Concentrations and significance of cytokines and other immunologic factors in semen of healthy fertile men

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to establish normal reference values for several immunologic factors in semen to provide a foundation for understanding their physiologic significance in health and disease. METHODS Semen from 83 healthy, fertile men was assessed by Bio-Plex or enzyme-linked...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Human reproduction (Oxford) 2007-11, Vol.22 (11), p.2928-2935
Main Authors: Politch, Joseph A., Tucker, Lynne, Bowman, Frederick P., Anderson, Deborah J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Biological and medical sciences
chemokines
Chemokines - metabolism
cytokines
Cytokines - metabolism
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay - methods
Fertility
Granulocytes - cytology
Granulocytes - metabolism
Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics
Humans
Immune System
immunoglobulins
Immunoglobulins - chemistry
Lymphokines - metabolism
Male
Medical sciences
Neutrophils - metabolism
polymorphonuclear granulocytes
Reference Values
semen
Semen - physiology
Spermatozoa - metabolism
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Summary:BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to establish normal reference values for several immunologic factors in semen to provide a foundation for understanding their physiologic significance in health and disease. METHODS Semen from 83 healthy, fertile men was assessed by Bio-Plex or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to determine quantities of immunoglobulin (Ig) isotypes, chemokines, cytokines and growth factors. We also enumerated polymorphonuclear granulocytes (PMN) by peroxidase staining to examine the association of inflammation with levels of these factors. RESULTS High concentrations of IgG and IgA were detected in all samples. IgG concentrations were significantly higher than IgA concentrations (P < 0.0001). Likewise, two multifunctional growth factors, transforming growth factor-β1 and interleukin (IL)-7, and three chemokines, stromal cell-derived factor-1α, monocyte chemotactic/chemoattractant protein-1 and IL-8, were present in high concentrations in all samples (medians >1000 pg/ml). Other soluble factors were detectable in low concentration (medians
ISSN:0268-1161
1460-2350
DOI:10.1093/humrep/dem281