title: Evaluating γH2AX in spermatozoa from male infertility patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether γH2AX levels were different in the spermatozoa of healthy men compared with infertility patients, and to assess the possible correlations between γH2AX and conventional semen parameters and double-stranded breaks (DSBs) identified with the use of comet assay.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semen from 100 male infertile patients and 100 healthy sperm donors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human sperm samples were analyzed in terms of World Health Organization parameters. The γH2AX levels were detected by means of flow cytometry. DSBs of sperm were detected by means of comet assay. Morphology slides were made and the sperm morphology assessed according to strict criteria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Conventional semen analyses, γH2AX levels in sperm, DNA DSBs in sperm, and correlations among γH2AX, conventional semen analyses, and DSBs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Concentration, viability, motility, and normal sperm morphology were significantly lower in male infertility patients compared with healthy men. Also, γH2AX levels and the number of DSBs were significantly higher in the sperm of infertile subjects compared with healthy men. γH2AX levels correlated negatively with conventional semen parameters and positively with DSBs. A threshold γH2AX level of 18.55% was identified as a cutoff value to discriminate infertile subjects from fertile control subjects with a specificity of 86.0% and a sensitivity of 83.0%. The positive and negative predictive values of the 18.55% γH2AX threshold were high: 87.7% and 85.5%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  γH2AX levels were higher in the sperm of male infertility patients than in healthy men. γH2AX levels in sperm, as evaluated with the use of flow cytometry, might be a useful biomarker for evaluating DSBs in human spermatozoa.
authors.affiliation: First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Guangxi, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hui-zhi
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Population and Family Planning of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guangxi, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Fu-tong
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.affiliation: First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Guangxi, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xue-lian
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.affiliation: First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Guangxi, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Population and Family Planning of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guangxi, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Dan-ni
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Guangxi, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Guangxi, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zeng-nan
authors.initials: ZN
authors.lastname: Mo
authors.affiliation: First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Guangxi, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: fqlin1998@163.com.
authors.forename: Fa-quan
authors.initials: FQ
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019540:Area Under Curve; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D048430:Cell Shape; D002470:Cell Survival; D020552:Comet Assay; D053903:DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded; D005298:Fertility; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006657:Histones / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D010766:Phosphorylation; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012372:ROC Curve; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000473:pathology; D015854:Up-Regulation; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C468783:H2AX protein, human; D006657:Histones
keywords: DNA double-stranded breaks; H2AX phosphorylation; Male infertility