Sperm telomere length as a novel biomarker of male infertility and embryonic development: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Yuan, Yacheng; Tan, Yangyang; Qiu, Xiao‐Long; Luo, Hengfeng; Li, Yuxiang; Li, Ruijie; Yang, Xukai

doi:10.3389/fendo.2022.1079966

Cited by 17 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 70 publications

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“…To the best of our knowledge, only Yuan et al 13 performed a systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating the role of sperm TL as biomarker of male infertility and embryonic development. However, only the data from studies that they meta-analyzed were summarized, the qualitative results were omitted, and important limitations to their meta-analysis should be highlighted.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To the best of our knowledge, only Yuan et al 13 . performed a systematic review and meta‐analysis evaluating the role of sperm TL as biomarker of male infertility and embryonic development.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…12 A recent systematic review and metaanalysis of observational studies evaluating sperm TL as a biomarker of embryonic development revealed that higher sperm TL was associated with a higher probability of pregnancy but not with fertilization rate. 13 However, the study has design limitations in the evaluation of the associations between sperm TL and sperm quality.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, in recent decades, telomere function has been investigated as a potential biomarker of infertility because of its apparently important role in fertilization and embryo development 12 . A recent systematic review and meta‐analysis of observational studies evaluating sperm TL as a biomarker of embryonic development revealed that higher sperm TL was associated with a higher probability of pregnancy but not with fertilization rate 13 . However, the study has design limitations in the evaluation of the associations between sperm TL and sperm quality.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Is telomere length a biomarker of sperm quality? A systematic review and meta‐analysis of observational studies

et al. 2023

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BackgroundTelomeres are essential for the integrity of chromosome ends during cell division and their involvement in different processes linked to aging has been established. These chromosome components are involved in spermatogenesis and seem to play an important role in fertilization and embryo development. Telomere length is shortened with each cell division. Recently, short sperm telomere length has been proposed as a potential biomarker of male infertility.ObjectivesTo conduct a systematic review and meta‐analysis of studies exploring the association between spermatozoa and/or leukocyte telomere length with sperm quality parameters and different infertility conditions.Material and methodsA systematic review and meta‐analysis was conducted with studies from Medline‐PUBMED and Cochrane Library databases until May 2022. Eligible studies included cohort, cross‐sectional and case–control studies, and telomere length in spermatozoa and/or leukocytes cells was defined as the exposure. Semen quality parameters or infertility conditions (e.g., oligozoospermia, asthenozoospermia, teratozoospermia, or other spermatogenic impairment combinations) were defined as the outcomes.ResultsTwenty‐three observational studies were included. In the qualitative analysis, high heterogeneity was observed between studies regarding the associations between telomere length and semen parameters in different normozoospermic/fertile and oligozoospermic/infertile populations. In the meta‐analysis, spermatozoa and leukocyte telomere length were shorter in infertile individuals than in fertile individuals (mean difference [95% confidence interval]: –1.43 [–1.66 to –1.21], p‐value <0.001 and –1.67 [–2.02 to –1.31], p‐value <0.001, respectively). Moreover, in terms of sperm telomere length, these differences were also significant between individuals with a normal seminogram and individuals with a low quantity of spermatozoa in the ejaculate (–0.97 [–1.32, –0.61], p‐value <0.001).ConclusionThe current systematic review and meta‐analysis suggests the potential role of spermatozoa or leukocyte telomere length as a reliable biomarker of semen quality, which may help distinguish between infertility conditions beyond the routine semen analysis.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Is telomere length a biomarker of sperm quality? A systematic review and meta‐analysis of observational studies

et al. 2023

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“…Although epidemiological retrospective studies can provide insight into general trends regarding the association between telomeres and infertility factors, they have limitations; these can include the sample size not always being sufficient to validate statistical results. An accurate recent meta-analysis [42] that included all experimental studies exploring the association between sperm telomere length (STL) and male semen quality, male infertility and embryonic development, proposed that STL might be considered a good diagnostic marker and have predictive value regarding male fertility and clinical pregnancy. Therefore, STL could be used as a new biomarker for diagnostic male infertility and could be useful, in particular, for identifying and selecting germ cells with the greatest fertilization potential [30].…”

Section: Germ Cell Telomere and Environmental Pollutantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Male Germ Cell Telomeres and Chemical Pollutants

et al. 2023

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In recent decades, male infertility has been correlated with the shortening of sperm telomeres. Telomeres regulate the reproductive lifespan by mediating the synapsis and homologous recombination of chromosomes during gametogenesis. They are composed of thousands of hexanucleotide DNA repeats (TTAGGG) that are coupled to specialized shelterin complex proteins and non-coding RNAs. Telomerase activity in male germ cells ensures that the telomere length is maintained at maximum levels during spermatogenesis, despite telomere shortening due to DNA replication or other genotoxic factors such as environmental pollutants. An emerging body of evidence has associated an exposure to pollutants with male infertility. Although telomeric DNA may be one of the important targets of environmental pollutants, only a few authors have considered it as a conventional parameter for sperm function. The aim of this review is to provide comprehensive and up-to-date data on the research carried out so far on the structure/function of telomeres in spermatogenesis and the influence of environmental pollutants on their functionality. The link between pollutant-induced oxidative stress and telomere length in germ cells is discussed.

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