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Zeng J, Sun Y, Zhang J, Wu X, Wang Y, Quan R, Song W, Guo D, Wang S, Chen J, Xiao H, Huang HL. Identification of zona pellucida defects revealed a novel loss-of-function mutation in ZP2 in humans and rats. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1169378. [PMID: 37293489 PMCID: PMC10244809 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1169378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Human zona pellucida (ZP) plays an important role in reproductive process. Several rare mutations in the encoding genes (ZP1, ZP2, and ZP3) have been demonstrated to cause women infertility. Mutations in ZP2 have been reported to cause ZP defects or empty follicle syndrome. We aimed to identify pathogenic variants in an infertile woman with a thin zona pellucida (ZP) phenotype and investigated the effect of ZP defects on oocyte gene transcription. Methods We performed whole-exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing of genes were performed for infertilite patients characterized by fertilization failure in routine in vitro fertilization (IVF). Immunofluorescence (IF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) were used in the mutant oocytes. Single-cell RNA sequencing was used to investigate transcriptomes of the gene-edited (Zp2mut/mut) rat model. Biological function enrichment analysis, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), and IF were performed. Results We identified a novel homozygous nonsense mutation of ZP2 (c.1924C > T, p.Arg642X) in a patient with non-consanguineous married parents. All oocytes showed a thin or no ZP under a light microscope and were fertilized after ICSI. The patient successfully conceived by receiving the only two embryos that developed to the blastocyst stage. The immunofluorescence staining showed an apparently abnormal form of the stopped oocytes. We further demonstrated a total of 374 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the transcriptome profiles of Zp2mut/mut rats oocytes and highlighted the signal communication between oocytes and granulosa cells. The pathway enrichment results of DEGs showed that they were enriched in multiple signaling pathways, especially the transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling pathway in oocyte development. qRT-PCR, IF, and phosphorylation analysis showed significantly downregulated expressions of Acvr2b, Smad2, p38MAPK, and Bcl2 and increased cleaved-caspase 3 protein expression. Discussion Our findings expanded the known mutational spectrum of ZP2 associated with thin ZP and natural fertilization failure. Disruption of the integrity of the ZP impaired the TGF-β signaling pathway between oocytes and surrounding granulosa cells, leading to increased apoptosis and decreased developmental potential of oocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Zeng
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Ying Sun
- Institute of Reproductive & Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Xiaozhu Wu
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Institute of Reproductive & Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Ruping Quan
- Institute of Reproductive & Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Wanjuan Song
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Dan Guo
- Institute of Reproductive & Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Shengran Wang
- Center of Reproductive Health, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Jianlin Chen
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Hongmei Xiao
- Institute of Reproductive & Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Center of Reproductive Health, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Hua-Lin Huang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
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Novel mutations in ZP2 and ZP3 cause female infertility in three patients. J Assist Reprod Genet 2022; 39:1205-1215. [PMID: 35366744 PMCID: PMC9107549 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-022-02466-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of this study was to identify the disease-causing mutations found in three infertile female patients who were diagnosed with abnormal zona pellucida (ZP) and empty follicle syndrome (EFS). METHODS We performed whole-exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing to identify and verify the disease-causing mutations. Additionally, we performed Western blotting and mini-gene splicing assay to assess the effects of the mutations. RESULTS We identified two novel compound heterozygous mutations in the ZP2 gene, a patient with an abnormal ZP carrying a novel compound heterozygous mutation (c.1695-2A>G and c.1831G>T, p.V611F) and a patient with EFS carrying a novel compound heterozygous mutation (c.1695-2A>G and c.1924 C>T, p.R642*). Furthermore, we identified a patient with typical abnormal ZP carrying a novel heterozygous mutation (c.400G>T, p.A134S) in the ZP3 gene. The splice site mutation (c.1695-2A>G) can cause abnormal pre-mRNA splicing that inserts an extra sequence of 61 bp in the mRNA of ZP2, and the missense mutation (c.1831G>T) can cause a decrease of ZP2 protein in HEK293 cells. CONCLUSION We identified three novel mutations in the ZP2 gene and the ZP3 gene in three Chinese female patients with infertility. Our study expands the spectrum of ZP gene mutations and phenotypes and thus is beneficial in the genetic diagnosis of infertility in females.
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Wang Y, Lv C, Huang HL, Zeng MH, Yi DJ, Tan HJ, Peng TL, Yu WX, Deng HW, Xiao HM. Influence of mouse defective zona pellucida in folliculogenesis on apoptosis of granulosa cells and developmental competence of oocytes†. Biol Reprod 2020; 101:457-465. [PMID: 31162612 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioz093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2018] [Revised: 12/10/2018] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Zona pellucida (ZP), which enwraps the oocyte during folliculogenesis, initially forms in the primary follicle and plays an important role in female fertility. Here, we investigated a mouse strain ("mutant mice" for short) carrying two types of ZP defects in folliculogenesis, i.e., ZP thinned (but intact) and ZP cracked, caused by targeted mutation in the Zp1 gene. Using this mutant mouse strain and wild-type mouse as control, we studied the effects of the ZP defects on the development of oocytes and granulosa cells during folliculogenesis. For each ZP defect, we examined the morphology of transzonal projections and apoptosis of granulosa cells in the corresponding growing follicles, as well as the morphology of corresponding ovulated eggs and their abilities to develop into viable individuals. Our results suggested that ZP integrity rather than thickness or porosity is crucial for preventing the ectopia of granulosa cells, maintaining adequate routine bilateral signaling between oocyte and surrounding granulosa cells, and thus for ensuring the survival of granulosa cells and the establishment of the full developmental competence of oocytes. This is the first study to elucidate the effects of different degrees of ZP defects caused by the same gene mutation, on the apoptosis of granulosa cells and developmental competence of oocytes, and to explore the potential mechanisms underlying these effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wang
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Center of Reproductive Health, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Chao Lv
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Center of Reproductive Health, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Hua-Lin Huang
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Center of Reproductive Health, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Ming-Hua Zeng
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Center of Reproductive Health, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Da-Jing Yi
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Center of Reproductive Health, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Hang-Jing Tan
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Center of Reproductive Health, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Tian-Liu Peng
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Center of Reproductive Health, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Wen-Xian Yu
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Center of Reproductive Health, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Hong-Wen Deng
- Center of System Biology and Data Science, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Tulane Center for Bioinformatics and Genomics, Department of Global Biostatistics and Data Science, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, USA
| | - Hong-Mei Xiao
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China.,Center of Reproductive Health, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
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Yatsenko SA, Rajkovic A. Genetics of human female infertility†. Biol Reprod 2020; 101:549-566. [PMID: 31077289 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioz084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Revised: 04/17/2019] [Accepted: 05/09/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
About 10% of women of reproductive age are unable to conceive or carry a pregnancy to term. Female factors alone account for at least 35% of all infertility cases and comprise a wide range of causes affecting ovarian development, maturation of oocytes, and fertilization competence, as well as the potential of a fertilized egg for preimplantation development, implantation, and fetal growth. Genetic abnormalities leading to infertility in females comprise large chromosome abnormalities, submicroscopic chromosome deletion and duplications, and DNA sequence variations in the genes that control numerous biological processes implicated in oogenesis, maintenance of ovarian reserve, hormonal signaling, and anatomical and functional development of female reproductive organs. Despite the great number of genes implicated in reproductive physiology by the study of animal models, only a subset of these genes is associated with human infertility. In this review, we mainly focus on genetic alterations identified in humans and summarize recent knowledge on the molecular pathways of oocyte development and maturation, the crucial role of maternal-effect factors during embryogenesis, and genetic conditions associated with ovarian dysgenesis, primary ovarian insufficiency, early embryonic lethality, and infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svetlana A Yatsenko
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA.,Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA.,Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA.,Department of Human Genetics, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Aleksandar Rajkovic
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA.,Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA.,Institute of Human Genetics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
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