title: Distinct expression of cytokines and mitogenic inhibitory factors in semen of fertile and infertile men.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effect of seminal plasma (SP) of fertile and infertile men on leukocyte mitogenic response, and the capability of sperm cells to produce IL-1.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included four groups: fertile men (donors, normal), infertile men with azoospermia (azoo), oligo-terato-asthenozoospermia (OTA), and OTA with genital infection (OTA-inf). Mouse spleen cell proliferation in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or Concanavalin-A (Con-A) was examined in the presence of SP from the above four groups. Supernatants (sup) and lysates (lys) of sperm cells from fertile and oligoteratoasthenospermic (OTA) men were evaluated for IL-1 bioactivity by specific bioassay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seminal plasma (SP) of the four groups were shown to inhibit the mitogenic response of mouse spleen cells to LPS and Con-A. SP of fertile men was significantly more inhibitory than SP from infertile men. Sperm cells from fertile and OTA infertile men constitutively produced IL-1. Sperm cells of both groups produced similar levels of IL-1 as examined in the supernatants and lysates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Seminal plasma of fertile men had more inhibitory mitogenic activity than that of OTA. Sperm cells constitutively produce IL-1. It is possible that the factors involved in this inhibition are not only anti-proliferative immune factors. Cytokines and inhibitory factors of mitogenesis in the seminal plasma may be involved in the physiology and pathophysiology of sperm functions and thus affect male fertility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Huleihel
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lunenfeld
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Horowitz
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Potashnik
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Glezerman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005298:Fertility / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008934:Mitogens / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology; D012661:Semen / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007375:Interleukin-1; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D008934:Mitogens; D003208:Concanavalin A