A comparison of the expression patterns and diagnostic capability of the ncRNAs NEAT1 and miR-34a in non-obstructive azoospermia and severe oligospermia

Infertility is a major global health problem, affecting 8-12% of couples worldwide, with male causes contributing to approximately 50% of cases. Notably, around 15% of infertile men are azoospermic. Consequently, there is a critical necessity to find noninvasive biomarkers to help in diagnosing and assessing the susceptibility of patients with various infertility disorders. This study is designed to determine the roles of NEAT1 and miR-34a as diagnostic and susceptibility biomarkers for non-obstructive azoospermia and severe oligospermia. The interactions between these non-coding RNA (ncRNAs) were explored, along with their correlations to hormonal profiles and clinical parameters like sperm count and motility. The potential of serum NEAT1 and miR-34a as diagnostic biomarkers for these conditions was explored. The study included 100 participants: 40 non-obstructive azoospermia patients, 40 severe oligospermia patients, and 20 healthy controls. Quantitative real-time PCR and transcriptomics-based bioinformatics tools were employed to explore the co-expression networks and molecular interactions of NEAT1, miR-34a, SIRT1, and their associated hormonal and genetic pathways. Results indicated that NEAT1 was significantly downregulated in severe oligospermia patients, while its levels in non-obstructive azoospermia patients did not differ significantly from healthy controls. Furthermore, serum miR-34a expression was considerably upregulated in both patient groups compared to controls. This study highlights the promise of serum NEAT1 and miR-34a as diagnostic markers for non-obstructive azoospermia and severe oligospermia. These findings provide valuable insights into male infertility and indicate potential avenues for personalized treatment strategies.