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Fontana L, Sirchia SM, Pesenti C, Colpi GM, Miozzo MR. Non-invasive biomarkers for sperm retrieval in non-obstructive patients: a comprehensive review. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2024; 15:1349000. [PMID: 38689732 PMCID: PMC11058837 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1349000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Recent advancements in reproductive medicine have guided novel strategies for addressing male infertility, particularly in cases of non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA). Two prominent invasive interventions, namely testicular sperm extraction (TESE) and microdissection TESE (micro-TESE), have emerged as key techniques to retrieve gametes for assisted reproduction technologies (ART). Both heterogeneity and complexity of NOA pose a multifaceted challenge to clinicians, as the invasiveness of these procedures and their unpredictable success underscore the need for more precise guidance. Seminal plasma can be aptly regarded as a liquid biopsy of the male reproductive tract, encompassing secretions from the testes, epididymides, seminal vesicles, bulbourethral glands, and prostate. This fluid harbors a variety of cell-free nucleic acids, microvesicles, proteins, and metabolites intricately linked to gonadal activity. However, despite numerous investigations exploring potential biomarkers from seminal fluid, their widespread inclusion into the clinical practice remains limited. This could be partially due to the complex interplay of diverse clinical and genetic factors inherent to NOA that likely contributes to the absence of definitive biomarkers for residual spermatogenesis. It is conceivable that the integration of clinical data with biomarkers could increase the potential in predicting surgical procedure outcomes and their choice in NOA cases. This comprehensive review addresses the challenge of sperm retrieval in NOA through non-invasive biomarkers. Moreover, we delve into promising perspectives, elucidating innovative approaches grounded in multi-omics methodologies, including genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics. These cutting-edge techniques, combined with the clinical and genetics features of patients, could improve the use of biomarkers in personalized medical approaches, patient counseling, and the decision-making continuum. Finally, Artificial intelligence (AI) holds significant potential in the realm of combining biomarkers and clinical data, also in the context of identifying non-invasive biomarkers for sperm retrieval.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Fontana
- Medical Genetics Unit, Aziende Socio Sanitarie Territoriali (ASST) Santi Paolo e Carlo, Milan, Italy
- Medical Genetics, Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia M. Sirchia
- Medical Genetics, Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Pesenti
- Medical Genetics Unit, Aziende Socio Sanitarie Territoriali (ASST) Santi Paolo e Carlo, Milan, Italy
| | - Giovanni Maria Colpi
- Next Fertility Procrea, International Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology, Lugano, Switzerland
| | - Monica R. Miozzo
- Medical Genetics Unit, Aziende Socio Sanitarie Territoriali (ASST) Santi Paolo e Carlo, Milan, Italy
- Medical Genetics, Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
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Gosálvez J, Vargas-Baquero E, López-Fernández C, Bartolomé-Nebreda J, Fernández JL, Johnston S. Sperm DNA damage in men with spinal cord injury: the relative incidence of single- and double-strand DNA breaks. Andrology 2022; 10:1292-1301. [PMID: 35716146 DOI: 10.1111/andr.13210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Men with spinal cord injury (SCI) show a high proportion of sperm DNA damage in their ejaculate but the underlying pathology remains elusive. OBJECTIVE To investigate the relative incidence of single (SSBs) and double-strand DNA breaks (DSBs) and DNase activity in men with SCI. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study included ejaculates of 20 men with SCI and 27 normozoospermic (sperm donors). A TwoTails comet assay (TTComet) allowed visualization of three categories of sperm DNA damage corresponding to SSBs, DSBs and those with a combination of SSBs and DSBs, facilitating accurate calculation of the total proportion of SSBs and DSBs. A subset of 15 individuals (sperm donors and SCI patients) was used to test for DNase activity in the seminal plasma. RESULTS While the proportion of DSBs in men with SCI (median-57.5%) was higher (P = 0.000) than normozoospermic samples (median-4.6%), the proportion of SSBs was higher (P = 0.022) in the normozoospermic ejaculates (median-6.0%) compared to men with SCI (median-2.5%). The relative proportion of the total DSBs with respect to the total SSBs was 3.3× in men with SCI but 0.9× in normozoospermic samples. We further confirmed the high DNase activity in the seminal plasma of men with SCI. DISCUSSION The TTComet assay provided new insights to the pathology of sperm DNA in men with SCI and may have diagnostic value in developing sperm selection methodologies to reduce DSBs prior to ART. CONCLUSION Men with SCI are characterized by a high proportion of sperm with DSBs and high levels of DNase activity in the seminal plasma compared to normozoospermic men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaime Gosálvez
- Unit of Genetics, Department of Biology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | | | - José Luís Fernández
- INIBIC-Complexo Hospitalario Universitario A Coruña (CHUAC), Genetics Unit, Coruña, Spain
| | - Stephen Johnston
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, University of Queensland, Gatton, Australia
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DNase activity in human seminal plasma and follicular fluid and its inhibition by follicular fluid chelating agents. Reprod Biomed Online 2021; 43:1079-1086. [PMID: 34753679 DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2021.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
RESEARCH QUESTION What is the mechanism by which human follicular fluid inhibits seminal plasma DNase activity? DESIGN Human genomic DNA was incubated with human follicular fluid and seminal plasma (reaction mixture) under different experimental conditions; increasing volumes of human follicular fluid; proteinase K digested or heat inactivated human follicular fluid; and the addition of Ca2+ or Mg2+ to the reaction mixture. RESULTS Increasing volume of human follicular fluid resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of seminal plasma DNase activity. Inhibition was not caused by proteins in the human follicular fluid as digestion with proteinase K or heat inactivation of human follicular fluid failed to abolish its inhibitory effect. Addition of divalent cations resulted in a reversion of the inhibitory effect, providing evidence that human follicular fluid inhibition of seminal plasma DNase activity seems to be mediated by a compound with chelating activity. Furthermore, incubation of genomic DNA with human follicular fluid in the presence of divalent cations served to elicit the existence of DNase activity. CONCLUSIONS Human follicular fluid seems to contain a molecule or molecules with chelating capacity that inhibits DNase activity of both follicular fluid and seminal plasma. Our findings provide new insight to understanding sperm preservation and the physiology of fertilization biology.
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Esteves SC, Zini A, Coward RM, Evenson DP, Gosálvez J, Lewis SEM, Sharma R, Humaidan P. Sperm DNA fragmentation testing: Summary evidence and clinical practice recommendations. Andrologia 2020; 53:e13874. [PMID: 33108829 PMCID: PMC7988559 DOI: 10.1111/and.13874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Revised: 09/06/2020] [Accepted: 09/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
We herein summarise the evidence concerning the impact of sperm DNA fragmentation in various clinical infertility scenarios and the advances on sperm DNA fragmentation tests. The collected evidence was used to formulate 41 recommendations. Of these, 13 recommendations concern technical aspects of sperm DNA fragmentation testing, including pre‐analytical information, clinical thresholds and interpretation of results. The remaining 28 recommendations relate to indications for sperm DNA fragmentation testing and clinical management. Clinical scenarios like varicocele, unexplained infertility, idiopathic infertility, recurrent pregnancy loss, intrauterine insemination, in vitro fertilisation/intracytoplasmic sperm injection, fertility counselling for men with infertility risk factors and sperm cryopreservation have been contemplated. The bulk evidence supporting the recommendations has increased in recent years, but it is still of moderate to low quality. This guideline provides clinicians with advice on best practices in sperm DNA fragmentation testing. Also, recommendations are provided on possible management strategies to overcome infertility related to sperm DNA fragmentation, based on the best available evidence. Lastly, we identified gaps in knowledge and opportunities for research and elaborated a list of recommendations to stimulate further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandro C Esteves
- ANDROFERT, Andrology and Human Reproduction Clinic, Referral Center for Male Reproduction, Campinas, SP, Brazil.,Department of Surgery (Division of Urology), University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Campinas, SP, Brazil.,Faculty of Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Armand Zini
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, St. Mary's Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Robert Matthew Coward
- Department of Urology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.,UNC Fertility, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Donald P Evenson
- SCSA Diagnostics, Brookings, SD, USA.,Sanford Medical School, University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, SD, USA
| | - Jaime Gosálvez
- Unit of Genetics, Department of Biology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sheena E M Lewis
- Queens University Belfast, Belfast, UK.,Examenlab Ltd., Belfast, UK
| | - Rakesh Sharma
- American Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Peter Humaidan
- Faculty of Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark.,Fertility Clinic Skive, Skive Regional Hospital, Skive, Denmark
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Bartolomé-Nebreda J, Vargas-Baquero E, López-Fernández C, Fernández JL, Johnston S, Gosálvez J. Free circulating DNA and DNase activity in the ejaculates of men with spinal cord injury. Spinal Cord 2020; 59:167-174. [PMID: 32651457 DOI: 10.1038/s41393-020-0518-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN Retrospective descriptive study. OBJECTIVES To study the presence of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and DNase activity in males with spinal cord injury (SCI) with elevated sperm DNA fragmentation. SETTING Hospital in Toledo, Spain; University-based Genetics laboratory in Madrid, Spain. METHODS Semen was collected from 15 males with spinal cord injury and elevated sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF). The presence and concentration of cfDNA was assessed using standard gel electrophoresis and microfluidic electrophoresis. DNase activity was evaluated in seminal plasma and under the presence of EDTA and EGTA to control the response of enzyme activity. cfDNA fragments were mapped on the sperm genome using FISH. All results were compared to 15 normozoospermic fertile donors. RESULTS Standard gel electrophoresis revealed a cfDNA band of ~150 bp in all samples from males with SCI; this band was ocasionally accompanied by another band of ~90 bp. These bands were not observed in normozoospermic donors. Microfluidid electrophoresis only identified the equivalent band of 150 bp. No correlation was observed between the intensity of the two bands and the level of SDF in males with SCI. Although DNase activity was present in the seminal plasma of both normozoospermic donors and men with SCI it did not digest cfDNA. cfDNA fragments were found to be hybridized all over the sperm genome. CONCLUSIONS SCI patients with elevated sperm DNA fragmentation showed a 150 bp DNA band of cfDNA in the seminal plasma, which appeared resistant to DNase activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Bartolomé-Nebreda
- Unit of Genetics, Department of Biology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,Halotech DNA, Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Carmen López-Fernández
- Unit of Genetics, Department of Biology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,Halotech DNA, Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - José Luís Fernández
- INIBIC-Complexo Hospitalario Universitario A Coruña (CHUAC), Genetics Unit, As Xubias, 84, 15006-A, Coruña, Spain
| | - Stephen Johnston
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD, Australia.
| | - Jaime Gosálvez
- Unit of Genetics, Department of Biology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,Halotech DNA, Cantoblanco, 28049, Madrid, Spain
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Tímermans A, Vázquez R, Otero F, Gosálvez J, Johnston S, Fernández JL. DNA fragmentation of human spermatozoa: Simple assessment of single- and double-strand DNA breaks and their respective dynamic behavioral response. Andrology 2020; 8:1287-1303. [PMID: 32416007 DOI: 10.1111/andr.12819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Revised: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 05/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Procedures to detect sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF), like the sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) test, determine the "global" SDF without discriminating between spermatozoa with single-strand DNA breaks only (SDF-SSBs) and those containing double-strand DNA breaks (SDF-DSBs). OBJECTIVES (a) To validate a test to distinguish human spermatozoa with massive DSBs (DSB-SCD assay), (b) to study the baseline SDF-SSBs and SDF-DSBs, and (c) to assess their dynamics in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS (a) SDF-DSBs were determined by visualization of diffused DNA fragments from spermatozoa lysed under non-denaturing conditions. This was validated by in vitro incubation with DNase I and the comet assay. (b) Baseline SDF-DSBs and SDF-SSBs were determined in ejaculates from 95 males. (c) Their dynamic appearance was studied in samples untreated or exposed to hyperthermia, acidic pH, nitric oxide released by sodium nitroprusside (SNP), and the metabolic energy inhibitors 2-deoxy-D-glucose and antimycin A. RESULTS (a) DNase I and comet assay experiments confirmed that the assay successfully determined SDF-DSBs. (b) The higher the SDF of the semen sample, the higher the frequency of SSBs, whereas DSBs behaved independently. Abnormal samples showed higher SDF than normozoospermic, the difference being only significant for SDF-SSBs. (c) During the first hours of incubation, the linear rate of increase in SDF-SSBs was 3.7 X higher than that of SDF-DSBs. All hazardous agents accelerated the SDF rate when compared to untreated spermatozoa, primarily being associated with SDF-SSBs. SNP treatment was the most damaging, rapidly inducing spermatozoa with SSBs which progressively evolved to DSBs. Remarkably, this phenomenon was also evidenced after acute SNP exposure, revealing cryptic sperm damage. CONCLUSION The DSBs-SCD is an easy complement for SDF assessment. The dynamic study of SSBs and DSBs may improve the evaluation of sperm quality in clinical settings, particularly "unmasking" the presence of non-specific cryptic sperm damage that might otherwise go undetected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Tímermans
- Genetics Unit, INIBIC-Complexo Hospitalario Universitario A Coruña (CHUAC), A Coruña, Spain
| | | | - Fátima Otero
- Genetics Unit, INIBIC-Complexo Hospitalario Universitario A Coruña (CHUAC), A Coruña, Spain
| | - Jaime Gosálvez
- Genetics Unit, Facultad de Biología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria de Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain
| | - Stephen Johnston
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD, Australia
| | - José Luis Fernández
- Genetics Unit, INIBIC-Complexo Hospitalario Universitario A Coruña (CHUAC), A Coruña, Spain.,Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Radiobiolgy, Centro Oncológico de Galicia, A Coruña, Spain
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