Novel differentially expressed male infertility-associated genes in sperm as prospective diagnostic biomarkers

Genetic defects in sperm are responsible for a great percentage of male infertility. Dysregulation of these genes directly influences sperm morphology, motility, and viability. Therefore, analyzing gene expression aberrancies is a must in male infertility. Microarray analysis is practically used for several aspects of male infertility, including the detection of differentially expressed genes and the identification of potential infertility biomarkers. We conducted a meta-analysis using microarray datasets, including the datasets containing sperm tissues from both healthy and infertile males. Seven datasets qualified for inclusion in this study and were then transformed into a single set of meta-data. For these genes, expression and diagnostic analyses were conducted. Additionally, enrichment analysis revealed the role and function of these genes in cellular processes. Six genes-S100Z, SLC2A2, IMPG1, HOXD12, RAPGEFL1, and DMBX1-were found to be significantly down-regulated in the sperm of infertile men. Notably, the expression of these genes was highly correlated in the sperm of these men. In addition, receiver operating curve analysis indicated that these genes may serve as useful biomarkers for infertility diagnosis. The role of these genes in transporting glucose, vitamins, and fructose as the sperm's primary fuel source was suggested by pathway analysis.