Premium
ORIGINAL ARTICLE: The Role of IL‐6, IL‐10, TNF‐α and its Receptors TNFR1 and TNFR2 in the Local Regulatory System of Normal and Impaired Human Spermatogenesis
Author(s) -
Białas Małgorzata,
Fiszer Dorota,
Rozwadowska Natalia,
Kosicki Włodzimierz,
Jedrzejczak Piotr,
Kurpisz Maciej
Publication year - 2009
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/j.1600-0897.2009.00711.x
Subject(s) - spermatogenesis , spermatid , biology , receptor , tumor necrosis factor alpha , male infertility , gene , andrology , gene expression , endocrinology , cancer research , medicine , immunology , infertility , genetics , pregnancy
Problem To investigate the expression of genes coding for selected cytokines with antagonistic functions (IL‐6, IL‐10, TNF‐α) as well as TNF‐α receptors (TNFR1 and TNFR2) in correct spermatogenesis (normal proliferation), maturation arrest (proliferation inhibited) and testicular tumors (overgrowth). Method of study Transcription levels of genes coding for IL‐6, IL‐10, TNF‐α, TNFR1 and TNFR2 were quantitatively examined using a real‐time RT‐PCR. Results Significantly higher amounts of IL‐6 mRNA were observed in testicular tumor samples than in normal spermatogenesis or in some syndromes with maturation arrest (MA at spermatid level or SCOS), while IL‐10 gene levels were fairly stable. In homogenates with maturation arrest, the expression of TNFR1 gene was markedly higher than in testicular tumors, while the opposite phenomenon was found in respect to TNFR2 gene. Conclusion The results obtained indicate that changes in activities of intra‐testicular cytokines may promote different distinct pathologies such as testicular cancer or infertility.