Eggert-Kruse W, Boit R, Rohr G, Aufenanger J, Hund M, Strowitzki T
Department of Gynaecological Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, Women's University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.
Hum Reprod. 2001 Mar;16(3):517-28. doi: 10.1093/humrep/16.3.517.
The concentration of interleukin (IL) -8 and IL-6 was determined in seminal plasma (SP) samples from 137 randomly chosen subfertile males to evaluate the relationship with other potential parameters of subclinical infection/inflammation such as seminal leukocytes, and with semen quality in a prospective study. All patients were asymptomatic for genital tract infection. A comprehensive semen evaluation included sperm analysis, sperm migration testing, antisperm antibody screening, immunocytochemical round cell differentiation to determine seminal leukocytes counts and the leukocyte ratio, complement fraction C(3) (C(3c)) determination, and semen cultures, in aliquots of the same ejaculates. The SP concentration of IL-8 was inversely related to semen quality, e.g. to the total number of motile spermatozoa or to the outcome of the sperm migration test (motile sperm harvested after a swim-up procedure). IL-8 concentrations were significantly correlated with leukocyte counts per ml (P < 0.0001) and per ejaculate (P < 0.0001), and with the leukocyte ratio (P < 0.001). All leukocytospermic samples had high IL-8 concentrations (< or =2 ng/ml). The SP concentration of IL-6 was much lower, but was significantly correlated with IL-8 (P < 0.0001). Both IL-8 and IL-6 were significantly related with the C(3c). No association of interleukin concentrations with the bacterial colonization of semen samples was found. The results indicate a marked relationship of some pro-inflammatory cytokines with semen quality. The significant association with seminal leukocytes and other potential inflammation markers suggests that IL-8 might be used as sensitive marker for silent male genital tract infection.
在一项前瞻性研究中，对137名随机选取的不育男性的精浆（SP）样本进行白细胞介素（IL）-8和IL-6浓度测定，以评估其与亚临床感染/炎症的其他潜在参数（如精浆白细胞）以及精液质量之间的关系。所有患者均无生殖道感染症状。对同一份精液标本进行综合精液评估，包括精子分析、精子迁移试验、抗精子抗体筛查、免疫细胞化学圆形细胞分化以确定精浆白细胞计数和白细胞比例、补体C3（C3c）测定以及精液培养。精浆中IL-8浓度与精液质量呈负相关，例如与活动精子总数或精子迁移试验结果（上浮法收集的活动精子）。IL-8浓度与每毫升白细胞计数（P < 0.0001）和每次射精白细胞计数（P < 0.0001）以及白细胞比例（P < 0.001）均显著相关。所有白细胞精子症样本的IL-8浓度均较高（≤2 ng/ml）。精浆中IL-6浓度低得多，但与IL-8显著相关（P < 0.0001）。IL-8和IL-6均与C3c显著相关。未发现白细胞介素浓度与精液样本细菌定植之间存在关联。结果表明某些促炎细胞因子与精液质量存在显著关系。与精浆白细胞和其他潜在炎症标志物的显著关联表明，IL-8可能用作男性生殖道隐匿性感染的敏感标志物。
