title: Association of TNFα, TNFR1, and TNFR2 polymorphisms with sperm concentration and motility.
abstract: Tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) is a multifunctional cytokine  that regulates various cellular processes related to spermatogenesis. Two  types of cell receptors, TNFR1 and TNFR2, mediate TNFα activity. In the  present study, we sought to explore the association of TNFα  -857C→T, TNFR1 36A→G, and  TNFR2 676T→G polymorphisms with sperm concentration and  motility. Two hundred ninety men were examined during infertility  investigation; of those, 170 men were normozoospermic and 120 were  oligospermic. Polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed significant  differences in genotype distribution of the TNFR1 36A→G  polymorphism between normozoospermic and oligospermic men. Men with  oligozoospermia presented TNFR1 36A/A genotypes less  frequently than normozoospermic men (P < .001). The presence of  the TNFR1 36G allele was significantly increased in oligospermic men  (P < .001). Furthermore, the presence of the TNFR1 36G  allele was associated with lower sperm concentration in normozoospermic men  (P < .03) and in the total study population (P <  .001), and with lower sperm motility in normozoospermic men (P <  .007) and in the total study population (P < .001). No significant  associations were found between TNFα  -857C→T and TNFR2 676T→G  polymorphisms and semen quality. The TNFR1 36A allele is associated  with increased sperm concentration and motility in our series, supporting the  significance of TNFR1 gene in semen quality.
authors.affiliation: Genetics and IVF Unit, Laboratory of Medical Genetics and Human Reproduction, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
authors.forename: Leandros A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Lazaros
authors.forename: Nectaria V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Xita
authors.forename: Anthoula L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Chatzikyriakidou
authors.forename: Apostolos I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Kaponis
authors.forename: Nicolaos G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Grigoriadis
authors.forename: Elissavet G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Hatzi
authors.forename: Ioannis G
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Grigoriadis
authors.forename: Nikolaos V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Sofikitis
authors.forename: Konstantinos A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Zikopoulos
authors.forename: Ioannis A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Georgiou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001483:Base Sequence; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017931:DNA Primers; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D047888:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I / Q000235:genetics*; D047889:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II / Q000235:genetics*; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000235:genetics*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D047888:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I; D047889:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha