Production of interleukin-1-like molecules by human sperm cells

To characterize and localize interleukin (IL)-1alpha and IL-1beta in human sperm cells.

Prospective and comparative study.

Andrology clinic of a university hospital.

Two groups of normogonadotropic men: 17 fertile men (donors with proved fertility) and 8 oligoteratoasthenospermic infertile men.

None. MAIN OTUCOME MEASURE(s): Evaluation of IL-1alpha and IL-1beta levels and expression in sperm cells by immunohistochemical staining, immunoassay, and Western blot analysis.

Both types of IL-1-like molecules (IL-1alpha and IL-1beta) were expressed in the tail, neck, and head of sperm cells of fertile men and patients with oligoteratoasthenospermia. Swim-up sperm cells from fertile men and patients with oligoteratoasthenospermia secreted similar levels of IL-1-like molecules. The levels of IL-1beta-like molecules were higher than those of IL-1alpha-like molecules in both groups. The expressed IL-1-like molecules were characterized by the presence a 60-kd protein for both IL-1alpha-like and IL-1beta-like molecules. In some samples of both fertile men and infertile men with oligoteratoasthenospermia, 17-kd, 33-kd, and 45-kd IL-1beta-like molecules were detected. Impairment of sperm function, such as decreased sperm count and motility and/or impaired morphology, was not related to the capacity of sperm cells to produce IL-1-like molecules.

IL-1 molecules originating in sperm cells may play a role in the physiologic functions of sperm cells (autocrine effect) and/or in cell-cell interactions within the testis (paracrine effect).