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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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Dode MAN, Capobianco N, Vargas LN, Mion B, Kussano NR, Spricigo JF, Franco MM. Seminal cell-free DNA as a potential marker for in vitro fertility of Nellore bulls. J Assist Reprod Genet 2024:10.1007/s10815-024-03068-y. [PMID: 38438770 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-024-03068-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aimed to identify a marker for freezability and in vitro fertility of sperm samples before freezing. METHODS Semen was collected from nine Nelore bulls; half of the ejaculate was used for seminal plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) quantification, and the other half was cryopreserved. Evaluation of sperm movement using computer-assisted semen analysis and plasma membrane integrity and stability, acrosomal integrity, apoptosis, and mitochondrial potential using flow cytometry were performed on fresh and frozen/thawed semen at 0, 3, 6, and 12 h after thawing. Frozen/thawed sperm was also used for in vitro embryo production. cfDNA was extracted from each bull, and the total DNA and number of cell-free mitochondrial DNA (cfmtDNA) copies were quantified. Semen from each animal was used for IVF, and cleavage, blastocyst formation, and cell counts were evaluated. RESULTS Two groups were formed and compared based on the concentrations of cfDNA and cfmDNA present: low-cfDNA and high-cfDNA and low-cfmtDNA and high-cfmtDNA. Up to 12 h post-thawing, there were no differences between the groups in the majority of the sperm parameters evaluated. Cleavage, day 6 and 7 blastocyst rates, and the number of cells were higher in the high cfDNA group than in the low cfDNA group. Similar results were observed for cfmtDNA, except for the number of cells, which was similar between the groups. CONCLUSION The concentration of cfDNA and the relative number of copies of cfmtDNA in seminal plasma cannot predict the freezability of semen but can be used to predict in vitro embryo production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margot A N Dode
- Institute of Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasília, DF, Brazil.
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, DF, Brazil.
| | - Natalia Capobianco
- Institute of Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasília, DF, Brazil
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Luna Nascimento Vargas
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Bruna Mion
- Department of Animal Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Nayara Ribeiro Kussano
- Institute of Biology, University of Brasilia, Brasília, DF, Brazil
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - José Felipe Spricigo
- School of Veterinary and Animal Science, Federal University of Goiás, Goiania, GO, Brazil
| | - Mauricio Machaim Franco
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Embrapa Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, DF, Brazil
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlandia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Institute of Biotechnology, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlandia, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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Raos D, Abramović I, Tomić M, Vrtarić A, Kuliš T, Ćorić M, Ulamec M, Katušić Bojanac A, Ježek D, Sinčić N. CNV Hotspots in Testicular Seminoma Tissue and Seminal Plasma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 14:189. [PMID: 35008352 PMCID: PMC8750740 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14010189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2021] [Revised: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Seminoma (SE) is the most frequent type of testicular tumour, affecting predominantly young men. Early detection and diagnosis of SE could significantly improve life quality and reproductive health after diagnosis and treatment. Copy number variation (CNV) has already been associated with various cancers as well as SE. In this study, we selected four genes (MAGEC2, NANOG, RASSF1A, and KITLG) for CNV analysis in genomic DNA (gDNA), which are located on chromosomes susceptible to gains, and whose aberrant expression was already detected in SE. Furthermore, CNV was analysed in cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from seminal plasma. Analysis was performed by droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) on gDNA from SE and nonmalignant testicular tissue. Seminal plasma cfDNA from SE patients before and after surgery was analysed, as well as from healthy volunteers. The CNV hotspot in gDNA from SE tissue was detected for the first time in all analysed genes, and for two genes, NANOG and KITLG it was reflected in cfDNA from seminal plasma. Although clinical value is yet to be determined, presented data emphasize a potential use of CNV as a potential SE biomarker from a liquid biopsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dora Raos
- Department of Medical Biology, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (D.R.); (I.A.); (M.Ć.); (A.K.B.)
- Scientific Group for Research on Epigenetic Biomarkers, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (T.K.); (M.U.)
- Scientific Centre of Excellence for Reproductive and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
| | - Irena Abramović
- Department of Medical Biology, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (D.R.); (I.A.); (M.Ć.); (A.K.B.)
- Scientific Group for Research on Epigenetic Biomarkers, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (T.K.); (M.U.)
- Scientific Centre of Excellence for Reproductive and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
| | - Miroslav Tomić
- Department of Urology, University Clinical Hospital Centre “Sestre Milosrdnice”, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
| | - Alen Vrtarić
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, University Clinical Hospital Centre “Sestre Milosrdnice”, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
| | - Tomislav Kuliš
- Scientific Group for Research on Epigenetic Biomarkers, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (T.K.); (M.U.)
- Scientific Centre of Excellence for Reproductive and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
- Department of Urology, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Marijana Ćorić
- Department of Medical Biology, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (D.R.); (I.A.); (M.Ć.); (A.K.B.)
- Scientific Centre of Excellence for Reproductive and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
- Department of Pathology and Cytology, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Monika Ulamec
- Scientific Group for Research on Epigenetic Biomarkers, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (T.K.); (M.U.)
- Scientific Centre of Excellence for Reproductive and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
- Ljudevit Jurak Clinical Department of Pathology and Cytology, University Clinical Hospital Centre “Sestre Milosrdnice”, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
- Department of Pathology, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ana Katušić Bojanac
- Department of Medical Biology, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (D.R.); (I.A.); (M.Ć.); (A.K.B.)
- Scientific Centre of Excellence for Reproductive and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
| | - Davor Ježek
- Scientific Centre of Excellence for Reproductive and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
- Department of Histology and Embryology, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Nino Sinčić
- Department of Medical Biology, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (D.R.); (I.A.); (M.Ć.); (A.K.B.)
- Scientific Group for Research on Epigenetic Biomarkers, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (T.K.); (M.U.)
- Scientific Centre of Excellence for Reproductive and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia;
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