Laboratory of Cellular Biology, Department of Morphology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais (ICB/UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
Cell Signaling & Nanobiotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry & Immunology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
Cell Tissue Res. 2017 Dec;370(3):335-346. doi: 10.1007/s00441-017-2667-z. Epub 2017 Aug 4.
In recent decades, infertility has been considered a major widespread public health issue of very high concern. Currently, almost 50% of infertility cases are due to male factors, including semen disorders, obstructions, cryptorchidism, varicocele and testicular failures, which can occur due to malfunctions in both somatic and germ cells. In this context, besides other approaches, different miRNAs have been used as biomarkers for the diagnosis of male infertility, with different pathologic conditions such as Sertoli cell-only syndrome, mixed atrophy, and germ cell arrest. However, most studies related to male fertility do not point out the functions and cell targets of the described miRNAs. Initial investigations using experimental assays in murine and porcine models were performed, providing the first evidence of the influence of miRNAs on Sertoli cell function including, for instance, proliferation, maturation and hormone responses of these cells. The aim of this mini-review is therefore to summarize our present knowledge of this relevant subject and to highlight the importance of future investigations concerning the miRNA influence in the control of Sertoli cells, spermatogenesis and male fertility.
近几十年来，不孕不育被认为是一个非常严重的广泛存在的公共卫生问题。目前，近 50%的不孕不育病例是由男性因素引起的，包括精液紊乱、梗阻、隐睾、精索静脉曲张和睾丸衰竭，这些可能是由于体细胞和生殖细胞的功能障碍引起的。在这种情况下，除了其他方法外，不同的 microRNA 已被用作男性不育症诊断的生物标志物，具有不同的病理状况，如唯支持细胞综合征、混合萎缩和生殖细胞停滞。然而，大多数与男性生育力相关的研究并没有指出所描述的 microRNA 的功能和细胞靶标。在鼠和猪模型中进行的初步实验研究提供了 microRNA 对支持细胞功能影响的第一个证据，例如，这些细胞的增殖、成熟和激素反应。因此，本篇综述的目的是总结我们目前对这一相关主题的认识，并强调未来关于 microRNA 对支持细胞、精子发生和男性生育力控制的影响的研究的重要性。
