Abstract
Study question
Do exosomes from seminal plasma have a role in male fertility?
Summary answer
Exosomes isolated from seminal plasma have a pivotal role during spermatogenesis and sperm maturation and may represent eligible biomarkers for male fertility/infertility.
What is known already
During their journey along the male reproductive tract, exosomes contained in seminal fluid are involved in the transfer of several molecules to the maturing sperm. Exosomes are extracellular vesicles (EVs) released by all the cells; they carry a cargo of nucleic acids, proteins and lipids. In the male genital tract, they are released at various levels and their composition differs between men of proven fertility and infertile male patients. Recent studies reported the proteomic profile of exosomes, revealing the presence of several proteins with a well know role in sperm maturation and fertilizing ability acquiring.
Study design, size, duration
This prospective study consisted of 36 Caucasian men; according to seminal parameters (WHO 2010) they were divided in normozoospermic (N; n = 12), oligoasthenoteratozoospermic (OAT: n = 12) and azoospermic (A; n = 12). Semen samples were collected between October 2020 and January 2021 at the Assisted Reproductive Unit, Siena University Hospital (Italy) after institutional ethical approval and signed written consent from all the participants.
Participants/materials, setting, methods
Ejaculated sperm were analyzed according to WHO–2010 criteria and divided into the three groups: N, OAT and A. Exosomes were isolated by an in-house modified ExoGAG®-polymer precipitation-based protocol and characterized for size and ultrastructure by Nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The exosomal proteins were extracted and analyzed by 2D-electrophoresis and the identified profiles were examined by applying bioinformatic tools. The expression of selected genes was evaluated by digital droplets PCR (ddPCR).
Main results and the role of chance
The present work is readily providing an improvement of the standard ExoGAG® protocol and underlines its advantages over more conventional EVs isolation protocols used to date for recovery from seminal fluid: the number of recovered EVs and their size were finely included in the range of exosomes.
This isolation protocol provides samples suitable for proteomic analyses, representing the first 2D-electrophoresis reference map of exosome-pay loaded proteins in N respect to OAT/A groups and providing an innovative and comprehensive functional overview of its proteins. Moreover, the STRING protein-protein interaction analysis revealed the deregulation of specific pathways (e.g. signaling proteins, chromatin packaging and/or remodeling, protein folding and apoptosis) in A and OAT in comparison with N group.
Gene expression by ddPCR analysis highlighted that most of the analyzed genes are modulated in according to seminal parameters, in particular: GAPDHS (Glyceraldehyde–3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase, Spermatogenic); SPAM1 (Sperm Adhesion Molecule–1) encoding a members of hyaluronidase family; ADAM2 (ADAM Metallopeptidase Domain–2) that plays an important role in sperm-egg interactions; CRISP1,2,3 (Cysteine Rich Secretory Protein 1,2,3) expressed in the epididymis and secreted into the epididymal lumen; CLGN (Calmegin) encoding a testis-specific chaperone protein and PGK2 (Phosphoglycerate Kinase–2) expressed in the later stages of spermatogenesis.
Limitations, reasons for caution
This study represents a preliminary experiment. We suggest further comparative studies in larger study cohorts.
Wider implications of the findings: This pilot study, demonstrating the unique proteomic and transcriptomic pattern of exosomes in N/OAT/A groups, supports the importance of exosomes in sperm production and maturation. This methodological set-up is expected to open new ways for advancement in the use of exosomes as fertility biomarkers, making possible personalized approaches in ART.
Trial registration number
Not applicable
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