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MicroRNA expression in infertile men: its alterations and effects

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 August 2019

Maryam Kiani ,
Mohammad Salehi Open the ORCID record for Mohammad Salehi [Opens in a new window]  and
Asghar Mogheiseh
Maryam Kiani
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, shiraz, Iran
Mohammad Salehi*
Affiliation:
Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences,Tehran, Iran Department of Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid BeheshtiUniversity of Medical Sciences, Tehran
Asghar Mogheiseh
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University, shiraz, Iran
*
Address for correspondence: Mohammad Salehi. Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, P.O. Box 193954717, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Tel: +98 9125118872. E-mail: msalehi78@gmail.com
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Summary

Infertility is an important reproductive health problem, and male infertility is especially important in more than half of infertility cases. Due to the importance of genetic factors in this condition, analysis of semen alone is not enough to recognize men with idiopathic infertility. A molecular non-invasive investigation is necessary to gain valuable information. Currently, microRNAs (miRNAs) are being used as non-invasive diagnostic biomarkers. miRNAs, single-stranded non-coding RNA molecules, act as post-transcriptional gene silencing regulators either by inhibition or repression of translation. Changes in the regulation of miRNAs have been investigated in several different types of male infertility, therefore the biological role of miRNA and gene targets has been defined. The purpose of this study was to review recent research on the altered expression of miRNA in semen, sperm, and testicular biopsy samples in infertile males with different types of unexplained infertility. Changes in miRNA regulation were investigated using microarray and the miRNA levels were confirmed by real-time qRT-PCR. This review explains why creating a non-invasive diagnostic method for male infertility is necessary and how changes in miRNA expression can be used as new diagnostic biomarkers in patients with differing spermatogenic and histopathologic injury.

Keywords

BiomarkerMaleMicroRNANon-invasiveUnexplained infertility
Type
Review Article
Information
Zygote , Volume 27 , Issue 5 , October 2019 , pp. 263 - 271
Copyright
© Cambridge University Press 2019 

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