IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v16y2025i1d10.1038_s41467-025-62015-2.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Small RNA in sperm–Paternal contributions to human embryo development

Author

Listed:
  • Signe Isacson

    (Linköping University)

  • Kajsa Karlsson

    (Linköping University
    Linköping University)

  • Stefan Zalavary

    (Linköping University)

  • Anna Asratian

    (Linköping University)

  • Unn Kugelberg

    (Linköping University)

  • Susanne Liffner

    (Linköping University)

  • Anita Öst

    (Linköping University)

Abstract

Sperm not only delivers the paternal genome to the oocyte but also regulatory small RNA (sRNA). However, the role of sRNA in fertilisation and human embryo development remains poorly understood. Here, couples undergoing IVF are recruited, and sperm sRNA analysed to investigate their role in IVF treatment. Differential expression of mitochondrial sRNA and Y-RNA are observed in relation to sperm concentration. For fertilisation rate, sRNA from a single locus are significantly changed. Expression of microRNA (miRNA) and ribosomal sRNA correlates positively and negatively, respectively, to high-quality embryos. Notably, the top miRNA have an area under ROC of >0.8. Predicted targets of these miRNA are relevant for development, suggesting a role for sperm-borne miRNA in embryo development. In conclusion, sperm-borne sRNA are biomarkers for sperm concentration and embryo quality in IVF. These findings may contribute to clinical strategies improving embryo quality, lowering costs and reducing the need for additional treatment cycles.

Suggested Citation

  • Signe Isacson & Kajsa Karlsson & Stefan Zalavary & Anna Asratian & Unn Kugelberg & Susanne Liffner & Anita Öst, 2025. "Small RNA in sperm–Paternal contributions to human embryo development," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-62015-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-62015-2
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-62015-2
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-025-62015-2?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. A. Tomar & M. Gomez-Velazquez & R. Gerlini & G. Comas-Armangué & L. Makharadze & T. Kolbe & A. Boersma & M. Dahlhoff & J. P. Burgstaller & M. Lassi & J. Darr & J. Toppari & H. Virtanen & A. Kühnapfel , 2024. "Epigenetic inheritance of diet-induced and sperm-borne mitochondrial RNAs," Nature, Nature, vol. 630(8017), pages 720-727, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.

      More about this item

      Statistics

      Access and download statistics

      Corrections

      All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-62015-2. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

      If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

      If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

      If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

      For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

      Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

      IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.