The role of miRNA expression with interleukin-6 and their effects on semen parameters in Iraqi men

Semen analysis is a standardised laboratory test used to measure male fertility and provides basic information about sperm production, reproductive gland function and the male reproductive system. Interleukin-6 affects sperm proliferation, germ cell maturation, hormone synthesis and protein secretion. Infertility is the absence of pregnancy after one year of unprotected sexual intercourse. Our study was conducted in Baghdad from March 2022 to July 2022 in two major medical centres in the city. These centres included the Higher Institute of Infertility and Assisted Reproductive Techniques at Al-Nihrain University and Al-Kadhimai Medical City. A total of 120 people participated in the study. They were divided into three groups: 40 controls without any health problems (33.3% of the total), 40 people diagnosed with oligospermia (33.3% of the total) and 40 people diagnosed with azoospermia (33.3% of the total). A total of 80 men diagnosed with infertility participated in the study, while 40 healthy men were included as the control group. Laboratory guidelines for the collection and processing of human semen established by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2010 were used for sperm analysis. Patients were instructed to abstain from sexual activity for a period of at least three to five days after the necessary information was provided. After the samples were collected, a sterile container was used to store the sample and analyses were performed. In addition, IL-6 level was measured in the blood serum of each patient. The mean IL-6 concentration was (40.67 ±2.78) (pg/ml) in the healthy control group and (124.04 ±4.74) (pg/ml) in the oligospermia group. The mean IL6 level in the azoospermia group was 126.90 ± 4.66 pg/ml. A real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) panel with a threshold cycle value ≤40 was used to analyse miRNA expression in sperm plasma. The results showed that microRNA (miR-141) expression was significantly upregulated, while miR-122 expression was significantly downregulated. Based on these findings, miRNA appears to play a role as a regulator of the fluctuation in microRNA amounts occurring during spermatogenesis. According to the results of statistical analyses, there was no significant correlation between miR-122 levels in sperm plasma and total sperm count, whereas there was a significant correlation between miR-122 levels and sperm count. In addition, no statistically significant correlation was found between miR-141 levels in semen plasma and sperm count, whereas a statistically significant correlation was found between miR-141 levels and total sperm count.