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Increase of leucocyte-derived extracellular traps (ETs) in semen samples from human acute epididymitis patients—a pilot study

  • Reproductive Physiology and Disease
  • Published:
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

To study the effector mechanism against pathogens of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) and macrophages, called ETosis, involving the release of extracellular traps (ETs) in patients with acute epididymitis. To assess the different ET phenotypes present in semen samples and to identify correlations between ETosis and clinical parameters.

Materials and methods

Samples from patients diagnosed with acute epididymitis were examined and compared with samples from uninfected controls. Biochemical analyses of seminal fluid included determination of peroxidase, α-glucosidase, fructose, and elastase levels. ETosis in semen was determined through presence of citrullinated histones, global histones, and extracellular DNA. Different ETosis phenotypes such as spread ETs, aggregated ETs, and diffuse ETs were identified by co-localisation of extruded DNA with myeloperoxidase and global histones. Anti-CD15+ and anti-CD68+ antibodies were used to identify different cell lines.

Results

Revealed a high number of ETs compared with the control group. The mean number of CD15+PMN and CD68+ macrophages was higher in the acute epididymitis group. ETosis increase in ejaculates correlated with clinical parameters such as enhancement of elastase concentrations and diminution of fructose in the semen.

Conclusions

This work shows for the first time the presence of ETs and their components in semen from patients with acute epididymitis. The presence of infections is an important factor for induction of ETs in semen. Furthermore, the presence of ETosis in ejaculates is suggestive of developing infectious processes and might possibly have a diagnostic value.

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Data availability

The data and material can be requested to the corresponding author.

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Funding

This work was funded by the Institute of Parasitology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany. FZ was a recipient of a post-doctoral scholarship financed by the Universidad de La Frontera, Chile.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory in Reproductive Medicine and Molecular Endocrinology, Center of Excellence in Translational Medicine-Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus (CEMT – BIOREN), Universidad de La Frontera, Avenida Alemania, 0458, Temuco, Chile

    Fabiola Zambrano, Mabel Schulz, Pamela Uribe & Raúl Sánchez

  2. Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile

    Fabiola Zambrano, Mabel Schulz & Raúl Sánchez

  3. Department of Urology, Pediatric Urology and Andrology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany

    Adrian Pilatz, Florian Wagenlehner & Hans-Christian Schuppe

  4. Institute of Parasitology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany

    Ivan Conejeros, Anja Taubert & Carlos Hermosilla

Authors
  1. Fabiola Zambrano
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  2. Mabel Schulz
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  3. Adrian Pilatz
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  4. Florian Wagenlehner
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  5. Hans-Christian Schuppe
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  6. Ivan Conejeros
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  7. Pamela Uribe
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  8. Anja Taubert
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  9. Raúl Sánchez
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  10. Carlos Hermosilla
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Contributions

FZ, IC, MS, and PU performed the quantification of ETs and image analysis. AT, RS, and CH cooperated in research design, data analysis, and manuscript review. AP, HS, and FW cooperated in manuscript review. AP cared for the patients and controls and provided the clinical data. All the authors checked and accepted the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Raúl Sánchez.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Ethics approval

This study was approved by the Ethics Committees of the Universidad de La Frontera and University of Giessen (Ref. N°100/7-Clinical trials: DRKS00003325). All work has been carried out in compliance with the Helsinki Declaration.

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Patients and controls were enrolled after signing consent.

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Zambrano, F., Schulz, M., Pilatz, A. et al. Increase of leucocyte-derived extracellular traps (ETs) in semen samples from human acute epididymitis patients—a pilot study. J Assist Reprod Genet 37, 2223–2231 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-020-01883-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-020-01883-7

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