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Luo C, Chen Z, Meng L, Tan C, He W, Tu C, Du J, Lu GX, Lin G, Tan YQ, Hu TY. A hemizygous loss-of-function variant in BCORL1 is associated with male infertility and oligoasthenoteratozoospermia. Clin Genet 2024; 106:27-36. [PMID: 38342987 DOI: 10.1111/cge.14500] [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: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/13/2024]
Abstract
Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT) is a common type of male infertility; however, its genetic causes remain largely unknown. Some of the genetic determinants of OAT are gene defects affecting spermatogenesis. BCORL1 (BCL6 corepressor like 1) is a transcriptional corepressor that exhibits the OAT phenotype in a knockout mouse model. A hemizygous missense variant of BCORL1 (c.2615T > G:p.Val872Gly) was reported in an infertile male patient with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA). Nevertheless, the correlation between BCORL1 variants and OAT in humans remains unknown. In this study, we used whole-exome sequencing to identify a novel hemizygous nonsense variant of BCORL1 (c.1564G > T:p.Glu522*) in a male patient with OAT from a Han Chinese family. Functional analysis showed that the variant produced a truncated protein with altered cellular localization and a dysfunctional interaction with SKP1 (S-phase kinase-associated protein 1). Further population screening identified four BCORL1 missense variants in subjects with both OAT (1 of 325, 0.31%) and NOA (4 of 355, 1.13%), but no pathogenic BCORL1 variants among 362 fertile subjects. In conclusion, our findings indicate that BCORL1 is a potential candidate gene in the pathogenesis of OAT and NOA, expanded its disease spectrum and suggested that BCORL1 may play a role in spermatogenesis by interacting with SKP1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Luo
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, NHC Key Laboratory of Human Stem Cell and Reproduction Engineering, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Zixu Chen
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, NHC Key Laboratory of Human Stem Cell and Reproduction Engineering, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Lanlan Meng
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, NHC Key Laboratory of Human Stem Cell and Reproduction Engineering, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-XIANGYA, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Chen Tan
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, NHC Key Laboratory of Human Stem Cell and Reproduction Engineering, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Wenbin He
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-XIANGYA, Changsha, Hunan, China
- College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Chaofeng Tu
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, NHC Key Laboratory of Human Stem Cell and Reproduction Engineering, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-XIANGYA, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Juan Du
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, NHC Key Laboratory of Human Stem Cell and Reproduction Engineering, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-XIANGYA, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Guang-Xiu Lu
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-XIANGYA, Changsha, Hunan, China
- College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Ge Lin
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, NHC Key Laboratory of Human Stem Cell and Reproduction Engineering, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-XIANGYA, Changsha, Hunan, China
- College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yue-Qiu Tan
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, NHC Key Laboratory of Human Stem Cell and Reproduction Engineering, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-XIANGYA, Changsha, Hunan, China
- College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Tong-Yao Hu
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, NHC Key Laboratory of Human Stem Cell and Reproduction Engineering, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
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Chen J, Jia Y, Zhong J, Zhang K, Dai H, He G, Li F, Zeng L, Fan C, Xu H. Novel mutation leading to splice donor loss in a conserved site of DMD gene causes Duchenne muscular dystrophy with cryptorchidism. J Med Genet 2024:jmg-2024-109896. [PMID: 38621993 DOI: 10.1136/jmg-2024-109896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND As one of the most common congenital abnormalities in male births, cryptorchidism has been found to have a polygenic aetiology according to previous studies of common variants. However, little is known about genetic predisposition of rare variants for cryptorchidism, since rare variants have larger effective size on diseases than common variants. METHODS In this study, a cohort of 115 Chinese probands with cryptorchidism was analysed using whole-genome sequencing, alongside 19 parental controls and 2136 unaffected men. Additionally, CRISPR-Cas9 editing of a conserved variant was performed in a mouse model, with MRI screening used to observe the phenotype. RESULTS In 30 of 115 patients (26.1%), we identified four novel genes (ARSH, DMD, MAGEA4 and SHROOM2) affecting at least five unrelated patients and four known genes (USP9Y, UBA1, BCORL1 and KDM6A) with the candidate rare pathogenic variants affecting at least two cases. Burden tests of rare variants revealed the genome-wide significances for newly identified genes (p<2.5×10-6) under the Bonferroni correction. Surprisingly, novel and known genes were mainly found on X chromosome (seven on X and one on Y) and all rare X-chromosomal segregating variants exhibited a maternal inheritance rather than de novo origin. CRISPR-Cas9 mouse modelling of a splice donor loss variant in DMD (NC_000023.11:g.32454661C>G), which resides in a conserved site across vertebrates, replicated bilateral cryptorchidism phenotypes, confirmed by MRI at 4 and 10 weeks. The movement tests further revealed symptoms of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in transgenic mice. CONCLUSION Our results revealed the role of the DMD gene mutation in causing cryptorchidism. The results also suggest that maternal-X inheritance of pathogenic defects could have a predominant role in the development of cryptorchidism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianhai Chen
- Institutes for Systems Genetics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Yangying Jia
- Institutes for Systems Genetics, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Jie Zhong
- Institute of Rare Diseases, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Kun Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Hongzheng Dai
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Guanglin He
- Institute of Rare Diseases, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, People's Republic of China
| | - Fuping Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Translational Medicine, Center for Translational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University), Ministry of Education, Clinical Research Center for Birth Defects of Sichuan Province, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Li Zeng
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Chuanzhu Fan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, USA
| | - Huayan Xu
- Department of Radiology, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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Sang L, Ge Y, Liu F, Wei K, Shen X, Zhang Y, Li Z, Lu W, Gao X, Zhang Y. Association between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and sex hormone levels in males based on human studies. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 271:115998. [PMID: 38262091 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.115998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 01/13/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous chemicals in the environment and our daily lives. Several epidemiological studies have revealed that PFAS exposure is linked to male sex hormone levels; however, the conclusions are inconsistent across studies. Consequently, we performed a meta-analysis to systematically evaluate the association between PFAS exposure and male sex hormones. METHODS The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) standards were followed during the meta-analysis. PubMed, Wed of Science, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Ovid databases were used to identify suitable articles before June 2023. The 95% CI and β values were calculated to assess the association between male sex hormone levels and PFAS exposure. Heterogeneity among the included studies was tested using inconsistency statistics (I2). RESULTS The literature search identified 12 published articles that met our search criteria, involving 7506 participants. Our results revealed that perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) exposures were negatively correlated with testosterone (β = -0.05; 95% CI: -0.09, -0.02, P = 0.003) and (β = -0.04; 95% CI: -0.08, 0.00, P = 0.049), respectively. CONCLUSION Exposure to PFNA and PFOA is negatively correlated with changes in male testosterone levels. This correlation suggests that we need to pay attention in the future to whether they are potential risk factors for male reproductive health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingli Sang
- Department of Public Health, Kangda College of Nanjing Medical University, Lianyungang 222000, China
| | - Yue Ge
- Department of Public Health, Kangda College of Nanjing Medical University, Lianyungang 222000, China
| | - Fucun Liu
- Department of Public Health, Kangda College of Nanjing Medical University, Lianyungang 222000, China
| | - Kai Wei
- Department of Public Health, Kangda College of Nanjing Medical University, Lianyungang 222000, China
| | - Xingyu Shen
- Department of Public Health, Kangda College of Nanjing Medical University, Lianyungang 222000, China
| | - Yuxin Zhang
- Department of Public Health, Kangda College of Nanjing Medical University, Lianyungang 222000, China
| | - Zheng Li
- Department of Public Health, Kangda College of Nanjing Medical University, Lianyungang 222000, China
| | - Wencen Lu
- Department of Public Health, Kangda College of Nanjing Medical University, Lianyungang 222000, China
| | - Xia Gao
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery of Xuzhou Cancer Hospital, XuZhou 2210000, China.
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Public Health, Kangda College of Nanjing Medical University, Lianyungang 222000, China.
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Cavarocchi E, Sayou C, Lorès P, Cazin C, Stouvenel L, El Khouri E, Coutton C, Kherraf ZE, Patrat C, Govin J, Thierry-Mieg N, Whitfield M, Ray PF, Dulioust E, Touré A. Identification of IQCH as a calmodulin-associated protein required for sperm motility in humans. iScience 2023; 26:107354. [PMID: 37520705 PMCID: PMC10382937 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Sperm fertilization ability mainly relies on proper sperm progression through the female genital tract and capacitation, which involves phosphorylation signaling pathways triggered by calcium and bicarbonate. We performed exome sequencing of an infertile asthenozoospermic patient and identified truncating variants in MAP7D3, encoding a microtubule-associated protein, and IQCH, encoding a protein of unknown function with enzymatic and signaling features. We demonstrate the deleterious impact of both variants on sperm transcripts and proteins from the patient. We show that, in vitro, patient spermatozoa could not induce the phosphorylation cascades associated with capacitation. We also provide evidence for IQCH association with calmodulin, a well-established calcium-binding protein that regulates the calmodulin kinase. Notably, we describe IQCH spatial distribution around the sperm axoneme, supporting its function within flagella. Overall, our work highlights the cumulative pathological impact of gene mutations and identifies IQCH as a key protein required for sperm motility and capacitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Cavarocchi
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, INSERM U 1209, CNRS UMR 5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Camille Sayou
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, INSERM U 1209, CNRS UMR 5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Patrick Lorès
- Institut Cochin, INSERM U1016, CNRS UMR 8104, Université Paris Cité, 75014 Paris, France
| | - Caroline Cazin
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, INSERM U 1209, CNRS UMR 5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, 38000 Grenoble, France
- CHU de Grenoble Alpes, UM GI-DPI, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Laurence Stouvenel
- Institut Cochin, INSERM U1016, CNRS UMR 8104, Université Paris Cité, 75014 Paris, France
| | - Elma El Khouri
- Institut Cochin, INSERM U1016, CNRS UMR 8104, Université Paris Cité, 75014 Paris, France
| | - Charles Coutton
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, INSERM U 1209, CNRS UMR 5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, 38000 Grenoble, France
- CHU Grenoble Alpes, UM de Génétique Chromosomique, Grenoble, France
| | | | - Catherine Patrat
- Institut Cochin, INSERM U1016, CNRS UMR 8104, Université Paris Cité, 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
| | - Jérôme Govin
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, INSERM U 1209, CNRS UMR 5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | | | - Marjorie Whitfield
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, INSERM U 1209, CNRS UMR 5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Pierre F. Ray
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, INSERM U 1209, CNRS UMR 5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, 38000 Grenoble, France
- CHU de Grenoble Alpes, UM GI-DPI, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Emmanuel Dulioust
- Institut Cochin, INSERM U1016, CNRS UMR 8104, Université Paris Cité, 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
| | - Aminata Touré
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, INSERM U 1209, CNRS UMR 5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, 38000 Grenoble, France
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Chen Y, Han Y, Wu Y, Hui R, Yang Y, Zhong Y, Zhang S, Zhang W. Pharmacogenetic association of the NR1H3 promoter variant with antihypertensive response among patients with hypertension: A longitudinal study. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1083134. [PMID: 36950018 PMCID: PMC10025344 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1083134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: The genetic factors in assessing therapeutic efficacy and predicting antihypertensive drug response are unclear. Therefore, this study aims to identify the associations between variants and antihypertensive drug response. Methods: A longitudinal study including 1837 hypertensive patients was conducted in Northern China and followed up for a median 2.24 years. The associations of 11 candidate variants with blood pressure changes in response to antihypertensive drugs and with the risk of cardiovascular events during the follow-up were examined. The dual-luciferase assay was carried out to assess the effect of genetic variants on gene transcriptional activity. Results: The variant rs11039149A>G in the promoter of nuclear receptor subfamily 1 group H member 3 (NR1H3) was associated with the change in systolic blood pressure (ΔSBP) in response to calcium channel blockers (CCBs) monotherapy. Patients carrying rs11039149AG genotype showed a significant increase of systolic blood pressure (SBP) at follow-up compared with AA carriers, and the difference of ΔSBP between AG and AA carriers was 5.94 mm Hg (95%CI: 2.09-9.78, p = 0.002). In 1,184 patients with CCBs therapy, SBP levels decreased in AA carriers, but increased in AG carriers, the difference of ΔSBP between AG and AA carriers was 8.04 mm Hg (95%CI: 3.28-12.81, p = 0.001). Further analysis in 359 patients with CCBs monotherapy, the difference of ΔSBP between AG and AA carriers was 15.25 mm Hg (95%CI: 6.48-24.02, p = 0.001). However, there was no significant difference in ΔSBP between AG and AA carriers with CCBs multitherapy. The rs11039149A>G was not associated with the cardiovascular events incidence during the follow-up. Additionally, transcriptional factor forkhead box C1 (FOXC1) bound to the NR1H3 promoter containing rs11039149A and significantly increased the transcriptional activity, while rs11039149 A to G change led to a loss-of-function and disabled FOXC1 binding. For the other 10 variants, associations with blood pressure changes or risk of cardiovascular events were not observed. Conclusion: Hypertensive patients with rs11039149AG genotype in the NR1H3 gene have a significant worse SBP control in response to CCBs monotherapy compared with AA carriers. Our findings suggest that the NR1H3 gene might act as a promising genetic factor to affect individual sensitivity to antihypertensive drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Chen
- National Clinical Research Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Yuqing Han
- National Clinical Research Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Yiyi Wu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Science and Technology, The First People’s Hospital of Huainan City, Huainan, Anhui, China
| | - Rutai Hui
- National Clinical Research Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Yunyun Yang
- Clinical Laboratory, Xiamen Key Laboratory of Genetic Testing, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Yixuan Zhong
- National Clinical Research Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Shuyuan Zhang
- National Clinical Research Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Weili Zhang
- National Clinical Research Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Beijing, China
- Central-China Branch of National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Henan Cardiovascular Disease Center, Fuwai Central-China Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Weili Zhang,
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Zhao S, Sun W, Chen SY, Li Y, Wang J, Lai S, Jia X. The exploration of miRNAs and mRNA profiles revealed the molecular mechanisms of cattle-yak male infertility. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:974703. [PMID: 36277066 PMCID: PMC9581192 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.974703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Cattle-yak, the first-generation offspring of cattle and yak, inherited many excellent characteristics from their parents. However, F1 male hybrid infertility restricts the utilization of heterosis greatly. In this study, we first compared the testicular tissue histological characteristics of three cattle, three yaks, and three cattle-yak. Then we explored the miRNA profiles and the target functions of nine samples with RNA-seq technology. We further analyzed the function of DE gene sets of mRNA profiles identified previously with GSEA. Testicular histology indicated that the seminiferous tubules became vacuolated and few active germ cells can be seen. RNA-seq results showed 47 up-regulated and 34 down-regulated, 16 up-regulated and 21 down-regulated miRNAs in cattle and yaks compared with cattle-yak, respectively. From the intersection of DE miRNAs, we identified that bta-miR-7 in cattle-yak is down-regulated. Target prediction indicated that the filtered genes especially MYRFL, FANCA, INSL3, USP9X, and SHF of bta-miR-7 may play crucial roles in the reproductive process. With further network analysis and GSEA, we screened such hub genes and function terms, we also found some DE gene sets that enriched in ATP binding, DNA binding, and reproduction processes. We concluded that bta-miR-7 may play an important role in influencing fecundity. Our study provides new insights for explaining the molecular mechanism of cattle-yak infertility.
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Riera-Escamilla A, Vockel M, Nagirnaja L, Xavier MJ, Carbonell A, Moreno-Mendoza D, Pybus M, Farnetani G, Rosta V, Cioppi F, Friedrich C, Oud MS, van der Heijden GW, Soave A, Diemer T, Ars E, Sánchez-Curbelo J, Kliesch S, O’Bryan MK, Ruiz-Castañe E, Azorín F, Veltman JA, Aston KI, Conrad DF, Tüttelmann F, Krausz C. Large-scale analyses of the X chromosome in 2,354 infertile men discover recurrently affected genes associated with spermatogenic failure. Am J Hum Genet 2022; 109:1458-1471. [PMID: 35809576 PMCID: PMC9388793 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2022.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Although the evolutionary history of the X chromosome indicates its specialization in male fitness, its role in spermatogenesis has largely been unexplored. Currently only three X chromosome genes are considered of moderate-definitive diagnostic value. We aimed to provide a comprehensive analysis of all X chromosome-linked protein-coding genes in 2,354 azoospermic/cryptozoospermic men from four independent cohorts. Genomic data were analyzed and compared with data in normozoospermic control individuals and gnomAD. While updating the clinical significance of known genes, we propose 21 recurrently mutated genes strongly associated with and 34 moderately associated with azoospermia/cryptozoospermia not previously linked to male infertility (novel). The most frequently affected prioritized gene, RBBP7, was found mutated in ten men across all cohorts, and our functional studies in Drosophila support its role in germ stem cell maintenance. Collectively, our study represents a significant step towards the definition of the missing genetic etiology in idiopathic severe spermatogenic failure and significantly reduces the knowledge gap of X-linked genetic causes of azoospermia/cryptozoospermia contributing to the development of future diagnostic gene panels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoni Riera-Escamilla
- Andrology Department, Fundació Puigvert, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Sant Pau, Barcelona, 08025 Catalonia, Spain
| | - Matthias Vockel
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Münster, Vesaliusweg 12-14, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Liina Nagirnaja
- Division of Genetics, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA
| | - Miguel J. Xavier
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Albert Carbonell
- Institute of Molecular Biology of Barcelona, CSIC, Baldiri Reixac, 4, Barcelona, 08028 Catalonia, Spain,Institute for Research in Biomedicine, IRB Barcelona, The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Baldiri Reixac, 10, Barcelona, 08028 Catalonia, Spain
| | - Daniel Moreno-Mendoza
- Andrology Department, Fundació Puigvert, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Sant Pau, Barcelona, 08025 Catalonia, Spain,Department of Urology, Hospital del Oriente de Asturias, Arriondas, 33540 Asturias, Spain
| | - Marc Pybus
- Molecular Biology Laboratory, Fundació Puigvert, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, 08025 Catalonia, Spain
| | - Ginevra Farnetani
- Department of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences Mario Serio, University of Florence, Florence 50139, Italy
| | - Viktoria Rosta
- Department of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences Mario Serio, University of Florence, Florence 50139, Italy
| | - Francesca Cioppi
- Department of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences Mario Serio, University of Florence, Florence 50139, Italy
| | - Corinna Friedrich
- Institute of Reproductive Genetics, University of Münster, Vesaliusweg 12-14, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Manon S. Oud
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboudumc, Nijmegen 6525, the Netherlands
| | | | - Armin Soave
- Department of Urology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg 20251, Germany
| | - Thorsten Diemer
- Clinic for Urology, Paediatric Urology and Andrology, Justus Liebig University, Gießen 35392, Germany
| | - Elisabet Ars
- Molecular Biology Laboratory, Fundació Puigvert, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, 08025 Catalonia, Spain
| | - Josvany Sánchez-Curbelo
- Andrology Department, Fundació Puigvert, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Sant Pau, Barcelona, 08025 Catalonia, Spain
| | - Sabine Kliesch
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Department of Clinical and Surgical Andrology, University Hospital Münster, Münster 48149, Germany
| | - Moira K. O’Bryan
- The School of BioScience that the Bio21 Institute, The Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Eduard Ruiz-Castañe
- Andrology Department, Fundació Puigvert, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Sant Pau, Barcelona, 08025 Catalonia, Spain
| | | | - Fernando Azorín
- Institute of Molecular Biology of Barcelona, CSIC, Baldiri Reixac, 4, Barcelona, 08028 Catalonia, Spain,Institute for Research in Biomedicine, IRB Barcelona, The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Baldiri Reixac, 10, Barcelona, 08028 Catalonia, Spain
| | - Joris A. Veltman
- Faculty of Medical Sciences, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Kenneth I. Aston
- Andrology and IVF Laboratories, Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA
| | - Donald F. Conrad
- Division of Genetics, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA,Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Frank Tüttelmann
- Institute of Reproductive Genetics, University of Münster, Vesaliusweg 12-14, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Csilla Krausz
- Department of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences Mario Serio, University of Florence, Florence 50139, Italy,Corresponding author
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Wang HQ, Wang T, Gao F, Ren WZ. Application of CRISPR/Cas Technology in Spermatogenesis Research and Male Infertility Treatment. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13061000. [PMID: 35741761 PMCID: PMC9223233 DOI: 10.3390/genes13061000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
As the basis of animal reproductive activity, normal spermatogenesis directly determines the efficiency of livestock production. An in-depth understanding of spermatogenesis will greatly facilitate animal breeding efforts and male infertility treatment. With the continuous development and application of gene editing technologies, they have become valuable tools to study the mechanism of spermatogenesis. Gene editing technologies have provided us with a better understanding of the functions and potential mechanisms of action of factors that regulate spermatogenesis. This review summarizes the applications of gene editing technologies, especially CRISPR/Cas9, in deepening our understanding of the function of spermatogenesis-related genes and disease treatment. The problems of gene editing technologies in the field of spermatogenesis research are also discussed.
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9
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Huang Y, Jiang Z, Gao X, Luo P, Jiang X. ARMC Subfamily: Structures, Functions, Evolutions, Interactions, and Diseases. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:791597. [PMID: 34912852 PMCID: PMC8666550 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.791597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Armadillo repeat-containing proteins (ARMCs) are widely distributed in eukaryotes and have important influences on cell adhesion, signal transduction, mitochondrial function regulation, tumorigenesis, and other processes. These proteins share a similar domain consisting of tandem repeats approximately 42 amino acids in length, and this domain constitutes a substantial platform for the binding between ARMCs and other proteins. An ARMC subfamily, including ARMC1∼10, ARMC12, and ARMCX1∼6, has received increasing attention. These proteins may have many terminal regions and play a critical role in various diseases. On the one hand, based on their similar central domain of tandem repeats, this ARMC subfamily may function similarly to other ARMCs. On the other hand, the unique domains on their terminals may cause these proteins to have different functions. Here, we focus on the ARMC subfamily (ARMC1∼10, ARMC12, and ARMCX1∼6), which is relatively conserved in vertebrates and highly conserved in mammals, particularly primates. We review the structures, biological functions, evolutions, interactions, and related diseases of the ARMC subfamily, which involve more than 30 diseases and 40 bypasses, including interactions and relationships between more than 100 proteins and signaling molecules. We look forward to obtaining a clearer understanding of the ARMC subfamily to facilitate further in-depth research and treatment of related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yutao Huang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.,Institue of Neurosurgery of People's Liberation Army of China (PLA), PLA's Key Laboratory of Critical Care Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Zijian Jiang
- Department of Hepato-biliary Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xiangyu Gao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.,State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Peng Luo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.,Institue of Neurosurgery of People's Liberation Army of China (PLA), PLA's Key Laboratory of Critical Care Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xiaofan Jiang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.,Institue of Neurosurgery of People's Liberation Army of China (PLA), PLA's Key Laboratory of Critical Care Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China
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Wu X, Lin D, Sun F, Cheng CY. Male Infertility in Humans: An Update on Non-obstructive Azoospermia (NOA) and Obstructive Azoospermia (OA). ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1288:161-173. [PMID: 34453736 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-77779-1_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) and obstructive azoospermia (OA) are two common causes of infertility that affect a considerable number of men. However, few studies were performed to understand the molecular etiology of these disorders. Studies based on bioinformatics and genetic analyses in recent years, however, have yielded insightful information and have identified a number of genes that are involved in these disorders. In this review, we briefly summarize and evaluate these findings. We also discuss findings based on epigenetic modifications of sperm DNAs that affect a number of genes pertinent to NOA and OA. The information summarized in this Chapter should be helpful to investigators in future functional studies of NOA and OA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolong Wu
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Dengfeng Lin
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Fei Sun
- Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital (SRRSH), Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - C Yan Cheng
- Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital (SRRSH), Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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