Cytokines in semen of normal men and of patients with andrological diseases.
OBJECTIVE
The potential value of assessment of cytokine concentrations for the diagnosis of certain pathological conditions of male reproduction has not been fully evaluated.


METHODS
The concentrations of interleukin 6 (IL-6, pg/mL), its soluble receptor (IL-6 sR, ng/mL), and of interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta, pg/mL) have been measured in semen samples of 114 men and 12 corresponding blood sera.


RESULTS
The concentration of IL-6 was unrelated to that of its receptor. Both IL-6 and IL-6 sR were higher in the first (mean: 69 and 31 resp.) than in the second fraction (39 and 13) of split ejaculates, and were within normal limits in vasectomised men. The Interleukin 1 beta concentration presented a strong positive correlated with that of IL-6 (r = 0.74, P < 0.001). The concentrations of IL-6 and IL-1 beta were unrelated to sperm concentration, motility and morphology, and they were within normal limits in immunological cases. Both IL-6 and IL-1 beta were higher (P < 0.01) in cases with accessory gland inflammation.


CONCLUSIONS
Measurement of in particular IL-6 in semen may contribute to the diagnosis of inflammatory disease of the accessory sex glands (positive predictive value = 98%, sensitivity = 72%, specificity = 94%), but it is not relevant for the diagnosis of immunological disease.
Comhaire
F
F
University Hospital Ghent, Department of Internal Medicine, Belgium.
Bosmans
E
E
Ombelet
W
W
Punjabi
U
U
Schoonjans
F
F
D005832:Genital Diseases, Male / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000032:analysis*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D012372:ROC Curve; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin / Q000032:analysis*; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6; D012016:Reference Values; D012661:Semen / Q000276:immunology*
D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D018123:Receptors, Interleukin; D019947:Receptors, Interleukin-6