Richard Weiten, Jan Herden, Manuel Huerta, Tim Nestler, Johan Denil, Axel Heidenreich, Enno Storz, Melanie von Brandenstein
{"title":"Vim3 and Mxi-2 as Promising New Molecular Biomarkers for the Diagnosis of Sperm Disorders","authors":"Richard Weiten, Jan Herden, Manuel Huerta, Tim Nestler, Johan Denil, Axel Heidenreich, Enno Storz, Melanie von Brandenstein","doi":"10.1155/and/1233135","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div>\n <p><b>Introduction:</b> Male infertility remains a significant clinical challenge that requires the exploration of new diagnostics strategies. Truncated proteins, such as Vim3, a truncated variant of vimentin, show promise as a new class of biomarkers for diagnosing fertility disorders. Our objective was to assess the potential utility of Vim3 and Mxi-2, a shortened iteration of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) p38, as noninvasive biomarkers for diagnosing sperm disorders.</p>\n <p><b>Methods:</b> Semen samples of 19 fertile males (control group) and 82 infertile males with semen abnormalities and no female factor (<i>n</i> = 28 OAT [oligo–astheno–teratozoospermia] syndrome, <i>n</i> = 8 azoospermia, <i>n</i> = 29 teratozoospermia, <i>n</i> = 11 astheno–teratozoospermia, and <i>n</i> = 6 oligozoospermia) were analyzed using ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and flow cytometry. Furthermore, we conducted a lateral flow assay (LFA) specific to Vim3.</p>\n <p><b>Results:</b> Our analysis revealed that Vim3 and endothelin-1 (ET-1) expression levels were significantly downregulated in non-normozoospermic patients (e.g., OAT syndrome), while Mxi-2 was overexpressed in these patients compared to the control group (<i>p</i> < 0.01). Additionally, we introduced a novel LFA that provides a user-friendly and effective method for examining Vim3 as a biomarker in clinical settings.</p>\n <p><b>Conclusion:</b> Our results suggest that Vim3 and Mxi-2 have potential as noninvasive semen biomarkers for diagnosing sperm disorders.</p>\n </div>","PeriodicalId":7817,"journal":{"name":"Andrologia","volume":"2025 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.1000,"publicationDate":"2025-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/and/1233135","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Andrologia","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1155/and/1233135","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"ANDROLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Introduction: Male infertility remains a significant clinical challenge that requires the exploration of new diagnostics strategies. Truncated proteins, such as Vim3, a truncated variant of vimentin, show promise as a new class of biomarkers for diagnosing fertility disorders. Our objective was to assess the potential utility of Vim3 and Mxi-2, a shortened iteration of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) p38, as noninvasive biomarkers for diagnosing sperm disorders.
Methods: Semen samples of 19 fertile males (control group) and 82 infertile males with semen abnormalities and no female factor (n = 28 OAT [oligo–astheno–teratozoospermia] syndrome, n = 8 azoospermia, n = 29 teratozoospermia, n = 11 astheno–teratozoospermia, and n = 6 oligozoospermia) were analyzed using ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and flow cytometry. Furthermore, we conducted a lateral flow assay (LFA) specific to Vim3.
Results: Our analysis revealed that Vim3 and endothelin-1 (ET-1) expression levels were significantly downregulated in non-normozoospermic patients (e.g., OAT syndrome), while Mxi-2 was overexpressed in these patients compared to the control group (p < 0.01). Additionally, we introduced a novel LFA that provides a user-friendly and effective method for examining Vim3 as a biomarker in clinical settings.
Conclusion: Our results suggest that Vim3 and Mxi-2 have potential as noninvasive semen biomarkers for diagnosing sperm disorders.
期刊介绍：
Andrologia provides an international forum for original papers on the current clinical, morphological, biochemical, and experimental status of organic male infertility and sexual disorders in men. The articles inform on the whole process of advances in andrology (including the aging male), from fundamental research to therapeutic developments worldwide. First published in 1969 and the first international journal of andrology, it is a well established journal in this expanding area of reproductive medicine.
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号
