Does detection of DDX4 mRNA in cell-free seminal plasma represents a reliable noninvasive germ cell marker in patients with nonobstructive azoospermia?

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the potential application of DDX4 gene expression in cell-free seminal mRNA as a noninvasive biomarker for the identification of the presence of germ cells in men with nonobstructive azoospermia and to correlate this factor with testicular biopsy. Male reproductive organ-specific genes were chosen: DDX4, which is a germ cell-specific gene and transglutaminase 4, which is a prostate-specific gene that was used as a control gene. Thirty-nine azoospermic males and twenty-eight normospermic fertile males (serving as a control group) participated in the study. Histopathological examination of testicular biopsies categorised azoospermic males into 20.5% with maturation arrest, 17.9% with incomplete Sertoli cell-only syndrome and 61.5% with complete Sertoli cell-only syndrome. Using real-time polymerase chain reaction, positivity for DDX4 gene was detected in 17 of 39 males with NOA which was due to maturation arrest in 35.3% (n=6/17) of cases, due to incomplete Sertoli cell only in 23.5% (n=4/17) and due to complete Sertoli cell only in 41.2% (n=7/17). The study recommends joint utilisation of molecular transcripts as noninvasive biomarkers and histopathological examination of testicular biopsies in management of cases with azoospermia of the nonobstructive type.