Investigating expression pattern of SPATA3-AS1 and SPATA42 lncRNAs in azoospermia

Abstract

Background: A large number of couples throughout the world struggle with the health problems of male infertility. One of the most common reasons for male infertility is the absence of sperm in the semen specimens, resulting in azoospermia. lncRNAs regulate spermatogenic cell development. However, the aberrant expression of lncRNAs linked to the failure of sperm production and their molecular processes is poorly understood. Materials and Methods: A total of 76 Iranian men with azoospermia and 36 healthy controls were selected in this case-control study. Blood samples were taken to isolate serum and extract total RNA, which was later used to synthesize cDNA. The qRT-PCR technique was assessed to investigate gene expression of SPATA42 and SPATA3-AS1 lncRNAs in azoospermia. Results: Based on the data, SPATA42 and SPATA3-AS1 appeared to have significantly low expression in azoospermia patients; however, only SPATA42 showed a significant biomarker role. Furthermore, hormonal analysis illustrated that LH and FSH had increased levels in male patients; meanwhile, testosterone levels were decreased. According to Spearman correlation analysis, SPATA42 expression correlated negatively with FSH and LH levels but positively with testosterone levels. For the SPATA3-AS1 gene, however, FSH and testosterone had a negative and positive correlation with the expression level. Conclusion: With low expression levels in serum samples, SPATA42 can have a potential biomarker role in diagnosing azoospermia.