Investigation of the Relationship between HIWI۳ rs۱۱۷۰۳۶۸۴ (C>T) Polymorphism and Idiopathic Azoospermia/Oligozoospermia in the Kurdish Population of Kermanshah

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 HIWI۳ rs۱۱۷۰۳۶۸۴ (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 ۱۰۰ men with idiopathic azoospermia/oligozoospermia and ۱۰۰ fertile men as the control group. To determine genotypes of HIWI۳ C>T polymorphism, we used the Tetra Arms-PCR technique and significant values were considered as p<۰.۰۵. Results: Our findings did not show a statistically significant difference in the genotype frequency of the recessive model (P = ۰.۱۱۸; OR = ۰.۱۵۸; CI, ۰.۰۱۹–۱.۳۳۹), dominant (P = ۰.۱۶۹; OR = ۰.۶۲۵; CI, ۰.۳۴۱–۱.۱۴۴) and co-dominant (P = ۰.۵۲۷; OR = ۰.۷۷۸; CI, ۰.۴۱۷–۱.۴۵۰). In addition, the results described a negative difference in allelic frequency of HIWI۳ (rs۱۱۷۰۳۶۸۴ C>T) in men with idiopathic azoospermia/oligozoospermia and control group (P = ۰.۲۸۸; OR = ۰.۷۴۹; CI, ۰.۴۶۳–۱.۲۱۲). Conclusion: The current study does not indicate the probability effect of HIWI۳ rs۱۱۷۰۳۶۸۴ (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.

Keywords:

Azoospermia , Oligozoospermia , rs۱۱۷۰۳۶۸۴ , PIWI , HIWI۳ gene , Polymorphism