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Ni F, Wang F, Li J, Liu Y, Sun X, Chen J, Li J, Zhang Y, Jin J, Ye X, Tu M, Chen J, Chen C, Zhang D. BNC1 deficiency induces mitochondrial dysfunction-triggered spermatogonia apoptosis through the CREB/SIRT1/FOXO3 pathway: the therapeutic potential of nicotinamide riboside and metformin†. Biol Reprod 2024; 110:615-631. [PMID: 38079523 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioad168] [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: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Male infertility is a global health problem that disturbs numerous couples worldwide. Basonuclin 1 (BNC1) is a transcription factor mainly expressed in proliferative keratinocytes and germ cells. A frameshift mutation of BNC1 was identified in a large Chinese primary ovarian insufficiency pedigree. The expression of BNC1 was significantly decreased in the testis biopsies of infertile patients with nonobstructive azoospermia. Previous studies have revealed that mice with BNC1 deficiency are generally subfertile and undergo gradual spermatogenic failure. We observed that apoptosis of spermatogonia is tightly related to spermatogenic failure in mice with a Bnc1 truncation mutation. Such impairment is related to mitochondrial dysfunction causing lower mitochondrial membrane potential and higher reactive oxygen species. We showed that downregulation of CREB/SIRT1/FOXO3 signaling participates in the above impairment. Administration of nicotinamide riboside or metformin reversed mitochondrial dysfunction and inhibited apoptosis in Bnc1-knockdown spermatogonia by stimulating CREB/SIRT1/FOXO3 signaling. Dietary supplementation with nicotinamide riboside or metformin in mutated mice increased SIRT1 signaling, improved the architecture of spermatogenic tubules, inhibited apoptosis of the testis, and improved the fertility of mice with a Bnc1 truncation mutation. Our data establish that oral nicotinamide riboside or metformin can be useful for the treatment of spermatogenic failure induced by Bnc1 mutation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feida Ni
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Ministry of Education), Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Feixia Wang
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Ministry of Education), Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jingyi Li
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Ministry of Education), Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yifeng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Ministry of Education), Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiao Sun
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Ministry of Education), Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jianpeng Chen
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Ministry of Education), Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jiaqun Li
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Ministry of Education), Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yanye Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Ministry of Education), Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jiani Jin
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Ministry of Education), Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaohang Ye
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Ministry of Education), Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Mixue Tu
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Ministry of Education), Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jianhua Chen
- Department of Pathology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chuan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Ministry of Education), Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Dan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Ministry of Education), Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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Caroppo E, Skinner MK. Could the sperm epigenome become a diagnostic tool for evaluation of the infertile man? Hum Reprod 2024; 39:478-485. [PMID: 38148019 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dead266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Although male infertility is currently diagnosed when abnormal sperm parameters are found, the poor predictive ability of sperm parameters on natural fecundity and medically assisted reproduction outcome poses the need for improved diagnostic techniques for male infertility. The accumulating evidence about the role played by the sperm epigenome in modulation of the early phases of embryonic development has led researchers to focus on the epigenetic mechanisms within the sperm epigenome to find new molecular markers of male infertility. Indeed, sperm epigenome abnormalities could explain some cases of unexplained male infertility in men showing normal sperm parameters and were found to be associated with poor embryo development in IVF cycles. The present mini-review summarizes the current knowledge about this interesting topic, starting from a description of the epigenetic mechanisms of gene expression regulation (i.e. DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs' activity). We also discuss possible mechanisms by which environmental factors might cause epigenetic changes in the human germline and affect embryonic development, as well as subsequent generations' phenotypes. Studies demonstrating sperm epigenome abnormalities in men with male infertility are reviewed, with particular emphasis on those with the more severe form of spermatogenic dysfunction. Observations demonstrate that the diagnostic and prognostic efficacy of sperm epigenome evaluation will help facilitate the management of men with male factor infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael K Skinner
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
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