Role of cytokines in testicular function

Abstract

Inflammatory disease has been established to affect male reproductive function and fertility. Relevant inflammatory diseases include general and chronic infectious diseases as well as localized acute or chronic infections of the male genitourinary tract. Male accessory gland infections account for almost 15% of all cases of male infertility seen in infertility clinics while fertility usually is not a clinical objective among patients with acute systemic infections such as Gram-negative sepsis. Infections of the male accessory glands frequently are associated with increased counts of white blood cells in semen and elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines in semen and the testis. There is a mounting body of evidence that demonstrates the importance of cytokines and chemokines in the regulation of testicular and glandular function during pathophysiological states as well as under normal physiological conditions when cytokines act as growth and differentiation factors. The purpose of this review is to examine the role of cytokines in the regulation of steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis in the testis under physiological and pathophysiological conditions and considers clinical investigations that help to improve the evaluation and treatment of male infertility.

Effect of threonine on immunity and reproductive performance of male mice infected with pseudorabies virus

“…TNF-a is another pro-inflammatory cytokine in the initiation and orchestration of the inflammatory response against invading microorganisms (Hales et al, 1999). The results from the present study indicated that the concentrations of IL-1b and TNF-a in the testes of male mice infected with PRV were increased, which were similar to other studies (Sanocka et al, 2003).…”

Deleterious Cholesterol Hydroperoxide Trafficking in Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory (StAR) Protein-expressing MA-10 Leydig Cells

“…More recent studies with rat primary testicular Leydig cells showed that levels of steroidogenic enzymes declined with advancing animal age along with testosterone output (15, 43). Leydig cells, which reside in the testicular interstitium, are reported to be particularly suscepti- ble to oxidative damage in vivo due to their close proximity to reactive oxygen species-producing testicular interstitial macrophages (44). Decreased antioxidant enzyme activities, gene expression, and protein levels, along with lower glutathione, have been reported to play a key role in the diminished ability of Leydig cells from aging rat populations to synthesize testosterone (43,(45)(46)(47).…”

The endocrine-gland-derived VEGF homologue Bv8 promotes angiogenesis in the testis: Localization of Bv8 receptors to endothelial cells

“…Additionally, the testis, together with the epididymis, is a site of inflammation (32,33) in response to primary or secondary bacterial and viral infections. In this context, we propose that Bv8 (and hEG-VEGF), in conjunction with VEGF and other cytokines, functions not only as an angiogenic mitogen to promote growth and survival of the testicular interstitial vessels, but also as a mediator of the inflammatory response.…”