MicroRNAs and pro-inflammatory cytokines as candidate biomarkers for male infertility
Farah Thamer Samawi1, Ghufran Jebur Aqeeli2, Rebah Najah Algafari3, Muntadher Ali Alsaidi4, Mohanad K. Al-saedi5, Saade Abdalkareem Jasim6, Rehab Subhi Ramadhan71Department of Medical Biotechnology, Biotechnology Research Center, Al-Nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq2Department of Immunology, University of Wasit, College of Dentistry, Wasit, Iraq
3Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Biotechnology Research Center, Al-nahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq
4Department of Microbiology/Immunology, Wasit University, College of Medicine, Wasit, Iraq
5Department of Medical Laboratory Techniques, Uruk University, Baghdad, Iraq
6Department of Medical Laboratory Techniques, Al-maarif University, Al-Anbar, Iraq
7Department of Medical Laboratory Techniques, Al-Esraa University, Baghdad, Iraq
INTRODUCTION: The effect of infertility does not exert a futuristic effect on society only but puts emotional and psychological stress on couples no matter who may show this problem. Thus, searching for obvious and hidden reasons to treat this problem took significant leaps to overcome it and provide couples with means of treatment. This article aims to investigate the role of specific microRNAs (miRNAs) as miR-429 and miR-425 and pro-inflammatory cytokines as interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1α) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) on male fertility.
METHODS: 100 semen samples were collected from healthy men with offspring and another 100 samples were collected from men suffering from fertility impairment for Semin fluid analysis (SFA). Cytokines levels in the serum were
measured using sandwich ELISA technique, whereas DNA samples were obtained from both categories of participants from blood.
RESULTS: Results showed that infertile patients showed high level of both tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) and interleukin
(IL-1A) which affected semen quality, motility, and to fertilize mature oocytes. In addition, high levels of miRNA 425, and 429 were detected in patients compared to control. We found specific type of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) that reduced the ΔG in miRNAs within patients giving them the chance to be circulated for longer half time than the control which modified the RNA decay mechanism.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Immunological and epigenetic factors can play a crucial role in infertility manifestation in male. Since immunological factors are widely studied and been taken in concern in fertility clinics, epigenetic factors may be the key to overcome such clinical case and need to take in concern to provide a proper medical care.
Manuscript Language: English