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Detection of invariant natural killer T cells in ejaculates from infertile patients with chronic inflammation of genital tract
Author(s) -
Duan YongGang,
Chen Shujian,
Haidl Gerhard,
Allam JeanPierre
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
american journal of reproductive immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.071
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1600-0897
pISSN - 1046-7408
DOI - 10.1111/aji.12671
Subject(s) - inflammation , biology , immunology , natural killer t cell , flow cytometry , interleukin 17 , t cell , immune system
Chronic inflammation of genital tract is thought to play a major role in male fertility disorder. Natural killer ( NK ) T cells are a heterogeneous group of T cells that share properties of both T cells and NK cells which display immunoregulatory properties. However, little is known regarding the presence and function of NK T cells in ejaculates from patients with chronic inflammation of genital tract. Invariant NK T ( iNK T) cells were detected by invariant (Vα24‐JαQ) TCR chain in ejaculates from patients suffering from chronic inflammation of genital tract ( CIGT ) using flow cytometry and immunofluorescence of double staining (n = 40). Inflammatory cytokines interleukin ( IL )‐6, IL ‐17, and IFN ‐γ were detected in cell‐free seminal plasma using an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA ). The correlation between the percentage of iNK T cells and spermatozoa count, motility, vitality, seminal IL ‐6, IL ‐17, and IFN ‐γ was investigated. Significant percentages of iNK T cells above 10% were detected in 50% ( CIGT ‐ NKT + group). A negative correlation was detected between the percentage of iNK T cells and spermatozoa count ( r =−.5957, P =.0056), motility ( r =−.6163, P =.0038), and vitality ( r =−.8032, P =.0019) in CIGT ‐ NKT + group (n=20). Interestingly, a significant correlation of iNK T cells to seminal IL ‐6 ( r =.7083, P =.0005), IFN ‐γ ( r =.9578, P <.0001) was detected whereas lack of correlation between iNK T cells and IL ‐17 ( r =−.1557, P =.5122) in CIGT ‐ NKT + group. The proliferative response of iNK T cells could accompany an inflammatory response to spermatozoa and consequently influence sperm quality through secretion of IFN ‐γ but not IL ‐17 under chronic inflammatory condition.