Identification of seminal markers of male accessory gland inflammation: From molecules to proteome

Abstract

Male accessory gland infection/inflammation (MAGI) is a frequent disease, mostly with a chronic course, involving 1 or more sexual accessory glands. Majority of the MAGIs remain asymptomatic, thereby leading to a dilemma whether to treat these patients or not. It is moreover noteworthy that the diagnosis of MAGI is difficult, since patients are frequently asymptomatic and semen samples or prostatic secretions are often free from bacteria. As a consequence the identification of novel and reliable markers of inflammation in seminal plasma is an open challenge. If leukocytospermia and polymorphonuclear elastase and the analysis of the secretory products of male accessory glands have been widely used in the past, their diagnostic significance is discussed. Some cytokines (IL-6 and IL-8) and protein markers (suPAR) have been reported in the last years as the most promising markers for the diagnosis and the follow-up of MAGI. Recent advances in proteomic techniques undoubtedly represent a real promise in the future for the identification of novel markers of MAGI. This article provides an overview of key seminal biomarkers of MAGI, including the novel perspectives of the putative markers deriving by the most recent proteomic approaches.

Microbiological Evaluation and Sperm DNA Fragmentation in Semen Samples of Patients Undergoing Fertility Investigation

“…The etiopathogenetic mechanisms that determine potential damage to spermatozoa are numerous and act at different levels: sperm cells can be damaged directly (with evidence of sperm alterations ranging from concentration, motility, morphology to DNA fragmentation, mitochondrial function, apoptosis, and acrosomal reaction) by pathogenic germs [ 20 ], bacterial products [ 21 ], toxic metabolites produced by microorganisms [ 21 ], seminal leukocytes, and soluble factors, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cytokines [ 22 ]. In particular, oxidative stress during sperm transport through the male reproductive tract is likely the most frequent cause of sperm DNA damage [ 23 , 24 ].…”

The role of infections and leukocytes in male infertility

“…have emerged as more promising parameters in the diagnosis and management of MAGI (Depuydt, Bosmans, Zalata, Schoonjans, & Comhaire, 1996;Grande, Milardi, Baroni, Luca, & Pontecorvi, 2018;Kocak et al, 2002;Schiefer & von Graevenitz, 2006) as these parameters may significantly compromise sperm functions by directly affecting sperm function and increasing seminal ROS levels (Aitken et al, 1998;Fraczek et al, 2008;Henkel et al, 2005). Considering that the infection/inflammation is also affecting the secretory functions of the accessory glands, determination of their secretions such as citric acid, fructose, α-glucosidase, phosphatase or zinc (Krause, 2008;Wolff, Bezold, Zebhauser, & Meurer, 1991) can also be done to provide additional information (La Vignera et al, 2013).…”

Patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome show T helper type 1 (Th1) and Th17 self‐reactive immune responses specific to prostate and seminal antigens and diminished semen quality

“…Moreover, IL‐6 and IL‐8 have been proposed as biomarkers of urogenital inflammation [45–47]. Nonetheless, and to the best of our knowledge, we report for the first time elevated levels of IL‐17 and IFNγ in urogenital secretions from patients with CP/CPPS [42].…”

“…In addition, patients with CP/CPPS had sperm quality alterations such as lower sperm concentration, motility and viability associated with elevated levels of IFNc, IL-17, IL-1b and IL-8, and more sperm apoptosis/necrosis. Cytokines such as tumour necrosis factor a, IL-1b, IL-6, and IL-8 have already been reported to be elevated in patients with CP/CPPS [42][43][44]. Moreover, IL-6 and IL-8 have been proposed as biomarkers of urogenital inflammation [45][46][47].…”