1
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Song Y, Guo J, Zhou Y, Wei X, Li J, Zhang G, Wang H. A loss-of-function variant in ZCWPW1 causes human male infertility with sperm head defect and high DNA fragmentation. Reprod Health 2024; 21:18. [PMID: 38310235 PMCID: PMC10837985 DOI: 10.1186/s12978-024-01746-9] [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: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Male infertility is a global health issue. The more causative genes related to human male infertility should be further explored. The essential role of Zcwpw1 in male mouse fertility has been established and the role of ZCWPW1 in human reproduction needs further investigation to verify. METHODS An infertile man with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia phenotype and his parents were recruited from West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University. A total of 200 healthy Han Chinese volunteers without any evidence of infertility were recruited as normal controls, while an additional 150 infertile individuals were included to assess the prevalence of ZCWPW1 variants in a sporadic male sterile population. The causative gene variant was identified by Whole-exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing. The phenotype of the oligoasthenoteratozoospermia was determined by Papanicolaou staining, immunofluorescence staining and electron microscope. In-vitro experiments, western blot and in-silicon analysis were applied to assess the pathogenicity of the identified variant. Additionally, we examined the influence of the variant on the DNA fragmentation and DNA repair capability by Sperm Chromatin Dispersion and Neutral Comet Assay. RESULTS The proband exhibits a phenotype of oligoasthenoteratozoospermia, his spermatozoa show head defects by semen examination, Papanicolaou staining and electron microscope assays. Whole-exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing found the proband carries a homozygous ZCWPW1 variant (c.1064C > T, p. P355L). Immunofluorescence analysis shows a significant decrease in ZCWPW1 expression in the proband's sperm. By exogenous expression with ZCWPW1 mutant plasmid in vitro, the obvious declined expression of ZCWPW1 with the mutation is validated in HEK293T. After being treated by hydroxyurea, MUT-ZCWPW1 transfected cells and empty vector transfected cells have a higher level of γ-H2AX, increased tail DNA and reduced H3K9ac level than WT-ZCWPW1 transfected cells. Furthermore, the Sperm Chromatin Dispersion assay revealed the proband's spermatozoa have high DNA fragmentation. CONCLUSIONS It is the first report that a novel homozygous missense mutation in ZCWPW1 caused human male infertility with sperm head defects and high DNA fragmentation. This finding enriches the gene variant spectrum and etiology of oligoasthenoteratozoospermia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuelin Song
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of the Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Juncen Guo
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of the Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- SCU-CUHK Joint Laboratory for Reproductive Medicine, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Yanling Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of the Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- SCU-CUHK Joint Laboratory for Reproductive Medicine, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Xingjian Wei
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, China
| | - Jianlan Li
- Child Healthcare Department, Sichuan Provincial Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Chengdu, 610000, China
- Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Guohui Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Sichuan Provincial Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Chengdu, 610000, China.
| | - Hongjing Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of the Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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2
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Lv C, Xiong M, Guo S, Gui Y, Liu X, Wang X, Wu Y, Feng S, Zhang J, Zhang Y, Liu Y, Qin W, Yuan S. WDFY1, a WD40 repeat protein, is not essential for spermatogenesis and male fertility in mice. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2022; 596:71-75. [PMID: 35121371 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2022.01.084] [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: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The mouse WD repeat and FYVE domain containing 1 (Wdfy1) gene is located in chromosome 1qC4 and spans over 73.7 kilobases. It encodes a protein of 410-amino acid protein that shares 97.8% amino acid sequence identity with the human WDFY1 protein. However, the expression pattern of WDFY1 in reproductive organs and its function in male fertility remain unknown. In this study, we generated transgenic mice expressing FLAG-Wdfy1-mCherry cDNA driven by the Wdfy1 promoter to clarify the expression of WDFY1. The results showed that WDFY1 is highly expressed in mouse testes and located in the cytoplasm of late pachytene spermatocytes to elongated spermatids. Interestingly, the global Wdfy1 knockout (KO) male mice displayed normal growth, development, and fertility. Further histological analysis of Wdfy1 knockout mouse testes revealed that all spermatogenic cells are present in Wdfy1 KO seminiferous tubules. Together, our data demonstrate that WDFY1 is dispensable for mouse spermatogenesis and male fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunyu Lv
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory for Neuronal Structural Biology, Biomedical Research Institute, Shenzhen Peking University-The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center, Shenzhen, 518036, China
| | - Mengneng Xiong
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Shuangshuang Guo
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Yiqian Gui
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Xiaohua Liu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Guangdong Provincial Reproductive Science Institute (Guangdong Provincial Fertility Hospital), Guangzhou, 510600, China
| | - Xiaoli Wang
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Yanqing Wu
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Shenglei Feng
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Jin Zhang
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Yu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Frontier Science Center for Immunology and Metabolism, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Weibing Qin
- NHC Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Guangdong Provincial Reproductive Science Institute (Guangdong Provincial Fertility Hospital), Guangzhou, 510600, China.
| | - Shuiqiao Yuan
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China; Shenzhen Huazhong University of Science and Technology Research Institute, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518057, China.
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3
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Omolaoye TS, Hachim MY, du Plessis SS. Using publicly available transcriptomic data to identify mechanistic and diagnostic biomarkers in azoospermia and overall male infertility. Sci Rep 2022; 12:2584. [PMID: 35173218 PMCID: PMC8850557 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-06476-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Azoospermia, which is the absence of spermatozoa in an ejaculate occurring due to defects in sperm production, or the obstruction of the reproductive tract, affects about 1% of all men and is prevalent in up to 10–15% of infertile males. Conventional semen analysis remains the gold standard for diagnosing and treating male infertility; however, advances in molecular biology and bioinformatics now highlight the insufficiency thereof. Hence, the need to widen the scope of investigating the aetiology of male infertility stands pertinent. The current study aimed to identify common differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that might serve as potential biomarkers for non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) and overall male infertility. DEGs across different datasets of transcriptomic profiling of testis from human patients with different causes of infertility/ impaired spermatogenesis and/or azoospermia were explored using the gene expression omnibus (GEO) database. Following the search using the GEOquery, 30 datasets were available, with 5 meeting the inclusion criteria. The DEGs for datasets were identified using limma R packages through the GEO2R tool. The annotated genes of the probes in each dataset were intersected with DEGs from all other datasets. Enriched Ontology Clustering for the identified genes was performed using Metascape to explore the possible connection or interaction between the genes. Twenty-five DEGs were shared between most of the datasets, which might indicate their role in the pathogenesis of male infertility. Of the 25 DEGs, eight genes (THEG, SPATA20, ROPN1L, GSTF1, TSSK1B, CABS1, ADAD1, RIMBP3) are either involved in the overall spermatogenic processes or at specific phases of spermatogenesis. We hypothesize that alteration in the expression of these genes leads to impaired spermatogenesis and, ultimately, male infertility. Thus, these genes can be used as potential biomarkers for the early detection of NOA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Temidayo S Omolaoye
- Department of Basic Sciences, College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, UAE
| | - Mahmood Yaseen Hachim
- Department of Basic Sciences, College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, UAE.
| | - Stefan S du Plessis
- Department of Basic Sciences, College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, UAE.,Division of Medical Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg, South Africa
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4
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Yogo K. Molecular basis of the morphogenesis of sperm head and tail in mice. Reprod Med Biol 2022; 21:e12466. [PMID: 35619659 PMCID: PMC9126569 DOI: 10.1002/rmb2.12466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The spermatozoon has a complex molecular apparatus necessary for fertilization in its head and flagellum. Recently, numerous genes that are needed to construct the molecular apparatus of spermatozoa have been identified through the analysis of genetically modified mice. Methods Based on the literature information, the molecular basis of the morphogenesis of sperm heads and flagella in mice was summarized. Main findings (Results) The molecular mechanisms of vesicular trafficking and intraflagellar transport in acrosome and flagellum formation were listed. With the development of cryo‐electron tomography and mass spectrometry techniques, the details of the axonemal structure are becoming clearer. The fine structure and the proteins needed to form the central apparatus, outer and inner dynein arms, nexin‐dynein regulatory complex, and radial spokes were described. The important components of the formation of the mitochondrial sheath, fibrous sheath, outer dense fiber, and the annulus were also described. The similarities and differences between sperm flagella and Chlamydomonas flagella/somatic cell cilia were also discussed. Conclusion The molecular mechanism of formation of the sperm head and flagellum has been clarified using the mouse as a model. These studies will help to better understand the diversity of sperm morphology and the causes of male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiichiro Yogo
- Department of Applied Life Sciences Faculty of Agriculture Shizuoka University Shizuoka Japan
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5
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Azhar M, Altaf S, Uddin I, Cheng J, Wu L, Tong X, Qin W, Bao J. Towards Post-Meiotic Sperm Production: Genetic Insight into Human Infertility from Mouse Models. Int J Biol Sci 2021; 17:2487-2503. [PMID: 34326689 PMCID: PMC8315030 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.60384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Declined quality and quantity of sperm is currently the major cause of patients suffering from infertility. Male germ cell development is spatiotemporally regulated throughout the whole developmental process. While it has been known that exogenous factors, such as environmental exposure, diet and lifestyle, et al, play causative roles in male infertility, recent progress has revealed abundant genetic mutations tightly associated with defective male germline development. In mammals, male germ cells undergo dramatic morphological change (i.e., nuclear condensation) and chromatin remodeling during post-meiotic haploid germline development, a process termed spermiogenesis; However, the molecular machinery players and functional mechanisms have yet to be identified. To date, accumulated evidence suggests that disruption in any step of haploid germline development is likely manifested as fertility issues with low sperm count, poor sperm motility, aberrant sperm morphology or combined. With the continually declined cost of next-generation sequencing and recent progress of CRISPR/Cas9 technology, growing studies have revealed a vast number of disease-causing genetic variants associated with spermiogenic defects in both mice and humans, along with mechanistic insights partially attained and validated through genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs). In this review, we mainly summarize genes that are functional at post-meiotic stage. Identification and characterization of deleterious genetic variants should aid in our understanding of germline development, and thereby further improve the diagnosis and treatment of male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Azhar
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, University of Science and Technology of China, Anhui, China
| | - Saba Altaf
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, University of Science and Technology of China, Anhui, China
| | - Islam Uddin
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, University of Science and Technology of China, Anhui, China
| | - Jinbao Cheng
- The 901th hospital of Joint logistics support Force of PLA, Anhui, China
| | - Limin Wu
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, University of Science and Technology of China, Anhui, China
| | - Xianhong Tong
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, University of Science and Technology of China, Anhui, China
| | - Weibing Qin
- NHC Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Family Planning Research Institute of Guangdong Province, China
| | - Jianqiang Bao
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, University of Science and Technology of China, Anhui, China
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6
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Liu Q, Guo Q, Guo W, Song S, Wang N, Chen X, Sun A, Yan L, Qiao J. Loss of CEP70 function affects acrosome biogenesis and flagella formation during spermiogenesis. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:478. [PMID: 33980814 PMCID: PMC8116340 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-03755-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The spermatogenesis process is complex and delicate, and any error in a step may cause spermatogenesis arrest and even male infertility. According to our previous transcriptomic data, CEP70 is highly expressed throughout various stages of human spermatogenesis, especially during the meiosis and deformation stages. CEP70 is present in sperm tails and that it exists in centrosomes as revealed by human centrosome proteomics. However, the specific mechanism of this protein in spermatogenesis is still unknown. In this study, we found a heterozygous site of the same mutation on CEP70 through mutation screening of patients with clinical azoospermia. To further verify, we deleted CEP70 in mice and found that it caused abnormal spermatogenesis, leading to male sterility. We found that the knockout of CEP70 did not affect the prophase of meiosis I, but led to male germ-cell apoptosis and abnormal spermiogenesis. By transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis, we found that the deletion of CEP70 resulted in the abnormal formation of flagella and acrosomes during spermiogenesis. Tandem mass tag (TMT)-labeled quantitative proteomic analysis revealed that the absence of CEP70 led to a significant decrease in the proteins associated with the formation of the flagella, head, and acrosome of sperm, and the microtubule cytoskeleton. Taken together, our results show that CEP70 is essential for acrosome biogenesis and flagella formation during spermiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Liu
- grid.411642.40000 0004 0605 3760Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China ,grid.411642.40000 0004 0605 3760National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology (Peking University Third Hospital), Beijing, China ,grid.419897.a0000 0004 0369 313XKey Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, China ,grid.411642.40000 0004 0605 3760Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Qianying Guo
- grid.411642.40000 0004 0605 3760Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China ,grid.411642.40000 0004 0605 3760National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology (Peking University Third Hospital), Beijing, China ,grid.419897.a0000 0004 0369 313XKey Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, China ,grid.411642.40000 0004 0605 3760Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Guo
- grid.411642.40000 0004 0605 3760Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China ,grid.411642.40000 0004 0605 3760National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology (Peking University Third Hospital), Beijing, China ,grid.419897.a0000 0004 0369 313XKey Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, China ,grid.411642.40000 0004 0605 3760Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Shi Song
- grid.411642.40000 0004 0605 3760Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China ,grid.411642.40000 0004 0605 3760National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology (Peking University Third Hospital), Beijing, China ,grid.419897.a0000 0004 0369 313XKey Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, China ,grid.411642.40000 0004 0605 3760Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Nan Wang
- grid.411642.40000 0004 0605 3760Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China ,grid.411642.40000 0004 0605 3760National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology (Peking University Third Hospital), Beijing, China ,grid.419897.a0000 0004 0369 313XKey Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, China ,grid.411642.40000 0004 0605 3760Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Xi Chen
- grid.411642.40000 0004 0605 3760Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China ,grid.411642.40000 0004 0605 3760National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology (Peking University Third Hospital), Beijing, China ,grid.419897.a0000 0004 0369 313XKey Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, China ,grid.411642.40000 0004 0605 3760Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Andi Sun
- grid.411642.40000 0004 0605 3760Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China ,grid.411642.40000 0004 0605 3760National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology (Peking University Third Hospital), Beijing, China ,grid.419897.a0000 0004 0369 313XKey Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, China ,grid.411642.40000 0004 0605 3760Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Liying Yan
- grid.411642.40000 0004 0605 3760Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China ,grid.411642.40000 0004 0605 3760National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology (Peking University Third Hospital), Beijing, China ,grid.419897.a0000 0004 0369 313XKey Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, China ,grid.411642.40000 0004 0605 3760Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Qiao
- grid.411642.40000 0004 0605 3760Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China ,grid.411642.40000 0004 0605 3760National Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology (Peking University Third Hospital), Beijing, China ,grid.419897.a0000 0004 0369 313XKey Laboratory of Assisted Reproduction (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, China ,grid.411642.40000 0004 0605 3760Beijing Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology and Assisted Reproductive Technology, Beijing, China ,grid.506261.60000 0001 0706 7839Research Units of Comprehensive Diagnosis and Treatment of Oocyte Maturation Arrest, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
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7
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Wang L, Yan M, Wu S, Mao B, Wong CKC, Ge R, Sun F, Cheng CY. Microtubule Cytoskeleton and Spermatogenesis-Lesson From Studies of Toxicant Models. Toxicol Sci 2020; 177:305-315. [PMID: 32647867 PMCID: PMC7548287 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfaa109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies have shown that mammalian testes, in particular the Sertoli cells, are highly susceptible to exposure of environmental toxicants, such as cadmium, perfluorooctanesulfonate, phthalates, 2,5-hexanedione and bisphenol A. However, important studies conducted by reproductive toxicologists and/or biologists in the past have been treated as toxicology reports per se. Yet, many of these studies provided important mechanistic insights on the toxicant-induced testis injury and reproductive dysfunction, relevant to the biology of the testis and spermatogenesis. Furthermore, recent studies have shown that findings obtained from toxicant models are exceedingly helpful tools to unravel the biology of testis function in particular spermatogenesis, including specific cellular events associated with spermatid transport to support spermiogenesis and spermiation. In this review, we critically evaluate some recent data, focusing primarily on the molecular structure and role of microtubules in cellular function, illustrating the importance of toxicant models to unravel the biology of microtubule cytoskeleton in supporting spermatogenesis, well beyond information on toxicology. These findings have opened up some potential areas of research which should be carefully evaluated in the years to come.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingling Wang
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York 10065
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China
| | - Ming Yan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China
| | - Siwen Wu
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York 10065
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China
| | - Baiping Mao
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York 10065
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China
| | - Chris K C Wong
- Department of Biology, Croucher Institute for Environmental Sciences, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Renshan Ge
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China
| | - Fei Sun
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China
| | - C Yan Cheng
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York 10065
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China
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8
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Mistry BV, Alanazi M, Fitwi H, Al-Harazi O, Rajab M, Altorbag A, Almohanna F, Colak D, Assiri AM. Expression profiling of WD40 family genes including DDB1- and CUL4- associated factor (DCAF) genes in mice and human suggests important regulatory roles in testicular development and spermatogenesis. BMC Genomics 2020; 21:602. [PMID: 32867693 PMCID: PMC7457511 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-020-07016-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The WD40-repeat containing proteins, including DDB1-CUL4-associated factors (DCAFs), are abundant and conserved proteins that play important roles in different cellular processes including spermatogenesis. DCAFs are subset of WD40 family proteins that contain WDxR motif and have been proposed to function as substrate receptor for Cullin4-RING-based E3 ubiquitin ligase complexes to recruit diverse proteins for ubiquitination, a vital process in spermatogenesis. Large number of WD40 genes has been identified in different species including mouse and human. However, a systematic expression profiling of WD40 genes in different tissues of mouse and human has not been investigated. We hypothesize that large number of WD40 genes may express highly or specifically in the testis, where their expression is uniquely regulated during testis development and spermatogenesis. Therefore, the objective of this study is to mine and characterize expression patterns of WD40 genes in different tissues of mouse and human with particular emphasis on DCAF genes expressions during mouse testicular development. RESULTS Publically available RNA sequencing (RNA seq) data mining identified 347 and 349 WD40 genes in mouse and human, respectively. Hierarchical clustering and heat map analyses of RNA seq datasets revealed differential expression patterns of WD40 genes with around 60-73% of the genes were highly or specifically expressed in testis. Similarly, around 74-83% of DCAF genes were predominantly or specifically expressed in testis. Moreover, WD40 genes showed distinct expression patterns during embryonic and postnatal testis development in mice. Finally, different germ cell populations of testis showed specific patterns of WD40 genes expression. Predicted gene ontology analyses revealed more than 80% of these proteins are implicated in cellular, metabolic, biological regulation and cell localization processes. CONCLUSIONS We have identified large number of WD40 family genes that are highly or specifically expressed in the testes of mouse and human. Moreover, WD40 genes have distinct expression patterns during embryonic and postnatal development of the testis in mice. Further, different germ cell populations within the testis showed specific patterns of WD40 genes expression. These results provide foundation for further research towards understanding the functional genomics and molecular mechanisms of mammalian testis development and spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhavesh V Mistry
- Department of Comparative Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Maha Alanazi
- Department of Comparative Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hanae Fitwi
- Department of Comparative Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Olfat Al-Harazi
- Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Scientific Computing Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamed Rajab
- Department of Comparative Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdullah Altorbag
- Department of Comparative Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Falah Almohanna
- Department of Comparative Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Dilek Colak
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdullah M Assiri
- Department of Comparative Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. .,Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Scientific Computing Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. .,Institute for Research and Medical Consultations, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
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9
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Sha YW, Wang X, Su ZY, Wang C, Ji ZY, Mei LB, Zhang L, Deng BB, Huang XJ, Yan W, Chen J, Li P, Cui YQ, Qu QL, Yin C, He XM. TDRD6 is associated with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia by sequencing the patient from a consanguineous family. Gene 2018; 659:84-88. [PMID: 29551503 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2018.03.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2017] [Revised: 03/06/2018] [Accepted: 03/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT) is characterized as low sperm count, decreased sperm motility and structural abnormalities of the sperm head in the same patient. However, very few studies reported the genetic alterations associated with OAT. Here we report a 38-year-old patient with OAT from a consanguineous family, with 2-6 million/mL sperm density, 2.1-3.8% normal sperm morphology and immotile sperm. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) identified homozygous variant c.1259A>G:p.Y420C in the TDRD6 gene. TDRD6 is a testis-specific expressed protein that was localized to the chromatoid bodies in germ cells and played an important role in the nonsense-mediated decay pathway. This rare variant co-segregated with the OAT phenotype in this family. Bioinformatic analysis also suggested the variant a pathogenic mutation. Two intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles were carried out in the patient's wife, but she did not become pregnant after embryo transfer. So the mutations in TDRD6 may be associated with human male infertility and early embryonic lethality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Wei Sha
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Xiamen Maternity and Child Care Hospital, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China
| | - Xiong Wang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, Shandong 264000, China
| | - Zhi-Ying Su
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Xiamen Maternity and Child Care Hospital, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China
| | - Chengrong Wang
- Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Chaoyang, Beijing 100026, China
| | - Zhi-Yong Ji
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Xiamen Maternity and Child Care Hospital, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China
| | - Li-Bin Mei
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Xiamen Maternity and Child Care Hospital, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China
| | - Ling Zhang
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Xiamen Maternity and Child Care Hospital, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China
| | - Bing-Bing Deng
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Xiamen Maternity and Child Care Hospital, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China
| | - Xian-Jing Huang
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Xiamen Maternity and Child Care Hospital, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China
| | - Wei Yan
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, Shandong 264000, China
| | - Jie Chen
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, Shandong 264000, China
| | - Ping Li
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Xiamen Maternity and Child Care Hospital, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China
| | - Yuan-Qing Cui
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, Shandong 264000, China
| | - Qing-Lan Qu
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, Shandong 264000, China.
| | - Chenghong Yin
- Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Chaoyang, Beijing 100026, China.
| | - Xue-Mei He
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Xiamen Maternity and Child Care Hospital, Xiamen, Fujian 361005, China.
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10
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The control of male fertility by spermatid-specific factors: searching for contraceptive targets from spermatozoon's head to tail. Cell Death Dis 2016; 7:e2472. [PMID: 27831554 PMCID: PMC5260884 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2016.344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2016] [Revised: 09/18/2016] [Accepted: 09/26/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Male infertility due to abnormal spermatozoa has been reported in both animals and humans, but its pathogenic causes, including genetic abnormalities, remain largely unknown. On the other hand, contraceptive options for men are limited, and a specific, reversible and safe method of male contraception has been a long-standing quest in medicine. Some progress has recently been made in exploring the effects of spermatid-specifical genetic factors in controlling male fertility. A comprehensive search of PubMed for articles and reviews published in English before July 2016 was carried out using the search terms 'spermiogenesis failure', 'globozoospermia', 'spermatid-specific', 'acrosome', 'infertile', 'manchette', 'sperm connecting piece', 'sperm annulus', 'sperm ADAMs', 'flagellar abnormalities', 'sperm motility loss', 'sperm ion exchanger' and 'contraceptive targets'. Importantly, we have opted to focus on articles regarding spermatid-specific factors. Genetic studies to define the structure and physiology of sperm have shown that spermatozoa appear to be one of the most promising contraceptive targets. Here we summarize how these spermatid-specific factors regulate spermiogenesis and categorize them according to their localization and function from spermatid head to tail (e.g., acrosome, manchette, head-tail conjunction, annulus, principal piece of tail). In addition, we emphatically introduce small-molecule contraceptives, such as BRDT and PPP3CC/PPP3R2, which are currently being developed to target spermatogenic-specific proteins. We suggest that blocking the differentiation of haploid germ cells, which rarely affects early spermatogenic cell types and the testicular microenvironment, is a better choice than spermatogenic-specific proteins. The studies described here provide valuable information regarding the genetic and molecular defects causing male mouse infertility to improve our understanding of the importance of spermatid-specific factors in controlling fertility. Although a male contraceptive 'pill' is still many years away, research into the production of new small-molecule contraceptives targeting spermatid-specific proteins is the right avenue.
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11
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Expression of katanin p80 in human spermatogenesis. Fertil Steril 2016; 106:1683-1690.e1. [PMID: 27717557 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2016.08.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2016] [Revised: 08/23/2016] [Accepted: 08/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To define the stage-by-stage expression of KATNB1 during human spermatogenesis. DESIGN Gene expression analysis, histologic and immunohistochemical evaluation. SETTING University research laboratories and andrological clinic. PATIENT(S) Eighty human testicular biopsy samples: 43 showing normal spermatogenesis, 9 with maturation arrest at level of spermatocytes, 8 with maturation arrest at level of spermatogonia, and 20 with a Sertoli cell only syndrome. INTERVENTION(S) None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Evaluation of katanin p80 expression in normal as well as impaired spermatogenesis on mRNA (RT-PCR, RT-qPCR, and in situ hybridization) and protein level (immunohistochemistry/immunofluorescence). RESULT(S) KATNB1 messenger RNA is exclusively expressed in germ cells, and quantitatively reduced in maturation arrests at the level of spermatogonia. The KATNB1 protein was detected in type B spermatogonia entering meiosis and in the Golgi complex of pachytene spermatocytes. Immediately before the first meiotic division, it is colocalized with the cleaving centriole. It was also detected in early round spermatids in the dictyosome. CONCLUSION(S) The expression and localization of KATNB1 support a role in spindle formation. The localization of KATNB1 in early round spermatids suggests an involvement in the formation of microtubule-based structures during spermiogenesis (manchette and flagellum). These data are consistent with the demonstrated role of KATNB1 in mouse meiosis, nuclear shaping, and flagellum formation of sperm and suggest the strong conservation of function even between distantly related species.
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Li N, Mruk DD, Lee WM, Wong CKC, Cheng CY. Is toxicant-induced Sertoli cell injury in vitro a useful model to study molecular mechanisms in spermatogenesis? Semin Cell Dev Biol 2016; 59:141-156. [PMID: 26779951 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2016.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2015] [Accepted: 01/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Sertoli cells isolated from rodents or humans and cultured in vitro are known to establish a functional tight junction (TJ)-permeability barrier that mimics the blood-testis barrier (BTB) in vivo. This model has been widely used by investigators to study the biology of the TJ and the BTB. Studies have shown that environmental toxicants (e.g., perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), bisphenol A (BPA) and cadmium) that exert their disruptive effects to induce Sertoli cell injury using this in vitro model are reproducible in studies in vivo. Thus, this in vitro system provides a convenient approach to probe the molecular mechanism(s) underlying toxicant-induced testis injury but also to provide new insights in understanding spermatogenesis, such as the biology of cell adhesion, BTB restructuring that supports preleptotene spermatocyte transport, and others. Herein, we provide a brief and critical review based on studies using this in vitro model of Sertoli cell cultures using primary cells isolated from rodent testes vs. humans to monitor environmental toxicant-mediated Sertoli cell injury. In short, recent findings have shown that environmental toxicants exert their effects on Sertoli cells to induce testis injury through their action on Sertoli cell actin- and/or microtubule-based cytoskeleton. These effects are mediated via their disruptive effects on actin- and/or microtubule-binding proteins. Sertoli cells also utilize differential spatiotemporal expression of these actin binding proteins to confer plasticity to the BTB to regulate germ cell transport across the BTB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Li
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, 1230 York Ave, New York, NY 10065, United States
| | - Dolores D Mruk
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, 1230 York Ave, New York, NY 10065, United States
| | - Will M Lee
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chris K C Wong
- Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - C Yan Cheng
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, 1230 York Ave, New York, NY 10065, United States.
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13
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Optimizing a Male Reproductive Aging Mouse Model by D-Galactose Injection. Int J Mol Sci 2016; 17:ijms17010098. [PMID: 26771610 PMCID: PMC4730340 DOI: 10.3390/ijms17010098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2015] [Revised: 12/16/2015] [Accepted: 12/28/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The d-galactose (d-gal)-injected animal model, which is typically established by administering consecutive subcutaneous d-gal injections to animals for approximately six or eight weeks, has been frequently used for aging research. In addition, this animal model has been demonstrated to accelerate aging in the brain, kidneys, liver and blood cells. However, studies on aging in male reproductive organs that have used this animal model remain few. Therefore, the current study aimed to optimize a model of male reproductive aging by administering d-gal injections to male mice and to determine the possible mechanism expediting senescence processes during spermatogenesis. In this study, C57Bl/6 mice were randomized into five groups (each containing 8–10 mice according to the daily intraperitoneal injection of vehicle control or 100 or 200 mg/kg dosages of d-gal for a period of six or eight weeks). First, mice subjected to d-gal injections for six or eight weeks demonstrated considerably decreased superoxide dismutase activity in the serum and testis lysates compared to those in the control group. The lipid peroxidation in testis also increased in the d-gal-injected groups. Furthermore, the d-gal-injected groups exhibited a decreased ratio of testis weight/body weight and sperm count compared to the control group. The percentages of both immotile sperm and abnormal sperm increased considerably in the d-gal-injected groups compared to those of the control group. To determine the genes influenced by the d-gal injection during murine spermatogenesis, a c-DNA microarray was conducted to compare testicular RNA samples between the treated groups and the control group. The d-gal-injected groups exhibited RNA transcripts of nine spermatogenesis-related genes (Cycl2, Hk1, Pltp, Utp3, Cabyr, Zpbp2, Speer2, Csnka2ip and Katnb1) that were up- or down-regulated by at least two-fold compared to the control group. Several of these genes are critical for forming sperm-head morphologies or maintaining nuclear integration (e.g., cylicin, basic protein of sperm head cytoskeleton 2 (Cylc2), casein kinase 2, alpha prime interacting protein (Csnka2ip) and katanin p80 (WD40-containing) subunit B1 (Katnb1)). These results indicate that d-gal-injected mice are suitable for investigating male reproductive aging.
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14
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Li N, Tang EI, Cheng CY. Regulation of blood-testis barrier by actin binding proteins and protein kinases. Reproduction 2015; 151:R29-41. [PMID: 26628556 DOI: 10.1530/rep-15-0463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2015] [Accepted: 12/01/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The blood-testis barrier (BTB) is an important ultrastructure in the testis, since the onset of meiosis and spermiogenesis coincides with the establishment of a functional barrier in rodents and humans. It is also noted that a delay in the assembly of a functional BTB following treatment of neonatal rats with drugs such as diethylstilbestrol or adjudin also delays the first wave of spermiation. While the BTB is one of the tightest blood-tissue barriers, it undergoes extensive remodeling, in particular, at stage VIII of the epithelial cycle to facilitate the transport of preleptotene spermatocytes connected in clones across the immunological barrier. Without this timely transport of preleptotene spermatocytes derived from type B spermatogonia, meiosis will be arrested, causing aspermatogenesis. Yet the biology and regulation of the BTB remains largely unexplored since the morphological studies in the 1970s. Recent studies, however, have shed new light on the biology of the BTB. Herein, we critically evaluate some of these findings, illustrating that the Sertoli cell BTB is regulated by actin-binding proteins (ABPs), likely supported by non-receptor protein kinases, to modulate the organization of actin microfilament bundles at the site. Furthermore, microtubule-based cytoskeleton is also working in concert with the actin-based cytoskeleton to confer BTB dynamics. This timely review provides an update on the unique biology and regulation of the BTB based on the latest findings in the field, focusing on the role of ABPs and non-receptor protein kinases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Li
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive ResearchCenter for Biomedical Research, Population Council, 1230 York Avenue, New York, New York 10065, USA
| | - Elizabeth I Tang
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive ResearchCenter for Biomedical Research, Population Council, 1230 York Avenue, New York, New York 10065, USA
| | - C Yan Cheng
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive ResearchCenter for Biomedical Research, Population Council, 1230 York Avenue, New York, New York 10065, USA
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