Investigation of non-coding ribonucleic acid (RNA) gene expressions in semen samples of infertil men

In recent studies, it has been revealed that long non-coding RNAs (long non-coding RNA; lncRNA) are involved in the spermatogenesis process and affect the regulation of target genes. In the current study, it was aimed to compare the expressions of some lncRNAs detected in testicular tissue and sperm samples with normospermic ejaculate samples and ejaculate samples with certain anomalies obtained from infertile individuals. 30 healthy controls, 30 asthenospermia, 30 teratospermia and 30 oligoasthenoteratospermia individuals were included in the study. Ejaculate samples obtained during routine spermiogram analysis were collected from these individuals. Expression profiles of a total of 12 genes, including 8 autophagy-related lncRNAs and 4 autophagy-related genes, were analyzed by qRT-PCR and Western blot methods in ejaculate samples. Compared to the control group, the analyzed gene expressions did not change significantly in the astheno and teratospermia groups, but the H19, HOTAIR, MALAT1, NBR2, HULC, ROR, ATG7 and LC3 gene expressions increased significantly in the oligoasthenoteratospermia group; It was observed that TGFB2, MEG3, Beclin1 and ATG5 gene expression did not change. It was observed that LC3 expression was significantly increased in the oligoastenoteratospermia group compared to the control. It was determined that autophagy-inducing lncRNA and genes were expressed in high amounts in patients with oligoasthenoteratospermia. These data show that the expression increases of lnc-RNAs and genes involved in autophagy may play important roles in the etiopathogenesis of oligoastenoteratospermia, and that autophagic regulation is severely impaired. It is predicted that autophagic suppressors may be therapeutic targets, especially in oligoastenoteratospermia patients.