MicroRNA-targeting in spermatogenesis: Over-expressions of microRNA-23a/b-3p and its affected targeting of the genes ODF2 and UBQLN3 in spermatozoa of patients with oligoasthenozoospermia

摘要

Background: Male infertility is a multifactorial syndrome with diverse phenotypic representations. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNAs that are involved in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Altered abundance levels of ODF2 and UBQLN3 have been reported in patients with different spermatogenic impairments. However, the transcriptional regulation of these two genes by miR-23a/b-3p is still unclear.