Paradisi R, Capelli M, Mandini M, Bellavia E, Flamigni C
Department of Obstertrics and Gynaecology, S. Orsola Hospital, University Alma Mater Studiorum of Bologna, Italy.
Andrologia. 1996 May-Jun;28(3):157-61. doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0272.1996.tb02775.x.
The role of the cell-mediated immunity in male infertility is still far from clear. Interferon-gamma (INF-gamma), a secretory product of activated T cells and natural killer cells, has been hypothesized to have a toxic effect on sperm function. The presence of INF-gamma was investigated in seminal plasma of fertile and infertile subjects, using a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, in order to study its role in male infertility. Forty-one subjects were studied; 20 had proven fertility and normal semen quality (fertile group) and 21 showed male infertility for at least 2 years and poor semen quality (infertile group). INF-gamma was present in significantly higher levels in the seminal plasma of infertile subjects (6.36 +/- 0.72 fmol ml-1) compared to fertile subjects (3.68 +/- 0.30 fmol ml-1). Moreover, a significant negative correlation between INF-gamma levels and sperm count, motility and morphology was detected, whereas no correlation between INF-gamma levels and leukocyte count was found. These findings (i) confirm INF-gamma to be present in seminal plasma; (ii) show increased INF-gamma secretion in the infertile group; (iii) demonstrate negative correlations of INF-gamma with the main spermiogram parameters and (iv) no correlation with leukocyte count. INF-gamma may therefore play an important role in male infertility.
细胞介导的免疫在男性不育症中的作用仍远未明确。γ干扰素（INF-γ）是活化T细胞和自然杀伤细胞的一种分泌产物，据推测它对精子功能具有毒性作用。为了研究其在男性不育症中的作用，采用特异性酶联免疫吸附测定法，对可育和不育受试者的精浆中INF-γ的存在情况进行了调查。共研究了41名受试者；其中20名已证实具有生育能力且精液质量正常（可育组），21名显示患有男性不育症至少2年且精液质量差（不育组）。与可育受试者（3.68±0.30 fmol/ml）相比，不育受试者精浆中INF-γ的水平显著更高（6.36±0.72 fmol/ml）。此外，检测到INF-γ水平与精子计数、活力和形态之间存在显著负相关，而未发现INF-γ水平与白细胞计数之间存在相关性。这些发现（i）证实精浆中存在INF-γ；（ii）表明不育组中INF-γ分泌增加；（iii）证明INF-γ与主要精液参数呈负相关，以及（iv）与白细胞计数无相关性。因此，INF-γ可能在男性不育症中起重要作用。
