• PMID: 18068167
• Gene Name: GPX
• Condition: Azoospermia, Male infertility
• Association: Ten protein spots were identified as expressing differentially between the normal testes and pathological testes with sloughing and disorganization of germ cells; these included the phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase, peroxiredoxin 4 (Prx4)
• Population size: 6
• Population details: 6 (3 fertile men with normal spermatogenesis, 3 azoospermic patients)
• Sex: Male
• Infertility type: Male infertility
• Associated genes: phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase, peroxiredoxin 4 (Prx4), heat shock protein beta-1 (HSP27), and cathepsin D (CTSD)
• Other associated phenotypes: Male infertility

Identification of human spermatogenesis-related proteins by comparative proteomic analysis: a preliminary study

Huo R, He Y, Zhao C, Guo XJ, Lin M, Sha JH.

OBJECTIVE: To identify human spermatogenesis-related proteins. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: University research laboratory. PATIENT(S): Three fertile men with normal spermatogenesis, 3 azoospermic patients with sloughing and disorganization of germ cells. INTERVENTION(S): Testicular tissue samples were collected by biopsy after informed consent. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The protein expressional profiles of human testes of fertile men and azoospermic patients were compared using a proteomic approach by combining two-dimensional gel electrophoresis analyses and mass spectrometry. Bioinformatic analysis helped to reveal the regulation pathway. Expression of some selected proteins in normal and pathological testes was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. RESULT(S): Ten protein spots were identified as expressing differentially between the normal testes and pathological testes with sloughing and disorganization of germ cells; these included the phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase, peroxiredoxin 4 (Prx4), heat shock protein beta-1 (HSP27), and cathepsin D (CTSD). Bioinformatic analysis revealed that many differentially expressed proteins participate in cellular proliferation, apoptosis, and cell death and helped us to focus on a few of them. Immunohistochemical analysis of Prx4, HSP27, and CTSD confirmed the results obtained by proteomic analysis. CONCLUSION(S): These 10 proteins may help in elucidating the pathways involved in human spermatogenesis. FAU - Huo, Ran AU - Huo R AD - Department of Histology and Embryology, Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China. FAU - He, Ying AU - He Y FAU - Zhao, Chun AU - Zhao C FAU - Guo, Xue-jiang AU - Guo XJ FAU - Lin, Min AU - Lin M