• PMID: 21933900
• Gene Name: TNF
• Condition: Azoospermia, asthenozoospermia
• Association: Associated
• Population size: 457
• Population details: 457 (289 infertile men (118 non obstructive azoospermia, 137 asthenozoospermia, 34 oligospermia), 168 age-matched fertile controls)
• Sex: Male
• Infertility type: Male infertility
• Associated genes: miR-146b-5p
• Other associated phenotypes: Azoospermia, asthenozoospermia

Altered profile of seminal plasma microRNAs in the molecular diagnosis of male infertility

Wang C, Yang C, Chen X, Yao B, Yang C, Zhu C, Li L, Wang J, Li X, Shao Y, Liu Y, Ji J, Zhang J, Zen K, Zhang CY, Zhang C.

BACKGROUND: Although microRNAs (miRNAs) play essential roles in spermatogenesis, little is known about seminal plasma miRNAs in infertile men. We investigated the profile of seminal plasma miRNAs in infertile men to identify miRNAs that are altered in infertility; we then evaluated their diagnostic value. METHODS: Seminal plasma samples were obtained from 289 infertile men and 168 age-matched fertile control individuals. The stability of the miRNAs was first assessed by time-course and freeze-thaw cycle analyses. The Solexa sequencing technology was used for an initial screen of the miRNAs in samples pooled from 45 patients with nonobstructive azoospermia, 58 patients with asthenozoospermia, and 100 fertile controls. A stem-loop quantitative reverse-transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) assay was conducted in the training and verification sets to confirm the concentrations of the altered miRNAs in 73 patients with nonobstructive azoospermia, 79 patients with asthenozoospermia, 34 patients with oligospermia, and 68 fertile controls. RESULTS: The miRNAs in seminal plasma were stable. The Solexa sequencing analysis demonstrated 19 markedly altered miRNAs in the patient groups, compared with the control group. RT-qPCR analysis identified 7 miRNAs (miR-34c-5p, miR-122, miR-146b-5p, miR-181a, miR-374b, miR-509-5p, and miR-513a-5p) as markedly decreased in azoospermia but increased in asthenozoospermia. The area under the ROC curve for these miRNAs ranged from 0.733 to 0.921, markedly higher than for routine biochemical parameters (0.510-0.622). Moreover, the concentrations of some selected miRNAs were also increased in the semen sperm of the asthenozoospermia patients. CONCLUSIONS: The measurement of miRNAs in seminal plasma provides a novel, noninvasive approach for diagnosing male infertility. FAU - Wang, Cheng AU - Wang C AD - Department of Clinical Laboratory, Jinling Hospital, Clinical School of Medical College, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China. FAU - Yang, Cuihua AU - Yang C FAU - Chen, Xi AU - Chen X FAU - Yao, Bing AU - Yao B FAU - Yang, Chen AU - Yang C FAU - Zhu, Chen AU - Zhu C FAU - Li, Limin AU - Li L FAU - Wang, Junjun AU - Wang J FAU - Li, Xiaojun AU - Li X FAU - Shao, Yong AU - Shao Y FAU - Liu, Yang AU - Liu Y FAU - Ji, Jiang AU - Ji J FAU - Zhang, Junfeng AU - Zhang J FAU - Zen, Ke AU - Zen K FAU - Zhang, Chen-Yu AU - Zhang CY