Influence of Risk Factors for Male Infertility on Sperm Protein Composition

Abstract

Male infertility is a common health problem that can be influenced by a host of lifestyle risk factors such as environment, nutrition, smoking, stress, and endocrine disruptors. These effects have been largely demonstrated on sperm parameters (e.g., motility, numeration, vitality, DNA integrity). In addition, several studies showed the deregulation of sperm proteins in relation to some of these factors. This review inventories the literature related to the identification of sperm proteins showing abundance variations in response to the four risk factors for male infertility that are the most investigated in this context: obesity, diabetes, tobacco smoking, and exposure to bisphenol-A (BPA). First, we provide an overview of the techniques used to identify deregulated proteins. Then, we summarise the main results obtained in the different studies and provide a compiled list of deregulated proteins in relation to each risk factor. Gene ontology analysis of these deregulated proteins shows that oxidative stress and immune and inflammatory responses are common mechanisms involved in sperm alterations encountered in relation to the risk factors.

From Oxidative Stress to Male Infertility: Review of the Associations of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals (Bisphenols, Phthalates, and Parabens) with Human Semen Quality

“…(f) Sperm protein composition: Using a contemporary approach of proteomics, it was discovered that BPA exposure is associated with the deregulation of proteins such as actin (ACTB), caspase-3 (CASP3), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDHS), glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), outer dense fiber protein 2 (ODF2), Ras-related protein Rab-2A (RAB2A), sperm surface protein Sp17 (SPA17), and triosephosphate isomerase (TPI1) in spermatozoa. All of these proteins play significant roles in processes related to male fertility, including sperm motility (ACTB, ODF2, GADPHS), acrosome reaction (ACTB), apoptosis (CASP3), spermatogenesis and sperm maturation (GPX4), acrosome biogenesis (RAB2A), and sperm binding to oocytes’ zona pellucida (SPA17, TPI1) [ 100 ].…”

Targeted Analysis of HSP70 Isoforms in Human Spermatozoa in the Context of Capacitation and Motility

“…Many scientific studies demonstrate that male fertility is in decline, with an alarming decrease in sperm parameters observed over the past 50 years [ 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 ]. To understand the molecular mechanisms involved in male infertility, global mass spectrometry-based proteomic approaches have been used by different research groups to identify key proteins linked to infertility (e.g., see [ 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 ] for reviews). However, when focusing on a same infertility disorder, for instance, asthenozoospermia or obesity, only a small number of proteins have been identified consistently in different-independent studies, often with opposite abundance variations [ 64 , 66 ].…”

“…To understand the molecular mechanisms involved in male infertility, global mass spectrometry-based proteomic approaches have been used by different research groups to identify key proteins linked to infertility (e.g., see [ 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 ] for reviews). However, when focusing on a same infertility disorder, for instance, asthenozoospermia or obesity, only a small number of proteins have been identified consistently in different-independent studies, often with opposite abundance variations [ 64 , 66 ]. This inconsistency could be attributed to differences in the investigated groups, type of samples and identification methods used.…”

Targeted analysis of HSP70 isoforms in human spermatozoa in the context of capacitation and motility

“…Many scientific studies demonstrate that male fertility is in decline, with an alarming decrease in sperm parameters observed over the past 50 years [59][60][61][62]. To understand the molecular mechanisms involved in male infertility, global mass spectrometry-based proteomic approaches have been used by different research groups to identify key proteins linked to infertility (e.g., see [63][64][65][66][67][68][69] for reviews). However, when focusing on a same infertility disorder, for instance, asthenozoospermia or obesity, only a small number of proteins have been identified consistently in different-independent studies, often with opposite abundance variations [64,66].…”