Sperm antibodies, intra-acrosomal sperm proteins, and cytokines in semen in men from infertile couples.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate seminal sperm-agglutinating antibodies, intra-acrosomal proteins, sperm head abnormalities, and cytokines (IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70 TNF-alpha, and IFN-gamma) in men from infertile couples.


METHODS
The direct mixed anti-immunoglobulin reaction test for IgG, IgA, and IgE in semen, and immunocytochemical method using monoclonal antibodies and indirect immunofluorescence for the examination of intra-acrosomal proteins in the spermatozoa were used. Cytokines in seminal plasma were determined by multiplex immunoanalytic xMAP (LUMINEX) technology.


RESULTS
Sperm-agglutinating antibodies, IgG and IgA, in seminal plasma were found to be more in asthenospermatic and oligoasthenospermatic men than in normospermatic men. Sperm head pathology and very low amounts of acrosomal proteins were frequently detected in pathologic semen samples. Cytokine levels defined as 'high' (based on the 75 percentile for each cytokine in all groups) were obtained especially for IL-8, IL-5, IL-6, and IL-10. The high cellularity in semen was correlated with higher IL-5.


CONCLUSIONS
Immunologic cause of male infertility is a very important risk factor in the pathogenesis of sperm cells. Sperm autoantibodies and the presence of intra-acrosomal factors must be studied together, cytokines according to accessory cellularity in the semen.
Ulcova-Gallova
Zdenka
Z
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Charles University and Faculty Hospital Pilsen, Alej svobody 80, Plzen-Lochotin, Czech Republic. ulcova@fnplzen.cz
Gruberova
Jitka
J
Vrzalova
Jindra
J
Bibkova
Katarina
K
Peknicova
Jana
J
Micanova
Zdenka
Z
Topolcan
Ondrej
O
D000177:Acrosome / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013073:Sperm Agglutination / Q000276:immunology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology
D001323:Autoantibodies; D016207:Cytokines