Association between leukocytospermia and semen interleukin‐6 and tumor necrosis factor‐alpha in infertile men

Abstract

Seminal cytokines were previously reported to adversely affect process of spermatogenesis and ultimately induce poor semen quality. However, association between both IL-6 and TNF-α and leukocytospermia was not yet settled. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between leukocytospermia and levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in semen of infertile men. This cross-sectional study included 100 age-matched (≥18-45 years.) men. Participants were divided into four groups with 25 patients in each group: Group (A) - infertile patients with leukocytospermia and normal other semen parameters; Group (B) - infertile patients with leukocytospermia and abnormal semen parameters; Group (C) - infertile patients with oligospermia and/or asthenospermia and/or teratospermia but with no leukocytospermia; Group (D) - fertile patients with normal semen parameters and without leukocytospermia. All patients were assessed by detailed medical, sexual, fertility history, and complete physical examination. Laboratory assessment included hormonal and semen analysis and assessment of IL-6 and TNF-α in semen plasma. There were significant differences among the study groups regarding total sperm count, sperm concentration, and progressive motility (p < 0.05 for each). There was significant increase in semen WBC counts in groups A and B vs. groups C and D (p = 0.003). There were significant associations between increase levels of WBCs ≥ 5/HPF and decrease levels of total sperm count (p = 0.023), sperm concentration (p = 0.001), and sperm progressive motility (p = 0.02). There were significant upregulations in mean level of IL-6 (p = 0.001) and mean level of TNF-α (p = 0.003) in groups A and B vs. groups C and D. Overall, leukocytospermia is associated with reduction in sperm count, progressive motility and further upregulation of seminal IL-6 and TNF-α. The effect of treatment of leukocytospermia on the level of seminal cytokines is important point of future research.

A comparison of reproductive outcomes of patients with adenomyosis and infertility treated with High-Intensity focused ultrasound and laparoscopic excision

“…Second, patients with adenomyosis had higher levels of IL-6, IL-8, TNF-a, and reactive oxygen species in the peritoneal fluid. These high levels of immune-inflammatory cytokines might result in ovarian dysfunction and impaired sperm quality, causing infertility [21][22][23][24]. Furthermore, women with adenomyosis have a low expression of progesterone receptors, which are required for uterine receptivity [3].…”

The Effect of Screening and Treatment of Ureaplasma Urealyticum Infection on Semen Parameters in Asymptomatic Leukocytospermia: A Case Control Study

“…In the process of spermatogenesis, reactive oxygen species are very harmful, and the content of unsaturated fatty acids in sperm membrane is easily affected by oxidative stress, and these lipids can be oxidized through a series of chain reactions to release potential toxicity and mutagenic aldehydes and alkenals [34][35][36], nally, excessive ROS has a pathological impact on spermatogenesis, resulting in the decrease of sperm concentration, motility and fertilization rate [37]. A large number of clinical studies have shown that leukocytospermia-induced sperm damage may be due to high levels of leukocyte-derived ROS and in ammatory mediators, Such as toll-like receptors 2 and 4 (TLR-2/4), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), nuclear factor erythryoid-2 related factor (Nrf-2), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), etc [38,39], even low levels of leukocytospermia have seminal oxidative stress [40]. It is not certain that the effect of leukocytospermia or UU infection on sperm exists, but it seems to be explainable from the current mechanism research.…”

The effect of screening and treatment of Ureaplasma urealyticum infection on semen parameters in asymptomatic leukocytospermia: a case control study

“…In the process of spermatogenesis, reactive oxygen species are very harmful, and the content of unsaturated fatty acids in sperm membrane is easily affected by oxidative stress, and these lipids can be oxidized through a series of chain reactions to release potential toxicity and mutagenic aldehydes and alkenals [34][35][36], nally, excessive ROS has a pathological impact on spermatogenesis, resulting in the decrease of sperm concentration, motility and fertilization rate [37]. A large number of clinical studies have shown that leukocytospermiainduced sperm damage may be due to high levels of leukocyte-derived ROS and in ammatory mediators, Such as toll-like receptors 2 and 4 (TLR-2/4), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), nuclear factor erythryoid-2 related factor (Nrf-2), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), etc [38,39], even low levels of leukocytospermia have seminal oxidative stress [40]. It is not certain that the effect of leukocytospermia or UU infection on sperm exists, but it seems to be explainable from the current mechanism research.…”