Publicação
Discovering infertility bio(glyco)markers in human spermatozoa
| Resumo: | Male infertility affects approximately 8–12% of couples worldwide and can result from genetic, acquired, or idiopathic factors. Although semen analysis is widely used for diagnosis, it is often insufficient to identify the underlying molecular causes of infertility. For reproductive success, spermatozoa must undergo various biochemical modifications, in which glycoproteins play a crucial role. Alterations in the glycosylation of these glycoproteins have been associated with fertilization failures, making them potential biomarkers of male infertility. Given that information on the presence of glycoproteins in human spermatozoa is still limited, the aim of this study was to identify their presence and evaluate their potential as possible markers of infertility. Six lectins with different carbohydrate affinities were tested, revealing distinct profiles between individuals with low and high spermatozoa concentration. Among these, SNA and PNA showed opposite trends: SNA displayed a negative correlation with spermatozoa concentration, whereas PNA exhibited a positive correlation, suggesting their potential as complementary biomarkers. WGA, although reactive, did not show a clear correlation, indicating a more structural than diagnostic role. Lectins GNL, VVL, and PHA-L exhibited weaker or more homogeneous patterns, suggesting lower functional relevance under the conditions studied. These results reinforce the importance of glycoprotein composition in spermatozoa physiology and open new perspectives for the identification of biomarkers associated with fertility. Future studies should focus on increasing the size of the cohort and applying advanced glycoproteomic techniques, such as mass spectrometry. |
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| Autores principais: | Neto, Camila de Magalhães |
| Assunto: | Bio(glyco)markers Glycosylation Glycoproteins Lectins Male infertility Spermatozoa |
| Ano: | 2025 |
| País: | Portugal |
| Tipo de documento: | dissertação de mestrado |
| Tipo de acesso: | acesso embargado |
| Instituição associada: | Universidade de Aveiro |
| Idioma: | inglês |
| Origem: | RIA - Repositório Institucional da Universidade de Aveiro |
| Resumo: | Male infertility affects approximately 8–12% of couples worldwide and can result from genetic, acquired, or idiopathic factors. Although semen analysis is widely used for diagnosis, it is often insufficient to identify the underlying molecular causes of infertility. For reproductive success, spermatozoa must undergo various biochemical modifications, in which glycoproteins play a crucial role. Alterations in the glycosylation of these glycoproteins have been associated with fertilization failures, making them potential biomarkers of male infertility. Given that information on the presence of glycoproteins in human spermatozoa is still limited, the aim of this study was to identify their presence and evaluate their potential as possible markers of infertility. Six lectins with different carbohydrate affinities were tested, revealing distinct profiles between individuals with low and high spermatozoa concentration. Among these, SNA and PNA showed opposite trends: SNA displayed a negative correlation with spermatozoa concentration, whereas PNA exhibited a positive correlation, suggesting their potential as complementary biomarkers. WGA, although reactive, did not show a clear correlation, indicating a more structural than diagnostic role. Lectins GNL, VVL, and PHA-L exhibited weaker or more homogeneous patterns, suggesting lower functional relevance under the conditions studied. These results reinforce the importance of glycoprotein composition in spermatozoa physiology and open new perspectives for the identification of biomarkers associated with fertility. Future studies should focus on increasing the size of the cohort and applying advanced glycoproteomic techniques, such as mass spectrometry. |
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