通过精浆环状RNA表达谱鉴定男性不育的生物标志物。

Identification of biomarkers of male infertility through the circRNA expression profiling of seminal plasma.

作者信息

Liu Zhaode, Li Xinrui, Yang Xiaoyu, Zhang Bohang, Chen Dingdong, Yuan Yan, Cui Yiqiang

机构信息

State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166, China.

State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Clinical Center of Reproductive Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China.

出版信息

J Biomed Res. 2025 May 20;39(4):367-381. doi: 10.7555/JBR.38.20240192.

DOI:10.7555/JBR.38.20240192

PMID:40391511

原文链接:https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12336409/

Abstract

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are key regulators of reproductive biology. However, limited information is available regarding circRNA expression profiles in seminal plasma samples from individuals with male infertility. The present study aimed to identify circRNAs associated with infertility in seminal plasma samples and to clarify their potential as biomarkers, as well as the possible molecular mechanisms underlying their functions. Next-generation RNA sequencing was conducted to analyze circRNA profiles in seminal plasma from healthy controls, oligoasthenospermia (OAZ) patients, and non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) patients. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that 637 circRNAs were differentially expressed between OAZ and control subjects, and 272 circRNAs were differentially expressed between NOA and control subjects. The expression of key circRNAs ( , , , , , and ) was then validated by qPCR, and their diagnostic accuracy for infertility was confirmed through receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Additionally, a possible circRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory network was constructed for these candidate biomarkers. Collectively, this study identifies a novel set of circRNAs with potential as diagnostic biomarkers for male infertility and provides molecular insights that may facilitate both diagnostic and therapeutic efforts.

摘要

环状RNA（circRNAs）是生殖生物学的关键调节因子。然而，关于男性不育个体精液样本中circRNA表达谱的信息有限。本研究旨在鉴定精液样本中与不育相关的circRNAs，并阐明其作为生物标志物的潜力以及其功能背后可能的分子机制。进行了下一代RNA测序，以分析健康对照、少弱精子症（OAZ）患者和非梗阻性无精子症（NOA）患者精液中的circRNA谱。生物信息学分析显示，OAZ患者与对照受试者之间有637种circRNAs差异表达，NOA患者与对照受试者之间有272种circRNAs差异表达。然后通过qPCR验证关键circRNAs（、、、、、和）的表达，并通过受试者工作特征曲线分析确认其对不育的诊断准确性。此外，还为这些候选生物标志物构建了一个可能的circRNA-miRNA-mRNA调控网络。总体而言，本研究鉴定出一组具有作为男性不育诊断生物标志物潜力的新型circRNAs，并提供了可能有助于诊断和治疗工作的分子见解。