Altered ureido protein modification profiles in seminal plasma extracellular vesicles of non-normozoospermic men.

Abstract

Introduction:

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been recognized as key players in numerous physiological functions. These vesicles alter their compositions attuned to the health and disease states of the organism. In men, significant changes in the proteomic composition(s) of seminal plasma EVs (sEVs) have already been found to be related to infertility.

Methods:

Methods: In this study, we analyze the posttranslational configuration of sEV proteomes from normozoospermic (NZ) men and non-normozoospermic (non-NZ) men diagnosed with teratozoospermia and/or asthenozoospermia by unbiased, discovery-driven proteomics and advanced bioinformatics, specifically focusing on citrulline (Cit) and homocitrulline (hCit) posttranscriptional residues, both considered product of ureido protein modifications.

Results and discussion:

Significant increase in the proteome-wide cumulative presence of hCit together with downregulation of Cit in specific proteins related to decisive molecular functions have been encountered in sEVs of non-NZ subjects. These findings identify novel culprits with a higher chance of affecting fundamental aspects of sperm functional quality and define potential specific diagnostic and prognostic non-invasive markers for male infertility.

• Authors: Rosa Roy, Cristina Lorca, María Mulet, José Antonio Sánchez Milán, Alejandro Baratas, Moisés de la Casa, Carme Espinet, Aida Serra, Xavier Gallart-Palau
• Journal: Frontiers in endocrinology (Front Endocrinol (Lausanne)) Vol. 14 Pg. 1113824 ( 2023) ISSN: 1664-2392 [Print] Switzerland
• PMID: 37033249 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2023 Roy, Lorca, Mulet, Sánchez Milán, Baratas, de la Casa, Espinet, Serra and Gallart-Palau.

Topics

• Humans
• Male
• Semen (metabolism)
• Proteomics (methods)
• Spermatozoa (metabolism)
• Infertility, Male (diagnosis, metabolism)
• Extracellular Vesicles