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England-Mason G, Merrill SM, Gladish N, Moore SR, Giesbrecht GF, Letourneau N, MacIsaac JL, MacDonald AM, Kinniburgh DW, Ponsonby AL, Saffery R, Martin JW, Kobor MS, Dewey D. Prenatal exposure to phthalates and peripheral blood and buccal epithelial DNA methylation in infants: An epigenome-wide association study. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 163:107183. [PMID: 35325772 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal exposure to phthalates has been associated with adverse health and neurodevelopmental outcomes. DNA methylation (DNAm) alterations may be a mechanism underlying these effects, but prior investigations of prenatal exposure to phthalates and neonatal DNAm profiles are limited to placental tissue and umbilical cord blood. OBJECTIVE Conduct an epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) of the associations between prenatal exposure to phthalates and DNAm in two accessible infant tissues, venous buffy coat blood and buccal epithelial cells (BECs). METHODS Participants included 152 maternal-infant pairs from the Alberta Pregnancy Outcomes and Nutrition (APrON) study. Maternal second trimester urine samples were analyzed for nine phthalate metabolites. Blood (n = 74) or BECs (n = 78) were collected from 3-month-old infants and profiled for DNAm using the Infinium HumanMethylation450 (450K) BeadChip. Robust linear regressions were used to investigate the associations between high (HMWPs) and low molecular weight phthalates (LMWPs) and change in methylation levels at variable Cytosine-phosphate-Guanine (CpG) sites in infant tissues, as well as the sensitivity of associations to potential confounders. RESULTS One candidate CpG in gene RNF39 reported by a previous study examining prenatal exposure to phthalates and cord blood DNAm was replicated. The EWAS identified 12 high-confidence CpGs in blood and another 12 in BECs associated with HMWPs and/or LMWPs. Prenatal exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) associated with two of the CpGs associated with HMWPs in BECs. DISCUSSION Prenatal exposure to phthalates was associated with DNAm variation at CpGs annotated to genes associated with endocrine hormone activity (i.e., SLCO4A1, TPO), immune pathways and DNA damage (i.e., RASGEF1B, KAZN, HLA-A, MYO18A, DIP2C, C1or109), and neurodevelopment (i.e., AMPH, NOTCH3, DNAJC5). Future studies that characterize the stability of these associations in larger samples, multiple cohorts, across tissues, and investigate the potential associations between these biomarkers and relevant health and neurodevelopmental outcomes are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gillian England-Mason
- Department of Paediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Owerko Centre, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Sarah M Merrill
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Nicole Gladish
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Sarah R Moore
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Gerald F Giesbrecht
- Department of Paediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Owerko Centre, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Nicole Letourneau
- Department of Paediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Owerko Centre, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Faculty of Nursing, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Julia L MacIsaac
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Amy M MacDonald
- Alberta Centre for Toxicology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - David W Kinniburgh
- Alberta Centre for Toxicology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Anne-Louise Ponsonby
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Richard Saffery
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jonathan W Martin
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Södermanland, Sweden
| | - Michael S Kobor
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; British Columbia Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Program in Child and Brain Development, CIFAR, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Deborah Dewey
- Department of Paediatrics, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Owerko Centre, Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Community Health Sciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
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Abstract
Cryptorchidism, i.e., undescended testis, is one of the most common genital malformations in newborn male babies. The birth rate of cryptorchidism varies from 1.6 to 9.0 %. Etiology of disrupted testicular descent is complex and predisposing causes include genetic, hormonal, environmental, lifestyle and maternal factors. Testicular descent occurs in two major steps and testicular hormones and normal function of hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis are important for normal descent. Several gene mutations are associated with syndromic cryptorchidism but they are rarely found in boys with isolated undescended testis. Testicular regression can also cause an empty scrotum. Normal male genital phenotype indicates that the boy has had functioning testis during development. Torsion of the testis can cause testicular regression but in many cases the reason for vanishing testis remains elusive. In this narrative review we discuss genetics of cryptorchidism and testicular regression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi P Elamo
- Research Centre for Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, 20520 Turku, Finland; Centre for Population Health Research, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.
| | - Helena E Virtanen
- Research Centre for Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, 20520 Turku, Finland; Centre for Population Health Research, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.
| | - Jorma Toppari
- Research Centre for Integrative Physiology and Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, 20520 Turku, Finland; Centre for Population Health Research, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland; Department of Pediatrics, Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland.
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3
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Shinohara T, Urayama KY, Watanabe A, Akahane K, Goi K, Huang M, Kagami K, Abe M, Sugita K, Okada Y, Goto H, Minegishi M, Iwamoto S, Inukai T. Inherited genetic variants associated with glucocorticoid sensitivity in leukaemia cells. J Cell Mol Med 2020; 24:12920-12932. [PMID: 33002292 PMCID: PMC7701530 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.15882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Revised: 08/16/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Identification of genetic variants associated with glucocorticoids (GC) sensitivity of leukaemia cells may provide insight into potential drug targets and tailored therapy. In the present study, within 72 leukaemic cell lines derived from Japanese patients with B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), we conducted genome-wide genotyping of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) and attempted to identify genetic variants associated with GC sensitivity and NR3C1 (GC receptor) gene expression. IC50 measures for prednisolone (Pred) and dexamethasone (Dex) were available using an alamarBlue cell viability assay. IC50 values of Pred showed the strongest association with rs904419 (P = 4.34 × 10-8 ), located between the FRMD4B and MITF genes. The median IC50 values of prednisolone for cell lines with rs904419 AA (n = 13), AG (n = 31) and GG (n = 28) genotypes were 0.089, 0.139 and 297 µmol/L, respectively. For dexamethasone sensitivity, suggestive association was observed for SNP rs2306888 (P = 1.43 × 10-6 ), a synonymous SNP of the TGFBR3 gene. For NR3C1 gene expression, suggestive association was observed for SNP rs11982167 (P = 6.44 × 10-8 ), located in the PLEKHA8 gene. These genetic variants may affect GC sensitivity of ALL cells and may give rise to opportunities in personalized medicine for effective and safe chemotherapy in ALL patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamao Shinohara
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Chuo, Japan
| | - Kevin Y Urayama
- Department of Social Medicine, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan.,Graduate School of Public Health, St Luke's International University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Atsushi Watanabe
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Chuo, Japan
| | - Koshi Akahane
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Chuo, Japan
| | - Kumiko Goi
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Chuo, Japan
| | - Meixian Huang
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Chuo, Japan
| | - Keiko Kagami
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Chuo, Japan
| | - Masako Abe
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Chuo, Japan
| | - Kanji Sugita
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Chuo, Japan
| | - Yukinori Okada
- Department of Statistical Genetics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Goto
- Hematology/Oncology and Regenerative Medicine, Kanagawa Children's Medical Center, Yokohama, Japan
| | | | - Shotaro Iwamoto
- Department of Pediatrics, Mie University Graduate School of Medicine, Tsu, Japan
| | - Takeshi Inukai
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Chuo, Japan
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Han H, Dong H, Chen Q, Gao Y, Li J, Li W, Dang R, Lei C. Transcriptomic Analysis of Testicular Gene Expression in Normal and Cryptorchid Horses. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10010102. [PMID: 31936283 PMCID: PMC7022935 DOI: 10.3390/ani10010102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Revised: 12/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Cryptorchidism is a common congenital malformation that results in impaired fertility in horses. The high abdominal temperature and the effects of this disease lead to differences in gene expression between retained testes and descended testes (DTs). Here, we focus on the genetic effects of cryptorchidism. All the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between undescended testes (UDTs) and DTs were analyzed in this study. A total of 84 DEGs were associated with functions related to sperm development and male reproductive performance. Our study has provided fundamental transcriptomic data for future studies on equine testes and cryptorchidism. Abstract Testes produce sperm, and investigations into gene expression in the testes will enhance the understanding of the roles of testicular genes in male reproduction. Cryptorchidism, the failure of one or both testes to descend into the scrotal sac, is a common congenital malformation in horses. The major clinical consequence of this abnormality is impaired fertility. The aim of this study was to analyze the expression patterns of testicular genes and to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in testes between cryptorchid and normal horses. In this study, the gene expression patterns in equine testes and the DEGs between mature descended testes (DTs) and undescended testes (UDTs) were identified by RNA-seq and validated by real-time qPCR. Our results provide comprehensive transcriptomic data on equine testes. The transcriptomic analysis revealed 11 affected genes that were downregulated in UDTs, possibly as a result of the higher temperature in the abdomen than in the scrotal sac. These 11 genes have previously been associated with male reproduction, and their downregulation might explain the impaired fertility of cryptorchid horses. Two homozygous missense mutations detected in horses with cryptorchidism were absent in normal horses and were listed as potential pathogenic mutations; these mutations should be verified in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoyuan Han
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Animal Husbandry and Economy, Zhengzhou 450046, China (J.L.)
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Hong Dong
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China
| | - Qiuming Chen
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Yuan Gao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Jun Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Animal Husbandry and Economy, Zhengzhou 450046, China (J.L.)
| | - Wantao Li
- Henan Genetic Protection Engineering Research Center for Livestock and Poultry, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Ruihua Dang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Chuzhao Lei
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
- Correspondence:
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Wang Y, Gray DR, Robbins AK, Crowgey EL, Chanock SJ, Greene MH, McGlynn KA, Nathanson K, Turnbull C, Wang Z, Devoto M, Barthold JS. Subphenotype meta-analysis of testicular cancer genome-wide association study data suggests a role for RBFOX family genes in cryptorchidism susceptibility. Hum Reprod 2019; 33:967-977. [PMID: 29618007 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dey066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2017] [Accepted: 03/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Can subphenotype analysis of genome-wide association study (GWAS) data from subjects with testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT) provide insight into cryptorchidism (undescended testis, UDT) susceptibility? SUMMARY ANSWER Suggestive intragenic GWAS signals common to UDT, TGCT case-case and TGCT case-control analyses occur in genes encoding RBFOX RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) and their neurodevelopmental targets. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY UDT is a strong risk factor for TGCT, but while genetic risk factors for TGCT are well-known, genetic susceptibility to UDT is poorly understood and appears to be more complex. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION We performed a secondary subphenotype analysis of existing GWAS data from the Testicular Cancer Consortium (TECAC) and compared these results with our previously published UDT GWAS data, and with data previously acquired from studies of the fetal rat gubernaculum. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Studies from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), United Kingdom (UK) and University of Pennsylvania (Penn) that enrolled white subjects were the source of the TGCT GWAS data. We completed UDT subphenotype case-case (TGCT/UDT vs TGCT/non-UDT) and case-control (TGCT/UDT vs control), collectively referred to as 'TECAC' analyses, followed by a meta-analysis comprising 129 TGCT/UDT cases, 1771 TGCT/non-UDT cases, and 3967 unaffected controls. We reanalyzed our UDT GWAS results comprising 844 cases and 2718 controls by mapping suggestive UDT and TECAC signals (defined as P < 0.001) to genes using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA®). We compared associated pathways and enriched gene categories common to all analyses after Benjamini-Hochberg multiple testing correction, and analyzed transcript levels and protein expression using qRT-PCR and rat fetal gubernaculum confocal imaging, respectively. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE We found suggestive signals within 19 genes common to all three analyses, including RBFOX1 and RBFOX3, neurodevelopmental paralogs that encode RBPs targeting (U)GCATG-containing transcripts. Ten of the 19 genes participate in neurodevelopment and/or contribute to risk of neurodevelopmental disorders. Experimentally predicted RBFOX gene targets were strongly overrepresented among suggestive intragenic signals for the UDT (117 of 628 (19%), P = 3.5 × 10-24), TECAC case-case (129 of 711 (18%), P = 2.5 × 10-27) and TECAC case-control (117 of 679 (17%), P = 2 × 10-21) analyses, and a majority of the genes common to all three analyses (12 of 19 (63%), P = 3 × 10-9) are predicted RBFOX targets. Rbfox1, Rbfox2 and their encoded proteins are expressed in the rat fetal gubernaculum. Predicted RBFOX targets are also enriched among transcripts differentially regulated in the fetal gubernaculum during normal development (P = 3 × 10-31), in response to in vitro hormonal stimulation (P = 5 × 10-45) and in the cryptorchid LE/orl rat (P = 2 × 10-42). LARGE SCALE DATA GWAS data included in this study are available in the database of Genotypes and Phenotypes (dbGaP accession numbers phs000986.v1.p1 and phs001349.v1p1). LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION These GWAS data did not reach genome-wide significance for any individual analysis. UDT appears to have a complex etiology that also includes environmental factors, and such complexity may require much larger sample sizes than are currently available. The current methodology may also introduce bias that favors false discovery of larger genes. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Common suggestive intragenic GWAS signals suggest that RBFOX paralogs and other neurodevelopmental genes are potential UDT risk candidates, and potential TGCT susceptibility modifiers. Enrichment of predicted RBFOX targets among differentially expressed transcripts in the fetal gubernaculum additionally suggests a role for this RBP family in regulation of testicular descent. As RBFOX proteins regulate alternative splicing of Calca to generate calcitonin gene-related peptide, a protein linked to development and function of the gubernaculum, additional studies that address the role of these proteins in UDT are warranted. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute for Child Health and Human Development (R01HD060769); National Center for Research Resources (P20RR20173), National Institute of General Medical Sciences (P20GM103464), Nemours Biomedical Research, the Testicular Cancer Consortium (U01CA164947), the Intramural Research Program of the NCI, a support services contract HHSN26120130003C with IMS, Inc., the Abramson Cancer Center at Penn, National Cancer Institute (CA114478), the Institute of Cancer Research, UK and the Wellcome Trust Case-Control Consortium (WTCCC) 2. None of the authors reports a conflict of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanping Wang
- Nemours Biomedical Research/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, USA
| | - Dione R Gray
- Nemours Biomedical Research/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, USA
| | - Alan K Robbins
- Nemours Biomedical Research/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, USA
| | - Erin L Crowgey
- Nemours Biomedical Research/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, USA
| | - Stephen J Chanock
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Department of Health and Human Services, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Mark H Greene
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Department of Health and Human Services, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Katherine A McGlynn
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Department of Health and Human Services, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Katherine Nathanson
- Department of Medicine, Division of Translational Medicine and Human Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Clare Turnbull
- Division of Genetics and Epidemiology, Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Zhaoming Wang
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Department of Computational Biology, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Marcella Devoto
- Division of Genetics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Departments of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, and Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
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Kalfa N, Gaspari L, Ollivier M, Philibert P, Bergougnoux A, Paris F, Sultan C. Molecular genetics of hypospadias and cryptorchidism recent developments. Clin Genet 2018; 95:122-131. [PMID: 30084162 DOI: 10.1111/cge.13432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Revised: 07/31/2018] [Accepted: 08/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
During the last decade, a tremendous amount of work has been devoted to the study of the molecular genetics of isolated hypospadias and cryptorchidism, two minor forms of disorders of sex development (DSD). Beyond the genes involved in gonadal determination and sex differentiation, including those underlying androgen biosynthesis and signaling, new genes have been identified through genome-wide association study and familial clustering. Even if no single genetic defect can explain the whole spectrum of DSD, these recent studies reinforce the strong role of the genetic background in the occurrence of these defects. The timing of signaling disruption may explain the different phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Kalfa
- Département de Chirurgie et Urologie Pédiatrique, Hôpital Lapeyronie, CHU de Montpellier et Université Montpellier, Montpellier, France.,National Reference Center of Genital Development CRMR DEV-GEN Constitutif, Institut Universitaire de Recherche Clinique, Departement de Génétique, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Laura Gaspari
- National Reference Center of Genital Development CRMR DEV-GEN Constitutif, Institut Universitaire de Recherche Clinique, Departement de Génétique, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.,Unité d'Endocrinologie et Gynécologie Pédiatriques, Service de Pédiatrie, CHU de Montpellier, Hôpital Arnaud de Villeneuve et Université Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Margot Ollivier
- Département de Chirurgie et Urologie Pédiatrique, Hôpital Lapeyronie, CHU de Montpellier et Université Montpellier, Montpellier, France.,National Reference Center of Genital Development CRMR DEV-GEN Constitutif, Institut Universitaire de Recherche Clinique, Departement de Génétique, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Pascal Philibert
- National Reference Center of Genital Development CRMR DEV-GEN Constitutif, Institut Universitaire de Recherche Clinique, Departement de Génétique, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.,Unité d'Endocrinologie et Gynécologie Pédiatriques, Service de Pédiatrie, CHU de Montpellier, Hôpital Arnaud de Villeneuve et Université Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Anne Bergougnoux
- National Reference Center of Genital Development CRMR DEV-GEN Constitutif, Institut Universitaire de Recherche Clinique, Departement de Génétique, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Francoise Paris
- National Reference Center of Genital Development CRMR DEV-GEN Constitutif, Institut Universitaire de Recherche Clinique, Departement de Génétique, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.,Unité d'Endocrinologie et Gynécologie Pédiatriques, Service de Pédiatrie, CHU de Montpellier, Hôpital Arnaud de Villeneuve et Université Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Charles Sultan
- National Reference Center of Genital Development CRMR DEV-GEN Constitutif, Institut Universitaire de Recherche Clinique, Departement de Génétique, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France.,Unité d'Endocrinologie et Gynécologie Pédiatriques, Service de Pédiatrie, CHU de Montpellier, Hôpital Arnaud de Villeneuve et Université Montpellier, Montpellier, France
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7
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Xing JS, Bai ZM. Is testicular dysgenesis syndrome a genetic, endocrine, or environmental disease, or an unexplained reproductive disorder? Life Sci 2018; 194:120-129. [DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2017.11.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2017] [Revised: 11/14/2017] [Accepted: 11/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Barthold JS, Ivell R. Perspective: A Neuro-Hormonal Systems Approach to Understanding the Complexity of Cryptorchidism Susceptibility. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2018; 9:401. [PMID: 30083133 PMCID: PMC6065160 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2018.00401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Accepted: 06/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Nonsyndromic cryptorchidism is a common multifactorial, condition with long-term risks of subfertility and testicular cancer. Revealing the causes of cryptorchidism will likely improve prediction and prevention of adverse outcomes. Herein we provide our current perspective of cryptorchidism complexity in a synthesis of cumulative clinical and translational data generated by ourselves and others. From our recent comparison of genome-wide association study (GWAS) data of cryptorchidism with or without testicular germ cell tumor, we identified RBFOX family genes as candidate susceptibility loci. Notably, RBFOX proteins regulate production of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), a sensory neuropeptide linked to testicular descent in animal models. We also re-analyzed existing fetal testis transcriptome data from a rat model of inherited cryptorchidism (the LE/orl strain) for enrichment of Leydig cell progenitor genes. The majority are coordinately downregulated, consistent with known reduced testicular testosterone levels in the LE/orl fetus, and similarly suppressed in the gubernaculum. Using qRT-PCR, we found dysregulation of dorsal root ganglia (DRG) sensory transcripts ipsilateral to undescended testes. These data suggest that LE/orl cryptorchidism is associated with altered signaling in possibly related cell types in the testis and gubernaculum as well as DRG. Complementary rat and human studies thus lead us to propose a multi-level, integrated neuro-hormonal model of testicular descent. Variants in genes encoding RBFOX family proteins and/or their transcriptional targets combined with environmental exposures may disrupt this complex pathway to enhance cryptorchidism susceptibility. We believe that a systems approach is necessary to provide further insight into the causes and consequences of cryptorchidism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia S. Barthold
- Nemours Biomedical Research, Division of Urology, Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, United States
- *Correspondence: Julia S. Barthold
| | - Richard Ivell
- School of Biosciences and School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, United Kingdom
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9
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Mizuno K, Nakane A, Nishio H, Moritoki Y, Kamisawa H, Kurokawa S, Kato T, Ando R, Maruyama T, Yasui T, Hayashi Y. Involvement of the bone morphogenic protein/SMAD signaling pathway in the etiology of congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract accompanied by cryptorchidism. BMC Urol 2017; 17:112. [PMID: 29197384 PMCID: PMC5712187 DOI: 10.1186/s12894-017-0300-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2016] [Accepted: 11/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT), such as renal dysplasia, hydronephrosis, or vesicoureteral reflux, are the most common causes of end-stage renal disease. However, the genetic etiology of CAKUT remains unclear. In this study, we performed whole exome sequencing (WES) to elucidate the genetic etiology of symptomatic CAKUT and CAKUT accompanied by cryptorchidism. METHODS Three patients with unilateral renal dysplasia accompanied by ipsilateral cryptorchidism were included in this analysis. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood, and WES was performed. Disease-specific single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were determined by comparison with the human genome reference sequence (hg19). Additionally, we searched for SNPs that were common to all three patients, with a particular focus on the coding regions of the target genes. RESULTS In total, 8710 SNPs were detected. Of the genes harboring these SNPs, 32 associated with renal or testicular development were selected for further analyses. Of these, eight genes (i.e., SMAD4, ITGA8, GRIP1, FREM1, FREM2, TNXB, BMP8B, and SALL1) carried a single amino acid substitution that was common to all three patients. In particular, SNPs in SMAD4 (His290Pro and His291Pro) have not been reported previously in patients with symptomatic CAKUT. Of the candidate genes, four genes (i.e., ITGA8, GRIP1, FREM1, and FREM2) were Fraser syndrome-related genes, encoding proteins that functionally converged on the glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor/RET/bone morphogenic protein (BMP) signaling pathways. As another candidate gene, the protein encoded by BMP8B activates the nuclear translocation of SMAD4, which regulates the expression of genes associated with the differentiation of primordial germ cells or testicular development. Additionally, BMP4, a member of the BMP family, regulates the interaction between metanephric mesenchyme and ureteric buds by suppressing GDNF. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, our findings suggested that the development of the kidney and urinary tract is intimately linked with that of male reproductive organs via BMP/SMAD signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kentaro Mizuno
- Department of Nephro-urology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Akihiro Nakane
- Department of Nephro-urology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Hidenori Nishio
- Department of Nephro-urology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yoshinobu Moritoki
- Department of Nephro-urology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Kamisawa
- Department of Nephro-urology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Satoshi Kurokawa
- Department of Nephro-urology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Taiki Kato
- Department of Nephro-urology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Ryosuke Ando
- Department of Nephro-urology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Tetsuji Maruyama
- Department of Nephro-urology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Takahiro Yasui
- Department of Nephro-urology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yutaro Hayashi
- Department of Pediatric urology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1 Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya, Japan.
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10
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Lu P, Wang Y, Wang F, Huang J, Zeng Y, He D, Huang H, Cheng Z. Genetic analysis of HOXA11 gene in Chinese patients with cryptorchidism. Andrologia 2017; 50. [PMID: 28261830 DOI: 10.1111/and.12790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptorchidism is the most common congenital anomaly in male children. Its aetiology remains unknown in the majority of cases. Because HOXA11 plays a vital role in regulating testicular descent, genetic variants in HOXA11 genes may contribute to the risk of cryptorchidism. In this study, mutation analysis was performed on the HOXA11 gene in a cohort of 89 patients with cryptorchidism. Furthermore, an association analysis of the HOXA11 tag single nucleotide polymorphism rs6461992 was performed in 168 patients with unilateral cryptorchidism and 193 controls. No pathogenic mutations were found. A significant difference in genotype and allele distribution was detected between cases and controls (p = .029 and .022 respectively). These results suggest that mutations in the coding sequence of HOXA11 might not be a common cause of cryptorchidism, while common polymorphisms in the HOXA11 gene might contribute to the risk of developing unilateral cryptorchidism.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Lu
- Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China
| | - Y Wang
- Department of Reproduction and Infertility, Suizhou Central Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Medicine, Suizhou, Hubei, China
| | - F Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - J Huang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Y Zeng
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - D He
- Department of Urology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China
| | - H Huang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Z Cheng
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
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11
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Wang Y, Li J, Kolon TF, Olivant Fisher A, Figueroa TE, BaniHani AH, Hagerty JA, Gonzalez R, Noh PH, Chiavacci RM, Harden KR, Abrams DJ, Stabley D, Kim CE, Sol-Church K, Hakonarson H, Devoto M, Barthold JS. Genomic copy number variation association study in Caucasian patients with nonsyndromic cryptorchidism. BMC Urol 2016; 16:62. [PMID: 27769252 PMCID: PMC5073740 DOI: 10.1186/s12894-016-0180-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2015] [Accepted: 10/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Copy number variation (CNV) is a potential contributing factor to many genetic diseases. Here we investigated the potential association of CNV with nonsyndromic cryptorchidism, the most common male congenital genitourinary defect, in a Caucasian population. Methods Genome wide genotyping were performed in 559 cases and 1772 controls (Group 1) using Illumina HumanHap550 v1, HumanHap550 v3 or Human610-Quad platforms and in 353 cases and 1149 controls (Group 2) using the Illumina Human OmniExpress 12v1 or Human OmniExpress 12v1-1. Signal intensity data including log R ratio (LRR) and B allele frequency (BAF) for each single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) were used for CNV detection using PennCNV software. After sample quality control, gene- and CNV-based association tests were performed using cleaned data from Group 1 (493 cases and 1586 controls) and Group 2 (307 cases and 1102 controls) using ParseCNV software. Meta-analysis was performed using gene-based test results as input to identify significant genes, and CNVs in or around significant genes were identified in CNV-based association test results. Called CNVs passing quality control and signal intensity visualization examination were considered for validation using TaqMan CNV assays and QuantStudio® 3D Digital PCR System. Results The meta-analysis identified 373 genome wide significant (p < 5X10−4) genes/loci including 49 genes/loci with deletions and 324 with duplications. Among them, 17 genes with deletion and 1 gene with duplication were identified in CNV-based association results in both Group 1 and Group 2. Only 2 genes (NUCB2 and UPF2) containing deletions passed CNV quality control in both groups and signal intensity visualization examination, but laboratory validation failed to verify these deletions. Conclusions Our data do not support that structural variation is a major cause of nonsyndromic cryptorchidism. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12894-016-0180-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanping Wang
- Nemours Biomedical Research, Nemours /Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, 19803, USA
| | - Jin Li
- Center for Applied Genomics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Thomas F Kolon
- Division of Urology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Alicia Olivant Fisher
- Nemours Biomedical Research, Nemours /Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, 19803, USA
| | - T Ernesto Figueroa
- Division of Urology, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, 19803, USA
| | - Ahmad H BaniHani
- Division of Urology, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, 19803, USA
| | - Jennifer A Hagerty
- Division of Urology, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, 19803, USA
| | - Ricardo Gonzalez
- Division of Urology, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, 19803, USA.,Present address: Auf der Bult Kinder- und Jugendkrankenhaus, Hannover, Germany
| | - Paul H Noh
- Division of Urology, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, 19803, USA.,Present address: Division of Pediatric Urology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Rosetta M Chiavacci
- Center for Applied Genomics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Kisha R Harden
- Center for Applied Genomics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Debra J Abrams
- Center for Applied Genomics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Deborah Stabley
- Nemours Biomedical Research, Nemours /Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, 19803, USA
| | - Cecilia E Kim
- Center for Applied Genomics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Katia Sol-Church
- Nemours Biomedical Research, Nemours /Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, 19803, USA
| | - Hakon Hakonarson
- Center for Applied Genomics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.,Division of Genetics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Marcella Devoto
- Division of Genetics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.,Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.,Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Julia Spencer Barthold
- Nemours Biomedical Research, Nemours /Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, 19803, USA. .,Division of Urology, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, 19803, USA.
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12
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Kolon TF. Re. "Prospective study of histological and endocrine parameters of gonadal function in boys with cryptorchidism". J Pediatr Urol 2016; 12:240. [PMID: 27296788 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpurol.2016.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2016] [Accepted: 05/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas F Kolon
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Department of Surgery, Division of Urology, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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13
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Skakkebaek NE, Rajpert-De Meyts E, Buck Louis GM, Toppari J, Andersson AM, Eisenberg ML, Jensen TK, Jørgensen N, Swan SH, Sapra KJ, Ziebe S, Priskorn L, Juul A. Male Reproductive Disorders and Fertility Trends: Influences of Environment and Genetic Susceptibility. Physiol Rev 2016; 96:55-97. [PMID: 26582516 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00017.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 598] [Impact Index Per Article: 74.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
It is predicted that Japan and European Union will soon experience appreciable decreases in their populations due to persistently low total fertility rates (TFR) below replacement level (2.1 child per woman). In the United States, where TFR has also declined, there are ethnic differences. Caucasians have rates below replacement, while TFRs among African-Americans and Hispanics are higher. We review possible links between TFR and trends in a range of male reproductive problems, including testicular cancer, disorders of sex development, cryptorchidism, hypospadias, low testosterone levels, poor semen quality, childlessness, changed sex ratio, and increasing demand for assisted reproductive techniques. We present evidence that several adult male reproductive problems arise in utero and are signs of testicular dysgenesis syndrome (TDS). Although TDS might result from genetic mutations, recent evidence suggests that it most often is related to environmental exposures of the fetal testis. However, environmental factors can also affect the adult endocrine system. Based on our review of genetic and environmental factors, we conclude that environmental exposures arising from modern lifestyle, rather than genetics, are the most important factors in the observed trends. These environmental factors might act either directly or via epigenetic mechanisms. In the latter case, the effects of exposures might have an impact for several generations post-exposure. In conclusion, there is an urgent need to prioritize research in reproductive physiology and pathophysiology, particularly in highly industrialized countries facing decreasing populations. We highlight a number of topics that need attention by researchers in human physiology, pathophysiology, environmental health sciences, and demography.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niels E Skakkebaek
- Department of Growth & Reproduction and EDMaRC, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Division of Epidemiology, Statistics and Prevention Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland; Department of Physiology & Pediatrics, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland; Male Reproductive Medicine & Surgery Program, Stanford University, Stanford, California; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; and The Fertility Clinic, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ewa Rajpert-De Meyts
- Department of Growth & Reproduction and EDMaRC, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Division of Epidemiology, Statistics and Prevention Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland; Department of Physiology & Pediatrics, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland; Male Reproductive Medicine & Surgery Program, Stanford University, Stanford, California; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; and The Fertility Clinic, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Germaine M Buck Louis
- Department of Growth & Reproduction and EDMaRC, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Division of Epidemiology, Statistics and Prevention Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland; Department of Physiology & Pediatrics, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland; Male Reproductive Medicine & Surgery Program, Stanford University, Stanford, California; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; and The Fertility Clinic, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jorma Toppari
- Department of Growth & Reproduction and EDMaRC, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Division of Epidemiology, Statistics and Prevention Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland; Department of Physiology & Pediatrics, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland; Male Reproductive Medicine & Surgery Program, Stanford University, Stanford, California; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; and The Fertility Clinic, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anna-Maria Andersson
- Department of Growth & Reproduction and EDMaRC, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Division of Epidemiology, Statistics and Prevention Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland; Department of Physiology & Pediatrics, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland; Male Reproductive Medicine & Surgery Program, Stanford University, Stanford, California; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; and The Fertility Clinic, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Michael L Eisenberg
- Department of Growth & Reproduction and EDMaRC, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Division of Epidemiology, Statistics and Prevention Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland; Department of Physiology & Pediatrics, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland; Male Reproductive Medicine & Surgery Program, Stanford University, Stanford, California; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; and The Fertility Clinic, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Tina Kold Jensen
- Department of Growth & Reproduction and EDMaRC, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Division of Epidemiology, Statistics and Prevention Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland; Department of Physiology & Pediatrics, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland; Male Reproductive Medicine & Surgery Program, Stanford University, Stanford, California; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; and The Fertility Clinic, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Niels Jørgensen
- Department of Growth & Reproduction and EDMaRC, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Division of Epidemiology, Statistics and Prevention Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland; Department of Physiology & Pediatrics, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland; Male Reproductive Medicine & Surgery Program, Stanford University, Stanford, California; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; and The Fertility Clinic, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Shanna H Swan
- Department of Growth & Reproduction and EDMaRC, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Division of Epidemiology, Statistics and Prevention Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland; Department of Physiology & Pediatrics, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland; Male Reproductive Medicine & Surgery Program, Stanford University, Stanford, California; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; and The Fertility Clinic, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Katherine J Sapra
- Department of Growth & Reproduction and EDMaRC, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Division of Epidemiology, Statistics and Prevention Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland; Department of Physiology & Pediatrics, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland; Male Reproductive Medicine & Surgery Program, Stanford University, Stanford, California; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; and The Fertility Clinic, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Søren Ziebe
- Department of Growth & Reproduction and EDMaRC, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Division of Epidemiology, Statistics and Prevention Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland; Department of Physiology & Pediatrics, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland; Male Reproductive Medicine & Surgery Program, Stanford University, Stanford, California; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; and The Fertility Clinic, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lærke Priskorn
- Department of Growth & Reproduction and EDMaRC, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Division of Epidemiology, Statistics and Prevention Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland; Department of Physiology & Pediatrics, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland; Male Reproductive Medicine & Surgery Program, Stanford University, Stanford, California; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; and The Fertility Clinic, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anders Juul
- Department of Growth & Reproduction and EDMaRC, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Division of Epidemiology, Statistics and Prevention Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland; Department of Physiology & Pediatrics, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Turku, Finland; Male Reproductive Medicine & Surgery Program, Stanford University, Stanford, California; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York; and The Fertility Clinic, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
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14
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Barthold JS, Pugarelli J, MacDonald ML, Ren J, Adetunji MO, Polson SW, Mateson A, Wang Y, Sol-Church K, McCahan SM, Akins RE, Devoto M, Robbins AK. Polygenic inheritance of cryptorchidism susceptibility in the LE/orl rat. Mol Hum Reprod 2016; 22:18-34. [PMID: 26502805 PMCID: PMC4694052 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gav060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2015] [Revised: 09/21/2015] [Accepted: 10/22/2015] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY HYPOTHESIS Susceptibility to inherited cryptorchidism in the LE/orl rat may be associated with genetic loci that influence developmental patterning of the gubernaculum by the fetal testis. STUDY FINDING Cryptorchidism in the LE/orl rat is associated with a unique combination of homozygous minor alleles at multiple loci, and the encoded proteins are co-localized with androgen receptor (AR) and Leydig cells in fetal gubernaculum and testis, respectively. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Prior studies have shown aberrant perinatal gubernacular migration, muscle patterning defects and reduced fetal testicular testosterone in the LE/orl strain. In addition, altered expression of androgen-responsive, cytoskeletal and muscle-related transcripts in the LE/orl fetal gubernaculum suggest a role for defective AR signaling in cryptorchidism susceptibility. STUDY DESIGN, SAMPLES/MATERIALS, METHODS The long-term LE/orl colony and short-term colonies of outbred Crl:LE and Crl:SD, and inbred WKY/Ncrl rats were maintained for studies. Animals were intercrossed (LE/orl X WKY/Ncrl), and obligate heterozygotes were reciprocally backcrossed to LE/orl rats to generate 54 F2 males used for genotyping and/or linkage analysis. At least five fetuses per gestational time point from two or more litters were used for quantitative real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) and freshly harvested embryonic (E) day 17 gubernaculum was used to generate conditionally immortalized cell lines. We completed genotyping and gene expression analyses using genome-wide microsatellite markers and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays, PCR amplification, direct sequencing, restriction enzyme digest with fragment analysis, whole genome sequencing (WGS), and qRT-PCR. Linkage analysis was performed in Haploview with multiple testing correction, and qRT-PCR data were analyzed using ANOVA after log transformation. Imaging was performed using custom and commercial antibodies directed at candidate proteins in gubernaculum and testis tissues, and gubernaculum cell lines. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE LE/orl rats showed reduced fertility and fecundity, and higher risk of perinatal death as compared with Crl:LE rats, but there were no differences in breeding outcomes between normal and unilaterally cryptorchid males. Linkage analysis identified multiple peaks, and with selective breeding of outbred Crl:LE and Crl:SD strains for alleles within two of the most significant (P < 0.003) peaks on chromosomes 6 and 16, we were able to generate a non-LE/orl cryptorchid rat. Associated loci contain potentially functional minor alleles (0.25-0.36 in tested rat strains) including an exonic deletion in Syne2, a large intronic insertion in Ncoa4 (an AR coactivator) and potentially deleterious variants in Solh/Capn15, Ankrd28, and Hsd17b2. Existing WGS data indicate that homozygosity for these combined alleles does not occur in any other sequenced rat strain. We observed a modifying effect of the Syne2(del) allele on expression of other candidate genes, particularly Ncoa4, and for muscle and hormone-responsive transcripts. The selected candidate genes/proteins are highly expressed, androgen-responsive and/or co-localized with developing muscle and AR in fetal gubernaculum, and co-localized with Leydig cells in fetal testis. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION The present study identified multiple cryptorchidism-associated linkage peaks in the LE/orl rat, containing potentially causal alleles. These are strong candidate susceptibility loci, but further studies are needed to demonstrate functional relevance to the phenotype. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Association data from both human and rat models of spontaneous, nonsyndromic cryptorchidism support a polygenic etiology of the disease. Both the present study and a human genome-wide association study suggest that common variants with weak effects contribute to susceptibility, and may exist in genes encoding proteins that participate in AR signaling in the developing gubernaculum. These findings have potential implications for the gene-environment interaction in the etiology of cryptorchidism. LARGE SCALE DATA Sequences were deposited in the Rat Genome Database (RGD, http://rgd.mcw.edu/). STUDY FUNDING AND COMPETING INTERESTS This work was supported by: R01HD060769 from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute for Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), 2P20GM103446 and P20GM103464 from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), and Nemours Biomedical Research. The authors have no competing interests to declare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Spencer Barthold
- Pediatric Urology Research Laboratory, Nemours Biomedical Research/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, USA
| | - Joan Pugarelli
- Pediatric Urology Research Laboratory, Nemours Biomedical Research/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, USA
| | - Madolyn L MacDonald
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Delaware Biotechnology Institute, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Jia Ren
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Delaware Biotechnology Institute, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Modupeore O Adetunji
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Delaware Biotechnology Institute, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Shawn W Polson
- Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Delaware Biotechnology Institute, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, USA
| | - Abigail Mateson
- Pediatric Urology Research Laboratory, Nemours Biomedical Research/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, USA
| | - Yanping Wang
- Pediatric Urology Research Laboratory, Nemours Biomedical Research/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, USA
| | - Katia Sol-Church
- Biomolecular Core Laboratory, Nemours Biomedical Research/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, USA
| | - Suzanne M McCahan
- Bioinformatics Core, Nemours Biomedical Research/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, USA
| | - Robert E Akins
- Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine Research Laboratory, Nemours Biomedical Research/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, USA
| | - Marcella Devoto
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA Department of Biostatistics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA Department of Epidemiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Alan K Robbins
- Pediatric Urology Research Laboratory, Nemours Biomedical Research/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, USA
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15
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Barthold JS, Wang Y, Kolon TF, Kollin C, Nordenskjöld A, Olivant Fisher A, Figueroa TE, BaniHani AH, Hagerty JA, Gonzaléz R, Noh PH, Chiavacci RM, Harden KR, Abrams DJ, Kim CE, Li J, Hakonarson H, Devoto M. Pathway analysis supports association of nonsyndromic cryptorchidism with genetic loci linked to cytoskeleton-dependent functions. Hum Reprod 2015; 30:2439-51. [PMID: 26209787 PMCID: PMC4573451 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dev180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2015] [Revised: 06/16/2015] [Accepted: 06/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION What are the genetic loci that increase susceptibility to nonsyndromic cryptorchidism, or undescended testis? SUMMARY ANSWER A genome-wide association study (GWAS) suggests that susceptibility to cryptorchidism is heterogeneous, with a subset of suggestive signals linked to cytoskeleton-dependent functions and syndromic forms of the disease. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Population studies suggest moderate genetic risk of cryptorchidism and possible maternal and environmental contributions to risk. Previous candidate gene analyses have failed to identify a major associated locus, although variants in insulin-like 3 (INSL3), relaxin/insulin-like family peptide receptor 2 (RXFP2) and other hormonal pathway genes may increase risk in a small percentage of patients. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION This is a case-control GWAS of 844 boys with nonsyndromic cryptorchidism and 2718 control subjects without syndromes or genital anomalies, all of European ancestry. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS All boys with cryptorchidism were diagnosed and treated by a pediatric specialist. In the discovery phase, DNA was extracted from tissue or blood samples and genotyping performed using the Illumina HumanHap550 and Human610-Quad (Group 1) or OmniExpress (Group 2) platform. We imputed genotypes genome-wide, and combined single marker association results in meta-analyses for all cases and for secondary subphenotype analyses based on testis position, laterality and age, and defined genome-wide significance as P = 7 × 10(-9) to correct for multiple testing. Selected markers were genotyped in an independent replication group of European cases (n = 298) and controls (n = 324). We used several bioinformatics tools to analyze top (P < 10(-5)) and suggestive (P < 10(-3)) signals for significant enrichment of signaling pathways, cellular functions and custom gene lists after multiple testing correction. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE In the full analysis, we identified 20 top loci, none reaching genome-wide significance, but one passing this threshold in a subphenotype analysis of proximal testis position (rs55867206, near SH3PXD2B, odds ratio = 2.2 (95% confidence interval 1.7, 2.9), P = 2 × 10(-9)). An additional 127 top loci emerged in at least one secondary analysis, particularly of more severe phenotypes. Cytoskeleton-dependent molecular and cellular functions were prevalent in pathway analysis of suggestive signals, and may implicate loci encoding cytoskeletal proteins that participate in androgen receptor signaling. Genes linked to human syndromic cryptorchidism, including hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, and to hormone-responsive and/or differentially expressed genes in normal and cryptorchid rat gubernaculum, were also significantly overrepresented. No tested marker showed significant replication in an independent population. The results suggest heterogeneous, multilocus and potentially multifactorial susceptibility to nonsyndromic cryptorchidism. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION The present study failed to identify genome-wide significant markers associated with cryptorchidism that could be replicated in an independent population, so further studies are required to define true positive signals among suggestive loci. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS As the only GWAS to date of nonsyndromic cryptorchidism, these data will provide a basis for future efforts to understand genetic susceptibility to this common reproductive anomaly and the potential for additive risk from environmental exposures. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS This work was supported by R01HD060769 (the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute for Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)), P20RR20173 (the National Center for Research Resources (NCRR), currently P20GM103464 from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)), an Institute Development Fund to the Center for Applied Genomics at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and Nemours Biomedical Research. The authors have no competing interests to declare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Spencer Barthold
- Nemours Biomedical Research, Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE 19803, USA Division of Urology, Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE 19803, USA
| | - Yanping Wang
- Nemours Biomedical Research, Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE 19803, USA
| | - Thomas F Kolon
- Division of Urology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Claude Kollin
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Agneta Nordenskjöld
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Alicia Olivant Fisher
- Nemours Biomedical Research, Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE 19803, USA
| | - T Ernesto Figueroa
- Division of Urology, Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE 19803, USA
| | - Ahmad H BaniHani
- Division of Urology, Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE 19803, USA
| | - Jennifer A Hagerty
- Division of Urology, Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE 19803, USA
| | - Ricardo Gonzaléz
- Division of Urology, Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE 19803, USA Present address: Auf der Bult Kinder- und Jugendkrankenhaus, Hannover, Germany
| | - Paul H Noh
- Division of Urology, Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE 19803, USA Present address: Division of Pediatric Urology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Rosetta M Chiavacci
- Center for Applied Genomics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Kisha R Harden
- Center for Applied Genomics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Debra J Abrams
- Center for Applied Genomics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Cecilia E Kim
- Center for Applied Genomics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jin Li
- Center for Applied Genomics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Hakon Hakonarson
- Center for Applied Genomics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA Division of Genetics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Marcella Devoto
- Division of Genetics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
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Baskin LS. This Month in Pediatric Urology. J Urol 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.juro.2015.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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