Assessment of expression profiles of three microRNAs and their clinical, laboratory, and histopathological correlations in non-obstructive azoospermia : A controlled study

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play essential roles in human spermatogenesis, but little is known about seminal plasma miRNAs in infertile men. Aim: To assess miRNA-34b, miRNA-181a, and miRNA-429 expression profiles in seminal plasma of patients with nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA) and to correlate these expression profiles with their clinical, laboratory, and histopathological features. Patients and Methods: This was a prospective case–control study which included two groups: 50 males with NOA and 50 healthy fertile males who attended the Andrology Outpatient Clinic, the Genetics Unit, and a private IVF Center. Semen analysis and assessment of the three miRNAs expression profiles in seminal plasma were done by real-time PCR for both groups. Hormonal profile assessment (follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, testosterone, and prolactin), testicular sperm extraction, and histopathology were done for the patients’ group. Results: In this study, there were statistically significant upregulations of both miRNA-429 and miRNA-181a in the patients’ group compared with controls (P<0.001), which was not the case for miRNA34b (P=0.259). There were statistically significant relationships between the three miRNAs, testicular sperm extraction results, and histopathological patterns (P<0.05).There were significant positive correlations between miRNA34b, miRNA-429, and follicle-stimulating hormone(r=0.466, P=0.001; r=0.375, P=0.009, respectively) and significant negative correlations between miRNA34b, miRNA-181a, and Johnsen’s score (r=-0.287, P=0.048; r=-0.351, P=0.015, respectively). There was statistically significant negative correlation between miRNA-429 and testosterone (r=-0.330, P=0.022). Conclusion: The expression levels of miRNA 181aandmiRNA-429 only were upregulated in NOA patients compared with controls. Thus, they may represent useful noninvasive biomarkers for NOA.