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Sahota JS, Thakur RS, Guleria K, Sambyal V. RAD51 and Infertility: A Review and Case-Control Study. Biochem Genet 2024; 62:1216-1230. [PMID: 37563467 DOI: 10.1007/s10528-023-10469-8] [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: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
RAD51 is a highly conserved recombinase involved in the strand invasion/exchange of double-stranded DNA by homologous single-stranded DNA during homologous recombination repair. Although a majority of existing literature associates RAD51 with the pathogenesis of various types of cancer, recent reports indicate a role of RAD51 in maintenance of fertility. The present study reviews the role of RAD51 and its interacting proteins in spermatogenesis/oogenesis and additionally reports the findings from the molecular genetic screening of RAD51 135 G > C polymorphism in infertile cases and controls. Fifty-nine articles from PubMed and Google Scholar related to the reproductive role of RAD51 were reviewed. For case-control study, the PCR-RFLP method was used to screen the RAD51 135 G > C polymorphism in 201 infertile cases (100 males, 101 females) and 201 age- and gender-matched healthy controls (100 males, 101 females) from Punjab, North-West India. The review of literature shows that RAD51 is indispensable for spermatogenesis and oogenesis in animal models. Reports on the role of RAD51 in human fertility are limited, however it is involved in the pathogenesis of infertility in both males and females. Molecular genetic analyses in the infertile cases and healthy controls showed no statistically significant difference in the genotypic and allelic frequencies for RAD51 135 G > C polymorphism, even after segregation of the cases by type of infertility (primary/secondary). Therefore, the present study concluded that the RAD51 135 G > C polymorphism was neither associated with male nor female infertility in North-West Indians. This is the first report on RAD51 135 G > C polymorphism and infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jatinder Singh Sahota
- Cytogenetics Laboratory, Department of Human Genetics, Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), Amritsar, 143005, Punjab, India
| | - Ranveer Singh Thakur
- Cytogenetics Laboratory, Department of Human Genetics, Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), Amritsar, 143005, Punjab, India
| | - Kamlesh Guleria
- Cytogenetics Laboratory, Department of Human Genetics, Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), Amritsar, 143005, Punjab, India
| | - Vasudha Sambyal
- Cytogenetics Laboratory, Department of Human Genetics, Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), Amritsar, 143005, Punjab, India.
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2
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Bakhshalizadeh S, Bird AD, Sreenivasan R, Bell KM, Robevska G, van den Bergen J, Asghari-Jafarabadi M, Kueh AJ, Touraine P, Lokchine A, Jaillard S, Ayers KL, Wilhelm D, Sinclair AH, Tucker EJ. A Human Homozygous HELQ Missense Variant Does Not Cause Premature Ovarian Insufficiency in a Mouse Model. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:333. [PMID: 38540391 PMCID: PMC10970702 DOI: 10.3390/genes15030333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Disruption of meiosis and DNA repair genes is associated with female fertility disorders like premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). In this study, we identified a homozygous missense variant in the HELQ gene (c.596 A>C; p.Gln199Pro) through whole exome sequencing in a POI patient, a condition associated with disrupted ovarian function and female infertility. HELQ, an enzyme involved in DNA repair, plays a crucial role in repairing DNA cross-links and has been linked to germ cell maintenance, fertility, and tumour suppression in mice. To explore the potential association of the HELQ variant with POI, we used CRISPR/Cas9 to create a knock-in mouse model harbouring the equivalent of the human HELQ variant identified in the POI patient. Surprisingly, Helq knock-in mice showed no discernible phenotype, with fertility levels, histological features, and follicle development similar to wild-type mice. Despite the lack of observable effects in mice, the potential role of HELQ in human fertility, especially in the context of POI, should not be dismissed. Larger studies encompassing diverse ethnic populations and alternative functional approaches will be necessary to further examine the role of HELQ in POI. Our results underscore the potential uncertainties associated with genomic variants and the limitations of in vivo animal modelling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shabnam Bakhshalizadeh
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia; (S.B.); (R.S.); (K.M.B.); (G.R.); (J.v.d.B.); (K.L.A.); (A.H.S.)
- Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Anthony D. Bird
- Department of Anatomy & Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia; (A.D.B.); (D.W.)
- Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Monash Medical Centre, Melbourne, VIC 3168, Australia
- Department of Molecular & Translational Science, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - Rajini Sreenivasan
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia; (S.B.); (R.S.); (K.M.B.); (G.R.); (J.v.d.B.); (K.L.A.); (A.H.S.)
| | - Katrina M. Bell
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia; (S.B.); (R.S.); (K.M.B.); (G.R.); (J.v.d.B.); (K.L.A.); (A.H.S.)
| | - Gorjana Robevska
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia; (S.B.); (R.S.); (K.M.B.); (G.R.); (J.v.d.B.); (K.L.A.); (A.H.S.)
| | - Jocelyn van den Bergen
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia; (S.B.); (R.S.); (K.M.B.); (G.R.); (J.v.d.B.); (K.L.A.); (A.H.S.)
| | - Mohammad Asghari-Jafarabadi
- Biostatistics Unit, School of Public Health and Preventative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, Australia;
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - Andrew J. Kueh
- The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia;
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Philippe Touraine
- Department of Endocrinology and Reproductive Medicine, Pitie Salpetriere Hospital, AP-HP, Sorbonne University Medicine, 75013 Paris, France;
| | - Anna Lokchine
- IRSET (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail), INSERM/EHESP/Univ Rennes/CHU Rennes–UMR_S 1085, 35000 Rennes, France; (A.L.); (S.J.)
- CHU Rennes, Service de Cytogénétique et Biologie Cellulaire, 35033 Rennes, France
| | - Sylvie Jaillard
- IRSET (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail), INSERM/EHESP/Univ Rennes/CHU Rennes–UMR_S 1085, 35000 Rennes, France; (A.L.); (S.J.)
- CHU Rennes, Service de Cytogénétique et Biologie Cellulaire, 35033 Rennes, France
| | - Katie L. Ayers
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia; (S.B.); (R.S.); (K.M.B.); (G.R.); (J.v.d.B.); (K.L.A.); (A.H.S.)
- Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Dagmar Wilhelm
- Department of Anatomy & Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia; (A.D.B.); (D.W.)
| | - Andrew H. Sinclair
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia; (S.B.); (R.S.); (K.M.B.); (G.R.); (J.v.d.B.); (K.L.A.); (A.H.S.)
- Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Elena J. Tucker
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia; (S.B.); (R.S.); (K.M.B.); (G.R.); (J.v.d.B.); (K.L.A.); (A.H.S.)
- Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia
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Han SY, Yu JE, You BH, Kim SY, Bae M, Chae HS, Chin YW, Hong SH, Lee JH, Jung SH, Choi YH. No Interference of H9 Extract on Trastuzumab Pharmacokinetics in Their Combinations. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16677. [PMID: 38068999 PMCID: PMC10706748 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Trastuzumab is used to treat breast cancer patients overexpressing human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, but resistance and toxicity limit its uses, leading to attention to trastuzumab combinations. Recently, the synergistic effect of trastuzumab and H9 extract (H9) combination against breast cancer has been reported. Because drug exposure determines its efficacy and toxicity, the question of whether H9 changes trastuzumab exposure in the body has been raised. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize trastuzumab pharmacokinetics and elucidate the effect of H9 on trastuzumab pharmacokinetics at a combination dose that shows synergism in mice. As a result, trastuzumab showed linear pharmacokinetics after its intravenous administration from 1 to 10 mg/kg. In the combination of trastuzumab and H9, single and 2-week treatments of oral H9 (500 mg/kg) did not influence trastuzumab pharmacokinetics. In the multiple-combination treatments of trastuzumab and H9 showing their synergistic effect (3 weeks of trastuzumab with 2 weeks of H9), the pharmacokinetic profile of trastuzumab was comparable to that of 3 weeks of trastuzumab alone. In tissue distribution, the tissue to plasma ratios of trastuzumab below 1.0 indicated its limited distributions within the tissues, and these patterns were unaffected by H9. These results suggest that the systemic and local exposures of trastuzumab are unchanged by single and multiple-combination treatments of H9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seung Yon Han
- College of Pharmacy and Integrated Research Institute for Drug Development, Dongguk University_Seoul, 32 Dongguk-ro, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si 10326, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea; (S.Y.H.); (J.-E.Y.); (B.H.Y.); (S.-Y.K.); (M.B.); (H.-S.C.)
| | - Jeong-Eun Yu
- College of Pharmacy and Integrated Research Institute for Drug Development, Dongguk University_Seoul, 32 Dongguk-ro, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si 10326, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea; (S.Y.H.); (J.-E.Y.); (B.H.Y.); (S.-Y.K.); (M.B.); (H.-S.C.)
| | - Byoung Hoon You
- College of Pharmacy and Integrated Research Institute for Drug Development, Dongguk University_Seoul, 32 Dongguk-ro, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si 10326, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea; (S.Y.H.); (J.-E.Y.); (B.H.Y.); (S.-Y.K.); (M.B.); (H.-S.C.)
| | - Seo-Yeon Kim
- College of Pharmacy and Integrated Research Institute for Drug Development, Dongguk University_Seoul, 32 Dongguk-ro, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si 10326, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea; (S.Y.H.); (J.-E.Y.); (B.H.Y.); (S.-Y.K.); (M.B.); (H.-S.C.)
| | - Mingoo Bae
- College of Pharmacy and Integrated Research Institute for Drug Development, Dongguk University_Seoul, 32 Dongguk-ro, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si 10326, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea; (S.Y.H.); (J.-E.Y.); (B.H.Y.); (S.-Y.K.); (M.B.); (H.-S.C.)
| | - Hee-Sung Chae
- College of Pharmacy and Integrated Research Institute for Drug Development, Dongguk University_Seoul, 32 Dongguk-ro, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si 10326, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea; (S.Y.H.); (J.-E.Y.); (B.H.Y.); (S.-Y.K.); (M.B.); (H.-S.C.)
- National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS 38677, USA
| | - Young-Won Chin
- College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Seoul National University, 1, Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea;
| | - Soo-Hwa Hong
- Department of Korean Internal Medicine, Dongguk University Bundang Korean Medicine Hospital, Seongnam-si 13601, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea;
| | - Ju-Hee Lee
- College of Korean Medicine, Dongguk University, Gyeongju-si 38066, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Republic of Korea; (J.-H.L.); (S.H.J.)
| | - Seung Hyun Jung
- College of Korean Medicine, Dongguk University, Gyeongju-si 38066, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Republic of Korea; (J.-H.L.); (S.H.J.)
| | - Young Hee Choi
- College of Pharmacy and Integrated Research Institute for Drug Development, Dongguk University_Seoul, 32 Dongguk-ro, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si 10326, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea; (S.Y.H.); (J.-E.Y.); (B.H.Y.); (S.-Y.K.); (M.B.); (H.-S.C.)
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Zhao J, Ji Z, Meng G, Luo J, Zhang Y, Ou N, Bai H, Tian R, Zhi E, Huang Y, Liu N, He W, Tan Y, Li Z, Yao C, Li P. Identification of a missense variant of MND1 in meiotic arrest and non-obstructive azoospermia. J Hum Genet 2023; 68:729-735. [PMID: 37365320 DOI: 10.1038/s10038-023-01172-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Meiotic arrest is a common pathologic phenotype of non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA), yet its genetic causes require further investigation. Meiotic nuclear divisions 1 (MND1) has been proved to be indispensable for meiotic recombination in many species. To date, only one variant of MND1 has been reported associated with primary ovarian insufficiency (POI), yet there has been no report of variants in MND1 associated with NOA. Herein, we identified a rare homozygous missense variant (NM_032117:c.G507C:p.W169C) of MND1 in two NOA-affected patients from one Chinese family. Histological analysis and immunohistochemistry demonstrated meiotic arrest at zygotene-like stage in prophase I and lack of spermatozoa in the proband's seminiferous tubules. In silico modeling demonstrated that this variant might cause possible conformational change in the leucine zippers 3 with capping helices (LZ3wCH) domain of MND1-HOP2 complex. Altogether, our study demonstrated that the MND1 variant (c.G507C) is likely responsible for human meiotic arrest and NOA. And our study provides new insights into the genetic etiology of NOA and mechanisms of homologous recombination repair in male meiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingpeng Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211100, China
- Department of Andrology, Center for Men's Health, Department of ART, Institute of Urology, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Zhiyong Ji
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361000, China
| | - Guiquan Meng
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, NHC Key Laboratory of Human Stem Cell and Reproductive Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, China
| | - Jiaqiang Luo
- Department of Andrology, Center for Men's Health, Department of ART, Institute of Urology, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Yuxiang Zhang
- Department of Andrology, Center for Men's Health, Department of ART, Institute of Urology, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Ningjing Ou
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211100, China
- Department of Andrology, Center for Men's Health, Department of ART, Institute of Urology, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Haowei Bai
- Department of Andrology, Center for Men's Health, Department of ART, Institute of Urology, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Ruhui Tian
- Department of Andrology, Center for Men's Health, Department of ART, Institute of Urology, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Erlei Zhi
- Department of Andrology, Center for Men's Health, Department of ART, Institute of Urology, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Yuhua Huang
- Department of Andrology, Center for Men's Health, Department of ART, Institute of Urology, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Nachuan Liu
- Department of Andrology, Center for Men's Health, Department of ART, Institute of Urology, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Wenbin He
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, NHC Key Laboratory of Human Stem Cell and Reproductive Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, China
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-XIANGYA; National Engineering and Research Center of Human Stem Cells, Changsha, 410008, China
| | - Yueqiu Tan
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, NHC Key Laboratory of Human Stem Cell and Reproductive Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, China
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-XIANGYA; National Engineering and Research Center of Human Stem Cells, Changsha, 410008, China
| | - Zheng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211100, China.
- Department of Andrology, Center for Men's Health, Department of ART, Institute of Urology, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200080, China.
| | - Chencheng Yao
- Department of Andrology, Center for Men's Health, Department of ART, Institute of Urology, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200080, China.
| | - Peng Li
- Department of Andrology, Center for Men's Health, Department of ART, Institute of Urology, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200080, China.
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Ding X, Singh P, Schimenti K, Tran TN, Fragoza R, Hardy J, Orwig KE, Olszewska M, Kurpisz MK, Yatsenko AN, Conrad DF, Yu H, Schimenti JC. In vivo versus in silico assessment of potentially pathogenic missense variants in human reproductive genes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2219925120. [PMID: 37459509 PMCID: PMC10372637 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2219925120] [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: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Infertility is a heterogeneous condition, with genetic causes thought to underlie a substantial fraction of cases. Genome sequencing is becoming increasingly important for genetic diagnosis of diseases including idiopathic infertility; however, most rare or minor alleles identified in patients are variants of uncertain significance (VUS). Interpreting the functional impacts of VUS is challenging but profoundly important for clinical management and genetic counseling. To determine the consequences of these variants in key fertility genes, we functionally evaluated 11 missense variants in the genes ANKRD31, BRDT, DMC1, EXO1, FKBP6, MCM9, M1AP, MEI1, MSH4 and SEPT12 by generating genome-edited mouse models. Nine variants were classified as deleterious by most functional prediction algorithms, and two disrupted a protein-protein interaction (PPI) in the yeast two hybrid (Y2H) assay. Though these genes are essential for normal meiosis or spermiogenesis in mice, only one variant, observed in the MCM9 gene of a male infertility patient, compromised fertility or gametogenesis in the mouse models. To explore the disconnect between predictions and outcomes, we compared pathogenicity calls of missense variants made by ten widely used algorithms to 1) those annotated in ClinVar and 2) those evaluated in mice. All the algorithms performed poorly in terms of predicting the effects of human missense variants modeled in mice. These studies emphasize caution in the genetic diagnoses of infertile patients based primarily on pathogenicity prediction algorithms and emphasize the need for alternative and efficient in vitro or in vivo functional validation models for more effective and accurate VUS description to either pathogenic or benign categories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinbao Ding
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY14853
| | - Priti Singh
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY14853
| | - Kerry Schimenti
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY14853
| | - Tina N. Tran
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY14853
| | - Robert Fragoza
- Department of Computational Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY14853
- Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY14853
| | - Jimmaline Hardy
- School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA15213
| | - Kyle E. Orwig
- School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA15213
| | - Marta Olszewska
- Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan60-479, Poland
| | - Maciej K. Kurpisz
- Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan60-479, Poland
| | - Alexander N. Yatsenko
- School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA15213
| | - Donald F. Conrad
- Oregon Health & Science University, Division of Genetics, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR97006
| | - Haiyuan Yu
- Department of Computational Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY14853
- Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY14853
| | - John C. Schimenti
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY14853
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SPATS1 (spermatogenesis-associated, serine-rich 1) is not essential for spermatogenesis and fertility in mouse. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0251028. [PMID: 33945571 PMCID: PMC8096103 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0251028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
SPATS1 (spermatogenesis-associated, serine-rich 1) is an evolutionarily conserved, testis-specific protein that is differentially expressed during rat male meiotic prophase. Some reports have suggested a link between SPATS1 underexpression/mutation and human pathologies such as male infertility and testicular cancer. Given the absence of functional studies, we generated a Spats1 loss-of-function mouse model using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. The phenotypic analysis showed no overt phenotype in Spats1-/- mice, with both males and females being fertile. Flow cytometry and histological analyses did not show differences in the testicular content and histology between WT and knockout mice. Moreover, no significant differences in sperm concentration, motility, and morphology, were observed between WT and KO mice. These results were obtained both for young adults and for aged animals. Besides, although an involvement of SPATS1 in the Wnt signaling pathway has been suggested, we did not detect changes in the expression levels of typical Wnt pathway-target genes in mutant individuals. Thus, albeit Spats1 alteration might be a risk factor for male testicular health, we hereby show that this gene is not individually essential for male fertility and spermatogenesis in mouse.
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Huang C, Guo T, Qin Y. Meiotic Recombination Defects and Premature Ovarian Insufficiency. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:652407. [PMID: 33763429 PMCID: PMC7982532 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.652407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is the depletion of ovarian function before 40 years of age due to insufficient oocyte formation or accelerated follicle atresia. Approximately 1–5% of women below 40 years old are affected by POI. The etiology of POI is heterogeneous, including genetic disorders, autoimmune diseases, infection, iatrogenic factors, and environmental toxins. Genetic factors account for 20–25% of patients. However, more than half of the patients were idiopathic. With the widespread application of next-generation sequencing (NGS), the genetic spectrum of POI has been expanded, especially the latest identification in meiosis and DNA repair-related genes. During meiotic prophase I, the key processes include DNA double-strand break (DSB) formation and subsequent homologous recombination (HR), which are essential for chromosome segregation at the first meiotic division and genome diversity of oocytes. Many animal models with defective meiotic recombination present with meiotic arrest, DSB accumulation, and oocyte apoptosis, which are similar to human POI phenotype. In the article, based on different stages of meiotic recombination, including DSB formation, DSB end processing, single-strand invasion, intermediate processing, recombination, and resolution and essential proteins involved in synaptonemal complex (SC), cohesion complex, and fanconi anemia (FA) pathway, we reviewed the individual gene mutations identified in POI patients and the potential candidate genes for POI pathogenesis, which will shed new light on the genetic architecture of POI and facilitate risk prediction, ovarian protection, and early intervention for POI women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengzi Huang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,National Research Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology and Reproductive Genetics, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Shandong Provincial Clinical Medicine Research Center for Reproductive Health, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Ting Guo
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,National Research Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology and Reproductive Genetics, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Shandong Provincial Clinical Medicine Research Center for Reproductive Health, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Yingying Qin
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,National Research Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology and Reproductive Genetics, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Shandong Provincial Clinical Medicine Research Center for Reproductive Health, Shandong University, Jinan, China
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8
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Ding X, Schimenti JC. Strategies to Identify Genetic Variants Causing Infertility. Trends Mol Med 2021; 27:792-806. [PMID: 33431240 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2020.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2020] [Revised: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Genetic causes are thought to underlie about half of infertility cases, but understanding the genetic bases has been a major challenge. Modern genomics tools allow more sophisticated exploration of genetic causes of infertility through population, family-based, and individual studies. Nevertheless, potential therapies based on genetic diagnostics will be limited until there is certainty regarding the causality of genetic variants identified in an individual. Genome modulation and editing technologies have revolutionized our ability to functionally test such variants, and also provide a potential means for clinical correction of infertility variants. This review addresses strategies being used to identify causative variants of infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinbao Ding
- Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - John C Schimenti
- Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
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9
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Ding X, Fragoza R, Singh P, Zhang S, Yu H, Schimenti JC. Variants in RABL2A causing male infertility and ciliopathy. Hum Mol Genet 2020; 29:3402-3411. [PMID: 33075816 PMCID: PMC7749704 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddaa230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Revised: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Approximately 7% of men worldwide suffer from infertility, with sperm abnormalities being the most common defect. Though genetic causes are thought to underlie a substantial fraction of idiopathic cases, the actual molecular bases are usually undetermined. Because the consequences of most genetic variants in populations are unknown, this complicates genetic diagnosis even after genome sequencing of patients. Some patients with ciliopathies, including primary ciliary dyskinesia and Bardet-Biedl syndrome, also suffer from infertility because cilia and sperm flagella share several characteristics. Here, we identified two deleterious alleles of RABL2A, a gene essential for normal function of cilia and flagella. Our in silico predictions and in vitro assays suggest that both alleles destabilize the protein. We constructed and analyzed mice homozygous for these two single-nucleotide polymorphisms, Rabl2L119F (rs80006029) and Rabl2V158F (rs200121688), and found that they exhibit ciliopathy-associated disorders including male infertility, early growth retardation, excessive weight gain in adulthood, heterotaxia, pre-axial polydactyly, neural tube defects and hydrocephalus. Our study provides a paradigm for triaging candidate infertility variants in the population for in vivo functional validation, using computational, in vitro and in vivo approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinbao Ding
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Robert Fragoza
- Department of Biological Statistics and Computational Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
- Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Priti Singh
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Shu Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Haiyuan Yu
- Department of Biological Statistics and Computational Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
- Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - John C Schimenti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
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10
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Tran TN, Schimenti JC. A segregating human allele of SPO11 modeled in mice disrupts timing and amounts of meiotic recombination, causing oligospermia and a decreased ovarian reserve†. Biol Reprod 2020; 101:347-359. [PMID: 31074776 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioz089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2019] [Revised: 04/29/2019] [Accepted: 05/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
A major challenge in medical genetics is to characterize variants of unknown significance (VUS). Doing so would help delineate underlying causes of disease and the design of customized treatments. Infertility has presented an especially difficult challenge with respect to not only determining if a given patient has a genetic basis, but also to identify the causative genetic factor(s). Though genome sequencing can identify candidate variants, in silico predictions of causation are not always sufficiently reliable so as to be actionable. Thus, experimental validation is crucial. Here, we describe the phenotype of mice containing a non-synonymous (proline-to-threonine at position 306) change in Spo11, corresponding to human SNP rs185545661. SPO11 is a topoisomerase-like protein that is essential for meiosis because it induces DNA double stranded breaks (DSBs) that stimulate pairing and recombination of homologous chromosomes. Although both male and female Spo11P306T/P306T mice were fertile, they had reduced sperm and oocytes, respectively. Spermatocyte chromosomes exhibited synapsis defects (especially between the X and Y chromosomes), elevated apoptotic cells, persistent markers of DSBs, and most importantly, fewer Type 1 crossovers that causes some chromosomes to have none. Spo11P306T/- mice were sterile and made fewer meiotic DSBs than Spo11+/- animals, suggesting that the Spo11P306T allele is a hypomorph and likely is delayed in making sufficient DSBs in a timely fashion. If the consequences are recapitulated in humans, it would predict phenotypes of premature ovarian failure, reduced sperm counts, and possible increased number of aneuploid gametes. These results emphasize the importance of deep phenotyping in order to accurately assess the impact of VUSs in reproduction genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tina N Tran
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
| | - John C Schimenti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853
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11
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Veitia RA. Primary ovarian insufficiency, meiosis and DNA repair. Biomed J 2020; 43:115-123. [PMID: 32381463 PMCID: PMC7283561 DOI: 10.1016/j.bj.2020.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Revised: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is a major cause of female infertility. It is a heterogeneous disease that affects about 1% of women under 40 years of age. POI may be due to abnormal follicle stock formation, increased follicular atresia, impaired recruitment of dominant follicles, blocked follicular maturation or rapid depletion of the follicular stock. It remains idiopathic in most cases but the existence of familial cases shows that it can have a genetic origin. Next generation sequencing (NGS) strategies have allowed the identification of new genes involved in the etiology of POI. Here, I briefly describe some studies demonstrating that pathogenic variants in ‘DNA repair and meiotic genes’ underlie POI. Some of the examples show the power of the combination of classical genetics and NGS in the discovery of novel ‘POI genes’.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reiner A Veitia
- Paris-Saclay University, Institute for Biology Francois Jacob, Atomic Energy Commissariat, Fontenay aux Roses, France; University of Paris, National Center for Scienftic Research (CNRS), Jacques Monod Institute, Paris, France.
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