Interleukin-10 levels in seminal plasma: implications for chronic prostatitis-chronic pelvic pain syndrome.

Abstract

Chronic prostatitis-chronic pelvic pain syndrome is a disease of unknown pathogenesis. We investigated whether the chronic inflammation and pain experienced by patients may be caused by an imbalance of proinflammatory versus anti-inflammatory cytokines within the prostate, namely interleukin (IL)-8, interferon-gamma and IL-2 versus IL-10. We measured these inflammatory cytokines in seminal plasma as a reflection of the prostate environment. We measured levels of IL-8, interferon-gamma, IL-2 and IL-10 in the seminal plasma of 31 patients with chronic prostatitis-chronic pelvic pain syndrome and 14 controls using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results were correlated with health related quality of life, as measured by the Multidimensional Pain Inventory, McGill pain questionnaire and International Prostate Symptom Score. The cytokines analyzed were detectable in the seminal plasma of patients with chronic prostatitis-chronic pelvic pain syndrome and controls. Interferon-gamma, IL-2 and IL-10 levels were statistically greater in patients. Furthermore, IL-10 levels correlated directly with measures of life interference (r = 0.52, p <0.01) and pain severity (r = 0.53, p <0 0.01), and inversely with spousal support (r = -0.39, p <0.04). Our study suggests that IL-10 may have a role in the pain symptoms experienced by patients with chronic prostatitis-chronic pelvic pain syndrome.