Investigation of seminal plasma chitotriosidase-1 and leukocyte elastase as potential markers for 'silent' inflammation of the reproductive tract of the infertile male - a pilot study.

Inflammatory mediators - chitotriosidase-1 (CHIT1) and leukocyte elastase (LE) - were analyzed in human seminal plasma in relation to total antioxidative status (TAS) and pro-inflammatory markers IL-1ß and IL-6. Samples collected from 34 males who were part of infertile couples were divided into normozoospermic (N; n = 12, without symptoms of inflammation), oligozoospermic (O; n = 11) and teratozoospermic (T; n = 11) groups. significant differences were observed only in CHIT1 concentration between N and O samples. However, a higher mean LE concentration was also observed in O and T patients (3.7-times and 900-times, respectively) compared with the N group. in IL-1ß and IL-6 concentrations, an upward trend was observed from N, through O, up to the T group. The positive correlation between the concentration of IL-1ß and the activity and specific activity of CHIT11 as well as the moderate negative correlation between concentrations of IL-1ß and CHIT1 may suggest that elevated CHIT11 levels appeared in early stages of inflammation before the increase in IL-1ß concentrations, or remained stable even after the levels of cytokine decreased. The above seem to confirm the role of CHIT1 in the manifestation of 'silent' inflammation at a very early stage. To conclude, CHIT1 concentration appears to be an interesting biomarker that signals the presence of possible 'silent' inflammation accompanying oligozoospermia. We cannot draw such conclusions regarding LE concentration, because, although we observed differences in the mean values and medians between analyzed groups, they were not significant. The utility of CHIT1 in the follow-up of oligozoospermia-associated 'silent' subclinical inflammation is promising, but further studies on a larger patient test set are required.

Oxidatively modified forms of albumin in patients with risk factors of metabolic syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a complex metabolic disease connected especially with lipid and carbohydrate disturbances. It is postulated that oxidative stress (OS) is linked to metabolic syndrome, constituting a novel component of its pathogenesis. AIM: We aimed to examine the plasma level of oxidatively modified proteins--advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) and ischemia modified albumin (IMA)--as well as thiol (SH) groups and evaluate their connection with metabolic agents in relation to MetS prevalence. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The levels of AOPP, IMA and SH groups were measured spectrophotometrically in 106 patients with MetS risk factors and in 32 control subjects. RESULTS: The levels of examined parameters differed significantly between patients with MetS risk factors and the control group. AOPP significantly correlated with glucose (r = 0.30, p = 0.008), HDL-Ch (r = -0.34, p = 0.005), TG (r = 0.48, p < 0.001) and fibrinogen (r = 0.37, p < 0.001). The levels of AOPP and IMA increased progressively with the number of MetS risk factors, being the most significant for AOPP. The highest values of AOPP were associated with the presence of at least three risk factors. Only AOPP were an independent determinant for MetS occurrence in the studied population (OR = 2.72, p = 0.04). Mutual dependence between metabolic, oxidative stress and inflammatory parameters was revealed. CONCLUSIONS: Oxidative modifications of proteins are increased in MetS and accumulation of MetS risk factors enhances manifestation of OS. AOPP is the most appropriate parameter for determination of OS, with potential diagnostic value in MetS patients.