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Wyrwoll MJ, Gaasbeek CM, Golubickaite I, Stakaitis R, Oud MS, Nagirnaja L, Dion C, Sindi EB, Leitch HG, Jayasena CN, Sironen A, Dicke AK, Rotte N, Stallmeyer B, Kliesch S, Grangeiro CHP, Araujo TF, Lasko P, D'Hauwers K, Smits RM, Ramos L, Xavier MJ, Conrad DF, Almstrup K, Veltman JA, Tüttelmann F, van der Heijden GW. The piRNA-pathway factor FKBP6 is essential for spermatogenesis but dispensable for control of meiotic LINE-1 expression in humans. Am J Hum Genet 2022; 109:1850-1866. [PMID: 36150389 PMCID: PMC9606565 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2022.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Infertility affects around 7% of the male population and can be due to severe spermatogenic failure (SPGF), resulting in no or very few sperm in the ejaculate. We initially identified a homozygous frameshift variant in FKBP6 in a man with extreme oligozoospermia. Subsequently, we screened a total of 2,699 men with SPGF and detected rare bi-allelic loss-of-function variants in FKBP6 in five additional persons. All six individuals had no or extremely few sperm in the ejaculate, which were not suitable for medically assisted reproduction. Evaluation of testicular tissue revealed an arrest at the stage of round spermatids. Lack of FKBP6 expression in the testis was confirmed by RT-qPCR and immunofluorescence staining. In mice, Fkbp6 is essential for spermatogenesis and has been described as being involved in piRNA biogenesis and formation of the synaptonemal complex (SC). We did not detect FKBP6 as part of the SC in normal human spermatocytes, but small RNA sequencing revealed that loss of FKBP6 severely impacted piRNA levels, supporting a role for FKBP6 in piRNA biogenesis in humans. In contrast to findings in piRNA-pathway mouse models, we did not detect an increase in LINE-1 expression in men with pathogenic FKBP6 variants. Based on our findings, FKBP6 reaches a "strong" level of evidence for being associated with male infertility according to the ClinGen criteria, making it directly applicable for clinical diagnostics. This will improve patient care by providing a causal diagnosis and will help to predict chances for successful surgical sperm retrieval.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margot J Wyrwoll
- Institute of Reproductive Genetics, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Channah M Gaasbeek
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Ieva Golubickaite
- Division of Genetics, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, OR, USA; Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Rytis Stakaitis
- Division of Genetics, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, OR, USA; Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Laboratory of Molecular Neurooncology, Neuroscience Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Manon S Oud
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Liina Nagirnaja
- Division of Genetics, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - Camille Dion
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, London, UK; Institute of Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Emad B Sindi
- Section of Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Harry G Leitch
- MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences, London, UK; Institute of Clinical Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK; Centre for Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Channa N Jayasena
- Section of Investigative Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Anu Sironen
- Natural Resources Institute Finland, Production Systems, Jokioinen, Finland; Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Ann-Kristin Dicke
- Institute of Reproductive Genetics, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Nadja Rotte
- Institute of Reproductive Genetics, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Birgit Stallmeyer
- Institute of Reproductive Genetics, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Sabine Kliesch
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Department of Clinical and Surgical Andrology, University Hospital of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | | | - Thaís F Araujo
- Department of Genetics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Paul Lasko
- Department of Human Genetics, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Biology, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | | | - Roos M Smits
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Liliana Ramos
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Miguel J Xavier
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | - Don F Conrad
- Division of Genetics, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - Kristian Almstrup
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Joris A Veltman
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK
| | - Frank Tüttelmann
- Institute of Reproductive Genetics, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
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Sun H, Shen XR, Fang ZB, Jiang ZZ, Wei XJ, Wang ZY, Yu XF. Next-Generation Sequencing Technologies and Neurogenetic Diseases. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11040361. [PMID: 33921670 PMCID: PMC8072598 DOI: 10.3390/life11040361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology has led to great advances in understanding the causes of Mendelian and complex neurological diseases. Owing to the complexity of genetic diseases, the genetic factors contributing to many rare and common neurological diseases remain poorly understood. Selecting the correct genetic test based on cost-effectiveness, coverage area, and sequencing range can improve diagnosis, treatments, and prevention. Whole-exome sequencing and whole-genome sequencing are suitable methods for finding new mutations, and gene panels are suitable for exploring the roles of specific genes in neurogenetic diseases. Here, we provide an overview of the classifications, applications, advantages, and limitations of NGS in research on neurological diseases. We further provide examples of NGS-based explorations and insights of the genetic causes of neurogenetic diseases, including Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, spinocerebellar ataxias, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis. In addition, we focus on issues related to NGS-based analyses, including interpretations of variants of uncertain significance, de novo mutations, congenital genetic diseases with complex phenotypes, and single-molecule real-time approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Xue-Fan Yu
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-157-5430-1836
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3
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Zrzavy T, Leutmezer F, Kristoferitsch W, Kornek B, Schneider C, Rommer P, Berger T, Zimprich A. Exome-Sequence Analyses of Four Multi-Incident Multiple Sclerosis Families. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:E988. [PMID: 32854198 PMCID: PMC7563748 DOI: 10.3390/genes11090988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2020] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the Central Nervous System (CNS). Currently, it is estimated that 30-40% of the phenotypic variability of MS can be explained by genetic factors. However, low susceptibility variants identified through Genome Wide Association Study (GWAS) were calculated to explain about 50% of the heritability. Whether familial high-risk variants also contribute to heritability is a subject of controversy. In the last few years, several familial variants have been nominated, but none of them have been unequivocally confirmed. One reason for this may be that genetic heterogeneity and reduced penetrance are hindering detection. Sequencing a large number of MS families is needed to answer this question. In this study, we performed whole exome sequencing in four multi-case families, of which at least three affected individuals per family were analyzed. We identified a total of 138 rare variants segregating with disease in each of the families. Although no single variant showed convincing evidence for disease causation, some genes seemed particularly interesting based on their biological function. The main aim of this study was to provide a complete list of all rare segregating variants to provide the possibility for other researchers to cross-check familial candidate genes in an unbiased manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Zrzavy
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (T.Z.); (F.L.); (B.K.); (P.R.); (T.B.)
| | - Fritz Leutmezer
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (T.Z.); (F.L.); (B.K.); (P.R.); (T.B.)
| | - Wolfgang Kristoferitsch
- Karl Landsteiner Institute for Neuroimmunological and Neurodegenerative Disorders, 1090 Vienna, Austria;
| | - Barbara Kornek
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (T.Z.); (F.L.); (B.K.); (P.R.); (T.B.)
| | - Christine Schneider
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Augsburg, 86156 Augsburg, Germany;
| | - Paulus Rommer
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (T.Z.); (F.L.); (B.K.); (P.R.); (T.B.)
| | - Thomas Berger
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (T.Z.); (F.L.); (B.K.); (P.R.); (T.B.)
| | - Alexander Zimprich
- Department of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; (T.Z.); (F.L.); (B.K.); (P.R.); (T.B.)
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Mescheriakova JY, Verkerk JMH, Amin N, Uitterlinden AG, van Duijn CM, Hintzen RQ. Response to Vilariño-Güell et al. Mult Scler 2019; 25:1013-1015. [DOI: 10.1177/1352458518803794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- JY Mescheriakova
- Department of Neurology, MS Center ErasMS, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - JMH Verkerk
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - N Amin
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - AG Uitterlinden
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - CM van Duijn
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - RQ Hintzen
- Department of Neurology, MS Center ErasMS, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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