MOTRICH RUBEN DARIO
Congresos y reuniones científicas
Título:
Reduced semen quality in chronic prostatitis patients that have cellular autoimmune response to prostate antigens
Autor/es:
MOTRICH, RD; MACCIONI, M; MOLINA, R; TISSERA, A; OLMEDO, JJ; RIERA, CM; RIVERO, VE
Lugar:
Teheran, Iran
Reunión:
Congreso; Royan International Twin Congress: 7th Congress on Reproductive Biomedicine and 2nd Congress on Stem Cell Biology & Technology; 2005
Institución organizadora:
The Royan Institute (Theran, Iran), European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE), Middle East Fertility Society (MEFS) y The British Andrology Society (BAS)
Resumen:
BACKGROUND: The relationship between chronic prostatitis and fertility has been controversial for many years.
We have previously shown the presence of a cellular autoimmune response against prostate antigens in a group of
chronic prostatitis patients. Our main goal was to investigate whether chronic prostatitis (either caused by an
infection or an autoimmune response to the prostate gland) could have a deleterious effect on semen quality.
METHODS: Forty-four patients diagnosed as suffering from chronic prostatitis were included and divided into
groups according to the presence of infection and/or cellular autoimmune response against prostate antigens.
Healthy normal individuals were included as controls. Measurements for sperm concentration, motility, morphology,
prostate and seminal vesicle markers, antisperm antibodies, white blood cells and pro-inflammatory cytokines
were performed accordingly. RESULTS: The most severe abnormalities were seen in patients with no
evident infection and an autoimmune response against prostate antigens. Moreover, significantly increased levels of
pro-inflammatory cytokines were detected in seminal plasma from these patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study
shows that chronic prostatitis patients with cellular autoimmune response to prostate antigens present important
alterations in their semen quality parameters. We speculate that an autoimmune response against prostate antigens
and the inflammatory process involved may affect male fertility.
We have previously shown the presence of a cellular autoimmune response against prostate antigens in a group of
chronic prostatitis patients. Our main goal was to investigate whether chronic prostatitis (either caused by an
infection or an autoimmune response to the prostate gland) could have a deleterious effect on semen quality.
METHODS: Forty-four patients diagnosed as suffering from chronic prostatitis were included and divided into
groups according to the presence of infection and/or cellular autoimmune response against prostate antigens.
Healthy normal individuals were included as controls. Measurements for sperm concentration, motility, morphology,
prostate and seminal vesicle markers, antisperm antibodies, white blood cells and pro-inflammatory cytokines
were performed accordingly. RESULTS: The most severe abnormalities were seen in patients with no
evident infection and an autoimmune response against prostate antigens. Moreover, significantly increased levels of
pro-inflammatory cytokines were detected in seminal plasma from these patients. CONCLUSIONS: This study
shows that chronic prostatitis patients with cellular autoimmune response to prostate antigens present important
alterations in their semen quality parameters. We speculate that an autoimmune response against prostate antigens
and the inflammatory process involved may affect male fertility.
