Cytokines and oxidative stress in the germ line

Abstract

Cytokines are important mediators of the immunologic response and involved in numerous physiological and pathological processes in the male genital tract. The same cytokines that act as elements of immunomodulation for the male gonad appear in large concentrations in semen in a number of pathological conditions, including autoimmune diseases, spinal cord injury, varicocele, or genital tract infection/infl ammation. The activated macrophages and neutrophils release reactive oxygen intermediates and secrete proinfl ammatory cytokines, both of which can affect spermatozoa through peroxidative processes of sperm membrane components and DNA. Elucidation of these mechanisms and their interactions can be critical to develop novel diagnostic tests and treatment of male genital tract infection/infl ammation. This chapter covers the current evidence about a relationship among the cytokines, antioxidants, prooxidants, and semen parameters.