Male infertility and viral infection: Interference role of the human herpesvirus types (3 – 6) with disturbances effects of some cytokines hypersecretion and seminal oxidative defense system in the infertility etiopathogenesis of some idiopathic infertile Iraqi patients

Abstract

To study the role of potential relationship of chronic human herpes virus types (3 – 6) infection and their correlation with the up-regulation of some cytokines (IL-2, IL-10 and IFN gamma) and effect of (8-OHdG) and (TAOC) levels onto male infertility. A Case – control study with semen samples which were collected by masturbation during the routine semen analysis of a total ninety age-matched participants as; fertile males 35 (38.9%) with proven fertility as a normal semen quality and infertile males 55 (61.1%) with at least one year of infertility and poor semen quality. All semen biomarkers of Human herpes viruses (HHVs): Varicella zoster virus (VZV-IgG), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV-IgG), Cytomegalovirus (CMV-IgG), Human herpes virus type 6 (HHV6-IgG), Interlukin-2 (IL-2), Interlukin-10 (IL-10), Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxy guanosine (8-OHdG) and Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAOC) which were included in the study had been estimated by quantitative ELISA based method and the correlations with sperms parameters were evaluated. The main significant outcomes in this study of the infertile males group 55 (61.1%) were: high percentages of seminal IgG; N (%; Mean±SD) were detected of HHV6, 48 (53.3%;1.26± 0.51) then CMV, 39 (43.3%;1.51± 0.95) followed by EBV, 34 (37.8%; 2.20±1.47), and the highest abnormal cytokines levels were estimated in; 44 (48.9%; 112.62±38.64) and 40 (44.4%; 22.75±10.65) for IFN-γ and IL-10 respectively. Furthermore, High 8-OHdG level was detected in 47 (52.2%;7.29±2.15) and very low level of TAOC was detected in 16 (17.8%;19.34±12.17). Significant negative correlation between semen biomarkers and standard sperms parameters was found which were represented by: 45 (50.0%) of total sperms count less than (33 million ml), 52 (57.8%) of progressive motile sperms less than (31%). Finally, about 33 (24.4%) of abnormal sperm morphology was detected. Our results hypothesized that chronic asymptomatic viral infection with increasing of cytokines concentrations consequently disturbance the semen oxidative status, antioxidant defense systems that induce sperms DNA damage then might be collectively act as a co-factors on the etiology of the male infertility.