Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 48940 Bizkaia, Spain.
Innovation in Assisted Reproduction Group, Biocruces-Bizkaia Health Research Institute, 48903 Barakaldo, Spain.
Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Mar 22;22(6):3215. doi: 10.3390/ijms22063215.
Sperm fertility ability may be modulated by different molecular systems, such as the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). Although renin is one of its most relevant peptides, the presence and role of the (pro)renin receptor (PRR) is completely unknown. We have proved for the first time the existence of PRR and its transcript in human sperm by western blot and RT-PCR. Immunofluorescence studies showed that this receptor is mainly located in the apical region over the acrosome and in the postacrosomal region of the sperm head and along the sperm tail. In addition, this prospective cohort study also proves that semen samples with higher percentages of PRR-positive spermatozoa are associated with poor sperm motility, worse blastocyst development and no-viable blastocysts. Our results provide insight into how PRR play a negative role in sperm physiology that it may condition human embryo quality and development. An in-depth understanding of the role of PRR in sperm fertility can help elucidate its role in male infertility, as well as establish biomarkers for the diagnosis or selection of sperm to use during assisted reproductive techniques.
精子的生育能力可能受到不同的分子系统的调节，如肾素-血管紧张素系统（RAS）。尽管肾素是其最相关的肽之一，但（前）肾素受体（PRR）的存在和作用尚完全未知。我们通过 Western blot 和 RT-PCR 首次证明了 PRR 及其转录本在人精子中的存在。免疫荧光研究表明，这种受体主要位于精子头部顶体上和顶体后区域以及精子尾部。此外，这项前瞻性队列研究还证明，具有更高比例 PRR 阳性精子的精液样本与精子运动能力差、囊胚发育不良和无活力囊胚有关。我们的结果提供了关于 PRR 如何在精子生理中发挥负作用的见解，这可能会影响人类胚胎的质量和发育。深入了解 PRR 在精子生育能力中的作用，可以帮助阐明其在男性不育症中的作用，并为辅助生殖技术中精子的诊断或选择建立生物标志物。
