Seminal Interleukin-6 as a Biomarker of Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, and Sperm Dysfunction in Infertile Men

Background/Objectives: Interleukin-6 (IL-6), a pleiotropic cytokine involved in immune regulation, is consistently detected in human semen, even in the absence of overt infection. Its contribution to sperm dysfunction, oxidative stress, and inflammation remains incompletely understood. This study evaluated the associations between seminal IL-6 concentrations and markers of semen quality, oxidative stress, nuclear integrity, and genital tract inflammation in infertile men. Methods: A cohort of 204 infertile men was assessed. Seminal IL-6 was quantified by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. Semen parameters, malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT) activity, sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI), sperm chromatin decondensation index (SDI), leukocytospermia, and bacteriospermia were measured. Analyses included correlation testing, IL-6 threshold stratification (