Involvement of the inflammasome in abnormal semen quality of men with spinal cord injury

Zhang, Xianyang; Ibrahim, Emad; Vaccari, Juan Pablo de Rivero; Lotocki, George; Aballa, Teodoro C.; Dietrich, W. Dalton; Keane, Robert W.; Lynne, Charles M.; Brackett, Nancy L.

doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2012.09.004

Cited by 37 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 23 publications

(22 reference statements)

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“…Importantly, neutralization of ASC with a novel antibody treatment regimen after SCI reduced indicators of inflammasome activation and improved behavioral and histopathological outcomes. More recently, abnormal inflammasome activation in the sperm of men with SCI was also reported with neutralization improving sperm motility (38, 39). Together, these studies emphasize multiple roles of inflammasome activation in neuroinflammation after SCI and a target for treatment strategies to improve function and quality of life issues in people living with paralysis.…”

Section: What Are the Current Options For The Treatment Of Spinal mentioning

confidence: 93%

Therapeutics targeting the inflammasome after central nervous system injury

Vaccari

Dietrich

Keane

2016

Translational Research

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Innate immunity is part of the early response of the body to deal with tissue damage and infections. Due to the early nature of the innate immune inflammatory response, this inflammatory reaction represents an attractive option as a therapeutic target. The inflammasome is a component of the innate immune response involved in the activation of caspase-1 and the processing of pro-interleukin-1β. In this article we discuss the therapeutic potential of the inflammasome after central nervous system (CNS) injury and stoke, as well as the basic knowledge we have gained so far regarding inflammasome activation in the CNS. In addition, we discuss some of the therapies available or under investigation for the treatment of brain injury, spinal cord injury and stroke.

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Section: What Are the Current Options For The Treatment Of Spinal mentioning

confidence: 93%

Therapeutics targeting the inflammasome after central nervous system injury

Vaccari

Dietrich

Keane

2016

Translational Research

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“…Components of the inflammasome have been investigated, and caspase-1 and ASC were found to be elevated in semen of men with SCI. 43 In vitro neutralization of ASC significantly improved sperm motility in these men.…”

Section: Abnormal Semen Qualitymentioning

confidence: 90%

Reproductive Health of Men with Spinal Cord Injury

Sinha

Elliott

Ibrahim

et al. 2017

Topics in Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation

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Most men with spinal cord injury (SCI) are infertile due to a combination of erectile dysfunction, ejaculatory dysfunction, and abnormal semen quality. This article addresses issues that should be considered when managing the reproductive health of men with SCI. The authors present recommendations based on their decades of experience in managing the reproductive health of more than 1,000 men with SCI. Men with SCI face obstacles when pursuing sexual activity and/or biologic fatherhood. Hypogonadism and premature symptoms of aging may interfere with sexual function. Erectile dysfunction is prevalent in the SCI population, and treatments for erectile dysfunction in the general population are also effective in the SCI population. Most men with SCI cannot ejaculate with sexual intercourse. The procedures of penile vibratory stimulation (PVS) and/or electroejaculation (EEJ) are effective in obtaining an ejaculate from 97% of men with SCI. The ejaculate often contains sufficient total motile sperm to consider the assisted conception procedures of intrauterine insemination or even intravaginal insemination at home. If PVS and/or EEJ fail, sperm may be retrieved surgically from the testis or epididymis. Surgical sperm retrieval typically yields enough motile sperm only for in vitro fertilization with intracytoplasmic sperm injection. The majority of new cases of SCI occur in young men at the peak of their reproductive health. With proper medical management, these men can expect to experience active sexual lives and biologic fatherhood, if these are their goals. Numerous tools are available to physicians for helping these patients reach their goals.

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“…). Further, caspase‐1 was localized to the midpiece, and ASC was localized to the acrosome, equatorial segment and midpiece of sperm cells in men with SCI (Zhang et al ., ). When a polyclonal antibody against ASC was added in vitro to semen of men with SCI, sperm motility improved significantly (Ibrahim et al ., ).…”

Section: Semen Quality In Men With Scimentioning

confidence: 97%

Male fertility following spinal cord injury: an update

2015

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SUMMARYSpinal cord injury (SCI) occurs most often in young men at the peak of their reproductive health. The majority of men with SCI cannot father children naturally. Three major complications contribute to infertility in men with SCI: erectile dysfunction, ejaculatory dysfunction, and abnormal semen quality. Erectile dysfunction can be managed by regimens available to the general population, including oral administration of phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors, intracavernosal injections, vacuum devices, and penile prostheses. Semen may be obtained from anejaculatory men with SCI via the medically assisted ejaculation methods of penile vibratory stimulation (PVS) or electroejaculation (EEJ). Sperm retrieval is also possible via prostate massage or surgical sperm retrieval. Most men with SCI have abnormal semen quality characterized by normal sperm concentrations but abnormally low sperm motility and viability. Accessory gland dysfunction has been proposed as the cause of these abnormalities. Leukocytospermia is evident in most SCI patients. Additionally, elevated concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines and elevated concentrations of inflammasome components are found in their semen. Neutralization of these constituents has resulted in improved sperm motility. There is a recent and alarming trend in the management of infertility in couples with SCI male partners. Although many men with SCI have sufficient motile sperm in their ejaculates for attempting intrauterine insemination (IUI) or even intravaginal insemination, surgical sperm retrieval is often introduced as the first and only sperm retrieval method for these couples. Surgical sperm retrieval commits the couple to the most advanced, expensive, and invasive method of assisted conception: in vitro fertilization with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI). Couples should be informed of all options, including semen retrieval by PVS or EEJ. Intravaginal insemination or IUI should be considered when indicated.

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Involvement of the inflammasome in abnormal semen quality of men with spinal cord injury

Abstract: This study provides the first evidence of ASC in human semen and demonstrates the involvement of inflammasome proteins in semen of men with SCI. These findings suggest an immunologic basis for abnormal semen quality in men with SCI.

Cited by 37 publications

References 23 publications

Therapeutics targeting the inflammasome after central nervous system injury

Therapeutics targeting the inflammasome after central nervous system injury

Reproductive Health of Men with Spinal Cord Injury

Male fertility following spinal cord injury: an update

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