PMID- 28541460 OWN - NLM STAT- MEDLINE DCOM- 20180611 LR - 20220317 IS - 1460-2350 (Electronic) IS - 0268-1161 (Linking) VI - 32 IP - 7 DP - 2017 Jul 1 TI - Seminal plasma pro-inflammatory cytokines interferon-gamma (IFNG) and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 8 (CXCL8) fluctuate over time within men. PG - 1373-1381 LID - 10.1093/humrep/dex106 [doi] AB - STUDY QUESTION: Do seminal plasma pro-inflammatory cytokines interferon-gamma (IFNG) and C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 8 (CXCL8) vary within individual men over time? SUMMARY ANSWER: IFNG exhibits substantial variation that is independent of duration of abstinence but correlates with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) content, while CXCL8 varies moderately in association with duration of abstinence. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Pro-inflammatory cytokines IFNG and CXCL8 in seminal fluid can adversely impact male and female fertility. Other cytokines as well as sperm parameters fluctuate considerably within individuals over time, but whether IFNG and CXCL8 vary similarly, and the determinants of variance, are unknown. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: Between two and seven semen samples were collected from 14 proven fertile donors at 6-10 week intervals over the course of ~12 months, to assess variation over time in cytokines and LPS, and to investigate relationships with sperm parameters and possible regulatory factors. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: The concentrations and total amounts per ejaculate of IFNG and CXCL8 were determined using commercial ELISA. Sperm parameters were assessed according to World Health Organization (WHO) IV standards and LPS was measured by limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) assay. Mixed model analysis was utilized to determine the relative contribution of between- and within-individual factors in explaining variance. Relationships between cytokines, LPS and sperm parameters, as well as effect of age and duration of abstinence, were investigated by correlation analysis. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: Within-individual variability contributed to total variance particularly for both IFNG, CXCL8 and LPS, and was a stronger determinant than between-individual variability for IFNG and LPS. Normal sperm motility correlated inversely with CXCL8, and sperm concentration correlated inversely with LPS. Duration of abstinence was a determinant of total CXCL8, but not IFNG or LPS. Associations between LPS, IFNG and CXCL8 suggest IFNG and perhaps CXCL8 are influenced by microbial populations. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: A limited number of donors from a single clinic were investigated. Clinical information on complete microbiology, BMI, nutrition, smoking and other lifestyle factors was unavailable. Further studies are required to determine whether the findings can be generalized to larger populations and different ethnicities. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: These data reveal substantial variation over time in pro-inflammatory seminal fluid cytokines and imply existence of microbial or other environmental regulatory factors. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): This study was supported by grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia. The authors have no competing interests to disclose. CI - (c) The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com FAU - Sharkey, David J AU - Sharkey DJ AD - Robinson Research Institute, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide SA 5005, Australia. FAU - Tremellen, Kelton P AU - Tremellen KP AD - School of Medicine, Flinders University, Adelaide SA 5001, Australia. AD - Repromed Pty Ltd, 180 Fullarton Road, Dulwich SA 5065, Australia. FAU - Briggs, Nancy E AU - Briggs NE AD - Robinson Research Institute, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide SA 5005, Australia. FAU - Dekker, Gustaaf A AU - Dekker GA AD - Robinson Research Institute, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide SA 5005, Australia. AD - Lyell McEwin Hospital, Elizabeth Vale, Adelaide SA 5112, Australia. FAU - Robertson, Sarah A AU - Robertson SA AD - Robinson Research Institute, Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide SA 5005, Australia. LA - eng PT - Journal Article PL - England TA - Hum Reprod JT - Human reproduction (Oxford, England) JID - 8701199 RN - 0 (CXCL8 protein, human) RN - 0 (Interleukin-8) RN - 0 (Lipopolysaccharides) RN - 82115-62-6 (Interferon-gamma) SB - IM MH - Adolescent MH - Adult MH - Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay MH - Humans MH - Interferon-gamma/*metabolism MH - Interleukin-8/*metabolism MH - Lipopolysaccharides/analysis MH - Male MH - Middle Aged MH - Reproducibility of Results MH - Semen/cytology/*metabolism MH - Semen Analysis MH - *Sexual Abstinence MH - Sperm Motility MH - *Spermatogenesis MH - Time Factors MH - Young Adult OTO - NOTNLM OT - CXCL8 OT - IFNG OT - fertility OT - seminal plasma OT - sperm EDAT- 2017/05/26 06:00 MHDA- 2018/06/12 06:00 CRDT- 2017/05/26 06:00 PHST- 2017/01/25 00:00 [received] PHST- 2017/05/06 00:00 [accepted] PHST- 2017/05/26 06:00 [pubmed] PHST- 2018/06/12 06:00 [medline] PHST- 2017/05/26 06:00 [entrez] AID - 3854675 [pii] AID - 10.1093/humrep/dex106 [doi] PST - ppublish SO - Hum Reprod. 2017 Jul 1;32(7):1373-1381. doi: 10.1093/humrep/dex106.