Research Progress of Micro-RNA in Pathogenesis and Diagnosis of Male Infertility

Abstract

10%–15% of couples worldwide experience infertility, with 50% of cases being attributed to male factors. Despite semen analysis being the most commonly used test to evaluate male fertility, it has some limitations. Consequently, reproductive scientists are exploring novel molecular markers that may aid in detecting sperm defects and facilitate improved diagnostic tools and biomarkers for male infertility. MicroRNAs, Over 60% of protein-coding genes are regulated post-transcriptionally by short non-coding RNAs, have potential as disease-specific markers when their expression is altered in body fluids. This article provides a systematic review of microRNAs' roles in different types of male infertility caused by sperm defects, including azoospermia, oligozoospermia, asthenozoospermia, and teratospermia, suggesting they may serve as new biomarkers to enhance diagnostic accuracy.