Title:Semen Proteomics Reveals the Impact of Enterococcus faecalis on male Fertility
VOLUME: 25 ISSUE: 5
Author(s):Giuseppe Grande*, Federica Vincenzoni, Francesca Mancini, Silvia Baroni, Giovanni Luca, Riccardo Calafiore, Riccardo Marana, Massimo Castagnola, Alfredo Pontecorvi and Domenico Milardi
Affiliation:International Scientific Institute "Paul VI", Catholic University, Rome, Institute of Chemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Catholic University, Rome, International Scientific Institute "Paul VI", Catholic University, Rome, Institute of Chemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Catholic University, Rome, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Department of Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, International Scientific Institute "Paul VI", Catholic University, Rome, Institute of Chemistry and Clinical Biochemistry, Catholic University, Rome, International Scientific Institute "Paul VI", Catholic University, Rome, International Scientific Institute "Paul VI", Catholic University, Rome
Keywords:Enterococcus faecalis, proteomics, male accessory gland infections, MAGI, prostatitis, male reproduction.
Abstract:Background: Infectious etiologies contribute to 15% of male factor infertility. Enterococcus
faecalis (E. faecalis) is commonly identified in semen culture of infertile men and it is associated
with significantly poorer semen quality.
Objective: Aim of this study was to identify new seminal biomarkers for the male tract infection by
E. faecalis, using proteomic profiling, in order to understand the effect of E. faecalis on the
physiopathology of male reproduction.
Methods: We included in the study ten patients seeking medical care for primary infertility with
prostate-vesicular-epidydimitis and with microbiological analysis on semen and/or prostatic secretions
positive for E. faecalis. Ten fertile men have been enrolled as a control group in the protocol.
An aliquot of each seminal plasma was subjected to an in-solution digestion protocol and analyzed
using an Ultimate 3000 RSLCnano HPLC apparatus coupled to a LTQ Orbitrap Elite mass spectrometer.
Results: Eight proteins have not been identified in the group of controls and have been observed in
a remarkable proportion of patients, mainly involved in immune system activity (CD177,
Swiprosin-1 and 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase). Arylsulfatase has been identified in the group of
controls and was absent in all patients with infection. Three proteins (TIMP-1, WFDC domain
protein 2 and Carboxypeptidase E) have been observed significantly different in patients versus
controls, mainly related with inflammation.
Conclusions: This is the first application of MS-based proteomics aimed to reveal an array of proteins
in the seminal plasma and reflecting the effect of the infection by E. faecalis on semen composition.
