Association between metabolic disorders and seminal plasma miRNA levels: a pilot study

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Endocrinology
• Epigenetics
• Metabolomics

Background:

• Excess weight and metabolic disorders negatively affect male reproductive functions.
• Epigenetic mechanisms, particularly microRNAs (miRNAs), may mediate these effects.
• This study investigates miRNAs in seminal plasma linked to metabolic disorders and male infertility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify specific microRNAs (miRNAs) differentially enriched in seminal plasma associated with metabolic disorders.
• To determine if these seminal miRNAs correlate with alterations in sperm parameters.
• To explore the specificity of these miRNA changes in seminal plasma versus blood plasma.

Main Methods:

• Quantitative real-time PCR (TaqMan assays) was used to analyze 11 selected metabolism-associated miRNAs in seminal plasma from 160 men.
• A subset of miRNAs with notable seminal plasma profiles were also analyzed in blood plasma.
• The study cohort (Metabolic Syndrome and Male Infertility - Metasperme) was registered under NCT01974947.

Main Results:

• Seven miRNAs (miR10b, miR19a, miR19b, miR34b, miR34c, miR133b, miRlet7c) were detected in seminal plasma.
• Seminal miR19a and miR19b levels negatively correlated with metabolic syndrome. miR19a also correlated with blood glucose and C-peptide.
• Seminal miR34c negatively correlated with BMI and waist circumference, while miR133b positively correlated with BMI, waist circumference, and leptin. These correlations were not observed in blood plasma.

Conclusions:

• Specific miRNAs in seminal plasma show correlations with certain metabolic and anthropometric disorders.
• These findings suggest a potential role for seminal miRNAs in male reproductive function related to metabolic health.
• Further research is needed to explore other small non-coding RNAs and their implications in male obesity and metabolic disorders affecting fertility.