MicroRNA-155 and Anti-Müllerian Hormone: New Potential Markers of Subfertility in Men with Chronic Kidney Disease

Men with terminal renal failure are often infertile. Anti-müllerian hormone (AMH), a marker of Sertoli cell function, is decreased among men with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Recently, a microRNA, miR-155, has been shown to be a potential marker for subfertility. We studied miR-155 and semen parameters in patients with CKD who were not yet on dialysis. We also aimed to study possible associations between AMH, miR-155, and semen parameters to evaluate them as markers of fertility.

Thirty male patients with CKD 1-4 as well as 18 healthy controls were enrolled.

Serum levels of miR-155 were significantly higher among men with CKD stages 1-2 (4.51 ± 3.81 [p = 0.01]) and stages 3-4 (2.75 ± 1.77 [p = 0.006]) than in controls (1.09 ± 0.44). Sperm concentration was significantly lower among men with CKD 3-4 (42 ± 29) ×10⁶/mL compared to controls (88 ± 42) ×10⁶/mL (p = 0.011). High levels of miR-155 were associated with a relatively low sperm concentration (p = 0.02) and with a low total sperm number (p = 0.005). Low AMH levels were associated with a decreased percentage of motile sperm cells (p = 0.02).

We conclude that men with stage 3-4 CKD had lower sperm concentrations than healthy fertile men and that increased serum miR-155 in men with stage 1-4 CKD was associated with semen parameters that indicate subfertility. Low AMH levels were associated with a low percentage of the total number of motile sperm cells. miR-155 and AMH may be potential markers of subfertility in men with CKD.