Association of T/A polymorphism in miR-1302 binding site in CGA gene with male infertility in Isfahan population

Role of microRNAs in pituitary gonadotrope cells

The gonadotrope cells within the pituitary control vital processes of reproduction by producing follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). Both external stimuli and internal regulatory factors contribute to the regulation of gonadotrope development and function. In recent years, growing evidences indicate that microRNAs (miRNAs), which regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally, play critical roles in multiple processes of gonadotrope development and function, including the syntheses of α or β subunits of FSH and LH, the secretion of LH, the regulation of GnRH signaling, and the maintenance of gonadotrope cell kinetics. Here, we review recent advances of miRNAs' expression, functions and mechanisms approached by using miRNA knockout mouse models, in silico analysis and the in vitro cultures of primary pituitary cells and gonadotrope-derived cell lines. By summarizing and discussing different roles of miRNAs in gonadotropes, this minireview helps to gain insights into the complex molecular network in gonadotropes and reproduction.

Association of MMP2 and MMP9 gene polymorphisms with nonsyndromic cleft lip/palate in an Iranian population

Background

Cleft lip/palate (CL/P) is a prevalent congenital disorder. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play a role in palatogenesis and have been proposed to be associated with nonsyndromic CL/P development. This study aimed to examine the association of MMP2 (rs243866) and MMP9 (rs3918242) gene polymorphism with nonsyndromic CL/P in an Iranian population.

Methods

Blood samples were collected from 120 nonsyndromic CL/P patients and 140 healthy newborns in this case-control study. DNA extraction was performed by the salting-out method, and the samples underwent polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), using Pag and SphI enzymes, for genotyping MMP2 and MMP9 gene polymorphisms. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 11.5. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to calculate the odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The level of statistical significance was set at P<0.05.

Results

No significant association was found between MMP2 gene polymorphism and nonsyndromic CL/P. However, the MMP9 gene polymorphism had a significant association with nonsyndromic CL/P, with a higher prevalence of the T allele and TT genotype in the case group than the control group.

Conclusion

This study indicated a potential link between MMP9 gene polymorphism and nonsyndromic CL/P in an Iranian population. Future investigations with greater sample diversity and larger sample sizes are required to obtain more comprehensive and robust evidence. In-depth analyses and studies involving different ethnic groups can further enhance our understanding of the genetic underpinnings of CL/P.

The effect of zinc supplementation on improving sperm parameters in infertile diabetic men

Background and aims

Diabetes mellitus (DM) may have different adverse effects on the male reproductive system. Zinc (Zn) is one of the necessary elements in the human and mammalian diet that plays an important role in scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) by providing antioxidant and anti-apoptotic properties. The aim of this study was to determine the protective effects of zinc supplements on sperm chromatin and the evaluation of sperm deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) integrity in diabetic men.

Methods

In this interventional study, 43 infertile Iranian men in diabetic and non-diabetic groups were included. They were then randomly divided into two subgroups: normal saline intake and zinc sulfate intake (25 mg orally for 64 days each). Different indices of sperm analysis (number, morphology and motility) and testosterone levels were evaluated in four groups. Protamine deficiency and DNA fragmentation were assessed using chromomycin A3 (CMA3) and sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) methods, respectively.

Results

Zinc supplementation reduced the deformity of neck and head of sperms (p < 0.05), as well as deformity of sperm tail in infertile diabetic men. Zinc administration ameliorated sperm motility types A, B and C (p < 0.05). Moreover, zinc administration reduced abnormal morphology and DNA fragmentation of sperms, which increased the SCD1 and SCD2 and reduced the SCD3 and SCD4 in both treated groups.

Conclusion

Zinc supplementation, as a powerful complement, is able to balance the effect of diabetes on sperm parameters, sperm chromatin and DNA integrity. Consequently, zinc supplementation can probably be considered a supportive compound in the diet of diabetic infertile men.

Associations of BCL2 CA-Repeat Polymorphism and Breast Cancer Susceptibility in Isfahan Province of Iran

BCL2 apoptosis regulator (BCL2) is a cause of tumorigenesis whose CA-repeat promoter polymorphisms has inconsistent association with various types of cancers. The association of BCL2 polymorphism with breast cancer was investigated in the Isfahan province of Iran. PCRamplification of the CA-repeat was followed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and direct sequencing for 120 breast cancer women and an equal number of corresponding healthy control individuals. Seven different alleles, ranging from 11 to 17 CA-repeats were observed. Short alleles with 11 to 14 repeats were protective (OR 0.363, P = 0.001), but large alleles with 15 to 17 repeats were threatening against breast cancer development (OR 2.780, P = 0.001). Accordingly, genotypes with large alleles showed a higher risk of breast cancer development (OR 3.400, P = 0.004). ERS1\ERBB2 positive breast cancer patients, but not PGRpositive ones, showed protection against breast cancer (OR 0.405, OR 0.346 respectively). In conclusion, women with at least one large allele of BCL2 were 3.4 times at higher risk of breast cancer development in the Isfahan province of Iran.

Genome-Wide Association Study Reveals Candidate Genes for Litter Size Traits in Pelibuey Sheep

The Pelibuey sheep has adaptability to climatic variations, resistance to parasites, and good maternal ability, whereas some ewes present multiple births, which increases the litter size in farm sheep. The litter size in some wool sheep breeds is associated with the presence of mutations, mainly in the family of the transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) genes. To explore genetic mechanisms underlying the variation in litter size, we conducted a genome-wide association study in two groups of Pelibuey sheep (multiparous sheep with two lambs per birth vs. uniparous sheep with a single lamb at birth) using the OvineSNP50 BeadChip. We identified a total of 57 putative SNPs markers (p < 3.0 × 10^-3, Bonferroni correction). The candidate genes that may be associated with litter size in Pelibuey sheep are CLSTN2, MTMR2, DLG1, CGA, ABCG5, TRPM6, and HTR1E. Genomic regions were also identified that contain three quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for aseasonal reproduction (ASREP), milk yield (MY), and body weight (BW). These results allowed us to identify SNPs associated with genes that could be involved in the reproductive process related to prolificacy.

Association study of TAAAA polymorphism in the first intron of p53 gene with risk of colorectal cancer in Iranian population

Background

Colorectal cancer is the most common gastrointestinal cancer and the third most common cancer over the world. Genetic mutations in the p53 gene are associated with tumorigenesis of most cancers. So far, no study has been conducted on the association between TAAAA repeats in the first intron of the p53 gene and risk of colorectal cancer. In this study, we investigated the association of the TAAAA polymorphism in the first intron of p53 gene with colorectal cancer. We evaluated p53 gene polymorphism in 151 patients with colorectal cancer and a control group of 180 healthy individuals. For TAAAA repeat polymorphism evaluation, we used conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify the desired sequence and the number of TAAAA repeats was specified by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and direct sequencing.

Results

In the present study, 5 different alleles of TAAAA repeat with 6–10 repeats and 13 allele genotypes were determined between cases and controls. The most frequent allele in both controls (59.8%) and cases (57.6%) was the 8 repeats of TAAAA. Results of homozygous genotypes equal or lower than 8 repeats are higher among the healthy individuals than among the cases. In contrast, the number of genotypes equal or higher than 9 (9.10, 9.9) was higher among the colorectal cancer patients. Because of the small size of the studied population, the statistical analysis did not demonstrate a significant relationship. Also, there is no significant association between genotype, metastasis, and age.

Conclusion

Our observations did not show a significant association between the TAAAA repeat polymorphism in the first intron of the p53 gene and the colorectal cancer risk.