Cluster of differentiation 147 (CD147) or extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN) is a transmembrane glycoprotein that induces the synthesis of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). MMPs, as zinc-dependent proteases and versatile enzymes, play critical roles in the degradation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) components, cleaving of the receptors of cellular surfaces, signaling molecules, and other precursor proteins, which may lead to attenuation or activation of such targets. CD147 and MMPs play essential roles in physiological and pathological conditions and any disorder in the expression, synthesis, or function of CD147 and MMPs may be associated with various types of disease. In this review, we have focused on the roles of CD147 and MMPs in some major physiological and pathological processes.

The object of present study was to investigate the effects of direct addition of Tribulus terrestris extract on human sperm parameters. Semen specimens from 40 healthy men volunteers were divided into 4 groups: one group received no treatment (control group) while the others were incubated with 20, 40, and 50 µg/mL of T terrestris extract (experimental groups). Motility, viability, and DNA fragmentation were assessed in all groups. The incubation of human semen with 40 and 50 μg/mL of T terrestris extract significantly enhanced total sperm motility, number of progressive motile spermatozoa, and curvilinear velocity over 60 to 120 minutes’ holding time (P < .05 or P < < .01). Furthermore, viability was significantly enhanced by using T terrestris extract (P < .01). In vitro addition of the T terrestris extract to human sperm could affect male fertility capacity.

The destructive effects of sperm cryopreservation result in decreased sperm parameters and their fertilizing ability. Antioxidants supplementation can potentially improve cryopreservation outcomes. In this study, we tried to investigate the effects of sericin supplementation in freezing and thawing media on frozen-thawed human sperm motility, morphology, viability, and DNA fragmentation. In experiment 1, semen samples were collected from 30 healthy fertile men and were cryopreserved in the presence of freezing medium supplemented with different concentrations of sericin (0, 0.5, 1, 2.5, and 5%). The results showed that the addition of 2.5 and 5% sericin in freezing medium significantly increased sperm viability and total motility (A + B) and decreased DNA fragmentation (P < 0.05). In experiment 2, semen samples were collected from 21 fertile men and were cryopreserved in freezing medium without any supplementation for 48 h. Then, the samples were thawed in medium supplemented with different concentrations of sericin (0, 0.5, 1, 2.5, and 5%). The addition of 5% sericin to thawing medium increased the total motility, viability, and decreased DNA fragmentation compared with those in thaws without sericin. In nutshell, the results clearly indicate the feasibility of sericin as an cryoprotective supplement for freezing media in human spermatozoa.