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Ali I, Ali H, Unar A, Rahim F, Khan K, Dil S, Abbas T, Hussain A, Zeb A, Zubair M, Zhang H, Ma H, Jiang X, Khan MA, Xu B, Shah W, Shi Q. A novel homozygous missense TTC12 variant identified in an infertile Pakistani man with severe oligoasthenoteratozoospermia and primary ciliary dyskinesia. Mol Genet Genomics 2024; 299:69. [PMID: 38992144 DOI: 10.1007/s00438-024-02161-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
TTC12 is a cytoplasmic and centromere-localized protein that plays a role in the proper assembly of dynein arm complexes in motile cilia in both respiratory cells and sperm flagella. This finding underscores its significance in cellular motility and function. However, the wide role of TTC12 in human spermatogenesis-associated primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) still needs to be elucidated. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) and Sanger sequencing were performed to identify potentially pathogenic variants causing PCD and multiple morphological abnormalities of sperm flagella (MMAF) in an infertile Pakistani man. Diagnostic imaging techniques were used for PCD screening in the patient. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT‒PCR) was performed to detect the effect of mutations on the mRNA abundance of the affected genes. Papanicolaou staining and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were carried out to examine sperm morphology. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was performed to examine the ultrastructure of the sperm flagella, and the results were confirmed by immunofluorescence staining. Using WES and Sanger sequencing, a novel homozygous missense variant (c.C1069T; p.Arg357Trp) in TTC12 was identified in a patient from a consanguineous family. A computed tomography scan of the paranasal sinuses confirmed the symptoms of the PCD. RT-PCR showed a decrease in TTC12 mRNA in the patient's sperm sample. Papanicolaou staining, SEM, and TEM analysis revealed a significant change in shape and a disorganized axonemal structure in the sperm flagella of the patient. Immunostaining assays revealed that TTC12 is distributed throughout the flagella and is predominantly concentrated in the midpiece in normal spermatozoa. In contrast, spermatozoa from patient deficient in TTC12 showed minimal staining intensity for TTC12 or DNAH17 (outer dynein arms components). This could lead to MMAF and result in male infertility. This novel TTC12 variant not only illuminates the underlying genetic causes of male infertility but also paves the way for potential treatments targeting these genetic factors. This study represents a significant advancement in understanding the genetic basis of PCD-related infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Imtiaz Ali
- Institute of Health and Medicine Division of Reproduction and Genetics, The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Hefei Comprehensive National Science CenterFirst Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at MicroscaleBiomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Haider Ali
- Institute of Health and Medicine Division of Reproduction and Genetics, The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Hefei Comprehensive National Science CenterFirst Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at MicroscaleBiomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Ahsanullah Unar
- Institute of Health and Medicine Division of Reproduction and Genetics, The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Hefei Comprehensive National Science CenterFirst Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at MicroscaleBiomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Fazal Rahim
- Institute of Health and Medicine Division of Reproduction and Genetics, The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Hefei Comprehensive National Science CenterFirst Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at MicroscaleBiomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Khalid Khan
- Institute of Health and Medicine Division of Reproduction and Genetics, The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Hefei Comprehensive National Science CenterFirst Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at MicroscaleBiomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Sobia Dil
- Institute of Health and Medicine Division of Reproduction and Genetics, The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Hefei Comprehensive National Science CenterFirst Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at MicroscaleBiomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Tanveer Abbas
- Institute of Health and Medicine Division of Reproduction and Genetics, The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Hefei Comprehensive National Science CenterFirst Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at MicroscaleBiomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Ansar Hussain
- Institute of Health and Medicine Division of Reproduction and Genetics, The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Hefei Comprehensive National Science CenterFirst Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at MicroscaleBiomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Aurang Zeb
- Institute of Health and Medicine Division of Reproduction and Genetics, The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Hefei Comprehensive National Science CenterFirst Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at MicroscaleBiomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Muhammad Zubair
- Institute of Health and Medicine Division of Reproduction and Genetics, The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Hefei Comprehensive National Science CenterFirst Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at MicroscaleBiomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Huan Zhang
- Institute of Health and Medicine Division of Reproduction and Genetics, The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Hefei Comprehensive National Science CenterFirst Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at MicroscaleBiomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Hui Ma
- Institute of Health and Medicine Division of Reproduction and Genetics, The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Hefei Comprehensive National Science CenterFirst Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at MicroscaleBiomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Xiaohua Jiang
- Institute of Health and Medicine Division of Reproduction and Genetics, The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Hefei Comprehensive National Science CenterFirst Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at MicroscaleBiomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Muzammil Ahmad Khan
- Gomal Centre of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Gomal University, Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Bo Xu
- Institute of Health and Medicine Division of Reproduction and Genetics, The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Hefei Comprehensive National Science CenterFirst Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at MicroscaleBiomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China.
| | - Wasim Shah
- Institute of Health and Medicine Division of Reproduction and Genetics, The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Hefei Comprehensive National Science CenterFirst Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at MicroscaleBiomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China.
| | - Qinghua Shi
- Institute of Health and Medicine Division of Reproduction and Genetics, The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Hefei Comprehensive National Science CenterFirst Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at MicroscaleBiomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China.
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Lee CW, Chen KL, Yuan CS, Lai CS, Tsai XY, Wu PH, Hsu PC. Epigenetic transgenerational effects of PM2.5 collected from southern Taiwan on sperm functions and DNA methylation in mouse offspring. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 269:115802. [PMID: 38091677 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
During respiration, particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 µm or less (PM2.5) suspended in the atmosphere enters the terminal alveoli and blood. PM2.5 particles can attach to toxic substances, resulting in health problems. Limited information is available regarding the effects of prenatal exposure to water-soluble PM2.5 (WS-PM2.5) and water-insoluble PM2.5 (WI-PM2.5) on male reproduction. In addition, whether exposure to these particles has transgenerational effects remains unknown. We investigated whether prenatal exposure to WS-PM2.5 and WI-PM2.5 disrupts sperm function in generations F1, F2, and F3 of male mice. Pregnant BALB/c mice were treated using intratracheal instillation on gestation days 7, 11, and 15 with 10 mg of a water extract or insoluble PM2.5. On postnatal day 105, epididymal sperm count, motility, morphology, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, the sperm chromatin DNA fragmentation index (DFI), and testicular DNA methyltransferase (Dnmt) levels were evaluated in all generations. Whole-genome bisulfite sequencing was used to analyze the DNA methylation status of generation F3. According to the results, exposure to WS-PM2.5 affected sperm morphology, ROS production, and mean DFI in generation F1; ROS production and mean DFI in generation F2; and sperm morphology and MMP in generation F3. Similarly, exposure to WI-PM2.5 affected sperm morphology, ROS production, mean DFI, %DFI, and Dnmt1 expression in generation F1; sperm morphology, MMP, and ROS production in generation F2; and sperm morphology, ROS, and %DFI in generation F3. Two hypermethylated genes, PRR16 and TJP2, were observed in the WS-PM2.5 and WI-PM2.5 groups, two hypomethylated genes, NFATC1 and APOA5, were observed in the WS-PM2.5 group, and two hypomethylated genes, ZFP945 and GSE1, were observed in the WI-PM2.5 group. Hence, prenatal exposure to PM2.5 resulted in transgenerational epigenetic effects, which may explain certain phenotypic changes in male reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Wei Lee
- Department of Safety, Health and Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung 81157, Taiwan
| | - Kuan-Ling Chen
- Department of Safety, Health and Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung 81157, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Shin Yuan
- Institute of Environmental Engineering, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung 80424, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Shu Lai
- Department of Seafood Science, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung, 81157, Taiwan
| | - Xiang-Yi Tsai
- Department of Safety, Health and Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung 81157, Taiwan
| | - Ping-Hsun Wu
- Faculty of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Ping-Chi Hsu
- Department of Safety, Health and Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung 81157, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan; Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan.
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Llano E, Pendás AM. Synaptonemal Complex in Human Biology and Disease. Cells 2023; 12:1718. [PMID: 37443752 PMCID: PMC10341275 DOI: 10.3390/cells12131718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The synaptonemal complex (SC) is a meiosis-specific multiprotein complex that forms between homologous chromosomes during prophase of meiosis I. Upon assembly, the SC mediates the synapses of the homologous chromosomes, leading to the formation of bivalents, and physically supports the formation of programmed double-strand breaks (DSBs) and their subsequent repair and maturation into crossovers (COs), which are essential for genome haploidization. Defects in the assembly of the SC or in the function of the associated meiotic recombination machinery can lead to meiotic arrest and human infertility. The majority of proteins and complexes involved in these processes are exclusively expressed during meiosis or harbor meiosis-specific subunits, although some have dual functions in somatic DNA repair and meiosis. Consistent with their functions, aberrant expression and malfunctioning of these genes have been associated with cancer development. In this review, we focus on the significance of the SC and their meiotic-associated proteins in human fertility, as well as how human genetic variants encoding for these proteins affect the meiotic process and contribute to infertility and cancer development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Llano
- Departamento Fisiología y Farmacología, Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Molecular Mechanisms Program, Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, Instituto de Biologıía Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC-Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain;
| | - Alberto M. Pendás
- Molecular Mechanisms Program, Centro de Investigación del Cáncer, Instituto de Biologıía Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC-Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain;
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Kang C, Bertolla R, Pagani R. The '-ics' of male reproduction: genomics, epigenetics, proteomics, metabolomics, and microbiomics. Curr Opin Urol 2023; 33:31-38. [PMID: 36210759 DOI: 10.1097/mou.0000000000001052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW To review the most current findings, from the past 2 years, in various '-ics' fields in male infertility, with a specific focus on nonobstructive azoospermia, the most severe form, and varicocele, the most common correctable cause of male infertility. RECENT FINDINGS Recent studies confirm previously identified causes and identify previously unknown genetic mutations as causes for nonobstructive azoospermia and varicocele. SUMMARY Infertility is a common problem for couples with approximately half of cases attributable to male factor infertility. Although advances in assisted reproductive technology have permitted many more men with infertility to father biological children, the majority of infertile men continue to have unknown causes. The recent explosion of the '-ics' fields, including genomics, epigenetics, proteomics, metabolomics, and microbiomics, has shed light on previously unknown causes for various diseases. New information in these fields will not only shed light on the pathogenesis of these conditions but also may shift the paradigm in clinical testing that may allow clinicians to provide more precise counseling and prognostic information for men with infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Kang
- Department of Urology, Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
| | - Ricardo Bertolla
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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