Elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines in the semen of patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome

• Published in: Urology (Ridgewood, N.J.) N.J.), 1998-11, Vol.52 (5), p.744-749
• Main Authors: Alexander, Richard B, Ponniah, Sathibalan, Hasday, Jeffrey, Hebel, J.Richard
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Chronic Disease; Humans; Interleukin-1 - analysis; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Nephrology. Urinary tract diseases; Pelvic Pain - immunology; Prostatitis - immunology; Semen - chemistry; Syndrome; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - analysis; Urinary system involvement in other diseases. Miscellaneous; Urinary tract. Prostate gland
• ISSN: 0090-4295; 1527-9995
• DOI: 10.1016/S0090-4295(98)00390-2

Objectives. Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome is a common diagnosis, but the disease is poorly understood. The diagnosis is based only on symptoms, and no measurable parameter can help in defining the presence of the disease, its severity, or its cause. Cytokines are soluble proteins secreted by cells of the immune system that principally regulate inflammatory and immune responses. To provide an objective measure of inflammation in the genital tract, we measured levels of the proinflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) in the semen of men with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome and compared these with levels in normal men. Methods. We obtained semen samples from 18 men with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome and from 8 normal male volunteers. Cytokine levels were measured in the seminal plasma by two-antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results. Men with prostatitis had higher mean levels of IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha in seminal plasma (mean ± SEM) than normal men: TNF-alpha 98 ± 39 versus 17 ± 8; IL-1 beta 246 ± 63 versus 27 ± 10, respectively; P