Background: The NLRP3 inflammasome protein complexes are the intracellular receptor responsible for expression NLRP3 and pro-IL-1 and maturation of IL-1 and IL-18 by activation of caspase-1. It has been widely accepted that these cytokines are related to infection and inflammation as well as have impaired effects on sperm quality in patient with spinal cord injury. Objective: the aim of the current study was to determinate if the NLRP3 inflammasome expression and activation and their end products (IL-1and IL-18) have negative impact on the sperm quality in infertile men. Methods: semen samples were obtained from 264 infertile men by masturbation after 3-5 days of abstinence; these samples were subjected to semen analysis to evaluate sperm motility, morphology and count. Total mRNA of NLRP3, IL-1and IL-18 was extracted from whole semen cells pellet and their expression was done by using qRT- PCR after convert them to cDNA. Quantitation of both IL-1β and IL-18 in the aliquots of seminal plasma was performed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Detection of NLRP3 and caspase-3 in semen smear was done using Immunoperoxidase staining kit. Results: there were significantly weak positive correlation between the concentration of mRNA of IL-1and viscosity (P=0.035). Between the concentration of mRNA of NLRP3 and sperm count and non-progressive motile sperms (P=0.023) (P=0.013(respectively. There were significant weak negative correlation between the amount of mRNA of IL-1and progressive motile sperms (P=0.037). The amount of NLRP3 protein was significantly positive correlated with non- progressive motile sperm (P=0.014). WhileNLRP3 protein was significantly weak negative correlated with round cells (P=0.019). Translated protein of caspase-3 in the sperm cells was highly significant weak negative correlated with round cells (P=0.003). Conclusion: the present study suggests that the concentration of NLRP3 expression and its translated protein in defective sperm have indirect impaired effect on sperm parameters especially sperm motility and sperm count.
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1-8-2020
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