Long noncoding RNAs expression profile and long noncoding RNA-mediated competing endogenous RNA network in nonobstructive azoospermia patients

Abstract

Aim: To analyze the expression profile and competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA). Materials & methods: The lncRNA expression profile in NOA was determined by microarray reanalysis. Differential expression analysis was performed by R software. The ceRNA network was constructed using correlation analysis and gene target miRNA prediction. Metascape was used for enrichment analysis. Again ceRNA network was validated by quantitative real-time PCR. Results: Many lncRNAs are differently expressed in NOA. LncRNAs might participate in spermatogenesis through ceRNA mechanism. The ceRNA network included male gamete generation and other pathways. LINC00467 in the network regulated the expression of LRGUK and TDRD6. Conclusion: LncRNAs are involved in NOA and potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for NOA.

Keywords::

• ceRNA network
• expression profile
• LINC00467
• lncRNAs
• NOA

Acknowledgments

We thank P Qi for his help in the data analysis.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2016YFC1000600), the Special Fund of Clinical Medicine of Chinese Medical Association (17020280697) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31472054). The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript

Ethical conduct of research

The study had approval from the Ethics Committee of the Institute of Human Reproduction and Stem Cell Engineering of Central South University. The authors state that they have obtained appropriate institutional review board approval or have followed the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki for all human or animal experimental investigations.