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Burgoyne T, Fassad MR, Schultz R, Elenius V, Lim JSY, Freke G, Rai R, Mohammed MA, Mitchison HM, Sironen AI. HYDIN variants cause primary ciliary dyskinesia in the Finnish population. Pediatr Pulmonol 2024. [PMID: 39291810 DOI: 10.1002/ppul.27267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 08/15/2024] [Accepted: 09/03/2024] [Indexed: 09/19/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by chronic respiratory tract infections and in some cases laterality defects and infertility. The symptoms of PCD are caused by malfunction of motile cilia, hair-like organelles protruding out of the cell. Thus far, disease causing variants in over 50 genes have been identified and these variants explain around 70% of all known cases. Population specific genetics underlying PCD has been reported highlighting the importance of characterizing gene variants in different populations for development of gene-based diagnostics and management. METHODS Whole exome sequencing was used to identify disease causing variants in Finnish PCD cohort. The effect of the identified HYDIN variants on cilia structure and function was confirmed by high-speed video analysis, immunofluorescence and electron tomography. RESULTS In this study, we identified three Finnish PCD patients carrying homozygous loss-of-function variants and one patient with compound heterozygous variants within HYDIN. The functional studies showed defects in the axonemal central pair complex. All patients had clinical PCD symptoms including chronic wet cough and recurrent airway infections, associated with mostly static airway cilia. CONCLUSION Our results are consistent with the previously identified important role of HYDIN in the axonemal central pair complex and improve specific diagnostics of PCD in different national populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Burgoyne
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
- PCD Diagnostic Team and Department of Paediatric Respiratory Medicine, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, UK
| | - Mahmoud R Fassad
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
- Human Genetics Department, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Rüdiger Schultz
- Allergy Centre, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland
| | - Varpu Elenius
- Department of Pediatrics, Turku University Hospital, University of Turku, Turku, Finland
| | - Jacqueline S Y Lim
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Grace Freke
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Ranjit Rai
- PCD Diagnostic Team and Department of Paediatric Respiratory Medicine, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, UK
| | - Mai A Mohammed
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Hannah M Mitchison
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Anu I Sironen
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Jokioinen, Finland
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Miyata H, Shimada K, Kaneda Y, Ikawa M. Development of functional spermatozoa in mammalian spermiogenesis. Development 2024; 151:dev202838. [PMID: 39036999 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202838] [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] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
Infertility is a global health problem affecting one in six couples, with 50% of cases attributed to male infertility. Spermatozoa are male gametes, specialized cells that can be divided into two parts: the head and the flagellum. The head contains a vesicle called the acrosome that undergoes exocytosis and the flagellum is a motility apparatus that propels the spermatozoa forward and can be divided into two components, axonemes and accessory structures. For spermatozoa to fertilize oocytes, the acrosome and flagellum must be formed correctly. In this Review, we describe comprehensively how functional spermatozoa develop in mammals during spermiogenesis, including the formation of acrosomes, axonemes and accessory structures by focusing on analyses of mouse models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haruhiko Miyata
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Keisuke Shimada
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Yuki Kaneda
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Masahito Ikawa
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
- Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
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3
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Lu W, Li Y, Meng L, Tan C, Nie H, Zhang Q, Song Y, Zhang H, Tan YQ, Tu C, Guo H, Wu L, Du J. Novel SPEF2 variants cause male infertility and likely primary ciliary dyskinesia. J Assist Reprod Genet 2024; 41:1485-1498. [PMID: 38568462 PMCID: PMC11224184 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-024-03106-9] [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: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aimed to identify the genetic causes of male infertility and primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD)/PCD-like phenotypes in three unrelated Han Chinese families. METHODS We conducted whole-exome sequencing of three patients with male infertility and PCD/PCD-like phenotypes from three unrelated Chinese families. Ultrastructural and immunostaining analyses of patient spermatozoa and respiratory cilia and in vitro analyses were performed to analyze the effects of SPEF2 variants. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) was administered to three affected patients. RESULTS We identified four novel SPEF2 variants, including one novel homozygous splicing site variant [NC_000005.10(NM_024867.4): c.4447 + 1G > A] of the SPEF2 gene in family 1, novel compound heterozygous nonsense variants [NC_000005.10(NM_024867.4): c.1339C > T (p.R447*) and NC_000005.10(NM_024867.4): c.1645G > T (p.E549*)] in family 2, and one novel homozygous missense variant [NC_000005.10(NM_024867.4): c.2524G > A (p.D842N)] in family 3. All the patients presented with male infertility and PCD/likely PCD. All variants were present at very low levels in public databases, predicted to be deleterious in silico prediction tools, and were further confirmed deleterious by in vitro analyses. Ultrastructural analyses of the spermatozoa of the patients revealed the absence of the central pair complex in the sperm flagella. Immunostaining of the spermatozoa and respiratory cilia of the patients validated the pathogenicity of the SPEF2 variants. All patients carrying SPEF2 variants underwent one ICSI cycle and delivered healthy infants. CONCLUSION Our study reported four novel pathogenic variants of SPEF2 in three male patients with infertility and PCD/PCD-like phenotypes, which not only extend the spectrum of SPEF2 mutations but also provide information for genetic counseling and treatment of such conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenqing Lu
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, NHC Key Laboratory of Human Stem Cell and Reproductive Engineering, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yong Li
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, NHC Key Laboratory of Human Stem Cell and Reproductive Engineering, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Lanlan Meng
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, NHC Key Laboratory of Human Stem Cell and Reproductive Engineering, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, China
| | - Chen Tan
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, China
| | - Hongchuan Nie
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, NHC Key Laboratory of Human Stem Cell and Reproductive Engineering, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, China
| | - Qianjun Zhang
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, NHC Key Laboratory of Human Stem Cell and Reproductive Engineering, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, China
| | - Yuying Song
- Changsha Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Changsha, China
| | - Huan Zhang
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, NHC Key Laboratory of Human Stem Cell and Reproductive Engineering, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, China
| | - Yue-Qiu Tan
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, NHC Key Laboratory of Human Stem Cell and Reproductive Engineering, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, China
| | - Chaofeng Tu
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, NHC Key Laboratory of Human Stem Cell and Reproductive Engineering, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, China
| | - Haichun Guo
- Changsha Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Changsha, China.
| | - Longxiang Wu
- Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
| | - Juan Du
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, NHC Key Laboratory of Human Stem Cell and Reproductive Engineering, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China.
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, China.
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Fakhro KA, Awwad J, Garibova S, Saraiva LR, Avella M. Conserved genes regulating human sex differentiation, gametogenesis and fertilization. J Transl Med 2024; 22:473. [PMID: 38764035 PMCID: PMC11103854 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05162-2] [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: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The study of the functional genome in mice and humans has been instrumental for describing the conserved molecular mechanisms regulating human reproductive biology, and for defining the etiologies of monogenic fertility disorders. Infertility is a reproductive disorder that includes various conditions affecting a couple's ability to achieve a healthy pregnancy. Recent advances in next-generation sequencing and CRISPR/Cas-mediated genome editing technologies have facilitated the identification and characterization of genes and mechanisms that, if affected, lead to infertility. We report established genes that regulate conserved functions in fundamental reproductive processes (e.g., sex determination, gametogenesis, and fertilization). We only cover genes the deletion of which yields comparable fertility phenotypes in both rodents and humans. In the case of newly-discovered genes, we report the studies demonstrating shared cellular and fertility phenotypes resulting from loss-of-function mutations in both species. Finally, we introduce new model systems for the study of human reproductive biology and highlight the importance of studying human consanguineous populations to discover novel monogenic causes of infertility. The rapid and continuous screening and identification of putative genetic defects coupled with an efficient functional characterization in animal models can reveal novel mechanisms of gene function in human reproductive tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalid A Fakhro
- Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
- Weill Cornell Medicine, Doha, Qatar
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Johnny Awwad
- Reproductive Medicine Unit, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
- Obstetrics & Gynecology, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
- Vincent Memorial Obstetrics & Gynecology Service, The Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Luis R Saraiva
- Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Matteo Avella
- Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar.
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar.
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
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Liang Z, Dai C, He F, Wang Y, Huang Y, Li H, Wu Y, Hu Y, Xu K. AKAP3-mediated type I PKA signaling is required for mouse sperm hyperactivation and fertility†. Biol Reprod 2024; 110:684-697. [PMID: 38145487 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioad180] [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: 07/15/2023] [Revised: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The protein kinase A (PKA) signaling pathway, which mediates protein phosphorylation, is important for sperm motility and male fertility. This process relies on A-kinase anchoring proteins that organize PKA and its signalosomes within specific subcellular compartments. Previously, it was found that the absence of A-kinase anchoring protein 3 (AKAP3) leads to multiple morphological abnormalities in mouse sperm. But how AKAP3 regulates sperm motility is yet to be elucidated. AKAP3 has two amphipathic domains, here named dual and RI, in its N-terminus. These domains are responsible for binding regulatory subunits I alpha (RIα) and II alpha (RIIα) of PKA and for RIα only, respectively. Here, we generated mutant mice lacking the dual and RI domains of AKAP3. It was found that the deletion of these domains caused male mouse infertile, accompanied by mild defects in the fibrous sheath of sperm tails. Additionally, the levels of serine/threonine phosphorylation of PKA substrates and tyrosine phosphorylation decreased in the mutant sperm, which exhibited a defect in hyperactivation under capacitation conditions. The protein levels of PKA subunits remained unchanged. But, interestingly, the regulatory subunit RIα was mis-localized from principal piece to midpiece of sperm tail, whereas this was not observed for RIIα. Further protein-protein interaction assays revealed a preference for AKAP3 to bind RIα over RIIα. Collectively, our findings suggest that AKAP3 is important for sperm hyperactivity by regulating type-I PKA signaling pathway mediated protein phosphorylation via its dual and RI domains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongkun Liang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, SunYat-Sen Memorial Hospital of SunYat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China
| | - Chaowei Dai
- Department of Neurology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Fenfen He
- Department of Neurology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Prenatal Diagnostic Center of Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China
| | - Yihua Huang
- Department of Neurology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Heying Li
- Analysis and Testing Center, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510535, China
| | - Yongming Wu
- Department of Neurology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yafang Hu
- Department of Neurology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Kaibiao Xu
- Department of Neurology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
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Parlak G, Aslan A, Turk G, Kuloglu T, Balgetir MK, Gok O, Beyaz S, Parlak AE, Cinkara SD. Activation of Nrf-2 Transcription Factor and Caspase Pathway with Royal Jelly Reduces Fluoride Induced Testicular Damage and Infertility in Rats. Reprod Sci 2023; 30:3103-3122. [PMID: 37171774 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-023-01265-1] [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: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
This study was carried out to investigate the protective properties of royal jelly on the testicular tissue of rats with testicular damage by giving fluoride. Sperm motility, epididymal sperm density and abnormal sperm ratios were examined and visualized with a light microscope. Expression levels of Caspase-3, Bcl-2, Nrf-2, NF-κB, COX-2, TNF-α and IL1-α proteins in testis tissue were determined by western blot technique. As a result of the study, MDA level, expression level of Bcl-2, NFҡB, COX-2, TNF-α and IL1-α proteins, abnormal sperm rates were found higher in Fluoride-50 and Fluoride100 groups compared to other groups. In addition GSH, Catalase enzyme levels, expression levels of Caspase-3 and Nrf-2 proteins were found to be higher in Fluoride + Royal Jelly groups compared to Fluoride-50 and Fluoride-100 groups. In addition, lower degeneration of testicular tissue was found in the histological evaluation in the Fluoride + Royal Jelly groups compared to the other groups. When the data are evaluated royal jelly provides effective protection against testicular damage. From this point of view, we hope that similar results will be obtained when royal jelly is tested on humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gozde Parlak
- Faculty of Science, Department of Biology-Molecular Biology and Genetics, Firat University, Elazig, Türkiye
| | - Abdullah Aslan
- Faculty of Science, Department of Biology-Molecular Biology and Genetics, Firat University, Elazig, Türkiye.
| | - Gaffari Turk
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Reproduction and Artificial Insemination, Firat University, Elazig, Türkiye
| | - Tuncay Kuloglu
- School of Medicine Department of Histology, Firat University, Elazig, Türkiye
| | | | - Ozlem Gok
- Faculty of Science, Department of Biology-Molecular Biology and Genetics, Firat University, Elazig, Türkiye
| | - Seda Beyaz
- Faculty of Science, Department of Biology-Molecular Biology and Genetics, Firat University, Elazig, Türkiye
| | - Akif Evren Parlak
- Department of Environmental Protection Technologies, Keban Vocational School, Firat University, Elazig, Türkiye
| | - Serap Dayan Cinkara
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Reproduction and Artificial Insemination, Firat University, Elazig, Türkiye
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Sha Y, Liu W, Li S, Osadchuk LV, Chen Y, Nie H, Gao S, Xie L, Qin W, Zhou H, Li L. Deficiency in AK9 causes asthenozoospermia and male infertility by destabilising sperm nucleotide homeostasis. EBioMedicine 2023; 96:104798. [PMID: 37713809 PMCID: PMC10507140 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104798] [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: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Asthenozoospermia is the primary cause of male infertility; however, its genetic aetiology remains poorly understood. Adenylate kinase 9 (AK9) is highly expressed in the testes of humans and mice and encodes a type of adenosine kinase that is functionally involved in cellular nucleotide homeostasis and energy metabolism. We aimed to assess whether AK9 is involved in asthenozoospermia. METHODS One-hundred-and-sixty-five Chinese men with idiopathic asthenozoospermia were recruited. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) and Sanger sequencing were performed for genetic analyses. Papanicolaou staining, Haematoxylin and eosin staining, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy were used to observe the sperm morphology and structure. Ak9-knockout mice were generated using CRISPR-Cas9. Sperm adenosine was detected by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Targeted sperm metabolomics was performed. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) was used to treat patients. FINDINGS We identified five patients harbouring bi-allelic AK9 mutations. Spermatozoa from men harbouring bi-allelic AK9 mutations have a decreased ability to sustain nucleotide homeostasis. Moreover, bi-allelic AK9 mutations inhibit glycolysis in sperm. Ak9-knockout male mice also presented similar phenotypes of asthenozoospermia. Interestingly, ICSI was effective in bi-allelic AK9 mutant patients in achieving good pregnancy outcomes. INTERPRETATION Defects in AK9 induce asthenozoospermia with defects in nucleotide homeostasis and energy metabolism. This sterile phenotype could be rescued by ICSI. FUNDING The National Natural Science Foundation of China (82071697), Medical Innovation Project of Fujian Province (2020-CXB-051), open project of the NHC Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics in Guangzhou (KF202004), Medical Research Foundation of Guangdong Province (A2021269), Guangdong Provincial Reproductive Science Institute Innovation Team grants (C-03), and Outstanding Young Talents Program of Capital Medical University (B2205).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanwei Sha
- Department of Andrology, Women and Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China; Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health Research, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China; State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Wensheng Liu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Guangdong Provincial Reproductive Science Institute (Guangdong Provincial Fertility Hospital), Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Shu Li
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health Research, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Ludmila V Osadchuk
- The Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Yongjie Chen
- Central Laboratory, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Dongcheng, Beijing, China
| | - Hua Nie
- NHC Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Guangdong Provincial Reproductive Science Institute (Guangdong Provincial Fertility Hospital), Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Shuai Gao
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health Research, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Linna Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Weibing Qin
- NHC Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Guangdong Provincial Reproductive Science Institute (Guangdong Provincial Fertility Hospital), Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Huiliang Zhou
- Department of Andrology, First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, No.20, Chazhong Road, Fuzhou, Fujian, China.
| | - Lin Li
- Central Laboratory, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Dongcheng, Beijing, China.
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Sha Y, Liu W, Tang S, Zhang X, Xiao Z, Xiao Y, Deng H, Zhou H, Wei X. TENT5D disruption causes oligoasthenoteratozoospermia and male infertility. Andrology 2023; 11:1121-1131. [PMID: 36746179 DOI: 10.1111/andr.13407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT) is one of the most complex aggregators of male gametic problems. However, the genetic etiology of OAT is still largely unknown. OBJECTIVES To reveal the new genetic factors responsible for male infertility owning to OAT and reveal the outcomes of the affected patients from intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). MATERIALS AND METHODS Two infertile men with typical OAT were recruited in 2018 and retrospected a cohort that included 47 patients with OAT from 2013 to 2021. Fifty healthy men with proven fertility served as control subjects. To identify the novel pathogenic variants, whole-exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing were used. In silico analysis revealed the affecting of the variants. Field emission scanning electron microscopy was employed to observe the morphological defects of the spermatozoa. Immunofluorescence was used to analyze the expression and localization of the related protein. CRISPR/Cas9 was used to generate the mouse model. ICSI was used as a treatment for the patients and to assess the effects of the pathogenic variant on fertilization and embryo development. RESULTS We identified a loss-of-function mutation NM_001170574.2:c.823G > T (p.Glu275*) in X-linked TENT5D from two patients with OAT. This variant is highly deleterious and has not been found in the human population. The count of patients' spermatozoa is dramatically decreased and displays multiple morphologic abnormalities with poor motility. Tent5d knockout mice are infertile and exhibit parallel defects. ICSI could rescue the infertility of the Tent5d knockout male mice. Moreover, the proband was treated with ICSI and achieved a successful pregnancy outcome for the first time. Subsequent mutation screening identified no TENT5D mutations among 47 additional patients with OAT and 50 control subjects. CONCLUSION Mutation in TENT5D results in OAT and male infertility, and this terrible situation could be rescued by ICSI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanwei Sha
- Department of Andrology, Women and Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health Research, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Wensheng Liu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Guangdong Provincial Reproductive Science Institute (Guangdong Provincial Fertility Hospital), Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Songxi Tang
- Department of Andrology, First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Xiaoya Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Ziyi Xiao
- School of Medicine, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Yuwei Xiao
- School of Medicine, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Hongjing Deng
- School of Medicine, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Huiliang Zhou
- Department of Andrology, First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Xiaoli Wei
- School of Medicine, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
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9
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Tian S, Tu C, He X, Meng L, Wang J, Tang S, Gao Y, Liu C, Wu H, Zhou Y, Lv M, Lin G, Jin L, Cao Y, Tang D, Zhang F, Tan YQ. Biallelic mutations in CFAP54 cause male infertility with severe MMAF and NOA. J Med Genet 2023; 60:827-834. [PMID: 36593121 DOI: 10.1136/jmg-2022-108887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spermatogenic impairments can lead to male infertility by different pathological conditions, such as multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF) and non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA). Genetic factors are involved in impaired spermatogenesis. METHODS AND RESULTS Here, we performed genetic analyses through whole-exome sequencing in a cohort of 334 Han Chinese probands with severe MMAF or NOA. Biallelic variants of CFAP54 were identified in three unrelated men, including one homozygous frameshift variant (c.3317del, p.Phe1106Serfs*19) and two compound heterozygous variants (c.878G>A, p.Arg293His; c.955C>T, p.Arg319Cys and c.4885C>T, p.Arg1629Cys; c.937G>A, p.Gly313Arg). All of the identified variants were absent or extremely rare in the public human genome databases and predicted to be damaging by bioinformatic tools. The men harbouring CFAP54 mutations exhibited abnormal sperm morphology, reduced sperm concentration and motility in ejaculated semen. Significant axoneme disorganisation and other ultrastructure abnormities were also detected inside the sperm cells from men harbouring CFAP54 mutations. Furthermore, immunofluorescence assays showed remarkably reduced staining of four flagellar assembly-associated proteins (IFT20, IFT52, IFT122 and SPEF2) in the spermatozoa of CFAP54-deficient men. Notably, favourable clinical pregnancy outcomes were achieved with sperm from men carrying CFAP54 mutations after intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment. CONCLUSION Our genetic analyses and experimental observations revealed that biallelic deleterious mutations of CFAP54 can induce severe MMAF and NOA in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shixiong Tian
- Institute of Metabolism and Integrative Biology, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Human Phenome Institute, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine Related Diseases, Institute of Reproduction and Development, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chaofeng Tu
- 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, China
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, China
| | - Xiaojin He
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, Anhui Medical University, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Hefei, China
| | - Lanlan 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, China
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, China
| | - Jiaxiong Wang
- Center for Reproduction and Genetics, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Suzhou, China
| | - Shuyan Tang
- Institute of Metabolism and Integrative Biology, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Human Phenome Institute, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yang Gao
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Chunyu Liu
- Institute of Metabolism and Integrative Biology, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Human Phenome Institute, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Huan Wu
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, Anhui Medical University, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Hefei, China
| | - Yiling Zhou
- Institute of Metabolism and Integrative Biology, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Human Phenome Institute, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Mingrong Lv
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, Anhui Medical University, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Hefei, China
| | - Ge Lin
- 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, China
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, China
| | - Li Jin
- Institute of Metabolism and Integrative Biology, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Human Phenome Institute, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yunxia Cao
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, Anhui Medical University, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Hefei, China
| | - Dongdong Tang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle, Anhui Medical University, Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Hefei, China
| | - Feng Zhang
- Institute of Metabolism and Integrative Biology, State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Human Phenome Institute, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine Related Diseases, Institute of Reproduction and Development, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yue-Qiu 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, China
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, China
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10
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Sun B, Ma J, Liu J, Li Y, Bi J, Te L, Zuo X, Wang S. Mechanisms of damage to sperm structure in mice on the zinc-deficient diet. J Trace Elem Med Biol 2023; 79:127251. [PMID: 37392679 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2023.127251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Zinc (Zn)is an essential trace element for spermatogenesis and its deficiency causes abnormal spermatogenesis. OBJECTIVE The present study was conducted to examine the mechanisms by which Zn-deficient diet impairs sperm morphology and its reversibility. METHODS 30 SPF grade male Kunming (KM) mice were randomly divided into three groups, 10 mice per group. Zn-normal diet group (ZN group) was given Zn-normal diet(Zn content= 30 mg/kg)for 8 weeks. Zn-deficienct diet group (ZD group) was given Zn-deficienct diet(Zn content< 1 mg/kg)for 8 weeks. Zn-deficient and Zn-normal diet group(ZDN group)was given 4 weeks Zn-deficienct diet followed by 4 weeks Zn-normal diet. After 8 weeks, the overnight fasted mice were sacrificed, and blood and organs were collected for further analysis. RESULTS The experimental results showed that Zn-deficienct diet leads to increased abnormal morphology sperm and testicular oxidative stress.The rate of abnormal morphology sperm, chromomycin A3(CMA3), DNA fragmentation index (DFI), malondialdehyde (MDA) were significantly increased, and a-kinase anchor protein 4(AKAP4), dynein axonemal heavy chain 1(DNAH1), sperm associated antigen 6(SPAG6), cilia and flagella associated protein 44(CFAP44), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (NRF2), NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1(NQO1)and heme oxygenase 1(HO1) were significantly decreased in the ZD group mice. While the changes in above indicators caused by Zn-deficient diet were significantly alleviated in the ZDN group. CONCLUSION It was concluded that Zn-deficient diet causes abnormal morphology sperm and testicular oxidative stress in male mice. Abnormal morphology sperm caused by Zn-deficient diet are reversible, and Zn-normal diet can alleviate them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Sun
- Graduate School of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, China
| | - Jing Ma
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Hebei Institute of Reproductive Health Science and Technology, Shijiazhuang 050071, China
| | - Junsheng Liu
- Graduate School of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, China
| | - Yuejia Li
- Graduate School of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, China
| | - Jiajie Bi
- Chengde Medical College, Chengde 067000, China
| | - Liger Te
- Graduate School of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, China
| | - Xin Zuo
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, China
| | - Shusong Wang
- Graduate School of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Hebei Institute of Reproductive Health Science and Technology, Shijiazhuang 050071, China; Chengde Medical College, Chengde 067000, China; School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050024, China.
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11
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Cao H, Xu H, Zhou Y, Xu W, Lu Q, Jiang L, Rong Y, Zhang Q, Yu C. BBOF1 is required for sperm motility and male fertility by stabilizing the flagellar axoneme in mice. Cell Mol Life Sci 2023; 80:152. [PMID: 37198331 PMCID: PMC11072524 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-04800-0] [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: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
The sperm flagellum is a specialized type of motile cilium composed of a typical "9 + 2" axonemal structure with peri-axonemal structures, such as outer dense fibers (ODFs). This flagellar arrangement is crucial for sperm movement and fertilization. However, the association of axonemal integrity with ODFs remains poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that mouse BBOF1 could interact with both MNS1, an axonemal component, and ODF2, an ODF protein, and is required for sperm flagellar axoneme maintenance and male fertility. BBOF1 is expressed exclusively in male germ cells from the pachytene stage onwards and is detected in sperm axoneme fraction. Spermatozoa derived from Bbof1-knockout mice exhibit a normal morphology, however, reduced motility due to the absence of certain microtubule doublets, resulting in the failure to fertilize mature oocytes. Furthermore, BBOF1 is found to interact with ODF2 and MNS1 and is also required for their stability. Our findings in mice suggest that Bbof1 could also be essential for human sperm motility and male fertility, thus is a novel potential candidate gene for asthenozoospermia diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiwen Cao
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Haomang Xu
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Yiqing Zhou
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Wei Xu
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Qinglin Lu
- Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute (ZJU-UoE Institute), Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 718 East Haizhou Road, Haining, 314400, China
| | - Lingying Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Dysfunction Management of Zhejiang Province, Assisted Reproduction Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Yan Rong
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Dysfunction Management of Zhejiang Province, Assisted Reproduction Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China
| | - Qianting Zhang
- Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute (ZJU-UoE Institute), Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 718 East Haizhou Road, Haining, 314400, China.
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Chao Yu
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Dysfunction Management of Zhejiang Province, Assisted Reproduction Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
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12
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Abu-Halima M, Becker LS, Al Smadi MA, Abdul-Khaliq H, Raeschle M, Meese E. Sperm Motility Annotated Genes: Are They Associated with Impaired Fecundity? Cells 2023; 12:cells12091239. [PMID: 37174638 PMCID: PMC10177407 DOI: 10.3390/cells12091239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Sperm motility is a prerequisite for achieving pregnancy, and alterations in sperm motility, along with sperm count and morphology, are commonly observed in subfertile men. The aim of the study was to determine whether the expression level of genes annotated with the Gene Ontology (GO) term 'sperm motility' differed in sperm collected from healthy men and men diagnosed with oligoasthenozoospermia. Reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR), quantitative mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), and enrichment analyses were used to validate a set of 132 genes in 198 men present at an infertility clinic. Out of the 132 studied sperm-motility-associated genes, 114 showed differentially expressed levels in oligoasthenozoospermic men compared to those of normozoospermic controls using an RT-qPCR analysis. Of these, 94 genes showed a significantly lower expression level, and 20 genes showed a significantly higher expression level. An MS analysis of sperm from an independent cohort of healthy and subfertile men identified 692 differentially expressed proteins, of which 512 were significantly lower and 180 were significantly higher in oligoasthenozoospermic men compared to those of the normozoospermic controls. Of the 58 gene products quantified with both techniques, 48 (82.75%) showed concordant regulation. Besides the sperm-motility-associated proteins, the unbiased proteomics approach uncovered several novel proteins whose expression levels were specifically altered in abnormal sperm samples. Among these deregulated proteins, there was a clear overrepresentation of annotation terms related to sperm integrity, the cytoskeleton, and energy-related metabolism, as well as human phenotypes related to spermatogenesis and sperm-related abnormalities. These findings suggest that many of these proteins may serve as diagnostic markers of male infertility. Our study reveals an extended number of sperm-motility-associated genes with altered expression levels in the sperm of men with oligoasthenozoospermia. These genes and/or proteins can be used in the future for better assessments of male factor infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masood Abu-Halima
- Institute of Human Genetics, Saarland University, 66421 Homburg, Germany
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Saarland University Medical Center, 66421 Homburg, Germany
| | - Lea Simone Becker
- Institute of Human Genetics, Saarland University, 66421 Homburg, Germany
| | - Mohammad A Al Smadi
- Reproductive Endocrinology and IVF Unit, King Hussein Medical Centre, Amman 11733, Jordan
| | - Hashim Abdul-Khaliq
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Saarland University Medical Center, 66421 Homburg, Germany
| | - Markus Raeschle
- Department of Molecular Genetics, TU Kaiserslautern, 67653 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Eckart Meese
- Institute of Human Genetics, Saarland University, 66421 Homburg, Germany
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13
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Rabiasz A, Ziętkiewicz E. Schmidtea mediterranea as a Model Organism to Study the Molecular Background of Human Motile Ciliopathies. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24054472. [PMID: 36901899 PMCID: PMC10002865 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24054472] [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: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Cilia and flagella are evolutionarily conserved organelles that form protrusions on the surface of many growth-arrested or differentiated eukaryotic cells. Due to the structural and functional differences, cilia can be roughly classified as motile and non-motile (primary). Genetically determined dysfunction of motile cilia is the basis of primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), a heterogeneous ciliopathy affecting respiratory airways, fertility, and laterality. In the face of the still incomplete knowledge of PCD genetics and phenotype-genotype relations in PCD and the spectrum of PCD-like diseases, a continuous search for new causative genes is required. The use of model organisms has been a great part of the advances in understanding molecular mechanisms and the genetic basis of human diseases; the PCD spectrum is not different in this respect. The planarian model (Schmidtea mediterranea) has been intensely used to study regeneration processes, and-in the context of cilia-their evolution, assembly, and role in cell signaling. However, relatively little attention has been paid to the use of this simple and accessible model for studying the genetics of PCD and related diseases. The recent rapid development of the available planarian databases with detailed genomic and functional annotations prompted us to review the potential of the S. mediterranea model for studying human motile ciliopathies.
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14
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Liu W, Wei X, Liu X, Chen G, Zhang X, Liang X, Isachenko V, Sha Y, Wang Y. Biallelic mutations in ARMC12 cause asthenozoospermia and multiple midpiece defects in humans and mice. J Med Genet 2023; 60:154-162. [PMID: 35534203 DOI: 10.1136/jmedgenet-2021-108137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Asthenozoospermia is a major factor contributing to male infertility. The mitochondrial sheath (MS), an important organelle in the midpiece of spermatozoa, is crucial to sperm motility. ARMC12 is a mitochondrial peripheral membrane protein. Deletion of Armc12 impairs the arrangement of MS and causes infertility in mice. However, the role of ARMC12 in human asthenozoospermia remains unknown. OBJECTIVE To study the genetic defects in patients with asthenozoospermia. METHODS A total of 125 patients with asthenozoospermia and 120 men with proven fertility were recruited. Whole-exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing were performed for genetic analysis. Papanicolaou staining, HE staining, immunofluorescent staining, transmission electron microscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy were employed to observe the morphological and structural defects of the spermatozoa and testes. Armc12-knockout mice were generated using the CRISPR-Cas9 system. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection was used to treat the patients. RESULTS Biallelic ARMC12 mutations were identified in three patients, including homozygous mutations in two siblings from a consanguineous family and compound heterozygous mutations in one sporadic patient. ARMC12 is mainly expressed in the midpiece of elongated and late spermatids in the human testis. The patients' spermatozoa displayed multiple midpiece defects, including absent MS and central pair, scattered or forked axoneme and incomplete plasma membrane. Spermatozoa from Armc12-/- mice showed parallel defects in the midpiece. Moreover, two patients were treated with intracytoplasmic sperm injection and achieved good outcomes. CONCLUSION Our findings prove for the first time that defects in ARMC12 cause asthenozoospermia and multiple midpiece defects in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wensheng Liu
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaoli Wei
- School of Medicine, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Xiaoyan Liu
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, Shandong, China
| | - Gaowen Chen
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaoya Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Xiaomei Liang
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Vladimir Isachenko
- Research Group for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
| | - Yanwei Sha
- Department of Andrology, United Diagnostic and Research Center for Clinical Genetics, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health Research, Women and Children's Hospital & School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Yifeng Wang
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
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15
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Wang J, Wang W, Shen L, Zheng A, Meng Q, Li H, Yang S. Clinical detection, diagnosis and treatment of morphological abnormalities of sperm flagella: A review of literature. Front Genet 2022; 13:1034951. [PMID: 36425067 PMCID: PMC9679630 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.1034951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Sperm carries male genetic information, and flagella help move the sperm to reach oocytes. When the ultrastructure of the flagella is abnormal, the sperm is unable to reach the oocyte and achieve insemination. Multiple morphological abnormalities of sperm flagella (MMAF) is a relatively rare idiopathic condition that is mainly characterized by multiple defects in sperm flagella. In the last decade, with the development of high-throughput DNA sequencing approaches, many genes have been revealed to be related to MMAF. However, the differences in sperm phenotypes and reproductive outcomes in many cases are attributed to different pathogenic genes or different pathogenic mutations in the same gene. Here, we will review information about the various phenotypes resulting from different pathogenic genes, including sperm ultrastructure and encoding proteins with their location and functions as well as assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes. We will share our clinical detection and diagnosis experience to provide additional clinical views and broaden the understanding of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Shenmin Yang
- Center for Reproduction and Genetics, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, China
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16
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Biebach L, Cindrić S, Koenig J, Aprea I, Dougherty GW, Raidt J, Bracht D, Ruppel R, Schreiber J, Hjeij R, Olbrich H, Omran H. Recessive Mutations in CFAP74 Cause Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia with Normal Ciliary Ultrastructure. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 2022; 67:409-413. [PMID: 36047773 PMCID: PMC9447143 DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2022-0032le] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Luisa Biebach
- University Children's Hospital Muenster Muenster, Germany
| | - Sandra Cindrić
- University Children's Hospital Muenster Muenster, Germany
| | - Julia Koenig
- University Children's Hospital Muenster Muenster, Germany
| | - Isabella Aprea
- University Children's Hospital Muenster Muenster, Germany
| | | | - Johanna Raidt
- University Children's Hospital Muenster Muenster, Germany
| | - Diana Bracht
- University Children's Hospital Muenster Muenster, Germany
| | | | | | - Rim Hjeij
- University Children's Hospital Muenster Muenster, Germany
| | - Heike Olbrich
- University Children's Hospital Muenster Muenster, Germany
| | - Heymut Omran
- University Children's Hospital Muenster Muenster, Germany
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17
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Tapia R, Hecht GA. Spef1/CLAMP binds microtubules and actin-based structures and regulates cell migration and epithelia cell polarity. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2022; 1515:97-104. [PMID: 35710871 PMCID: PMC9796845 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14845] [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] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
During migration, cells invade, repair, and create barriers leading to the formation of new cellular contacts in target tissues. Cell migration requires many proteins that collectively form the cytoskeleton. The main cytoskeletal elements are actin filaments, microtubules (MTs), and intermediate filaments. These structures work in concert with a large number of accessory proteins that contribute in a variety of ways to regulate filament assembly and turnover, to alter the configuration or arrangement of filaments by bundling or crosslinking, to link the cytoskeleton to other structures in the cell, such as membranes and junctions, and to transport cargo along the filaments. Sperm flagella protein-1 (Spef1), also designated calponin homology and microtubules-associated protein (CLAMP), is a multifunctional protein that interacts with cytoskeletal structures, including MTs, actin filaments, and focal adhesions in epithelia. In this review, we outline Spef1/CLAMP structure and expression in several cellular models. The function of Spef1/CLAMP in flagellar and ciliary motility, MT-binding and stability, regulation of planar cell polarity, and potential contribution to the maintenance of actin-based structures, such as lamellipodia and filopodia during cell migration, are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rocio Tapia
- Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Department of MedicineLoyola University Chicago, Loyola University Medical CenterMaywoodIllinoisUSA
| | - Gail A. Hecht
- Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Department of MedicineLoyola University Chicago, Loyola University Medical CenterMaywoodIllinoisUSA
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologyLoyola University Chicago, Loyola University Medical CenterMaywoodIllinoisUSA
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18
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Zhou S, Wu H, Zhang J, He X, Liu S, Zhou P, Hua R, Cao Y, Liu M. Bi-allelic variants in human TCTE1/DRC5 cause asthenospermia and male infertility. Eur J Hum Genet 2022; 30:721-729. [PMID: 35388187 DOI: 10.1038/s41431-022-01095-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Asthenozoospermia (AZS) is a common male infertility phenotype, accounting for 18% of infertile patients. The N-DRC (Nexin-dynein Regulatory Complex) complex is the motor regulating device in the flagellum, which is found in most eukaryotic organisms with flagellum. The deletion of TCTE1 (T-Complex-Associated Testis-Expressed 1), a component of the N-DRC complex also known as DRC5 (Dynein regulatory complex subunit 5), has been shown to cause asthenospermia in mice. This study mainly introduces a clinical case of male infertility with normal sperm count, normal morphological structure, but low motility and weak forward movement. By whole-exome sequencing, we found that TCTE1 became a frameshift mutant, ENST00000371505.5: c.396_397insTC (p.Arg133Serfs*33), resulting in the rapid degradation of TCTE1 protein and male infertility. This phenotype is similar to the Tcte1-/- (Tcte1 knockout) mice, which showed structural integrity but reduced motility. Further, different from mice, in vitro Fertilization (IVF) could successfully solve the patient's problem of infertility. Our data provides a better understanding of the biological functions of TCTE1 in human flagellum assembly and male fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shushu Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Huan Wu
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Jintao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Xiaojin He
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Siyu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Ping Zhou
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Rong Hua
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China. .,NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), Hefei, 230032, China. .,Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Hefei, 230032, China.
| | - Yunxia Cao
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China. .,NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), Hefei, 230032, China. .,Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Hefei, 230032, China.
| | - Mingxi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
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19
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Wu X, Zhou L, Shi J, Cheng CY, Sun F. Multiomics analysis of male infertility. Biol Reprod 2022; 107:118-134. [PMID: 35639635 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioac109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Infertility affects 8-12% of couples globally, and the male factor is a primary cause in approximately 50% of couples. Male infertility is a multifactorial reproductive disorder, which can be caused by paracrine and autocrine factors, hormones, genes, and epigenetic changes. Recent studies in rodents and most notably in humans using multiomics approach have yielded important insights into understanding the biology of spermatogenesis. Nonetheless, the etiology and pathogenesis of male infertility are still largely unknown. In this review, we summarized and critically evaluated findings based on the use of advanced technologies to compare normal and obstructive azoospermia (OA) versus non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) men, including whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS), single cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq), whole exome sequencing (WES), and ATAC-seq. It is obvious that the multiomics approach is the method of choice for basic research and clinical studies including clinical diagnosis of male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolong Wu
- Department of Urology & Andrology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310016, China.,Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China
| | - Liwei Zhou
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China
| | - Jie Shi
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China
| | - C Yan Cheng
- Department of Urology & Andrology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310016, China.,Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China
| | - Fei Sun
- Department of Urology & Andrology, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310016, China.,Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China
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20
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Martinez G, Coutton C, Loeuillet C, Cazin C, Muroňová J, Boguenet M, Lambert E, Dhellemmes M, Chevalier G, Hograindleur JP, Vilpreux C, Neirijnck Y, Kherraf ZE, Escoffier J, Nef S, Ray PF, Arnoult C. Oligogenic heterozygous inheritance of sperm abnormalities in mouse. eLife 2022; 11:75373. [PMID: 35451961 PMCID: PMC9071268 DOI: 10.7554/elife.75373] [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: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Male infertility is an important health concern that is expected to have a major genetic etiology. Although high-throughput sequencing has linked gene defects to more than 50% of rare and severe sperm anomalies, less than 20% of common and moderate forms are explained. We hypothesized that this low success rate could at least be partly due to oligogenic defects – the accumulation of several rare heterozygous variants in distinct, but functionally connected, genes. Here, we compared fertility and sperm parameters in male mice harboring one to four heterozygous truncating mutations of genes linked to multiple morphological anomalies of the flagellum (MMAF) syndrome. Results indicated progressively deteriorating sperm morphology and motility with increasing numbers of heterozygous mutations. This first evidence of oligogenic inheritance in failed spermatogenesis strongly suggests that oligogenic heterozygosity could explain a significant proportion of asthenoteratozoospermia cases. The findings presented pave the way to further studies in mice and man.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Corinne Loeuillet
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, INSERM, CNRS, University Grenoble-Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | | | - Jana Muroňová
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, INSERM, CNRS, University Grenoble-Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Magalie Boguenet
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, INSERM, CNRS, University Grenoble-Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Emeline Lambert
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, INSERM, CNRS, University Grenoble-Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Magali Dhellemmes
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, INSERM, CNRS, University Grenoble-Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Geneviève Chevalier
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, INSERM, CNRS, University Grenoble-Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | | | - Charline Vilpreux
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, INSERM, CNRS, University Grenoble-Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Yasmine Neirijnck
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva Medical School, Genève, Switzerland
| | - Zine Eddine Kherraf
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, INSERM, CNRS, University Grenoble-Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Jessica Escoffier
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, INSERM, CNRS, University Grenoble-Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Serge Nef
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, University of Geneva Medical School, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Pierre F Ray
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, INSERM, CNRS, University Grenoble-Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Christophe Arnoult
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, INSERM, CNRS, University Grenoble-Alpes, Grenoble, France
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21
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Niziolek M, Bicka M, Osinka A, Samsel Z, Sekretarska J, Poprzeczko M, Bazan R, Fabczak H, Joachimiak E, Wloga D. PCD Genes-From Patients to Model Organisms and Back to Humans. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23031749. [PMID: 35163666 PMCID: PMC8836003 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a hereditary genetic disorder caused by the lack of motile cilia or the assembxly of dysfunctional ones. This rare human disease affects 1 out of 10,000-20,000 individuals and is caused by mutations in at least 50 genes. The past twenty years brought significant progress in the identification of PCD-causative genes and in our understanding of the connections between causative mutations and ciliary defects observed in affected individuals. These scientific advances have been achieved, among others, due to the extensive motile cilia-related research conducted using several model organisms, ranging from protists to mammals. These are unicellular organisms such as the green alga Chlamydomonas, the parasitic protist Trypanosoma, and free-living ciliates, Tetrahymena and Paramecium, the invertebrate Schmidtea, and vertebrates such as zebrafish, Xenopus, and mouse. Establishing such evolutionarily distant experimental models with different levels of cell or body complexity was possible because both basic motile cilia ultrastructure and protein composition are highly conserved throughout evolution. Here, we characterize model organisms commonly used to study PCD-related genes, highlight their pros and cons, and summarize experimental data collected using these models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Niziolek
- Laboratory of Cytoskeleton and Cilia Biology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur Street, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland; (M.N.); (M.B.); (A.O.); (Z.S.); (J.S.); (M.P.); (R.B.); (H.F.)
| | - Marta Bicka
- Laboratory of Cytoskeleton and Cilia Biology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur Street, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland; (M.N.); (M.B.); (A.O.); (Z.S.); (J.S.); (M.P.); (R.B.); (H.F.)
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Warsaw, 1 Pasteur Street, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Osinka
- Laboratory of Cytoskeleton and Cilia Biology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur Street, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland; (M.N.); (M.B.); (A.O.); (Z.S.); (J.S.); (M.P.); (R.B.); (H.F.)
| | - Zuzanna Samsel
- Laboratory of Cytoskeleton and Cilia Biology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur Street, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland; (M.N.); (M.B.); (A.O.); (Z.S.); (J.S.); (M.P.); (R.B.); (H.F.)
| | - Justyna Sekretarska
- Laboratory of Cytoskeleton and Cilia Biology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur Street, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland; (M.N.); (M.B.); (A.O.); (Z.S.); (J.S.); (M.P.); (R.B.); (H.F.)
| | - Martyna Poprzeczko
- Laboratory of Cytoskeleton and Cilia Biology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur Street, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland; (M.N.); (M.B.); (A.O.); (Z.S.); (J.S.); (M.P.); (R.B.); (H.F.)
- Laboratory of Immunology, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, 5 Pawinskiego Street, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Rafal Bazan
- Laboratory of Cytoskeleton and Cilia Biology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur Street, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland; (M.N.); (M.B.); (A.O.); (Z.S.); (J.S.); (M.P.); (R.B.); (H.F.)
| | - Hanna Fabczak
- Laboratory of Cytoskeleton and Cilia Biology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur Street, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland; (M.N.); (M.B.); (A.O.); (Z.S.); (J.S.); (M.P.); (R.B.); (H.F.)
| | - Ewa Joachimiak
- Laboratory of Cytoskeleton and Cilia Biology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur Street, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland; (M.N.); (M.B.); (A.O.); (Z.S.); (J.S.); (M.P.); (R.B.); (H.F.)
- Correspondence: (E.J.); (D.W.); Tel.: +48-22-58-92-338 (E.J. & D.W.)
| | - Dorota Wloga
- Laboratory of Cytoskeleton and Cilia Biology, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 3 Pasteur Street, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland; (M.N.); (M.B.); (A.O.); (Z.S.); (J.S.); (M.P.); (R.B.); (H.F.)
- Correspondence: (E.J.); (D.W.); Tel.: +48-22-58-92-338 (E.J. & D.W.)
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22
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Sha Y, Liu W, Nie H, Han L, Ma C, Zhang X, Xiao Z, Qin W, Jiang X, Wei X. Homozygous mutation in DNALI1 leads to asthenoteratozoospermia by affecting the inner dynein arms. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:1058651. [PMID: 36726469 PMCID: PMC9885801 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.1058651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Asthenozoospermia is the most common cause of male infertility. Dynein protein arms play a crucial role in the motility of sperm flagella and defects in these proteins generally impair the axoneme structure and affect sperm flagella function. In this study, we performed whole exome sequencing for a cohort of 126 infertile patients with asthenozoospermia and identified homozygous DNALI1 mutation in one patient from a consanguineous family. This identified homozygous mutation was verified by Sanger sequencing. In silico analysis showed that this homozygous mutation is very rare, highly pathogenic, and very conserved. Sperm routine analysis confirmed that the motility of the spermatozoa from the patient significantly decreased. Further sperm morphology analysis showed that the spermatozoa from the patient exhibited multiple flagella morphological defects and a specific loss in the inner dynein arms. Fortunately, the patient was able to have his child via intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment. Our study is the first to demonstrate that homozygous DNALI1 mutation may impair the integration of axoneme structure, affect sperm motility and cause asthenoteratozoospermia in human beings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanwei Sha
- Department of Andrology, Women and Children’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health Research, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Wensheng Liu
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Guangdong Provincial Reproductive Science Institute (Guangdong Provincial Fertility Hospital), Guangzhou, China
| | - Hua Nie
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Guangdong Provincial Reproductive Science Institute (Guangdong Provincial Fertility Hospital), Guangzhou, China
| | - Lu Han
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Guangdong Provincial Reproductive Science Institute (Guangdong Provincial Fertility Hospital), Guangzhou, China
| | - Chunjie Ma
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Guangdong Provincial Reproductive Science Institute (Guangdong Provincial Fertility Hospital), Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoya Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Ziyi Xiao
- School of Medicine, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Weibing Qin
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Guangdong Provincial Reproductive Science Institute (Guangdong Provincial Fertility Hospital), Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Xiaoli Wei, ; Xiaoming Jiang, ; Weibing Qin,
| | - Xiaoming Jiang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Xiamen University Affiliated Chenggong Hospital, Xiamen, Fujian, China
- *Correspondence: Xiaoli Wei, ; Xiaoming Jiang, ; Weibing Qin,
| | - Xiaoli Wei
- School of Medicine, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
- *Correspondence: Xiaoli Wei, ; Xiaoming Jiang, ; Weibing Qin,
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23
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Liu S, Zhang J, Kherraf ZE, Sun S, Zhang X, Cazin C, Coutton C, Zouari R, Zhao S, Hu F, Fourati Ben Mustapha S, Arnoult C, Ray PF, Liu M. CFAP61 is required for sperm flagellum formation and male fertility in human and mouse. Development 2021; 148:273455. [PMID: 34792097 DOI: 10.1242/dev.199805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Defects in the structure or motility of cilia and flagella may lead to severe diseases such as primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), a multisystemic disorder with heterogeneous manifestations affecting primarily respiratory and reproductive functions. We report that CFAP61 is a conserved component of the calmodulin- and radial spoke-associated complex (CSC) of cilia. We find that a CFAP61 splice variant, c.143+5G>A, causes exon skipping/intron retention in human, inducing a multiple morphological abnormalities of the flagella (MMAF) phenotype. We generated Cfap61 knockout mice that recapitulate the infertility phenotype of the human CFAP61 mutation, but without other symptoms usually observed in PCD. We find that CFAP61 interacts with the CSC, radial spoke stalk and head. During early stages of Cfap61-/- spermatid development, the assembly of radial spoke components is impaired. As spermiogenesis progresses, the axoneme in Cfap61-/- cells becomes unstable and scatters, and the distribution of intraflagellar transport proteins is disrupted. This study reveals an organ-specific mechanism of axoneme stabilization that is related to male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Jintao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Zine Eddine Kherraf
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR 5309, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Team Genetics Epigenetics and Therapies of Infertility, Grenoble, F-38000, France.,CHU de Grenoble, UM GI-DPI, Grenoble, F-38000, France
| | - Shuya Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Caroline Cazin
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR 5309, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Team Genetics Epigenetics and Therapies of Infertility, Grenoble, F-38000, France.,CHU de Grenoble, UM GI-DPI, Grenoble, F-38000, France
| | - Charles Coutton
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR 5309, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Team Genetics Epigenetics and Therapies of Infertility, Grenoble, F-38000, France.,CHU de Grenoble, UM de Génétique Chromosomique, Grenoble, F-38000, France
| | - Raoudha Zouari
- Polyclinique les Jasmins, Centre d'Aide Médicale à la Procréation, Centre Urbain Nord, 1003 Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Shuqin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Animal Core Facility of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Fan Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | | | - Christophe Arnoult
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR 5309, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Team Genetics Epigenetics and Therapies of Infertility, Grenoble, F-38000, France
| | - Pierre F Ray
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR 5309, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Team Genetics Epigenetics and Therapies of Infertility, Grenoble, F-38000, France.,CHU de Grenoble, UM GI-DPI, Grenoble, F-38000, France
| | - Mingxi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
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24
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Wei X, Sha Y, Wei Z, Zhu X, He F, Zhang X, Liu W, Wang Y, Lu Z. Bi-allelic mutations in DNAH7 cause asthenozoospermia by impairing the integrality of axoneme structure. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2021; 53:1300-1309. [PMID: 34476482 DOI: 10.1093/abbs/gmab113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Asthenozoospermia is the most common cause of male infertility. Dynein protein arms play a crucial role in the motility of both the cilia and flagella, and defects in these proteins generally impair the axoneme structure and cause primary ciliary dyskinesia. But relatively little is known about the influence of dynein protein arm defects on sperm flagella function. Here, we recruited 85 infertile patients with idiopathic asthenozoospermia and identified bi-allelic mutations in DNAH7 (NM_018897.3) from three patients using whole-exome sequencing. These variants are rare, highly pathogenic, and very conserved. The spermatozoa from the patients with DNAH7 bi-allelic mutations showed specific losses in the inner dynein arms. The expression of DNAH7 in the spermatozoa from the DNAH7-defective patients was significantly decreased, but these patients were able to have their children via intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection treatment. Our study is the first to demonstrate that bi-allelic mutations in DNAH7 may impair the integrality of axoneme structure, affect sperm motility, and cause asthenozoospermia in humans. These findings may extend the spectrum of etiological genes and provide new clues for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with asthenozoospermia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoli Wei
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Yanwei Sha
- Department of Andrology, United Diagnostic and Research Center for Clinical Genetics, Women and Children’s Hospital and School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Zijie Wei
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Xingshen Zhu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Fengming He
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Xiaoya Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Wensheng Liu
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510280, China
| | - Yifeng Wang
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510280, China
| | - Zhongxian Lu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
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25
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Diagnostics and Management of Male Infertility in Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia. Diagnostics (Basel) 2021; 11:diagnostics11091550. [PMID: 34573892 PMCID: PMC8467018 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics11091550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), a disease caused by the malfunction of motile cilia, manifests mainly with chronic recurrent respiratory infections. In men, PCD is also often associated with infertility due to immotile sperm. Since causative mutations for PCD were identified in over 50 genes, the role of these genes in sperm development should be investigated in order to understand the effect of PCD mutations on male fertility. Previous studies showed that different dynein arm heavy chains are present in respiratory cilia and sperm flagellum, which may partially explain the variable effects of mutations on airways and fertility. Furthermore, recent studies showed that male reproductive tract motile cilia may play an important part in sperm maturation and transport. In some PCD patients, extremely low sperm counts were reported, which may be due to motile cilia dysfunction in the reproductive tract rather than problems with sperm development. However, the exact roles of PCD genes in male fertility require additional studies, as do the treatment options. In this review, we discuss the diagnostic and treatment options for men with PCD based on the current knowledge.
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26
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Sha Y, Liu W, Li L, Serafimovski M, Isachenko V, Li Y, Chen J, Zhao B, Wang Y, Wei X. Pathogenic Variants in ACTRT1 Cause Acephalic Spermatozoa Syndrome. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:676246. [PMID: 34422805 PMCID: PMC8377740 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.676246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Acephalic spermatozoa syndrome is a rare type of teratozoospermia, but its pathogenesis is largely unknown. Here, we performed whole-exome sequencing for 34 patients with acephalic spermatozoa syndrome and identified pathogenic variants in the X-linked gene, ACTRT1, in two patients. Sanger sequencing confirmed the pathogenic variants of ACTRT1 in the patients. Both pathogenic variants of ACTRT1 were highly conserved, and in silico analysis revealed that they were deleterious and rare. Actrt1-knockout mice exhibited a similar acephalic spermatozoa phenotype. Therefore, we speculated that mutations in ACTRT1 account for acephalic spermatozoa syndrome. Moreover, the patients in this study conceived their children through artificial insemination. This study provides further insights for clinicians and researchers regarding the genetic etiology and therapeutic strategies for acephalic spermatozoa patients with pathogenic variants in ACTRT1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanwei Sha
- Department of Andrology, United Diagnostic and Research Center for Clinical Genetics, School of Public Health & Women and Children's Hospital, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Wensheng Liu
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Research Group for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Lin Li
- Central Laboratory, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Mario Serafimovski
- Center for Physiology and Pathophysiology, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Vladimir Isachenko
- Research Group for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Youzhu Li
- Reproductive Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Jing Chen
- Reproductive Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Bangrong Zhao
- NHC Key Laboratory of Family Planning and Healthy/Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine of Hebei Provincial, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Yifeng Wang
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoli Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
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27
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Zhang G, Li D, Tu C, Meng L, Tan Y, Ji Z, Cheng J, Lu G, Lin G, Zhang H, Sun J, Wang M, Du J, Xu W. Loss-of-function missense variant of AKAP4 induced male infertility through reduced interaction with QRICH2 during sperm flagella development. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 31:219-231. [PMID: 34415320 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddab234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2021] [Revised: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Sperm fibrous sheath is closely related to sperm maturation, capacitation and motility, and A-kinase anchor protein 4 (AKAP4) is the most abundant protein in sperm fibrous sheath. Previous studies found incomplete sperm fibrous sheaths and abnormal flagella in Akap4 knockout (KO) mice. Meanwhile, it was reported that the partial deletion in AKAP4 is highly relevant to the dysplasia of the fibrous sheath in an infertile man, and so far, there is no report about male infertility caused by hemizygous AKAP4 variant. Furthermore, the specific mechanisms of how the variant is relevant to the phenotype remain elusive. In this study, we investigated three multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF)-affected men from three independent families (including one consanguine family) carried hemizygous c.C1285T variant in AKAP4. The patients carried thisvariant showed dysplastic sperm fibrous sheath and the protein expression of AKAP4 was decreased in flagella which was further confirmed in HEK-293 T cells in vitro. In addition, the co-localization and interaction between AKAP4 and glutamine-rich protein 2 (QRICH2) on the molecular level were identified by immunofluorescence and Co-immunoprecipitation (CO-IP). The hemizygous c.1285C > T variant in AKAP4 induced decreased protein expression of QRICH2 in spermatozoa. These results suggested that the normal expression of AKAP4 is required for maintaining the expression of QRICH2 and the decreased protein expression of AKAP4 and QRICH2,as well as the interaction between them induced by the hemizygous variant of AKAP4 caused dysplastic fibrous sheath, which eventually led to reduced sperm motility and male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guohui Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Joint Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine (SCU-CUHK), Key Laboratory of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Dongyan Li
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, China
| | - Chaofeng Tu
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, China.,Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, 410078, China
| | - Lanlan Meng
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, 410078, China
| | - Yueqiu Tan
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, China.,Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, 410078, China
| | - Zhiliang Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Stress Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Jiao Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Stress Cell Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Guangxiu Lu
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, 410078, China
| | - Ge Lin
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, China.,Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, 410078, China
| | - Huan Zhang
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, 410078, China
| | - Jinpeng Sun
- Key Laboratory Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shandong University School of Medicine, 44 Wenhua Xi Road, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Mingwei Wang
- Key Laboratory Experimental Teratology of the Ministry of Education and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shandong University School of Medicine, 44 Wenhua Xi Road, Jinan, 250012, China
| | - Juan Du
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, China.,Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, 410078, China
| | - Wenming Xu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Joint Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine (SCU-CUHK), Key Laboratory of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
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28
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Oud MS, Houston BJ, Volozonoka L, Mastrorosa FK, Holt GS, Alobaidi BKS, deVries PF, Astuti G, Ramos L, Mclachlan RI, O’Bryan MK, Veltman JA, Chemes HE, Sheth H. Exome sequencing reveals variants in known and novel candidate genes for severe sperm motility disorders. Hum Reprod 2021; 36:2597-2611. [PMID: 34089056 PMCID: PMC8373475 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deab099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION What are the causative genetic variants in patients with male infertility due to severe sperm motility disorders? SUMMARY ANSWER We identified high confidence disease-causing variants in multiple genes previously associated with severe sperm motility disorders in 10 out of 21 patients (48%) and variants in novel candidate genes in seven additional patients (33%). WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Severe sperm motility disorders are a form of male infertility characterised by immotile sperm often in combination with a spectrum of structural abnormalities of the sperm flagellum that do not affect viability. Currently, depending on the clinical sub-categorisation, up to 50% of causality in patients with severe sperm motility disorders can be explained by pathogenic variants in at least 22 genes. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION We performed exome sequencing in 21 patients with severe sperm motility disorders from two different clinics. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHOD Two groups of infertile men, one from Argentina (n = 9) and one from Australia (n = 12), with clinically defined severe sperm motility disorders (motility <5%) and normal morphology values of 0-4%, were included. All patients in the Argentine cohort were diagnosed with DFS-MMAF, based on light and transmission electron microscopy. Sperm ultrastructural information was not available for the Australian cohort. Exome sequencing was performed in all 21 patients and variants with an allele frequency of <1% in the gnomAD population were prioritised and interpreted. MAIN RESULTS AND ROLE OF CHANCE In 10 of 21 patients (48%), we identified pathogenic variants in known sperm assembly genes: CFAP43 (3 patients); CFAP44 (2 patients), CFAP58 (1 patient), QRICH2 (2 patients), DNAH1 (1 patient) and DNAH6 (1 patient). The diagnostic rate did not differ markedly between the Argentinian and the Australian cohort (55% and 42%, respectively). Furthermore, we identified patients with variants in the novel human candidate sperm motility genes: DNAH12, DRC1, MDC1, PACRG, SSPL2C and TPTE2. One patient presented with variants in four candidate genes and it remains unclear which variants were responsible for the severe sperm motility defect in this patient. LARGE SCALE DATA N/A. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION In this study, we described patients with either a homozygous or two heterozygous candidate pathogenic variants in genes linked to sperm motility disorders. Due to unavailability of parental DNA, we have not assessed the frequency of de novo or maternally inherited dominant variants and could not determine the parental origin of the mutations to establish in all cases that the mutations are present on both alleles. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Our results confirm the likely causal role of variants in six known genes for sperm motility and we demonstrate that exome sequencing is an effective method to diagnose patients with severe sperm motility disorders (10/21 diagnosed; 48%). Furthermore, our analysis revealed six novel candidate genes for severe sperm motility disorders. Genome-wide sequencing of additional patient cohorts and re-analysis of exome data of currently unsolved cases may reveal additional variants in these novel candidate genes. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This project was supported in part by funding from the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (APP1120356) to M.K.O.B., J.A.V. and R.I.M.L., The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (918-15-667) to J.A.V., the Royal Society and Wolfson Foundation (WM160091) to J.A.V., as well as an Investigator Award in Science from the Wellcome Trust (209451) to J.A.V. and Grants from the National Research Council of Argentina (PIP 0900 and 4584) and ANPCyT (PICT 9591) to H.E.C. and a UUKi Rutherford Fund Fellowship awarded to B.J.H.
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Affiliation(s)
- M S Oud
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - B J Houston
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Monash, Australia
- School of BioSciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - L Volozonoka
- Scientific Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Riga Stradins University, Riga, Latvia
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - F K Mastrorosa
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - G S Holt
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - B K S Alobaidi
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - P F deVries
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - G Astuti
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - L Ramos
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - R I Mclachlan
- Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Monash University, Clayton, Melbourne, Australia
| | - M K O’Bryan
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Monash, Australia
- School of BioSciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - J A Veltman
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - H E Chemes
- Centro de Investigaciones Endocrinológicas “Dr. César Bergadá” CEDIE-CONICET-FEI, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - H Sheth
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
- Foundation for Research in Genetics and Endocrinology, Institute of Human Genetics, Ahmedabad, India
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29
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Progress in Diagnosing Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia: The North American Perspective. Diagnostics (Basel) 2021; 11:diagnostics11071278. [PMID: 34359360 PMCID: PMC8304305 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics11071278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare, under-recognized disease that affects respiratory ciliary function, resulting in chronic oto-sino-pulmonary disease. The PCD clinical phenotype overlaps with other common respiratory conditions and no single diagnostic test detects all forms of PCD. In 2018, PCD experts collaborated with the American Thoracic Society (ATS) to create a clinical diagnostic guideline for patients across North America, specifically considering the local resources and limitations for PCD diagnosis in the United States and Canada. Nasal nitric oxide (nNO) testing is recommended for first-line testing in patients ≥5 years old with a compatible clinical phenotype; however, all low nNO values require confirmation with genetic testing or ciliary electron micrograph (EM) analysis. Furthermore, these guidelines recognize that not all North American patients have access to nNO testing and isolated genetic testing is appropriate in cases with strong clinical PCD phenotypes. For unresolved diagnostic cases, referral to a PCD Foundation accredited center is recommended. The purpose of this narrative review is to provide insight on the North American PCD diagnostic process, to enhance the understanding of and adherence to current guidelines, and to promote collaboration with diagnostic pathways used outside of North America.
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30
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Zhang J, He X, Wu H, Zhang X, Yang S, Liu C, Liu S, Hua R, Zhou S, Zhao S, Hu F, Zhang J, Liu W, Cheng H, Gao Y, Zhang F, Cao Y, Liu M. Loss of DRC1 function leads to multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella and male infertility in human and mouse. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 30:1996-2011. [PMID: 34169321 PMCID: PMC8522639 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddab171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Motile cilia and flagellar defects can result in primary ciliary dyskinesia, which is a
multisystemic genetic disorder that affects roughly 1:10 000 individuals. The nexin-dynein
regulatory complex (N-DRC) links neighboring doublet microtubules within flagella, serving
as a central regulatory hub for motility in Chlamydomonas. Herein, we identified two
homozygous DRC1 variants in human patients that were associated with
multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF) and male infertility.
Drc1−/−, Drc1R554X/R554X and
Drc1W244X/W244X mice on the C57BL/6 background suffered from
pre-pubertal mortality. However, when the ICR background was introduced, some of these
mice were able to survive and recapitulate the MMAF phenotypes detected in human patients.
By analyzing these animals, we determined that DRC1 is an essential regulator of N-DRC
assembly in cilia and flagella. When DRC1 is absent, this results in the shortening of
cilia and consequent impairment of their motility. Damage associated with DRC1 deficiency
in sperm flagella was more pronounced than in cilia, as manifested by complete axoneme
structural disorder in addition to the loss of the DRC structure. Altogether, these
findings suggest that DRC1 is required for the structural stability of flagella but not
cilia, emphasizing the key role of this protein in mammalian species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jintao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Xiaojin He
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), Hefei 230032, China
| | - Huan Wu
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), Hefei 230032, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Shenmin Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Reproduction and Genetics, Suzhou Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou 215002, China
| | - Chunyu Liu
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, NHC Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation (Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research), State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering at School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200011, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine Related Diseases, Shanghai 200011, China
| | - Siyu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Rong Hua
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Shushu Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Shuqin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Animal Core Facility of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Fan Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Junqiang Zhang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), Hefei 230032, China.,Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Wangjie Liu
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, NHC Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation (Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research), State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering at School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200011, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine Related Diseases, Shanghai 200011, China
| | - Huiru Cheng
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), Hefei 230032, China.,Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Yang Gao
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), Hefei 230032, China
| | - Feng Zhang
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, NHC Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation (Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research), State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering at School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200011, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Female Reproductive Endocrine Related Diseases, Shanghai 200011, China
| | - Yunxia Cao
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230022, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), Hefei 230032, China.,Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Mingxi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
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Ma H, Zhang B, Khan A, Zhao D, Ma A, Jianteng Z, Khan I, Khan K, Zhang H, Zhang Y, Xiaohua J, Dil S, Zeb A, Rahim F, Shi Q. Novel frameshift mutation in STK33 is associated with asthenozoospermia and multiple morphological abnormality of the flagella. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 30:1977-1984. [PMID: 34155512 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddab165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Serine/threonine kinases domain-containing proteins are known to play important functions in sperm flagella and male fertility. However, the roles of these proteins in human reproduction remain poorly understood and whether their variants are associated with human asthenozoospermia have not been reported. Here, we recruited a Pakistani family having four infertile patients diagnosed with idiopathic asthenozoospermia without any ciliary-related symptoms. Whole-exome sequencing identified a novel homozygous frameshift mutation (c.1235del, p.T412Kfs*14) in STK33, encoding a serine/threonine kinase which displays a highly conserved and predominant expression in testis in humans. This variant led to a dramatic reduction of STK33 mRNA in the patients. Patients homozygous for the STK33 variant presented reduced sperm motility, frequent morphological abnormalities of sperm flagella, and completely disorganized flagellar ultrastructures, which are typical for multiple morphological abnormalities of the flagella (MMAF) phenotypes. Overall, these findings present evidence establishing that STK33 is a MMAF-related gene and provide new insights for understanding the role of serine/threonine kinases domain-containing proteins in human male reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Ma
- The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Diseases, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Beibei Zhang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Diseases, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Asad Khan
- The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Diseases, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Daren Zhao
- The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Diseases, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Ao Ma
- The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Diseases, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Zhou Jianteng
- The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Diseases, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Ihsan Khan
- The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Diseases, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Khalid Khan
- The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Diseases, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Huan Zhang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Diseases, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Yuanwei Zhang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Diseases, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Jiang Xiaohua
- The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Diseases, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Sobia Dil
- The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Diseases, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Aurang Zeb
- The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Diseases, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Fazal Rahim
- The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Diseases, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
| | - Qinghua Shi
- The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Diseases, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China
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32
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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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Fang X, Gamallat Y, Chen Z, Mai H, Zhou P, Sun C, Li X, Li H, Zheng S, Liao C, Yang M, Li Y, Yang Z, Ma C, Han D, Zuo L, Xu W, Hu H, Sun L, Li N. Hypomorphic and hypermorphic mouse models of Fsip2 indicate its dosage-dependent roles in sperm tail and acrosome formation. Development 2021; 148:269073. [PMID: 34125190 DOI: 10.1242/dev.199216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Loss-of-function mutations in multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF)-associated genes lead to decreased sperm motility and impaired male fertility. As an MMAF gene, the function of fibrous sheath-interacting protein 2 (FSIP2) remains largely unknown. In this work, we identified a homozygous truncating mutation of FSIP2 in an infertile patient. Accordingly, we constructed a knock-in (KI) mouse model with this mutation. In parallel, we established an Fsip2 overexpression (OE) mouse model. Remarkably, KI mice presented with the typical MMAF phenotype, whereas OE mice showed no gross anomaly except for sperm tails with increased length. Single-cell RNA sequencing of the testes uncovered altered expression of genes related to sperm flagellum, acrosomal vesicle and spermatid development. We confirmed the expression of Fsip2 at the acrosome and the physical interaction of this gene with Acrv1, an acrosomal marker. Proteomic analysis of the testes revealed changes in proteins sited at the fibrous sheath, mitochondrial sheath and acrosomal vesicle. We also pinpointed the crucial motifs of Fsip2 that are evolutionarily conserved in species with internal fertilization. Thus, this work reveals the dosage-dependent roles of Fsip2 in sperm tail and acrosome formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Fang
- Laboratory of Medical Systems Biology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, 510623 Guangzhou, China
| | - Yaser Gamallat
- Laboratory of Medical Systems Biology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, 510623 Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhiheng Chen
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, 510623 Guangzhou, China
| | - Hanran Mai
- Department of Andrology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, 510623 Guangzhou, China
| | - Pei Zhou
- Laboratory of Medical Systems Biology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, 510623 Guangzhou, China
| | - Chuanbo Sun
- Laboratory of Medical Systems Biology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, 510623 Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoliang Li
- Key Laboratory of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, 610041 Chengdu, China
| | - Hong Li
- Laboratory of Medical Systems Biology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, 510623 Guangzhou, China
| | - Shuxin Zheng
- Laboratory of Medical Systems Biology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, 510623 Guangzhou, China
| | - Caihua Liao
- Laboratory of Medical Systems Biology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, 510623 Guangzhou, China
| | - Miaomiao Yang
- Laboratory of Medical Systems Biology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, 510623 Guangzhou, China
| | - Yan Li
- Laboratory of Medical Systems Biology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, 510623 Guangzhou, China
| | - Zeyu Yang
- Guangdong Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Shantou, 515063 Guangdong, China
| | - Caiqi Ma
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, 510623 Guangzhou, China
| | - Dingding Han
- Laboratory of Medical Systems Biology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, 510623 Guangzhou, China
| | - Liandong Zuo
- Department of Andrology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, 510623 Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenming Xu
- Key Laboratory of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, 610041 Chengdu, China
| | - Hao Hu
- Laboratory of Medical Systems Biology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, 510623 Guangzhou, China.,Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, 450052 Zhengzhou, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Research in Structural Birth Defect Disease, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, 510623 Guangzhou, China
| | - Ling Sun
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, 510623 Guangzhou, China
| | - Na Li
- Laboratory of Medical Systems Biology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, 510623 Guangzhou, China
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34
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Wei X, Liu W, Zhu X, Li Y, Zhang X, Chen J, Isachenko V, Sha Y, Lu Z. Biallelic mutations in KATNAL2 cause male infertility due to oligo-astheno-teratozoospermia. Clin Genet 2021; 100:376-385. [PMID: 34096614 DOI: 10.1111/cge.14009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Revised: 05/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Oligo-astheno-teratozoospermia (OAT) is a common cause of male infertility, and most of idiopathic OAT patients are thought to be caused by genetic defects. Here, we recruited 38 primary infertile patients with the OAT phenotype and 40 adult men with proven fertility for genetic analysis and identified biallelic mutations of KATNAL2 by whole-exome sequencing in two cases. F013/II:1, from a consanguineous family, carried the KATNAL2 c.328C > T:p.Arg110X homozygous mutations. The other carried c.55A > G: p.Lys19Glu and c.169C > T: p Arg57Trp biallelic mutations. None of the KATNAL2 variants were found in the 40 adult men with proven fertility. The spermatozoa from patients with KATNAL2 biallelic mutations exhibited conspicuous defects in maturation, head morphology, and the structure of mitochondrial sheaths and flagella. KATNAL2 was mainly expressed in the pericentriolar material and mitochondrial sheath of the spermatozoa from control subjects, but it was undetectable in the spermatozoa from the patients. Furthermore, Katnal2 null male mice were infertile and displayed an OAT phenotype. Our results proved that the biallelic mutations in KATNAL2 cause male infertility and OAT in humans for the first time, to our knowledge, which could enrich the genetic defect spectrum of OAT and be beneficial for its accurate genetic screening and clinical diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoli Wei
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Wensheng Liu
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology Centre, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xingshen Zhu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Youzhu Li
- Reproductive Medicine Centre, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Xiaoya Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Jing Chen
- Research Group for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
| | - Vladimir Isachenko
- Research Group for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
| | - Yanwei Sha
- Department of Andrology, United Diagnostic and Research Centre for Clinical Genetics, School of Medicine & Women and Children's Hospital, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Zhongxian Lu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
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Composition and function of the C1b/C1f region in the ciliary central apparatus. Sci Rep 2021; 11:11760. [PMID: 34083607 PMCID: PMC8175508 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-90996-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Motile cilia are ultrastructurally complex cell organelles with the ability to actively move. The highly conserved central apparatus of motile 9 × 2 + 2 cilia is composed of two microtubules and several large microtubule-bound projections, including the C1b/C1f supercomplex. The composition and function of C1b/C1f subunits has only recently started to emerge. We show that in the model ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila, C1b/C1f contains several evolutionarily conserved proteins: Spef2A, Cfap69, Cfap246/LRGUK, Adgb/androglobin, and a ciliate-specific protein Tt170/TTHERM_00205170. Deletion of genes encoding either Spef2A or Cfap69 led to a loss of the entire C1b projection and resulted in an abnormal vortex motion of cilia. Loss of either Cfap246 or Adgb caused only minor alterations in ciliary motility. Comparative analyses of wild-type and C1b-deficient mutant ciliomes revealed that the levels of subunits forming the adjacent C2b projection but not C1d projection are greatly reduced, indicating that C1b stabilizes C2b. Moreover, the levels of several IFT and BBS proteins, HSP70, and enzymes that catalyze the final steps of the glycolytic pathway: enolase ENO1 and pyruvate kinase PYK1, are also reduced in the C1b-less mutants.
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36
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Jiang C, Zhang X, Zhang H, Guo J, Zhang C, Li J, Yang Y. Novel bi-allelic mutations in DNAH1 cause multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella resulting in male infertility. Transl Androl Urol 2021; 10:1656-1664. [PMID: 33968654 PMCID: PMC8100829 DOI: 10.21037/tau-20-1434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Male infertility is a major health concern and approximately 10–15% of cases are caused by genetic abnormalities. Defects in the sperm flagella are closely related to male infertility, since flagellar beating allows sperm to swim. The sperm of males afflicted with multiple morphological abnormalities of the flagella (MMAF) possess severe defects of the sperm flagella, may impair sperm motility and lead to male infertility. Currently, known genetic defects only account for MMAF in about 60% of patients and need more intensive efforts to explore the relationship between genes and MMAF. Methods The whole-exome sequencing (WES) was performed to analyze the genetic cause of the MMAF patient. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to observe the morphology of sperm cells and to identify the ultrastructural characteristics of the flagella in the patient. The expression of DNAH1 was analyzed by sperm immunofluorescence staining. Results We identified the negative effects produced by the DNAH1 mutations c. 8170.C>T (p. R2724*) and c. 4670C>T (p. T1557M) on DNAH1 expression and the development of sperm flagella. Conclusions Our findings suggest that DNAH1 is associated with the formation of sperm flagella and homozygous loss-of-function mutations in DNAH1 can impair sperm motility and cause male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuan Jiang
- Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, Joint Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine (SCU-CUHK), Key Laboratory of Obstetric & Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects, Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xueguang Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, Joint Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine (SCU-CUHK), Key Laboratory of Obstetric & Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects, Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Heng Zhang
- Department of Otolaryngology, The First People's Hospital of Longquanyi District of Chengdu, Chengdu, China
| | - Junliang Guo
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Obstetric & Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects, Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Chaoliang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jinhong Li
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Obstetric & Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects, Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yihong Yang
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Key Laboratory of Obstetric & Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects, Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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37
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Weng M, Sha Y, Zeng YU, Huang N, Liu W, Zhang X, Zhou H. Mutations in DNAH8 contribute to multiple morphological abnormalities of sperm flagella and male infertility. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2021; 53:472-480. [PMID: 33704367 DOI: 10.1093/abbs/gmab013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Asthenoteratospermia is an important cause of male infertility. Here, we report two infertile patients with severe asthenoteratospermia accompanied by new genetic abnormality. Whole-exome sequencing and bioinformatics analysis suggested that compound heterozygous mutations in DNAH8 (MIM:603337) may be responsible for multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF). Immunofluorescence assay showed that DNAH8 protein expression was significantly decreased in the sperm tail of the patients, and electron microscopy exhibited an abnormal flagellum ultrastructure, while clinical pregnancy could be achieved by intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Therefore, the compound heterozygous mutations in the DNAH8 gene may be responsible for MMAF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingxiang Weng
- School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361002, China
| | - Yanwei Sha
- Department of Andrology, United Diagnostic and Research Center for Clinical Genetics, School of Public Health & Women and Children’s Hospital, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Y u Zeng
- Department of Andrology, United Diagnostic and Research Center for Clinical Genetics, School of Public Health & Women and Children’s Hospital, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Ningyu Huang
- Department of Natural Sciences, Shantou Polytechnic, Shantou 515078, China
| | - Wensheng Liu
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510280, China
| | - Xinzong Zhang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics, Family Planning Research Institute of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou 510600, China
| | - Huiliang Zhou
- Department of Andrology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350005, China
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38
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Central Apparatus, the Molecular Kickstarter of Ciliary and Flagellar Nanomachines. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22063013. [PMID: 33809498 PMCID: PMC7999657 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22063013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Motile cilia and homologous organelles, the flagella, are an early evolutionarily invention, enabling primitive eukaryotic cells to survive and reproduce. In animals, cilia have undergone functional and structural speciation giving raise to typical motile cilia, motile nodal cilia, and sensory immotile cilia. In contrast to other cilia types, typical motile cilia are able to beat in complex, two-phase movements. Moreover, they contain many additional structures, including central apparatus, composed of two single microtubules connected by a bridge-like structure and assembling numerous complexes called projections. A growing body of evidence supports the important role of the central apparatus in the generation and regulation of the motile cilia movement. Here we review data concerning the central apparatus structure, protein composition, and the significance of its components in ciliary beating regulation.
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Lorès P, Kherraf ZE, Amiri-Yekta A, Whitfield M, Daneshipour A, Stouvenel L, Cazin C, Cavarocchi E, Coutton C, Llabador MA, Arnoult C, Thierry-Mieg N, Ferreux L, Patrat C, Hosseini SH, Mustapha SFB, Zouari R, Dulioust E, Ray PF, Touré A. A missense mutation in IFT74, encoding for an essential component for intraflagellar transport of Tubulin, causes asthenozoospermia and male infertility without clinical signs of Bardet-Biedl syndrome. Hum Genet 2021; 140:1031-1043. [PMID: 33689014 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-021-02270-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Cilia and flagella are formed around an evolutionary conserved microtubule-based axoneme and are required for fluid and mucus clearance, tissue homeostasis, cell differentiation and movement. The formation and maintenance of cilia and flagella require bidirectional transit of proteins along the axonemal microtubules, a process called intraflagellar transport (IFT). In humans, IFT defects contribute to a large group of systemic diseases, called ciliopathies, which often display overlapping phenotypes. By performing exome sequencing of a cohort of 167 non-syndromic infertile men displaying multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagellum (MMAF) we identified two unrelated patients carrying a homozygous missense variant adjacent to a splice donor consensus site of IFT74 (c.256G > A;p.Gly86Ser). IFT74 encodes for a core component of the IFT machinery that is essential for the anterograde transport of tubulin. We demonstrate that this missense variant affects IFT74 mRNA splicing and induces the production of at least two distinct mutant proteins with abnormal subcellular localization along the sperm flagellum. Importantly, while IFT74 deficiency was previously implicated in two cases of Bardet-Biedl syndrome, a pleiotropic ciliopathy with variable expressivity, our data indicate that this missense mutation only results in primary male infertility due to MMAF, with no other clinical features. Taken together, our data indicate that the nature of the mutation adds a level of complexity to the clinical manifestations of ciliary dysfunction, thus contributing to the expanding phenotypical spectrum of ciliopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Lorès
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, INSERM, CNRS, 75014, Paris, France
| | - Zine-Eddine Kherraf
- Université Grenoble Alpes, Institut pour l'avancée des Biosciences, INSERM, CNRS, 38000, Grenoble, France.,CHU de Grenoble, UM GI-DPI, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Amir Amiri-Yekta
- Department of Genetics, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Marjorie Whitfield
- Université Grenoble Alpes, Institut pour l'avancée des Biosciences, INSERM, CNRS, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Abbas Daneshipour
- Department of Genetics, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Laurence Stouvenel
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, INSERM, CNRS, 75014, Paris, France
| | - Caroline Cazin
- Université Grenoble Alpes, Institut pour l'avancée des Biosciences, INSERM, CNRS, 38000, Grenoble, France.,CHU de Grenoble, UM GI-DPI, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Emma Cavarocchi
- Université Grenoble Alpes, Institut pour l'avancée des Biosciences, INSERM, CNRS, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Charles Coutton
- Université Grenoble Alpes, Institut pour l'avancée des Biosciences, INSERM, CNRS, 38000, Grenoble, France.,CHU Grenoble Alpes, UM de Génétique Chromosomique, Grenoble, France
| | - Marie-Astrid Llabador
- Laboratoire de Biologie de la Reproduction, Groupe Hospitalier Universitaire Paris Nord Val de Seine, Assistante Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 75018, Paris, France
| | - Christophe Arnoult
- Université Grenoble Alpes, Institut pour l'avancée des Biosciences, INSERM, CNRS, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | | | - Lucile Ferreux
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, INSERM, CNRS, 75014, Paris, France.,Laboratoire d'Histologie Embryologie, Biologie de la Reproduction, CECOS Groupe Hospitalier Universitaire Paris Centre, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 75014, Paris, France
| | - Catherine Patrat
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, INSERM, CNRS, 75014, Paris, France.,Laboratoire d'Histologie Embryologie, Biologie de la Reproduction, CECOS Groupe Hospitalier Universitaire Paris Centre, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 75014, Paris, France
| | - Seyedeh-Hanieh Hosseini
- Department of Andrology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Raoudha Zouari
- Polyclinique les Jasmins, Centre d'Aide Médicale à la Procréation, Centre Urbain Nord, 1003, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Emmanuel Dulioust
- Université de Paris, Institut Cochin, INSERM, CNRS, 75014, Paris, France.,Laboratoire d'Histologie Embryologie, Biologie de la Reproduction, CECOS Groupe Hospitalier Universitaire Paris Centre, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 75014, Paris, France
| | - Pierre F Ray
- Université Grenoble Alpes, Institut pour l'avancée des Biosciences, INSERM, CNRS, 38000, Grenoble, France.,CHU de Grenoble, UM GI-DPI, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Aminata Touré
- Université Grenoble Alpes, Institut pour l'avancée des Biosciences, INSERM, CNRS, 38000, Grenoble, France.
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Lin H, Zhou Z, Zhao J, Zhou T, Bai H, Ke Q, Pu F, Zheng W, Xu P. Genome-Wide Association Study Identifies Genomic Loci of Sex Determination and Gonadosomatic Index Traits in Large Yellow Croaker (Larimichthys crocea). MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2021; 23:127-139. [PMID: 33196953 DOI: 10.1007/s10126-020-10007-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Larimichthys crocea is one of the traditional marine culture fishes in China, widely distributed in South China Sea, East Sea, and southern Yellow Sea. Sex dimorphism is evident in this species that females present a substantial growth strength than males, suggesting breeding females could obtain more economic benefits in L. crocea aquaculture industry. With the continuous expansion of aquaculture industry, both identifying sex-associated genome region and understanding the genetic basis underlying gonad differentiation and development matter to not only sex control aquaculture but also breeding industry. Thus, genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) of sex determination was conducted with a random breeding population of 905 individuals (including 463 females and 442 males) by ddRAD sequencing. For sex determination, 21 significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in chromosome (Chr) 22 were identified. Surrounding these SNPs, we founded 14 candidate genes, including dmrt1, dmrt3, and piwil2, fam102a, and odf2. The sex-associated region was narrowed down further to 2.4 Mb on Chr22 through Fst scanning and insertion-deletion (InDel) analysis. Besides, 3 SNPs in the supposed sex-determining region on Chr22 were identified as highly associated with gonad differentiation through GWAS on gonadosomatic index (GSI) in 350 males and 231 females. Because of the significant difference of GSI between females and males of L. crocea, GWAS on GSI of different genders was also conducted independently. Finally, we identified a SNP in Chr18 showing genome-wide significant association with male GSI (MGSI) and three genes axl, cyp2a10, and cyp2g1 involved in the gonadal development regulation process of aromatase. Overall, this study explored the genetic basis of sex determination mechanism and provided novel insights into gonad differentiation and development, offering solid genetic support for sex control breeding, marker-assisted selection, and marine resources conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huanling Lin
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding of Marine Organisms, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Zhixiong Zhou
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding of Marine Organisms, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Ji Zhao
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding of Marine Organisms, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Tao Zhou
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding of Marine Organisms, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Huaqiang Bai
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding of Marine Organisms, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Qiaozhen Ke
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding of Marine Organisms, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- State Key Laboratory of Large Yellow Croaker Breeding, Ningde Fufa Fisheries Company Limited, Ningde, China
| | - Fei Pu
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding of Marine Organisms, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Weiqiang Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Large Yellow Croaker Breeding, Ningde Fufa Fisheries Company Limited, Ningde, China
| | - Peng Xu
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding of Marine Organisms, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Large Yellow Croaker Breeding, Ningde Fufa Fisheries Company Limited, Ningde, China.
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Abstract
Asthenozoospermia (AZS), defined by reduced motility or absent sperm motility, is one of the main causes of male infertility. This condition may be divided into isolated AZS in the absence of other symptoms and syndromic AZS, which is characterized by several concurrent clinical symptoms. Sperm motility depends on fully functional flagellum, energy availability, and the crosstalk of several signaling pathways; therefore, mutations in genes involved in flagellar assembly and motile regulation can cause AZS. Thus, it is crucial to understand the genetic causes and mechanisms contributing to AZS. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge about the particular genes and mechanisms involved in intact flagellum, energy availability, and signaling transduction that could cause human AZS and discuss the respective gene defects known to be responsible for these abnormalities. Additionally, we discuss intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcomes and offspring health where available in these cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaofeng Tu
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, China; Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China; College of Life Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Weili Wang
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Tongyao Hu
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Guangxiu Lu
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, China
| | - Ge Lin
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, China; Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yue-Qiu Tan
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, China; Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China; College of Life Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China.
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Jiao SY, Yang YH, Chen SR. Molecular genetics of infertility: loss-of-function mutations in humans and corresponding knockout/mutated mice. Hum Reprod Update 2020; 27:154-189. [PMID: 33118031 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmaa034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Revised: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Infertility is a major issue in human reproductive health, affecting an estimated 15% of couples worldwide. Infertility can result from disorders of sex development (DSD) or from reproductive endocrine disorders (REDs) with onset in infancy, early childhood or adolescence. Male infertility, accounting for roughly half of all infertility cases, generally manifests as decreased sperm count (azoospermia or oligozoospermia), attenuated sperm motility (asthenozoospermia) or a higher proportion of morphologically abnormal sperm (teratozoospermia). Female infertility can be divided into several classical types, including, but not limited to, oocyte maturation arrest, premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), fertilization failure and early embryonic arrest. An estimated one half of infertility cases have a genetic component; however, most genetic causes of human infertility are currently uncharacterized. The advent of high-throughput sequencing technologies has greatly facilitated the identification of infertility-associated gene mutations in patients over the past 20 years. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE This review aims to conduct a narrative review of the genetic causes of human infertility. Loss-of-function mutation discoveries related to human infertility are summarized and further illustrated in tables. Corresponding knockout/mutated animal models of causative genes for infertility are also introduced. SEARCH METHODS A search of the PubMed database was performed to identify relevant studies published in English. The term 'mutation' was combined with a range of search terms related to the core focus of the review: infertility, DSD, REDs, azoospermia or oligozoospermia, asthenozoospermia, multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF), primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), acephalic spermatozoa syndrome (ASS), globozoospermia, teratozoospermia, acrosome, oocyte maturation arrest, POI, zona pellucida, fertilization defects and early embryonic arrest. OUTCOMES Our search generated ∼2000 records. Overall, 350 articles were included in the final review. For genetic investigation of human infertility, the traditional candidate gene approach is proceeding slowly, whereas high-throughput sequencing technologies in larger cohorts of individuals is identifying an increasing number of causative genes linked to human infertility. This review provides a wide panel of gene mutations in several typical forms of human infertility, including DSD, REDs, male infertility (oligozoospermia, MMAF, PCD, ASS and globozoospermia) and female infertility (oocyte maturation arrest, POI, fertilization failure and early embryonic arrest). The causative genes, their identified mutations, mutation rate, studied population and their corresponding knockout/mutated mice of non-obstructive azoospermia, MMAF, ASS, globozoospermia, oocyte maturation arrest, POI, fertilization failure and early embryonic arrest are further illustrated by tables. In this review, we suggest that (i) our current knowledge of infertility is largely obtained from knockout mouse models; (ii) larger cohorts of clinical cases with distinct clinical characteristics need to be recruited in future studies; (iii) the whole picture of genetic causes of human infertility relies on both the identification of more mutations for distinct types of infertility and the integration of known mutation information; (iv) knockout/mutated animal models are needed to show whether the phenotypes of genetically altered animals are consistent with findings in human infertile patients carrying a deleterious mutation of the homologous gene; and (v) the molecular mechanisms underlying human infertility caused by pathogenic mutations are largely unclear in most current studies. WILDER IMPLICATIONS It is important to use our current understanding to identify avenues and priorities for future research in the field of genetic causes of infertility as well as to apply mutation knowledge to risk prediction, genetic diagnosis and potential treatment for human infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shi-Ya Jiao
- Education Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation & Regulation Biology, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, 100875 Beijing, China
| | - Yi-Hong Yang
- Reproduction Medical Center of West China Second University Hospital, Key Laboratory of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, 610041 Chengdu, China
| | - Su-Ren Chen
- Education Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation & Regulation Biology, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, 100875 Beijing, China
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Lee L, Ostrowski LE. Motile cilia genetics and cell biology: big results from little mice. Cell Mol Life Sci 2020; 78:769-797. [PMID: 32915243 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-020-03633-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Revised: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Our understanding of motile cilia and their role in disease has increased tremendously over the last two decades, with critical information and insight coming from the analysis of mouse models. Motile cilia form on specific epithelial cell types and typically beat in a coordinated, whip-like manner to facilitate the flow and clearance of fluids along the cell surface. Defects in formation and function of motile cilia result in primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), a genetically heterogeneous disorder with a well-characterized phenotype but no effective treatment. A number of model systems, ranging from unicellular eukaryotes to mammals, have provided information about the genetics, biochemistry, and structure of motile cilia. However, with remarkable resources available for genetic manipulation and developmental, pathological, and physiological analysis of phenotype, the mouse has risen to the forefront of understanding mammalian motile cilia and modeling PCD. This is evidenced by a large number of relevant mouse lines and an extensive body of genetic and phenotypic data. More recently, application of innovative cell biological techniques to these models has enabled substantial advancement in elucidating the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the biogenesis and function of mammalian motile cilia. In this article, we will review genetic and cell biological studies of motile cilia in mouse models and their contributions to our understanding of motile cilia and PCD pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lance Lee
- Pediatrics and Rare Diseases Group, Sanford Research, Sioux Falls, SD, USA. .,Department of Pediatrics, Sanford School of Medicine of the University of South Dakota, Sioux Falls, SD, USA.
| | - Lawrence E Ostrowski
- Marsico Lung Institute/Cystic Fibrosis Center and Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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Cindrić S, Dougherty GW, Olbrich H, Hjeij R, Loges NT, Amirav I, Philipsen MC, Marthin JK, Nielsen KG, Sutharsan S, Raidt J, Werner C, Pennekamp P, Dworniczak B, Omran H. SPEF2- and HYDIN-Mutant Cilia Lack the Central Pair-associated Protein SPEF2, Aiding Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia Diagnostics. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 2020; 62:382-396. [PMID: 31545650 DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2019-0086oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a genetically heterogeneous chronic destructive airway disease. PCD is traditionally diagnosed by nasal nitric oxide measurement, analysis of ciliary beating, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and/or genetic testing. In most genetic PCD variants, laterality defects can occur. However, it is difficult to establish a diagnosis in individuals with PCD and central pair (CP) defects, and alternative strategies are required because of very subtle ciliary beating abnormalities, a normal ciliary ultrastructure, and normal situs composition. Mutations in HYDIN are known to cause CP defects, but the genetic analysis of HYDIN variants is confounded by the pseudogene HYDIN2, which is almost identical in terms of intron/exon structure. We have previously shown that several types of PCD can be diagnosed via immunofluorescence (IF) microscopy analyses. Here, using IF microscopy, we demonstrated that in individuals with PCD and CP defects, the CP-associated protein SPEF2 is absent in HYDIN-mutant cells, revealing its dependence on functional HYDIN. Next, we performed IF analyses of SPEF2 in respiratory cells from 189 individuals with suspected PCD and situs solitus. Forty-one of the 189 individuals had undetectable SPEF2 and were subjected to a genetic analysis, which revealed one novel loss-of-function mutation in SPEF2 and three reported and 13 novel HYDIN mutations in 15 individuals. The remaining 25 individuals are good candidates for new, as-yet uncharacterized PCD variants that affect the CP apparatus. SPEF2 mutations have been associated with male infertility but have not previously been identified to cause PCD. We identified a mutation of SPEF2 that is causative for PCD with a CP defect. We conclude that SPEF2 IF analyses can facilitate the detection of CP defects and evaluation of the pathogenicity of HYDIN variants, thus aiding the molecular diagnosis of CP defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Cindrić
- Department of General Pediatrics, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Gerard W Dougherty
- Department of General Pediatrics, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Heike Olbrich
- Department of General Pediatrics, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Rim Hjeij
- Department of General Pediatrics, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Niki Tomas Loges
- Department of General Pediatrics, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Israel Amirav
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Maria C Philipsen
- Danish PCD Centre, ERN Accredited, Pediatric Pulmonary Service, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - June K Marthin
- Danish PCD Centre, ERN Accredited, Pediatric Pulmonary Service, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Kim G Nielsen
- Danish PCD Centre, ERN Accredited, Pediatric Pulmonary Service, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sivagurunathan Sutharsan
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Ruhrlandklinik, Universitätsmedizin Essen, Essen, Germany; and
| | - Johanna Raidt
- Department of General Pediatrics, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Claudius Werner
- Department of Pediatrics, HELIOS Hospital Schwerin, Schwerin, Germany
| | - Petra Pennekamp
- Department of General Pediatrics, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Bernd Dworniczak
- Department of General Pediatrics, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Heymut Omran
- Department of General Pediatrics, University Children's Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
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45
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Miyata H, Morohoshi A, Ikawa M. Analysis of the sperm flagellar axoneme using gene-modified mice. Exp Anim 2020; 69:374-381. [PMID: 32554934 PMCID: PMC7677079 DOI: 10.1538/expanim.20-0064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Infertility is a global health issue that affects 1 in 6 couples, with male factors contributing to 50% of cases. The flagellar axoneme is a motility apparatus of spermatozoa, and disruption of its structure or function could lead to male infertility. The axoneme consists of a "9+2" structure that contains a central pair of two singlet microtubules surrounded by nine doublet microtubules, in addition to several macromolecular complexes such as dynein arms, radial spokes, and nexin-dynein regulatory complexes. Molecular components of the flagellar axoneme are evolutionally conserved from unicellular flagellates to mammals, including mice. Although knockout (KO) mice have been generated to understand their function in the formation and motility regulation of sperm flagella, the majority of KO mice die before sexual maturation due to impaired ciliary motility, which makes it challenging to analyze mature spermatozoa. In this review, we introduce methods that have been used to overcome premature lethality, focusing on KO mouse lines of central pair components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haruhiko Miyata
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Akane Morohoshi
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.,Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Masahito Ikawa
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.,Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.,The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
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Biallelic mutations of CFAP74 may cause human primary ciliary dyskinesia and MMAF phenotype. J Hum Genet 2020; 65:961-969. [PMID: 32555313 DOI: 10.1038/s10038-020-0790-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2019] [Revised: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by recurrent respiratory infections, nasosinusitis, tympanitis, and/or male infertility, all of which can severely impair the patient's quality of life. Multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF) is one type of severe teratozoospermia and results from a variety of flagellar defects. In this study, we conducted whole-exome sequencing to identify and evaluate the genetic lesions in two patients with potential PCD and MMAF. Biallelic mutations in exon 10, c.983G>A; p.(Gly328Asp), and exon 29, c.3532G>A; p.(Asp1178Asn), of the CFAP74 (NM_001304360) gene were identified in patient 1 (P1), and biallelic mutations in exon 7, c.652C>T; p.(Arg218Trp), and exon 35, c. 4331G>C; p.(Ser1444Thr), of the same gene were identified in patient 2 (P2). Bioinformatic analysis suggested that these variants may be disease causing. Immunofluorescence confirmed that CFAP74 was absent in these patients' sperm samples. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) was carried out for P1, and his wife became pregnant after embryo transfer and gave birth to a healthy baby. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to identify the importance of CFAP74 in potential PCD and MMAF, contributing to the genetic diagnosis of these disorders and helping to predict pregnancy outcomes relevant in in vitro fertilization.
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Sironen A, Shoemark A, Patel M, Loebinger MR, Mitchison HM. Sperm defects in primary ciliary dyskinesia and related causes of male infertility. Cell Mol Life Sci 2020; 77:2029-2048. [PMID: 31781811 PMCID: PMC7256033 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-019-03389-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2019] [Revised: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 11/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
The core axoneme structure of both the motile cilium and sperm tail has the same ultrastructural 9 + 2 microtubular arrangement. Thus, it can be expected that genetic defects in motile cilia also have an effect on sperm tail formation. However, recent studies in human patients, animal models and model organisms have indicated that there are differences in components of specific structures within the cilia and sperm tail axonemes. Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a genetic disease with symptoms caused by malfunction of motile cilia such as chronic nasal discharge, ear, nose and chest infections and pulmonary disease (bronchiectasis). Half of the patients also have situs inversus and in many cases male infertility has been reported. PCD genes have a role in motile cilia biogenesis, structure and function. To date mutations in over 40 genes have been identified cause PCD, but the exact effect of these mutations on spermatogenesis is poorly understood. Furthermore, mutations in several additional axonemal genes have recently been identified to cause a sperm-specific phenotype, termed multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF). In this review, we discuss the association of PCD genes and other axonemal genes with male infertility, drawing particular attention to possible differences between their functions in motile cilia and sperm tails.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anu Sironen
- Genetics and Genomic Medicine, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, UK.
| | - Amelia Shoemark
- Department of Paediatrics, Royal Brompton Hospital, London, UK
- School of Medicine, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Mitali Patel
- Genetics and Genomic Medicine, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Michael R Loebinger
- Host Defence Unit, Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Hannah M Mitchison
- Genetics and Genomic Medicine, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, UK
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48
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Absence of murine CFAP61 causes male infertility due to multiple morphological abnormalities of the flagella. Sci Bull (Beijing) 2020; 65:854-864. [PMID: 36659204 DOI: 10.1016/j.scib.2020.01.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Revised: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Impaired flagellar development and impaired motility of sperm is a cause of infertility in males. Several genes, including those of the AKAP, CCDC, CFAP, and DNAH families, among others, are involved in the "multiple morphological abnormalities of the flagella" (MMAF) phenotype; these are the most common causes of male infertility. The Cilia-and flagella-associated protein (CFAP) family includes six members reported to cause MMAF phenotypes: CFAP43, CFAP44, CFAP69, CFAP65, CFAP70, and CFAP251. Here, we found that cilia-and flagella-associated protein 61 (Cfap61) is highly expressed specifically in murine testes and show that the Cfap61-knockout male mice demonstrate MMAF phenotype, including sperm with short, coiled, and irregular flagella. Deletion of Cfap61 resulted in severe morphological and behavior abnormalities in sperm, reduced total sperm counts, impaired sperm motility, and led to male infertility. Notably, absence of Cfap61 impaired sperm flagella ultrastructural abnormalities on account of numerous distortions in multiple flagellum components. Immunostaining experiments in wild-type mice and healthy adult humans indicated that Cfap61 is initially localized at the neck of sperm, where it potentially functions in flagellum formation, and is later localized to the midpiece of the sperm. Thus, our study provides compelling evidence that dysregulation of Cfap61 affects sperm flagellum development and induces male infertility in mice. Further investigations of the CFAP61 gene in humans alongside clinical evidence showing MMAF phenotype in humans should contribute to our understanding of developmental processes underlying sperm flagellum formation and the pathogenic mechanisms that cause male infertility.
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49
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Liang C, He Y, Liu Y, Gao Y, Han Y, Li X, Zhao Y, Wang J, Zhang J. Fluoride exposure alters the ultra-structure of sperm flagellum via reducing key protein expressions in testis. CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 246:125772. [PMID: 31901658 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.125772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Revised: 12/25/2019] [Accepted: 12/27/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Excessive fluoride (F) ingestion via drinking water interfered with spermatogenesis and lowered sperm quality of human and animals. However, it is still unclear why the effects of fluoride on sperm quality focus on mostly sperm motility rather than sperm count. The objective of this study is to investigate the potential relationship between alteration in the structure and function of sperm flagellum and fluoride exposure in the environment. 40 male mice were allocated to four groups which were treated with 0, 25, 50, 100 mg/L NaF deionized water, respectively, for 8 weeks continuously. The testicular morphology, ultra-structure of fibrous sheath and axoneme of sperm flagellum, and eleven key function genes Akap3, Akap4, Dnah1, Eno4, Cfap43, Cfap44, Hydin, Spef2, Spag6, Spag16, and Cfap69 were examined by histology, transmission electron microscopy, and real-time PCR methods respectively. The results displayed that fluoride damaged the typical "9 + 2″ microtubule structure including fibrous sheathes and axoneme of sperm flagellum in testes of mice. Furthermore, the mRNA and protein expression levels of AKAP3 and AKAP4 related to fibrous sheathes formation, and CFAP43, CFAP44 and HYDIN in axoneme were down-regulated by fluoride exposure. Taken together, we revealed that fluoride altered the structures of the fibrous sheathes and axonemal in sperm flagellum via down-regulating the mRNA and protein expression levels of AKAP3, AKAP4, CFAP43, CFAP44, and HYDIN, which may be one of the reasons that fluoride lowered sperm quality and male reproductive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Liang
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Ecological Animal Science and Environmental Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi, 030801, China; College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi, 030801, China
| | - Yuyang He
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Ecological Animal Science and Environmental Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi, 030801, China; College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi, 030801, China
| | - Yu Liu
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Ecological Animal Science and Environmental Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi, 030801, China; College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi, 030801, China
| | - Yan Gao
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Ecological Animal Science and Environmental Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi, 030801, China; College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi, 030801, China
| | - Yongli Han
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Ecological Animal Science and Environmental Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi, 030801, China; College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi, 030801, China
| | - Xiang Li
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Ecological Animal Science and Environmental Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi, 030801, China; College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi, 030801, China
| | - Yangfei Zhao
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Ecological Animal Science and Environmental Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi, 030801, China; College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi, 030801, China
| | - Jundong Wang
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Ecological Animal Science and Environmental Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi, 030801, China; College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi, 030801, China.
| | - Jianhai Zhang
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Ecological Animal Science and Environmental Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi, 030801, China; College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi, 030801, China.
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50
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Li L, Feng F, Wang Y, Guo J, Yue W. Mutational effect of human CFAP43 splice-site variant causing multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella. Andrologia 2020; 52:e13575. [PMID: 32207550 DOI: 10.1111/and.13575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2019] [Revised: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF) is a rare disease associated with male infertility. In our previous study, we identified a homozygous CFAP43 splice-site variant, c.3661-2delA, in a patient with MMAF. However, the mutational effect of this variant was unknown. Here, using a minigene assay, we demonstrated that the c.3661-2delA variant may cause exon-30 to be skipped, thus generating the p.E1221_K1256del protein. By secondary and three-dimensional structural biology prediction analysis, we found that the mutant protein became 'tighter' in comparison with the wild-type protein, resulting in amino acid rearrangements in CFAP43 protein structure. We elucidated the molecular mechanism of the c.3661-2delA splice-site variant causing MMAF in the current study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Li
- Central Laboratory, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Fan Feng
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Yipeng Wang
- Perinatal Diagnostic Center, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jianying Guo
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Wentao Yue
- Central Laboratory, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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