Immunopathogenesis of Toll Like Receptors (2,4,9) among Patients with Male Infertility in Basrah Province

Abstract

Infertility remains a global health challenge with devastating psycho-social consequences in many communities, and the underlying long-term risk of couple separation is also a major clinical and social problem. Infertility is defined as the inability of a couple to conceive naturally after one year of intercourse. The aim of the study was to determine the immunomolecular characterization of TLR genes. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are an important family of receptors that constitute the first line of defense against pathogens. They can recognize both invading pathogens and endogenous danger molecules released from dying cells and damaged tissues and play a key role in linking innate and adaptive immunity. TLRs are widely distributed in both immune and other body cells.

A cross sectional case control study was carried out by ELISA technique, among male infertility patients who attended to the infertility and in vitro fertilization center (IVF) of Basrah province on September, 2021, and June 2022. A questionnaire paper was used to record special notes. Samples were collected from (176 patients and controls divided as 88 patients of male samples and 88 samples of the control group) including seminal fluid and blood.

The immunological study showed that there was a statistically significant difference in Toll-like receptor 2 (P.value <0.05) which increased in patients more than in control groups, where TLRs 4 and TLRs 9 have not significant statistical differences but TLR4 increased in patients more than in control groups, in addition, TLR2 concentration according to seminal fluid abnormalities was found to be statistically significant in patients with asthenozoospermia and necrozoospermia.