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

Purpose: 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. Materials and Methods: 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. Results: 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). Conclusions: Our study suggests that IL-10 may have a role in the pain symptoms experienced by patients with chronic prostatitis-chronic pelvic pain syndrome.