Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0021359 (infertility)
 26,075 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Celiac disease and C282Y homozygous hemochromatosis have a similar increasing incidence across Europe. Both have gradients of frequency which increase from Turkey to North West Europe and culminate with a high frequency in Ireland. These two gradients follow the path of the Neolithic settlers who reached the edge of Europe at Ireland. Celiac disease and C282Y hereditary hemochromatosis have opposite effects on iron absorption and probably on the absorption of some other divalent metals including copper. The C282Y mutation is estimated to be some 2000 years old. Celiac disease is likely a much older disorder. The C282Y mutation may have been positively selected for as it increases absorption of divalent metal ions in celiac disease and thus has a mitigating effect on the infertility which may be associated with celiac disease.
 ...
PMID:The C282Y mutation may have been positively selected as it mitigates the infertility of celiac disease. 1635 57

Oxidative stress in the reproductive system is thought to have an effect on the fertilizing ability of sperm. The purpose of this study was to assess the interaction of iron (Fe) and copper (Cu) ions in suspected subfertile and fertile male groups and to find out the relationships of the semen parameters (sperm count, motility, and abnormal morphology), glutathione, malondialdehyde, and reactive oxygen species with these variables. Semen and blood obtained from 60 subfertile men and from 40 fertile volunteers were examined. The sperm count and motility in the subfertile male group were found lower than those in fertile male group (p < 0.001). Cu levels in serum and seminal plasma in the subfertile male group were significantly higher than those in the fertile male group (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05, respectively). There was also a significant increase in the Fe level of seminal plasma in the subfertile male group (p < 0.001). However, there was no significant difference in the Fe level of serum in the subfertile male group. In conclusion, these findings suggest that Cu and Fe might be mediators of the effects of oxidative damage and play an essential role in spermatogenesis and male infertility; the determination of Fe and Cu levels in serum and seminal plasma during infertility investigation is recommended.
 ...
PMID:Impact of Cu and Fe concentrations on oxidative damage in male infertility. 1705 58

Lipid peroxidation is known to be a major factor in the aetiology of defective sperm function. Although biochemical assays for this process exist, they are relatively insensitive and require large numbers of spermatozoa; a condition that cannot be met with many infertility specimens. Recently, a new approach for monitoring peroxidative damage has been introduced, involving the probe BODIPY (581/591) C(11), which readily incorporates into cells and undergoes a spectral emission shift when attacked by reactive oxygen metabolites. We have examined the applicability of this probe as an indicator of oxidative stress in human sperm populations using flow cytometry as an end point. The measurement of peroxidation with BODIPY C(11) demonstrated significant dependence on the presence of a ferrous ion promoter (P < 0.001), which was significantly enhanced in sperm recovered from low-density Percoll fractions (P < 0.05) and was particularly damaging to the sperm midpiece. Iron-induced radical formation was suppressed by ascorbate in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.001) and could only be promoted by Fe(II) and Cu(II); nickel, zinc and Fe(III) were ineffective. The Fe(II)-promoted BODIPY C(11) signal was significantly correlated with the measurement of reactive oxygen species generation with dihydroethidium. We conclude that BODIPY C(11) is an extremely useful probe for indexing peroxidative damage in human spermatozoa.
 ...
PMID:Analysis of lipid peroxidation in human spermatozoa using BODIPY C11. 1732 68

The aim of the present study was to measure zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) concentration in human semen and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in seminal plasma and correlate the results with sperm quality. Semen samples were obtained from men (N = 168) undergoing routine infertility evaluation. The study design included two groups based on the ejaculate parameters. Group I (n = 39) consisted of males with normal ejaculate (normozoospermia), and group II (n = 129) consisted of males with pathological spermiogram. Seminal Zn and Fe were measured in 162 samples (group I, n = 38; group II, n = 124) and SOD activity in 149 samples (group I, n = 37; group II, n = 112). Correlations were found between SOD activity and Fe and Zn concentration, and between Fe and Zn concentration. SOD activity was negatively associated with volume of semen and positively associated with rapid progressive motility, nonprogressive motility, and concentration. Negative correlation was stated between Fe concentration and normal morphology. Mean SOD activity in seminal plasma of semen from men of group I was higher than in seminal plasma of semen from men of group II. Fe concentration was higher in teratozoospermic males than in males with normal morphology of spermatozoa in group II. Our results suggest that Fe may influence spermatozoa morphology.
 ...
PMID:Zinc and iron concentration and SOD activity in human semen and seminal plasma. 2092 14

Endometriosis is a chronic pelvic inflammatory process. Local inflammation is known to play a role in pain and infertility associated with the disease, and may be extensively involved in molecular and cellular processes leading to endometriosis development. In this review, we focus on two inflammatory mediators clearly implicated in the pathogenesis of endometriosis, iron and NF-kappaB, and their potential association. Iron is essential for all living organisms, but excess iron results in toxicity and is linked to pathological disorders. In endometriosis patients, iron overload has been demonstrated in the different compartments of the peritoneal cavity (peritoneal fluid, endometriotic lesions, peritoneum and macrophages). This iron overload affects numerous mechanisms involved in endometriosis development. Moreover, iron can generate free radical species able to react with a wide range of cellular constituents, inducing cellular damage. Overproduction of reactive oxygen species also impairs cellular function by altering gene expression via regulation of redox-sensitive transcription factors such as NF-kappaB, which is clearly implicated in endometriosis. Indeed, NF-kappaB is activated in endometriotic lesions and peritoneal macrophages of endometriosis patients, which stimulates synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines, generating a positive feedback loop in the NF-kappaB pathway. NF-kappaB-mediated gene transcription promotes a variety of processes, including endometriotic lesion establishment, maintenance and development. In conclusion, iron and NF-kappaB appear to be linked and both are clearly involved in endometriosis development, making these pathways an attractive target for future treatment and prevention of this disease.
 ...
PMID:Insights into iron and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) involvement in chronic inflammatory processes in peritoneal endometriosis. 2169 40

Neisseria gonorrhoeae is an obligate human pathogen that causes the common sexually transmitted infection gonorrhea. Gonococcal infections cause significant morbidity, particularly among women, as the organism ascends to the upper reproductive tract, resulting in pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, and infertility. In the last few years, antibiotic resistance rates have risen dramatically, leading to severe restriction of treatment options for gonococcal disease. Gonococcal infections do not elicit protective immunity, nor is there an effective vaccine to prevent the disease. Thus, further understanding of the expression, function, and regulation of surface antigens could lead to better treatment and prevention modalities in the future. In the current study, we determined that an iron-repressed regulator, MpeR, interacted specifically with the DNA sequence upstream of fetA and activated FetA expression. Interestingly, MpeR was previously shown to regulate the expression of gonococcal antimicrobial efflux systems. We confirmed that the outer membrane transporter FetA allows gonococcal strain FA1090 to utilize the xenosiderophore ferric enterobactin as an iron source. However, we further demonstrated that FetA has an extended range of substrates that encompasses other catecholate xenosiderophores, including ferric salmochelin and the dimers and trimers of dihydroxybenzoylserine. We demonstrated that fetA is part of an iron-repressed, MpeR-activated operon which putatively encodes other iron transport proteins. This is the first study to describe a regulatory linkage between antimicrobial efflux and iron transport in N. gonorrhoeae. The regulatory nidus that links these systems, MpeR, is expressed exclusively by pathogenic neisseriae and is therefore expected to be an important virulence factor.
 ...
PMID:The iron-repressed, AraC-like regulator MpeR activates expression of fetA in Neisseria gonorrhoeae. 2194 70

Peritoneal endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by increased numbers of peritoneal macrophages and their secreted products. Inflammation plays a major role in pain and infertility associated with endometriosis, but is also extensively involved in the molecular processes that lead to peritoneal lesion development. Peritoneal oxidative stress is currently thought to be a major constituent of the endometriosis-associated inflammatory response. Excessive production of reactive oxygen species, secondary to peritoneal influx of pro-oxidants such as heme and iron during retrograde menstruation, may induce cellular damage and increased proinflammatory gene expression through nuclear factor-kappa B activation. In particular, prostaglandin biosynthetic enzyme expression is regulated by this transcriptional factor, and increased peritoneal prostaglandin concentrations have been demonstrated in endometriosis. In the light of available data collected from patient biopsies, as well as in vitro and in vivo studies, the respective involvement and potential molecular interactions of iron, nuclear factor-kappa B and prostaglandins in the pathogenesis of endometriosis are explored and discussed. The key role of peritoneal macrophages is emphasized and potential therapeutic targets are examined.
 ...
PMID:Peritoneal endometriosis is an inflammatory disease. 2220 53

There is a growing body of evidence that nutritional habits may have a significant effect on both male and female fertility. Maintenance of normal body mass may be effective in the prevention of infertility resulting from ovulatory disorders. Underweight and, to a larger degree, overweight and/or obesity, are related to the enhanced risk of infertility. Insulin resistance is an important pathogenic mechanism that may impair ovulation. Adequate intake of monounsaturated fatty acids, derived mainly from vegetable fats, as well as avoidance of trans isomers of unsaturated fatty acids which are present in industrially produced cakes and sweets, crisps, fast-foods, powdered soups and hard margarines, may be effective in the prevention of infertility in females. Choice of plant rather than animal sources of proteins, decrease in glycemic load of the diet, use of dietary supplements containing iron and folic acid, could also be beneficial. Avoidance of vitamin B12 deficiency and its supplementation seem to be important in the prevention of early miscarriages. Sufficient intake of antioxidants also promotes female reproductive functions. Free radical processes play an important role in the development of male factor infertility. It was shown that proper intake or supplementation with antioxidants may be effective in its prevention and treatment. Such nutrients as zinc, selenium and folic acid act beneficially on sperm quality. A well-balanced diet seems to play an important role in the prevention of infertility in both sexes.
 ...
PMID:[Nutrition and fertility]. 2251 97

Endometriosis, a common cause of pelvic pain and female infertility, depends on the growth of vascularized endometrial tissue at ectopic sites. Endometrial fragments reach the peritoneal cavity during the fertile years: local cues decide whether they yield endometriotic lesions. Macrophages are recruited at sites of hypoxia and tissue stress, where they clear cell debris and heme-iron and generate pro-life and pro-angiogenesis signals. Macrophages are abundant in endometriotic lesions, where are recruited and undergo alternative activation. In rodents macrophages are required for lesions to establish and to grow; bone marrow-derived Tie-2 expressing macrophages specifically contribute to lesions neovasculature, possibly because they concur to the recruitment of circulating endothelial progenitors, and sustain their survival and the integrity of the vessel wall. Macrophages sense cues (hypoxia, cell death, iron overload) in the lesions and react delivering signals to restore the local homeostasis: their action represents a necessary, non-redundant step in the natural history of the disease. Endometriosis may be due to a misperception of macrophages about ectopic endometrial tissue. They perceive it as a wound, they activate programs leading to ectopic cell survival and tissue vascularization. Clearing this misperception is a critical area for the development of novel medical treatments of endometriosis, an urgent and unmet medical need.
 ...
PMID:Endometriosis, a disease of the macrophage. 2337 70

Improved survival in thalassemia has refocused attention on quality of life, including family planning. Understanding the issues associated with infertility and adverse pregnancy outcomes may impact clinical care of patients with thalassemia. We report the number and outcomes of pregnancies among subjects enrolled in Thalassemia Clinical Research Network (TCRN) registries and examine variables associated with successful childbirth. We identified 129 pregnancies in 72 women among the 264 women, age 18 years or older in our dataset. Over 70% of pregnancies resulted in live births and 73/83 (88%) of live births occurred at full term. Most pregnancies (78.2%) were conceived without reproductive technologies. Most (59.3%) pregnancies occurred while on chronic transfusion programs, however only 38.9% were on iron chelation. Four women developed heart problems. Iron burden in women who had conceived was not significantly different from age- and diagnosis-matched controls that had never been pregnant. There was also no difference in pregnancy outcomes associated with diagnosis, transfusion status, diabetes or Hepatitis C infection. Pregnancies occurred in 27.3% of women with thalassemia of child-bearing age in the TCRN registries, a notable increase from our previous 2004 report. With optimal health maintenance, successful pregnancies may be achievable.
 ...
PMID:Pregnancy outcomes in women with thalassemia in North America and the United Kingdom. 2375 66


<< Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Next >>