Human spermatozoa of male patients with subfertility express the interleukin‐6 receptor

Abstract

Male subfertility has been associated with bacterial infections and chronic inflammation. In this context, several studies investigated cytokine levels in seminal plasma, whereas interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) appears to be crucial. However, little is known about its receptor, the IL‐6R expression on human spermatozoa. Thus, the aim of the present study was to screen spermatozoa for IL‐6R expression and to identify its localisation. Semen samples of 137 patients (median age 37.69, SD ± 7.82) with subfertility were analysed. Sperm analysis including determination of IL‐6 was performed following the World Health Organization criteria. Also, flow cytometry was performed for sperm IL‐6R expression. IL‐6R+ cells were used for immunofluorescence staining to identify receptor localisation. The results showed positive staining for IL‐6R in the midpiece of spermatozoa. Furthermore, a significant correlation between sperm IL‐6R expression, seminal plasma IL‐6 and total sperm count could be demonstrated, whereas a negative correlation was observed in sperm IL‐6R expression and motility. However, no statistical significance could be observed between IL‐6R expression, vitality and morphology. Moreover, incubation of spermatozoa with IL‐6 led to a slight but significant decrease in motility after 24 hr. These data suggest that IL‐6R expression may play a role in impaired sperm function during inflammation.

The Effects of Storage in vitro on Functions, Transcriptome, Proteome, and Oxidation Resistance of Giant Grouper Sperm

“…Proteins are very important for the biological process of the sperms. Many studies have demonstrated that proteins have effects on the biological functions of sperm, such as motility, capacitation, acrosome reaction, and fertilization (Djourabchi Borojerdi et al, 2020;Wu et al, 2020). In fish species, there was no report about the effects of storage in vitro on transcriptome and proteome levels.…”

Effect of leukocytes on semen quality in men from primary and secondary infertile couples: A cross‐sectional study

“…Importantly, inflammatory cytokines recruit and activate leukocytes, which results in increased ROS production 29 . Previous studies have reported that sperm quality was decreased, especially low sperm motility, after incubation of spermatozoa with several cytokines, including IL‐6, TNF‐α, IFN‐γ, IL‐17A, and IL‐1β 30–32 . Thus, inflammatory cytokines released by leukocytes may lead to an inflammatory response resulting in poor semen quality.…”

Persistent oligonecrozoospermia after asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection. A case report and literature review

“…Increased seminal levels of inflammatory cytokines are considered to be resultant of the so-called cytokine storm, a phenomenon usually presented by patients with COVID-19 [ 54 ], which may induce harmful side effects in the testis and epididymis through the stimulation of local inflammation and oxidative stress. It is well known that inflammatory cytokines, in particular IL-6, TNF, and IL-1β, and oxidative stress are deleterious to spermatogonia and spermatozoa as they trigger deregulated ROS production and elicit apoptosis [ [11] , [55] , [56] , [57] , [58] ]. In addition, a negative correlation has been demonstrated between seminal IL-1β and TNF concentrations and sperm concentration and total sperm count in SARS-CoV-2 infected patients, with the highest IL-1β levels detected in the group of patients with crypto-azoospermia [ 37 ].…”