Pro-inflammatory cytokines and microRNAs in male infertility.

BACKGROUND: Male infertility is a problem that affects 10-15% of men of reproductive age. In particular, gametogenesis is a complex process in which inflammation may play a central role through the secretion of cytokines and the expression of microRNAs. We assessed the potential role of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1α) and microRNAs (miR-146a-5p, miR-34a-5p and miR-23a-3p) in the seminal plasma of infertile men compared to controls, evaluating their correlation with seminal and biochemical parameters. METHODS AND RESULTS: Expression of cytokines and microRNAs was analyzed by ELISA and q-PCR. Our data shows that IL-1α was significantly increased in the azoospermic group compared to controls, TNF-α mRNA was more expressed in the oligozoospermic group than controls. There were no significant differences in miRNAs expression among the three groups. The correlations between sperm parameters and inflammatory markers were evaluated, however no significance was highlighted. CONCLUSIONS: The determination of each inflammatory marker separately in the seminal plasma of subfertile men, despite some significant differences, does not have a diagnostic value in male infertility even if an assay of selective pro-inflammatory cytokines and microRNAs in the semen may improve the diagnosis of male infertility.

Relationship between sperm aneuploidy, sperm DNA integrity, chromatin packaging, traditional semen parameters, and recurrent pregnancy loss.

OBJECTIVE: To study the possible relationship between sperm aneuploidy, sperm DNA integrity, chromatin packaging, traditional semen parameters, and recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). DESIGN: Descriptive study. SETTING: University-affiliated tertiary teaching. PATIENT(S): A total of 22 couples with history of RPL and 20 fertile men. INTERVENTION(S): Semen samples from case and control men were examined for differences in semen parameters, DNA fragmentation, chromatin condensation, and sperm aneuploidy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Sperm DNA and chromatin integrity and sperm aneuploidy. RESULT(S): Sperm progressive motility (30.2% vs. 51.5%) was significantly lower and abnormal morphology (74.8% vs. 54.2%) was significantly higher in the RPL group versus the control group, respectively. The percentage of fragmented DNA was significantly increased in the RPL group (17.1% vs. 10.2%) as well as the rate of spermatozoa with nuclear chromatin decondensation (23.6% vs. 11.8%). There was a significantly higher sperm aneuploidy rate among the RPL group as well. CONCLUSION(S): The increase in abnormal sperm parameters, sperm DNA fragmentation, nuclear chromatin decondensation, and sperm aneuploidy suggest possible causes of unexplained RPL.