title: Down-regulation of DJ-1 protein in the ejaculated spermatozoa from Chinese asthenozoospermia patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether the expression of DJ-1 protein, whose levels in spermatozoa have been reported to be highly correlated with male infertility caused by toxicants, is changed in spermatozoa of Chinese asthenozoospermia patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  DJ-1 measurement by Western blotting, quantitive ELISA, and isoelectric-focusing electrophoresis (IFE) combined with immunoblotting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Academic medical center and research laboratories.
  
  
  METHODS
  Asthenozoospermia patients (n = 113), including mild asthenozoospermia patients (n = 70) and moderate asthenozoospermia patients (n = 43), and age-matched control subjects (n = 58).
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  DJ-1 in spermatozoa was determined by Western blotting and ELISA, the isoelectric point (pI) of DJ-1 by IFE combined with immunoblotting, and sperm superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity by an assay kit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sperm DJ-1 concentration in moderate asthenozoospermia patients was lower than those in mild asthenozoospermia patients and control subjects. DJ-1 with a more acidic pI was increased in asthenozoospermia patients. Sperm SOD activity was decreased in asthenozoospermia patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DJ-1 levels are reduced in moderate asthenozoospermia patients. DJ-1 concentration is positively correlated with sperm motility and sperm SOD activity indicated by partial correlation analysis.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Science, Peking University, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Chun-Na
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: An
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ren-Pei
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Jian-Ming
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Wan-Lu
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Zi-Yu
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiao-Ping
authors.initials: XP
authors.lastname: Pu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People / Q000208:ethnology; D053627:Asthenozoospermia / Q000208:ethnology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D004542:Ejaculation / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D015513:Oncogene Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D000071617:Protein Deglycase DJ-1; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000502:physiology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D015513:Oncogene Proteins; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; C105131:PARK7 protein, human; D000071617:Protein Deglycase DJ-1