Evaluation of Anti-sperm Antibodies and Some Cytokines Profile in Seminal Plasma of Iraqi Infertile Males

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the role of seminal plasma anti-sperm antibody (ASA) and cytokines (IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IL-13, IL-17A and TNF-α) levels in the aetiopathogenesis of male infertility in a sample of Iraqi patients.A group of males with primary infertility attending Kamal Al-Samaraie Hospital, Center of Infertility and in vitro Fertilization (Baghdad) and Baghdad Teaching Hospital (Infertility Clinic) during the period March-August 2010 to October 2010 were enrolled in this study, in addition, 16 fertile males (control). Based on WHO criteria of 2010 for general seminal fluid analysis, the patients were distributed into three groups: azoospermic (AZO), Oligozoospermic (OLI), and asthenozoospermic (24 patients for each group). Anti-sperm antibody (ASAs) and cytokines levels were assessed in seminal plasma fluid by Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbant Assay (ELISA).The mean of seminal plasma ASAs in azoospermia and oligospermia patients, as well as, controls showed no significant difference (38.7, 41.2 and 43.8 U/ml, respectively), but the three means were significantly lower than the mean (55.4 U/ml) of these antibodies in asthenospermia.when patients and control were evaluated in terms of their positivity for ASAs, the highest frequency of positive cases was observed in asthenospermia patients (41.7%) followed by controls (25.5%), azoospermia (20,8%) and finally oligozoospermia (16.7%), but these differences were not significant when each group of infertility was compared with controls.The mean of IL-2, IL-10, and IL-17A levels in seminal plasma showed no significant difference between the four investigated groups, while the levels of three cytokines (IL-4, IL-13 and TNF-α) showed deviations in infertile patients, but such deviation was subjected to the type of investigated cytokine and type of infertility. Interleukin-4 and TNF-α were more significant in oligozoospermia patients, while IL-13 was exceptionally increased in asthenozoospermiapatients, and it seemed that the other investigated cytokines had no effect on azoospermia.