Investigation of the Relationship between HIWI3 rs11703684 (C>T) Polymorphism and Idiopathic Azoospermia/Oligozoospermia in the Kurdish Population of Kermanshah

  • Salami Sara Department of Molecular Genetics, Ahar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahar, IranDepartment of Molecular Genetics, Ahar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahar, Iran
  • Ghorbian Saeid Department of Molecular Genetics, Ahar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahar, Iran
  • Alibakhshi Reza Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
  • Keshavarzi Farahnaz Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
Keywords: Azoospermia, Oligozoospermia, rs11703684, PIWI, HIWI3 gene, Polymorphism

Abstract

Background & Objective: Genetic factors play a major role in the development of male idiopathic infertility. Because of the multi-genetic base of this disease, not all genetic factors have been investigated. PIWI genes have been reported to be involved in the regulation of piRNAs in spermatogenesis. Our study assessed the association between HIWI3 rs11703684 (C>T) gene polymorphism with the risk of male idiopathic azoospermia/oligozoospermia in the Kurdish population of Kermanshah.

Materials & Methods: In this case-control investigation, we included two hundred individuals consisting of 100 men with idiopathic azoospermia/oligozoospermia and 100 fertile men as the control group. To determine genotypes of HIWI3 C>T polymorphism, we used the Tetra Arms-PCR technique and significant values were considered as p<0.05.

Results: Our findings did not show a statistically significant difference in the genotype frequency of the recessive model (P = 0.118; OR = 0.158; CI, 0.019–1.339), dominant (P = 0.169; OR = 0.625; CI, 0.341–1.144) and co-dominant (P = 0.527; OR = 0.778; CI, 0.417–1.450). In addition, the results described a negative difference in allelic frequency of HIWI3 (rs11703684 C>T) in men with idiopathic azoospermia/oligozoospermia and control group (P = 0.288; OR = 0.749; CI, 0.463–1.212).

Conclusion: The current study does not indicate the probability effect of HIWI3 rs11703684 (C>T) gene polymorphism on the male idiopathic azoospermia/oligozoospermia in the Kurdish population of Kermanshah. The critical role of PIWI genes in spermatogenesis and as a candidate risk factor for male infertility remained unknown.

Published
2023-10-17
Section
Articles