• PMID: 16674600
• Gene Name: IFNG
• Condition: Male infertility, genital tract infections
• Association: Mean levels of IL-18 were higher in SP from infertile men with genital tract infections compared with SP from other groups except Klinefelter syndrome (P < 0.05). However, no significant differences could be detected for IFN-gamma. A significant positive
• Population size: 80
• Population details: 80 (18 fertile men, 17 infertile men with genital tract infections, 15 infertile men with varicocele, 6 with Klienfelter syndrome, 7 with cryptorchidism, 7 with mumps orchitis, 10 with idiopathic testicular lesions)
• Sex: Male
• Infertility type: Male infertility
• Associated genes: IL-18, IFN-gamma
• Other associated phenotypes: Male infertility, genital tract infections

Increased IL-18 levels in seminal plasma of infertile men with genital tract infections

Matalliotakis IM, Cakmak H, Fragouli Y, Kourtis A, Arici A, Huszar G.

PROBLEM: Interleukin (IL)-18 is a novel cytokine, previously known as interferon (IFN)-gamma inducing factor. We evaluated the levels of IL-18 and IFN-gamma in seminal plasma (SP) of fertile and infertile men. METHOD OF STUDY: Semen samples were obtained by masturbation from 80 men, and were examined for the levels of IL-18 and IFN-gamma by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Seven groups were included: (i) fertile men (n = 18), (i) infertile men with genital tract infections (n = 17), (iii) with varicocele (n = 15), (iv) with Klinefelter syndrome (n = 6), (v) with cryptorchidism (n = 7), (vi) with mumps orchitis (n = 7), and (vii) with idiopathic testicular lesions (n = 10). RESULTS: Mean levels of IL-18 were higher in SP from infertile men with genital tract infections compared with SP from other groups except Klinefelter syndrome (P < 0.05). However, no significant differences could be detected for IFN-gamma. A significant positive correlations was found between IL-18 and IFN-gamma in total patient population (P < 0.001). Moreover, a negative correlation was observed between IL-18 and sperm concentrations, and motility (P < 0.01 and < 0.03, respectively). Furthermore, there was a positive and statistically significant association between IL-18 and IFN-gamma levels in SP of infertile men with genital tract infections (P < 0.0001). However, there was no relationship between IL-18 and IFN-gamma, and semen parameters in the same group. CONCLUSION: SP IL-18 levels were increased in men with urogenital infections. Thus, the elevated expression of IL-18 in SP may be used as a diagnostic marker in the male genital tract infections. FAU - Matalliotakis, Ioannis M AU - Matalliotakis IM AD - Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA. matakgr@yahoo.com FAU - Cakmak, Hakan AU - Cakmak H FAU - Fragouli, Yvoni AU - Fragouli Y FAU - Kourtis, Argiris AU - Kourtis A FAU - Arici, Aydin AU - Arici A