Adipokines as immune modulators in inflammation mediated male infertility

Extensive research on adipose tissue has considered it as immune-metabolic endocrine organ consisting of a variety of immune cells, playing an important role in pathology of obesity. The immune components of adipose tissue are said to mediate both innate and adaptive immunological responses. Adipokines secreted from adipocytes are known to play a significant role in maintaining metabolic homeostasis. An imbalance between pro-and anti-inflammatory adipokines on adipose tissue results in insulin resistance and the development of metabolic syndrome. Excess of proinflammatory adipokines on adipose tissue during obesity may result in reproductive dysfunction of which inflammation mediated male infertility is of great importance. The impact of adipokines on male reproduction/male fertility has received much attention nowadays. Adipokines can be possible molecular targets for the treatment of obesity-induced male infertility. This review aims to accentuate the understanding of how adipokines may act as immune-modulators, which might lead to unveiling of therapeutically relevant mechanisms that govern adipose tissue inflammation, and thereby inflammation induced male infertility.