Paradisi R, Capelli M, Mandini M, Bellavia E, Focacci M, Flamigni C
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, S. Orsola Hospital, University Alma Mater Studiorum of Bologna, Italy.
Arch Androl. 1995 Jul-Aug;35(1):35-41. doi: 10.3109/01485019508987851.
The role of cell-mediated immunity in the etiopathogenesis of male infertility is far from being defined. The cytokine interleukin-2 (IL-2) has a key role in T-cell mediated immune responses. The aim of this study was to confirm the presence of IL-2 in human seminal plasma, to show eventual differences between IL-2 concentrations in fertile and infertile subjects, and to show potential relationship between IL-2 amounts in semen and spermiogram parameters. Forty-three subjects entered the study, 20 with proven fertility and normal semen quality (fertile group) and 23 with male infertility of at least 2 years and poor semen quality (infertile group). IL-2 levels of seminal plasma in infertile subjects (444.3 +/- 40.5 fmol/mL) were significantly higher than those in fertile subjects (251.3 +/- 42.7 fmol/mL). There was a significant negative correlation between IL-2 levels and sperm count, motility, and morphology. No correlation was found between IL-2 levels and leukocyte count. These findings confirm IL-2 to be in seminal plasma, show increased IL-2 secretion in the infertile group, demonstrate negative correlations of IL-2 levels with main spermiogram parameters, and indicate no correlation with leukocyte count. IL-2 concentration in seminal plasma may therefore be considered as a potential marker in male infertility.
细胞介导的免疫在男性不育病因学中的作用尚未明确。细胞因子白细胞介素-2（IL-2）在T细胞介导的免疫反应中起关键作用。本研究的目的是证实人精浆中存在IL-2，揭示生育力正常和不育受试者之间IL-2浓度的差异，并表明精液中IL-2含量与精液分析参数之间的潜在关系。43名受试者进入本研究，其中20名生育力已得到证实且精液质量正常（生育力正常组），23名患有至少2年男性不育且精液质量差（不育组）。不育受试者精浆中的IL-2水平（444.3±40.5 fmol/mL）显著高于生育力正常受试者（251.3±42.7 fmol/mL）。IL-2水平与精子数量、活力和形态之间存在显著负相关。未发现IL-2水平与白细胞计数之间存在相关性。这些发现证实IL-2存在于精浆中，显示不育组中IL-2分泌增加，证明IL-2水平与主要精液分析参数呈负相关，并表明与白细胞计数无关。因此，精浆中的IL-2浓度可被视为男性不育的一个潜在标志物。
