Microbiology and immune mechanisms associated with male infertility

Abstract

Up to 50% of infertility is caused by the male side. Varicocele, orchitis, prostatitis, oligospermia, asthenospermia, and azoospermia are common causes of impaired male reproductive function and male infertility. In recent years, more and more studies have shown that microorganisms play an increasingly important role in the occurrence of these diseases. This review will discuss the microbiological changes associated with male infertility from the perspective of etiology, and how microorganisms affect the normal function of the male reproductive system through immune mechanisms. Linking male infertility with microbiome and immunomics can help us recognize the immune response under different disease states, providing more targeted immune target therapy for these diseases, and even the possibility of combined immunotherapy and microbial therapy for male infertility.

Novel underlying genetic markers for asthenozoospermia due to abnormal spermatogenesis and reproductive organ inflammation

“…The GSE160749 dataset from the GEO database is a recently updated sperm transcriptome profile of samples from infertile men, and it includes five asthenozoospermia files, seven asthenoteratozoospermia files, six infertile files and six fertile control sample files. A PubMed search revealed that a limited number of relevant studies have contributed to this dataset (22). Therefore, in the present study, five asthenozoospermia files and six fertile control sample files were selected as a dataset to analyze novel key genes in asthenozoospermia.…”

Subfertility as Overlapping of Nutritional, Endocrine, Immune, and Cardiometabolic Dysregulations—A Study Focused on Biochemical Endophenotypes of Subfertile Couples

“…Ekladios et al described a significantly higher serum IgE in a subgroup of men with obstructive azoospermia, especially when associated with an infection [ 78 ]. Microbial infections; viruses such as Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), Herpes viruses, and hepatitis viruses; fungi; and bacteria ( Mycoplasma , Chlamydia , Ureaplasma , Neisseria ) are common causes of male infertility, possibly resulting in varicoceles, orchitis, prostatitis, oligozoospermia, asthenospermia, and azoospermia [ 79 ]. An occurrence of raised IgE levels was observed significantly more often in infertile couples than in a comparison group, as described by Harrison and Unwin [ 80 ].…”

“…Ekladios et al described a signifim IgE in a subgroup of men with obstructive azoospermia, especially ith an infection [78]. Microbial infections; viruses such as Epstein-Barr egalovirus (CMV), Herpes viruses, and hepatitis viruses; fungi; and bac-Chlamydia, Ureaplasma, Neisseria) are common causes of male infertility, in varicoceles, orchitis, prostatitis, oligozoospermia, asthenospermia, [79]. An occurrence of raised IgE levels was observed significantly more uples than in a comparison group, as described by Harrison and Unwin to this study's result, Hanzlikova et al described a lower frequency of allergen-specific IgE in women with reproduction failure compared .…”

Research progress on the relationship between chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome and the microbiota of the reproductive system

“…Impact on germ cell function: Imbalance in microbial communities may affect the development and function of male germ cells. Existing research suggests that microorganisms can indirectly affect sperm quality and quantity by secreting metabolites, influencing hormone levels, and other pathways, thereby impacting reproductive health (Chen et al, 2023).…”