Seminal Levels of Omentin-1/ITLN1 in Inflammatory Conditions Related to Male Infertility and Localization in Spermatozoa and Tissues of Male Reproductive System

Elena Moretti; Cinzia Signorini; Daria Noto; Sergio Antonio Tripodi; Andrea Menchiari; Ester Sorrentino; Giulia Collodel

doi:10.2147/JIR.S339515

Seminal Levels of Omentin-1/ITLN1 in Inflammatory Conditions Related to Male Infertility and Localization in Spermatozoa and Tissues of Male Reproductive System

J Inflamm Res. 2022 Mar 26:15:2019-2031. doi: 10.2147/JIR.S339515. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Elena Moretti¹, Cinzia Signorini¹, Daria Noto¹, Sergio Antonio Tripodi², Andrea Menchiari³, Ester Sorrentino², Giulia Collodel¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
² Department of Pathology Unit, AOUS Siena, Siena, Italy.
³ Department of Business and Law, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.

Abstract

Purpose: Omentin-1/intelectin (ITLN)1 is an adipocytokine with both anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative stress properties, and little is known about its role in male reproduction. This study was aimed at exploring the relationships among omentin-1/ITLN1, semen parameters and F₂-isoprostanes (F₂-IsoPs), a maker of oxidative stress, in groups of patients affected by different pathologies. In addition, omentin-1/ITLN1 immunolocalization was assessed in ejaculated spermatozoa and in tissues of male reproductive system.

Patients and methods: Semen samples of infertile patients with varicocele (n = 27), genitourinary infections (n = 17), idiopathic infertility (n = 15) and fertile men (n = 21) were analyzed following WHO guidelines, and seminal plasma were used to determine omentin-1/ITLN1 by ELISA and F₂-IsoP levels by gas chromatography/negative-ion chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry. Omentin-1/ITLN1 was localized in human sperm and in the tissue of male reproductive system.

Results: Considering all participants, F₂-IsoP and omentin-1/ITLN1 levels were positively correlated (p = 0.000), and both these indices were negatively correlated with sperm parameters. Infertile patients showed lower sperm parameters than fertile ones; varicocele and infection groups had significantly increased levels of F₂-IsoPs (both p = 0.000) and omentin-1/ITLN1 (p = 0.000 and p = 0.001, respectively). Omentin-1/ITLN1 signal was located as a spot in the connecting piece (in 43.5% of cases midpiece was also labeled) of sperm from fertile men and in cytoplasmic residue and in the entire tail in sperm of patients with varicocele and genitourinary infections. A focal omentin-1/ITLN1 immunolabelling was evident in the basal area of epididymal tubule, and a diffuse signal was present in the seminal vesicle epithelium.

Conclusion: Semen omentin-1/ITLN1 originates from seminal vesicles, its levels increase in inflammatory conditions and are negatively correlated with sperm parameters. For this reason, a sort of protective role of omentin-1/ITLN1 can be postulated, as this adipokine shows anti-inflammatory properties also in many other biological systems.

Keywords: F2-isoprostanes; adipocytokines; epididymis; human sperm; immunocytochemistry; seminal vesicles.

Grants and funding

There is no funding to report.