Role for tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 1-beta (IL-1β) determination in seminal plasma during infertility investigation

Objective: To evaluate the clinical relevance of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin 1-beta (IL-1 ss) determination in seminal plasma during infertility investigation. Design: Prospective study. Setting: Outpatient infertility clinic of a university-based hospital. Patient(s): Randomly chosen asymptomatic males (n = 148) from subfertile couples. Intervention(s): None. Main Outcome Measure(s): Determination of TNF-alpha and IL-1 ss in seminal plasma (SP) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In aliquots of the same ejaculates: 1) evaluation of semen quality with sperm analysis and sperm function testing; 2) determination of antisperm antibodies (ASA) of the immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgA class; 3) microbial screening; and 4) immunocytochemical round cell differentiation to determine leukocyte counts and ratios. Medical history, clinical examination, and determination of subsequent fertility (after control for female infertility factors). Result(s): The concentrations of TNF-alpha and IL-1 ss in SP correlated significantly (r = 0.65; P<.001), and these parameters were significantly related to the leukocyte ratio (%LC of the seminal round cells (r = 0.36; P<.001) and the leukocyte counts per ejaculate (r = 0.34; P<.001). There was no relationship of TNF-alpha and IL-1 ss levels in SP with semen quality or parameters of sperm functional capacity, and there was no association with local ASA of the IgG or IgA class. The concentration of both cytokines was also not related to the outcome of the microbial screening and did not affect subsequent fertility. No correlation of TNF-alpha and IL-1 ss levels in SP with the concentration of C-reactive protein in same-day serum samples was found. Conclusion(S): The levels of TNF-alpha and IL-1 ss in seminal fluid correlate significantly with leukocyte counts and ratios in the same ejaculates, as indicators of silent male genital tract infection/inflammation. However, this is not related to semen cultures in asymptomatic individuals and not associated with clinically relevant parameters of semen quality, including sperm fertilizing capacity.