title: Systematic characterization of seminal plasma piRNAs as molecular biomarkers for male infertility.
abstract: Although piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) play pivotal roles in spermatogenesis, little is known about piRNAs in the seminal plasma of infertile males. In this study, we systematically investigated the profiles of seminal plasma piRNAs in infertile males to identify piRNAs that are altered during infertility and evaluate their diagnostic value. Seminal plasma samples were obtained from 211 infertile patients (asthenozoospermia and azoospermia) and 91 fertile controls. High-throughput sequencing technology was employed to screen piRNA profiles in seminal plasma samples pooled from healthy controls and infertile patients. The results identified 61 markedly altered piRNAs in infertile patient groups compared with control group. Next, a quantitative RT-PCR assay was conducted in the training and validation sets to measure and confirm the concentrations of altered piRNAs. The results identified a panel of 5 piRNAs that were significantly decreased in seminal plasma of infertile patients compared with healthy controls. ROC curve analysis and risk score analysis revealed that the diagnostic potential of these 5 piRNAs to distinguish asthenozoospermic and azoospermic individuals from healthy controls was high. In summary, this study identifies a panel of piRNAs that can accurately distinguish fertile from infertile males. This finding may provide pathophysiological clues about the development of infertility.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Life Sciences, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, NJU Advanced Institute for Life Sciences (NAILS), School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210046, China.
authors.forename: Yeting
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Life Sciences, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, NJU Advanced Institute for Life Sciences (NAILS), School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210046, China.|Department of Clinical Laboratory, Jinling Hospital, Clinical School of Medical College, Nanjing University, 305 East Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210002, China.
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Life Sciences, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, NJU Advanced Institute for Life Sciences (NAILS), School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210046, China.
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Life Sciences, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, NJU Advanced Institute for Life Sciences (NAILS), School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210046, China.
authors.forename: Hongwei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Life Sciences, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, NJU Advanced Institute for Life Sciences (NAILS), School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210046, China.
authors.forename: Suyang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, Jinling Hospital, Clinical School of Medical College, Nanjing University, 305 East Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210002, China.
authors.forename: Meiling
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Huanhuxi Road, Tiyuanbei, Tianjin, 300060, China.
authors.forename: Wu
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Life Sciences, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, NJU Advanced Institute for Life Sciences (NAILS), School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210046, China.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Life Sciences, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, NJU Advanced Institute for Life Sciences (NAILS), School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210046, China.
authors.forename: Chen-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Life Sciences, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, NJU Advanced Institute for Life Sciences (NAILS), School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210046, China.
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zen
authors.affiliation: Department of andrology, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, 321 Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210008, China.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, Jinling Hospital, Clinical School of Medical College, Nanjing University, 305 East Zhongshan Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210002, China.
authors.forename: Chunni
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Life Sciences, Jiangsu Engineering Research Center for MicroRNA Biology and Biotechnology, NJU Advanced Institute for Life Sciences (NAILS), School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, 163 Xianlin Road, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210046, China.
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000379:methods*; D059014:High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D012372:ROC Curve; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012661:Semen / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering