Clinical immunology
Interleukin 6 and interleukin 8 concentrations in seminal plasma of male with seminogram abnormalities

Male infertility is a major diagnostic and therapeutic problem. Inflammatory process seems to be one of the most important factor influencing the parameters of seminogram. As currently used methods in above pathologies are still insufficient it has been postulated that novel parameters are necessary to make the diagnostics more accurate. Proinflammatory cytokines i.e. interleukins 6 (IL-6) and 8 (IL-8) seem to play an important role in inflammatory processes in male genital tract. The aim of present study was to evaluate their significance in semen diagnostic in correlation to seminogram parameters as well as to well established inflammatory signs i.e. leukocytospermia. We evaluated the correlation between the level of IL-6 and the rate of immobile spermatozoa in men with asthenoteratozoospermia that suggests its influence on impaired sperm motility. This observation was reinforced by the fact, that IL-6 level negatively correlated with slow progressive type of movement in this group of men. The increased levels of IL-6 and IL-8 in seminal plasma of men with leukocytospermia and correlation between IL-6 level and number of leukocytes in semen in this group of men suggested relation of IL-8 and 6 with mobilization of inflammatory infiltrate in male reproductive system.