• PMID: 25562173
• Gene Name: MMP9
• Condition: Normozoospermic, Oligozoospermic, Asthenozoospermic
• Association: Seminal MMP-9 expression was higher in childless men than in fertile subjects, whereas there was no significant differences in MMP-2 expression between the analysed seminal groups.
• Sex: Male
• Infertility type: Male infertility
• Associated genes: MMP2, MMP9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2
• Other associated phenotypes: Male infertility

Gelatinases and their tissue inhibitors are associated with oxidative stress: a potential set of markers connected with male infertility

Kratz EM, Ka?u?a A, Ferens-Sieczkowska M, Olejnik B, Fiutek R, Zimmer M, Piwowar A.

The expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) may be regulated by oxidative stress in various pathophysiological processes; therefore, the aim of the present study was to analyse the associations between the expression of the gelatinases MMP-9 and MMP-2 and their tissue inhibitors TIMP-1, TIMP-2 and levels of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) in seminal plasma prepared for artificial insemination. Levels of MMPs and TIMPs were evaluated using ELISA, whereas TAC and AOPP in the seminal plasma of 131 childless men and 38 fertile volunteers were determined spectrophotometrically. Seminal MMP-9 expression was higher in childless men than in fertile subjects, whereas there was no significant differences in MMP-2 expression between the analysed seminal groups. TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 expression was similar in all groups. However, TAC expression was significantly higher in infertile normozoospermic and oligozoospermic men and AOPP expression was higher in astheno-, oligo- and normozoospermic infertile patients than in fertile men. High AOPP, together with an increased MMP-9:TIMP-1 ratio alters the oxidative-antioxidative balance of the ejaculate, thereby reducing male fertility, and therefore these parameters may serve as additional diagnostic markers of semen quality and male reproductive potential. FAU - Kratz, Ewa M AU - Kratz EM AD - Department of Chemistry and Immunochemistry, Wroc?aw Medical University, O. Bujwida 44A, 50-345 Wroc?aw, Poland. FAU - Kałuża, Anna AU - Kałuża A AD - Department of Chemistry and Immunochemistry, Wroc?aw Medical University, O. Bujwida 44A, 50-345 Wroc?aw, Poland. FAU - Ferens-Sieczkowska, Mirosława AU - Ferens-Sieczkowska M AD - Department of Chemistry and Immunochemistry, Wroc?aw Medical University, O. Bujwida 44A, 50-345 Wroc?aw, Poland. FAU - Olejnik, Beata AU - Olejnik B AD - Department of Chemistry and Immunochemistry, Wroc?aw Medical University, O. Bujwida 44A, 50-345 Wroc?aw, Poland. FAU - Fiutek, Renata AU - Fiutek R AD - Department of Laboratory Diagnostics, Wroc?aw Medical University, Academic Hospital, Borowska 213, 50-556 Wroc?aw, Poland. FAU - Zimmer, Mariusz AU - Zimmer M AD - 2nd Department and Clinic of Gynaecology, Obstetrics and Neonatology, Wroc?aw Medical University, Academic Hospital, Borowska 213, 50-556 Wroc?aw, Poland.