Sperm mRNAs and microRNAs as candidate markers for the impact of toxicants on human spermatogenesis: an application to tobacco smoking.

Sperm mRNAs and microRNAs as candidate markers for the impact of toxicants on human spermatogenesis: an application to tobacco smoking. Syst Biol Reprod Med. 2015 Mar 30;:1-11 Authors: Metzler-Guillemain C, Victorero G, Lepoivre C, Bergon A, Yammine M, Perrin J, Sari-Minodier I, Boulanger N, Rihet P, Nguyen C Abstract Spermatozoa contain a complex population of RNAs including messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and small RNAs such as microRNAs (miRNA). It has been reported that these RNAs can be used to understand the mechanisms by which toxicological exposure affects spermatogenesis. The aim of our study was to compare mRNA and miRNA profiles in spermatozoa from eight smokers and eight non-smokers, and search for potential relationships between mRNA and miRNA variation. All men were selected based on their answers to a standard toxic exposure questionnaire, and sperm parameters. Using mRNA and miRNA microarrays, we showed that mRNAs from 15 genes were differentially represented between smokers and non-smokers (p < 0.01): five had higher levels and 10 lower levels in the smokers. For the microRNAs, 23 were differentially represented: 16 were higher and seven lower in the smokers (0.004 ≤ p < 0.01). Quantitative RT-PCR confirmed the lower levels in smokers compared to non-smokers for hsa-miR-296-5p, hsa-miR-3940, and hsa-miR-520d-3p. Moreover, we observed an inverse relationship between the levels of microRNAs and six potential...
Source: Systems Biology in Reproductive Medicine - Category: Reproduction Medicine Authors: Tags: Syst Biol Reprod Med Source Type: research