Impact of IL-8 and Heat Shock Protein 60 Kda on Fertility of Chronic Prostatitis Patients in Kiev, Ukraine

Rationale: Heat shock proteins (Hsp) are essential mammalian and bacterial stress proteins, having cellular regulatory functions. Local or systemic perturbation of HSP due to inflammation or infection can negatively affect fertility.

Methods: A comprehensive evaluation of semen quality was done on aliquots of ejaculates which were analyzed for Hsp60, IL-8, IFN-γ, IFN-α in infertile patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS). Microscopy semen was analyzed to measure sperm concentration and percentage of motility using WHO criteria.

Results: Нsp60 was present in a soluble form in 100% semen in men with CP/CPP (n=89). The presence of Hsp60 in semen correlated with the concentration of IL-8 (p<0.01, r=0.273), and the number of leukocytes (p<0.05, r=0.254). Hsp60 was not related to semen quality under microscopic analysis. Hsp60 did not correlate with IFN-γ or IFN-α levels (p>0.05).

Conclusions: While IL-8 correlated with Hsp60 in seminal fluid, Hsp60 failed to be associated with semen quality in infertile patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome.