Background

Seminal plasma contains a wide range of cytokines, chemokines and growth factors. Part of these signalling molecules assist in inducing a state of active maternal immune tolerance towards the fetus. Disbalances in seminal plasma content may contribute to pregnancy loss. This study investigated cytokine expression profiles in seminal plasma of male partners of couples with unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) and the association with clinical and lifestyle characteristics, including smoking, alcohol consumption and body mass index (BMI).

Methods

In the seminal plasma of 52 men who visited a specialised RPL clinic the levels of 25 pre-selected cytokines, chemokines and growth factors were measured by Bio-Plex assay or ELISA. Two-way hierarchical cluster analysis was performed. Identified patient clusters were compared on clinical and lifestyle characteristics.

Results

Two distinct cytokine expression profiles in the seminal plasma were revealed by cluster analysis. Patient cluster I showed relatively higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, IL-18 and TNF-α, compared to Patient cluster II. Men belonging to Patient cluster I were significantly older and had significantly more lifestyle risk factors compared to men in Patient cluster II.

Conclusion

Cluster analysis suggested the existence of a less favourable pro-inflammatory cytokine expression profile, being present in part of men affected by RPL and associated with advanced male age and lifestyle risk factors. These findings may serve as a starting point for further research into underlying mechanisms and ultimately lead to novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for couples with RPL.

中文翻译：

---

在不明原因的复发性流产中鉴定与男性年龄和生活方式特征相关的不同精浆细胞因子谱

背景

精浆含有多种细胞因子、趋化因子和生长因子。这些信号分子中的一部分有助于诱导母体对胎儿的积极免疫耐受状态。精浆含量失衡可能导致流产。本研究调查了原因不明的复发性流产 (RPL) 夫妇的男性伴侣精浆中的细胞因子表达谱，以及与临床和生活方式特征的关系，包括吸烟、饮酒和体重指数 (BMI)。

方法

在就诊 RPL 专科诊所的 52 名男性的精浆中，通过 Bio-Plex 测定或 ELISA 测量了 25 种预先选择的细胞因子、趋化因子和生长因子的水平。进行了双向层次聚类分析。比较确定的患者群的临床和生活方式特征。

结果

通过聚类分析揭示了精浆中两种不同的细胞因子表达谱。与患者群 II 相比，患者群 I 显示出相对较高水平的促炎细胞因子，包括 IL-1α、IL-1β、IL-6、IL-8、IL-12、IL-18 和 TNF-α。与患者群 II 中的男性相比，属于患者群 I 的男性年龄明显更大，并且生活方式风险因素明显更多。

结论

聚类分析表明存在不太有利的促炎细胞因子表达谱，存在于受 RPL 影响的部分男性中，并与高龄男性和生活方式风险因素相关。这些发现可以作为进一步研究潜在机制的起点，并最终为患有 RPL 的夫妇带来新的诊断和治疗方法。