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Mottola F, Palmieri I, Carannante M, Barretta A, Roychoudhury S, Rocco L. Oxidative Stress Biomarkers in Male Infertility: Established Methodologies and Future Perspectives. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:539. [PMID: 38790168 PMCID: PMC11121722 DOI: 10.3390/genes15050539] [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: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Male fertility can be affected by oxidative stress (OS), which occurs when an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the body's ability to neutralize them arises. OS can damage cells and influence sperm production. High levels of lipid peroxidation have been linked to reduced sperm motility and decreased fertilization ability. This literature review discusses the most commonly used biomarkers to measure sperm damage caused by ROS, such as the high level of OS in seminal plasma as an indicator of imbalance in antioxidant activity. The investigated biomarkers include 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine acid (8-OHdG), a marker of DNA damage caused by ROS, and F2 isoprostanoids (8-isoprostanes) produced by lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, this review focuses on recent methodologies including the NGS polymorphisms and differentially expressed gene (DEG) analysis, as well as the epigenetic mechanisms linked to ROS during spermatogenesis along with new methodologies developed to evaluate OS biomarkers. Finally, this review addresses a valuable insight into the mechanisms of male infertility provided by these advances and how they have led to new treatment possibilities. Overall, the use of biomarkers to evaluate OS in male infertility has supplied innovative diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, enhancing our understanding of male infertility mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filomena Mottola
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 81100 Caserta, Italy; (F.M.); (I.P.); (M.C.); (A.B.)
| | - Ilaria Palmieri
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 81100 Caserta, Italy; (F.M.); (I.P.); (M.C.); (A.B.)
| | - Maria Carannante
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 81100 Caserta, Italy; (F.M.); (I.P.); (M.C.); (A.B.)
| | - Angela Barretta
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 81100 Caserta, Italy; (F.M.); (I.P.); (M.C.); (A.B.)
| | | | - Lucia Rocco
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, 81100 Caserta, Italy; (F.M.); (I.P.); (M.C.); (A.B.)
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Momeni A, Haghpanah T, Nematollahi-Mahani SN, Ashourzadeh S, Eftekhar-Vaghefi SH. Comparing the effects of vitrification, before and after mouse oocyte in vitro maturation on developmental competence, changes in epigenetic regulators and stress oxidative response. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 679:179-190. [PMID: 37703761 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.09.005] [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: 06/25/2023] [Revised: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
Since the developmental stage of oocyte is a challenging issue in the success of vitrification, this study investigated the effects of vitrification, before and after in vitro maturation, on the survival and maturation rates, developmental competence and the expression levels of genes involved in apoptosis, oxidative stress and epigenetic modifications. Mouse germinal vesicle (GV) oocytes were divided into four groups: fresh in vitro matured oocytes without vitrification (fIVM), in vitro matured oocytes after vitrification (vIVM), in vitro matured oocytes before vitrification (IVMv). In addition, in vivo matured oocytes (MII) were used as control. After oocytes collection, maturation and survival rates as well as the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level were evaluated. Also, the expression level of various genes was analyzed by qRT-PCR. In addition, following artificial activation (parthenogenesis), the developmental competence of oocytes to the blastocyst stage was evaluated. A significant decrease in maturation rate and survival of vIVM oocytes was observed compared to fIVM and IVMv oocytes. Intracellular ROS levels were significantly increased in both vitrified groups compared to the fIVM group, and no significant difference between vitrified groups. Pro-apoptotic genes; BAX and Bcl2 as well as genes related to oxidative stress response Hsp1a, Hsp1b and SOD1were significantly increased in the vIVM group compared to the IVMv group. Interestingly, epigenetic regulators genes DNMT1, DNMT3a and DNMT3b were highly expressed in IVMv oocytes along with a decrease in the artificial activation rate compared to the vIVM oocytes. Our results indicated that despite observing more negative effects of vitrification before IVM on the survival rate and maturation as well as apoptosis status, less epigenetic changes in vIVM oocytes can make this process a better option in the treatment of infertility than IVM of oocytes followed by vitrification, a hypothesis that needs to be investigation in human oocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asma Momeni
- Anatomical Sciences Department, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Tahereh Haghpanah
- Anatomical Sciences Department, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
| | | | - Sareh Ashourzadeh
- Afzalipour Clinical Center for Infertility, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Afzalipour Hospital, Kerman, Iran
| | - Seyed Hassan Eftekhar-Vaghefi
- Anatomical Sciences Department, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran; Department of Anatomy, Kerman Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kerman, Iran.
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Pourjafari F, Ezzatabadipour M, Nematollahi-Mahani SN, Afgar A, Haghpanah T. In utero and postnatal exposure to Foeniculum vulgare and Linum usitatissimum seed extracts: modifications of key enzymes involved in epigenetic regulation and estrogen receptors expression in the offspring's ovaries of NMRI mice. BMC Complement Med Ther 2023; 23:45. [PMID: 36788561 PMCID: PMC9926564 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-023-03875-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Early-life exposure to exogenous estrogens such as phytoestrogens (plant-derived estrogens) could affect later health through epigenetic modifications. Foeniculum vulgare (fennel) and Linum usitatissimum (flax) are two common medicinal plants with high phytoestrogen content. Considering the developmental epigenetic programming effect of phytoestrogens, the main goal of the present study was to evaluate the perinatal exposure with life-long exposure to hydroalcoholic extracts of both plants on offspring's ovarian epigenetic changes and estrogen receptors (ESRs) expression level as signaling cascades triggers of phytoestrogens. METHODS Pregnant mice were randomly divided into control (CTL) that received no treatment and extract-treated groups that received 500 mg/kg/day of fennel (FV) and flaxseed (FX) alone or in combination (FV + FX) during gestation and lactation. At weaning, female offspring exposed to extracts prenatally remained on the maternal-doses diets until puberty. Then, the ovaries were collected for morphometric studies and quantitative real-time PCR analysis. RESULTS A reduction in mRNA transcripts of the epigenetic modifying enzymes DNMTs and HDACs as well as estrogen receptors was observed in the FV and FX groups compared to the CTL group. Interestingly, an increase in ESRα/ESRβ ratio along with HDAC2 overexpression was observed in the FV + FX group. CONCLUSION Our findings clearly show a positive relationship between pre and postnatal exposure to fennel and flaxseed extracts, ovarian epigenetic changes, and estrogen receptors expression, which may affect the estrogen signaling pathway. However, due to the high phytoestrogen contents of these extracts, the use of these plants in humans requires more detailed investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fahimeh Pourjafari
- grid.412105.30000 0001 2092 9755Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Massood Ezzatabadipour
- grid.412105.30000 0001 2092 9755Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Seyed Noureddin Nematollahi-Mahani
- grid.412105.30000 0001 2092 9755Department of Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Ali Afgar
- grid.412105.30000 0001 2092 9755Research Center for Hydatid Disease in Iran, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Tahereh Haghpanah
- Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
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Mo J, Liu X, Huang Y, He R, Zhang Y, Huang H. Developmental origins of adult diseases. MEDICAL REVIEW (BERLIN, GERMANY) 2022; 2:450-470. [PMID: 37724166 PMCID: PMC10388800 DOI: 10.1515/mr-2022-0027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
The occurrence and mechanisms of developmental adult diseases have gradually attracted attention in recent years. Exposure of gametes and embryos to adverse environments, especially during plastic development, can alter the expression of certain tissue-specific genes, leading to increased susceptibility to certain diseases in adulthood, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, neuropsychiatric, and reproductive system diseases, etc. The occurrence of chronic disease in adulthood is partly due to genetic factors, and the remaining risk is partly due to environmental-dependent epigenetic information alteration, including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and noncoding RNAs. Changes in this epigenetic information potentially damage our health, which has also been supported by numerous epidemiological and animal studies in recent years. Environmental factors functionally affect embryo development through epimutation, transmitting diseases to offspring and even later generations. This review mainly elaborated on the concept of developmental origins of adult diseases, and revealed the epigenetic mechanisms underlying these events, discussed the theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaying Mo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, International Institutes of Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, Zhejiang Province, China
- The Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Zhejiang University), Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Xuanqi Liu
- The Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Zhejiang University), Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yutong Huang
- The Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Zhejiang University), Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Renke He
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, International Institutes of Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, Zhejiang Province, China
- The Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Zhejiang University), Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Institute of Reproduction and Development, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hefeng Huang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, International Institutes of Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, Zhejiang Province, China
- The Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Zhejiang University), Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Institute of Reproduction and Development, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Research Units of Embryo Original Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (No. 2019RU056), Shanghai, China
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