Metabolic syndrome and the seminal cytokine network in morbidly obese males

Abstract

SUMMARYGiven the increasing prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in males of reproductive age, the objective of this prospective casecontrolled study was to investigate the impact of subacute systemic inflammation associated with MetS on seminal cytokines and standard sperm parameters in comparison with healthy men. Between 2011 and 2014, we recruited 27 patients with MetS out of 41 obese patients screened from an internal outpatient clinic. Twenty-seven age-matched healthy controls were enrolled from 54 men requesting vasectomy in a urological outpatient clinic. A multiplex analysis was performed to quantify simultaneously the level of 30 cytokines (Eotaxin, FGF, Fraktalkine, GCSF, GMCSF, Granzyme A, IFN-c, IL-1a, IL-1b, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-9, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-13, IL-17A, IL-21, IP-10, I-TAC, MCP-1, MIG, MIP-1a, MIP-1b, RANTES, TNF-a, and VEGF) in each 50 lL of blood and seminal plasma during the andrological work-up. Semen analysis was performed according to the WHO (Global status report on noncommunicable diseases, 2010) recommendations, including standard sperm parameters as well as peroxidase-positive leukocytes and polymorphonuclear elastase. Blood levels of C-reactive protein, interleukins 6 and 10 were elevated in MetS (p > 0.001). Two-way hierarchical cluster analysis showed characteristic cytokine networks in semen greatly differing from those in blood, but not between MetS and controls. No deterioration of semen analysis was evident in men diagnosed with MetS. Our results suggest that there is no transmission of the systemic inflammation associated with MetS into semen based on cytokine profiles and that MetS does not impair standard semen parameters to a clinically significant extent.

Serum Levels of Interleukin-13 Increase in Subjects with Insulin Resistance but Do Not Correlate with Markers of Low-Grade Systemic Inflammation

“…In this sense, it has been previously reported that IL-13 does not always correlate with low-grade systemic inflammation parameters. In fact, a recent study conducted in morbidly obese men with metabolic syndrome showed a significant increase in the serum levels of IL-6 and IL-12, both cytokines with proinflammatory actions, without reporting any difference in IL-13 [ 42 ]. Similarly, TNF- α soluble receptor levels were shown to raise in plasma of burn-induced systemic inflammatory response syndrome children whereas IL-13 serum levels remained unchanged [ 43 ].…”

Metabolic syndrome and semen quality in adult population

“…Emerging evidence indicates that male fertility is inversely influenced by obesity through alternation of hormone levels and direct effects on semen quality and sperm molecular composition . The effect of MetS and its components on male infertility has been examined in previous studies . However, the results concerning the effects of MetS on sperm parameters are inconsistent and the question has not been definitively resolved.…”

“…10 The effect of MetS and its components on male infertility has been examined in previous studies. [11][12][13] However, the results concerning the effects of MetS on sperm parameters are inconsistent and the question has not been definitively resolved. The aim of our study is to investigate the relationship between MetS and sperm parameters in a Taiwanese reproductive-age male population.…”

The effect of metabolic syndrome on male reproductive health: A cross-sectional study in a group of fertile men and male partners of infertile couples

“…Even if MS and the testosterone deficiency in men are closely linked then the effect of MS on male semen quality has not been sufficiently investigated on the basis of available data. There are some studies which have concluded that MS may affect male semen parameters [ 2 , 4 , 7 , 8 ] and some which deny it [ 3 , 9 ].…”