Lower Spermatozoal <i>PIWI-LIKE 1</i> and <i>2</i> Transcript Levels Are Significantly Associated with Higher Fertilization Rates in IVF
The four human <i>PIWI-LIKE</i> gene family members <i>PIWI-LIKE 1–4</i> play a pivotal role in stem cell maintenance and transposon repression in the human germline. Therefore, dysregulation of these genes negatively influences the genetic stability of the respective germ ce...
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| Autores principales: | , , , , |
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| Formato: | article |
| Lenguaje: | EN |
| Publicado: |
MDPI AG
2021
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| Materias: | |
| Acceso en línea: | https://doaj.org/article/faa4e325556f431d8dd4b332b410abc1 |
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| Sumario: | The four human <i>PIWI-LIKE</i> gene family members <i>PIWI-LIKE 1–4</i> play a pivotal role in stem cell maintenance and transposon repression in the human germline. Therefore, dysregulation of these genes negatively influences the genetic stability of the respective germ cell and subsequent development and maturation. Recently, we demonstrated that a lower <i>PIWI-LIKE 2</i> mRNA expression in ejaculated spermatozoa is more frequent in men with oligozoospermia. In this study, we analysed how <i>PIWI-LIKE 1–4</i> mRNA expression in ejaculated spermatozoa predicts ART outcome. From 160 IVF or ICSI cycles, portions of swim-up spermatozoa used for fertilization were collected, and the total RNA was isolated. <i>PIWI-LIKE 1–4</i> mRNA expression was measured by qPCR using TaqMan probes with GAPDH as a reference gene. <i>PIWI-LIKE 1</i> and <i>2</i> transcript levels in the spermatozoa of the swim-up fraction were positively correlated to each other (r<sub>S</sub> = 0.78; <i>p</i> < 0.001). Moreover, lower <i>PIWI-LIKE 2</i> mRNA levels, as well as lower <i>PIWI-LIKE 1</i> mRNA levels, in these spermatozoa were positively associated with a fertilization rate ≥ 50% in the respective ART cycles (<i>p</i> = 0.02 and <i>p</i> = 0.0499, Mann–Whitney <i>U</i>-Test). When separately analysing IVF and ICSI cycles, <i>PIWI-LIKE 1</i> and <i>2</i> transcript levels were only significantly associated to increased fertilization rates in IVF, yet not in ICSI cycles. Spermatozoal <i>PIWI-LIKE 3</i> and <i>4</i> transcript levels were not significantly associated to fertilization rates in ART cycles. In conclusion, lower levels of spermatozoal <i>PIWI-LIKE 1</i> and <i>2</i> mRNA levels are positively associated with a higher fertilization rate in IVF cycles. |
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