title: Soluble FAS and FAS ligand levels in seminal plasma: association with basic parameters of semen analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Binding of FAS ligand (FASL) to its physiological receptor FAS, induces the activation of caspase-8, which triggers cell death. The FAS-FASL system regulates germ cell death. In this study, the role of the FAS-FASL system in male infertility was examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  72 samples were used (age=38.76 ± 9.06 years). Basic semen analysis was performed according to the WHO Laboratory Manual. Soluble (s) forms of FAS and FASL were measured in seminal plasma using commercially available immunoassay kits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the examined samples, 24 were normal and 48 abnormal, as evaluated by basic semen analysis. sFAS and sFASL levels in abnormal samples were slightly higher than in the normal ones. In all samples, sFAS correlated negatively with pH. In normal samples, sFAS was positively correlated with sperm concentration. In abnormal samples, sFAS strongly correlated with sFASL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both factors of the FAS system were detected in seminal plasma. Further studies are necessary to shed light into the possible role of FAS-FASL system in male infertility.
authors: Laboratory of Physiology, School of Medicine, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece. tatia@iakentro.gr
authors: Theoktisti
authors: T
authors: Passadaki
authors: Byron
authors: B
authors: Asimakopoulos
authors: Theodosia
authors: T
authors: Zeginiadou
authors: Nikos
authors: N
authors: Nikolettos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D012661:Semen / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D055101:Semen Analysis; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: C491901:FAS protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D019014:fas Receptor