZOO were 5.6 +/- 0.9, 4 +/- 2.8 and 8 +/- 3.5 pg ml-1, respectively, and did not differ significantly. The mean level of IL-10 in SP from OTA-INF (0.9 +/- 0.5 pg ml-1) was significantly lower than that for FERT (5.6 +/- 1.9 pg ml-1; P = 0.02) and AZOO (8.2 +/- 3.4 pg ml-1; P = 0.05), but not significantly different from that for OTA (3.7 +/- 2.1 pg ml-1). The mean SP level of PGE2 was significantly lower in SP of OTA-INF than FERT (7.67 +/- 2.26 and 19.67 +/- 3.69 micrograms ml-1, respectively; P < 0.02). In conclusion, the seminal plasma from fertile and infertile men contained similar levels of IL-12, sIL-2R and sIL-6R. However, the levels of IL-10 were significantly lower in SP from OTA-INF compared to FERT and AZOO. Our results indicate that specific cytokines and their soluble receptors are involved in the male reproductive system.

The Seminal Plasma of the Boar is Rich in Cytokines, with Significant Individual and Intra-Ejaculate Variation

“…[17][18][19]27,28 Some other SP cytokines, such as IL-10, had shown contradictory results among studies. Huleihel et al (1999) reported lower concentrations of IL-10 in infertile than fertile men, whereas Miller et al (2002) reported opposite results. 29,30 These conflicting results, together with the little current knowledge of the role played by SP cytokines on male reproductive performance, call for further studies.…”

Multiplex determination of murine seminal fluid cytokine profiles

“…In man, there has been extensive interest in seminal plasma cytokine profile, which has been characterised for IL-1a/b, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-11, IL-12, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-a/b, IFN-a/g, TGF-b1, RANTES, CSF-1, G-CSF, macrophage-CSF, stem cell factor, monocyte chemotactic and activating factor, macrophage migration inhibitory factor and vascular endothelial growth factor as well as an array of their soluble receptors (Naz & Stanley 1995, Shimoya et al 1995, Frenette et al 1998, Fujisawa et al 1998a,b, Matalliotakis et al 1998a,b, 2002, Omu et al 1998, Huleihel et al 1999, Naz & Leslie 2000, Maegawa et al 2002, Gutsche et al 2003, Paulis et al 2003, Basu et al 2004. However, these studies have been limited in the array of cytokines investigated in individual patients, and their focus has principally been on the association of these inflammatory mediators with a variety of disorders resulting in male factor infertility and/or characterised by inflammatory processes.…”

Male Genital Tract Inflammation: The Role of Selected Interleukins in Regulation of Pro‐Oxidant and Antioxidant Enzymatic Substances in Seminal Plasma

“…It is still not clear whether some leukocyte contamination may have a positive influence on sperm function and which factors would change this effect. By observing molecular mechanisms of infertility it has been recently speculated that cytokines and their soluble receptors have a close relationship with male infertility and sperm function at particular steps of the reproduction process (Buch et al, 1994; Huleihel et al, 1996, 1999; Denison et al, 1999; Matalliotakis et al, 2000). Proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin‐1 (IL‐1), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), interleukin‐8 (IL‐8), and tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) have been scrutinized in studies because the inflammation process is usually associated with their presence, and as a consequence, stimulates antioxidant feedback (Rajasekaran et al, 1995).…”