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Liao C, Walters BW, DiStasio M, Lesch BJ. Human-specific epigenomic states in spermatogenesis. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2024; 23:577-588. [PMID: 38274996 PMCID: PMC10809009 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2023.12.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Infertility is becoming increasingly common, affecting one in six people globally. Half of these cases can be attributed to male factors, many driven by abnormalities in the process of sperm development. Emerging evidence from genome-wide association studies, genetic screening of patient cohorts, and animal models highlights an important genetic contribution to spermatogenic defects, but comprehensive identification and characterization of the genes critical for male fertility remain lacking. High divergence of gene regulation in spermatogenic cells across species poses challenges for delineating the genetic pathways required for human spermatogenesis using common model organisms. In this study, we leveraged post-translational histone modification and gene transcription data for 15,491 genes in four mammalian species (human, rhesus macaque, mouse, and opossum), to identify human-specific patterns of gene regulation during spermatogenesis. We combined H3K27me3 ChIP-seq, H3K4me3 ChIP-seq, and RNA-seq data to define epigenetic states for each gene at two stages of spermatogenesis, pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids, in each species. We identified 239 genes that are uniquely active, poised, or dynamically regulated in human spermatogenic cells distinct from the other three species. While some of these genes have been implicated in reproductive functions, many more have not yet been associated with human infertility and may be candidates for further molecular and epidemiologic studies. Our analysis offers an example of the opportunities provided by evolutionary and epigenomic data for broadly screening candidate genes implicated in reproduction, which might lead to discoveries of novel genetic targets for diagnosis and management of male infertility and male contraception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caiyun Liao
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, 333 Cedar St., New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | | | - Marcello DiStasio
- Department of Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, 333 Cedar St., New Haven, CT 06510, USA
- Department of Opthamology & Visual Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, 333 Cedar St., New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Bluma J. Lesch
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, Yale School of Medicine, 333 Cedar St., New Haven, CT 06510, USA
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, 333 Cedar St., New Haven, CT 06510, USA
- Yale Cancer Center, Yale School of Medicine, 333 Cedar St., New Haven, CT 06510, USA
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2
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Ghieh F, Passet B, Poumerol E, Castille J, Calvel P, Vilotte JL, Sellem E, Jouneau L, Mambu-Mambueni H, Garchon HJ, Pailhoux E, Vialard F, Mandon-Pépin B. A partial deletion within the meiosis-specific sporulation domain SPO22 of Tex11 is not associated with infertility in mice. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0309974. [PMID: 39231187 PMCID: PMC11373865 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0309974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 08/14/2024] [Indexed: 09/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Azoospermia (the complete absence of spermatozoa in the semen) is a common cause of male infertility. The etiology of azoospermia is poorly understood. Whole-genome analysis of azoospermic men has identified a number of candidate genes, such as the X-linked testis-expressed 11 (TEX11) gene. Using a comparative genomic hybridization array, an exonic deletion (exons 10-12) of TEX11 had previously been identified in two non-apparent azoospermic patients. However, the putative impact of this genetic alteration on spermatogenesis and the azoospermia phenotype had not been validated functionally. We therefore used a CRISPR/Cas9 system to generate a mouse model (Tex11Ex9-11del/Y) with a partial TEX11 deletion that mimicked the human mutation. Surprisingly, the mutant male Tex11Ex9-11del/Y mice were fertile. The sperm concentration, motility, and morphology were normal. Similarly, the mutant mouse line's testis transcriptome was normal, and the expression of spermatogenesis genes was not altered. These results suggest that the mouse equivalent of the partial deletion observed in two infertile male with azoospermia has no impact on spermatogenesis or fertility in mice, at least of a FVB/N genetic background and until 10 months of age. Mimicking a human mutation does not necessarily lead to the same human phenotype in mice, highlighting significant differences species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farah Ghieh
- UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
- öcole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, BREED, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Bruno Passet
- INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, Université Paris Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Elodie Poumerol
- UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
- öcole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, BREED, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Johan Castille
- INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, Université Paris Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Pierre Calvel
- INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, Université Paris Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Jean-Luc Vilotte
- INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, Université Paris Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Eli Sellem
- R&D Department, ALLICE/Eliance, Paris, France
| | - Luc Jouneau
- UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
- öcole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, BREED, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | | | | | - Eric Pailhoux
- UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
- öcole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, BREED, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - François Vialard
- UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
- öcole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, BREED, Maisons-Alfort, France
- Département de Génétique, Laboratoire de Biologie Médicale, CHI de Poissy/Saint- Germain-en-Laye, Poissy, France
| | - Béatrice Mandon-Pépin
- UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, Université Paris-Saclay, Jouy-en-Josas, France
- öcole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, BREED, Maisons-Alfort, France
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3
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Chotiner JY, Leu NA, Yang F, Cossu IG, Guan Y, Lin H, Wang PJ. TRIP13 localizes to synapsed chromosomes and functions as a dosage-sensitive regulator of meiosis. eLife 2024; 12:RP92195. [PMID: 39207914 PMCID: PMC11361706 DOI: 10.7554/elife.92195] [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: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Meiotic progression requires coordinated assembly and disassembly of protein complexes involved in chromosome synapsis and meiotic recombination. Mouse TRIP13 and its ortholog Pch2 are instrumental in remodeling HORMA domain proteins. HORMAD proteins are associated with unsynapsed chromosome axes but depleted from the synaptonemal complex (SC) of synapsed homologs. Here we report that TRIP13 localizes to the synapsed SC in early pachytene spermatocytes and to telomeres throughout meiotic prophase I. Loss of TRIP13 leads to meiotic arrest and thus sterility in both sexes. Trip13-null meiocytes exhibit abnormal persistence of HORMAD1 and HOMRAD2 on synapsed SC and chromosome asynapsis that preferentially affects XY and centromeric ends. These major phenotypes are consistent with reported phenotypes of Trip13 hypomorph alleles. Trip13 heterozygous mice exhibit meiotic defects that are less severe than the Trip13-null mice, showing that TRIP13 is a dosage-sensitive regulator of meiosis. Localization of TRIP13 to the synapsed SC is independent of SC axial element proteins such as REC8 and SYCP2/SYCP3. Terminal FLAG-tagged TRIP13 proteins are functional and recapitulate the localization of native TRIP13 to SC and telomeres. Therefore, the evolutionarily conserved localization of TRIP13/Pch2 to the synapsed chromosomes provides an explanation for dissociation of HORMA domain proteins upon synapsis in diverse organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Y Chotiner
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary MedicinePhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - N Adrian Leu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary MedicinePhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Fang Yang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary MedicinePhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Isabella G Cossu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary MedicinePhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Yongjuan Guan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary MedicinePhiladelphiaUnited States
- College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Huijuan Lin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary MedicinePhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - P Jeremy Wang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary MedicinePhiladelphiaUnited States
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4
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Ishiguro KI. Mechanisms of meiosis initiation and meiotic prophase progression during spermatogenesis. Mol Aspects Med 2024; 97:101282. [PMID: 38797021 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2024.101282] [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: 02/17/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Meiosis is a critical step for spermatogenesis and oogenesis. Meiosis commences with pre-meiotic S phase that is subsequently followed by meiotic prophase. The meiotic prophase is characterized by the meiosis-specific chromosomal events such as chromosome recombination and homolog synapsis. Meiosis initiator (MEIOSIN) and stimulated by retinoic acid gene 8 (STRA8) initiate meiosis by activating the meiotic genes by installing the meiotic prophase program at pre-meiotic S phase. This review highlights the mechanisms of meiotic initiation and meiotic prophase progression from the point of the gene expression program and its relevance to infertility. Furthermore, upstream pathways that regulate meiotic initiation will be discussed in the context of spermatogenic development, indicating the sexual differences in the mode of meiotic entry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kei-Ichiro Ishiguro
- Department of Chromosome Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics (IMEG), Kumamoto University, 2-2-1 Honjo, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 860-0811, Japan.
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5
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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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6
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Kumar U, Sudhakar DVS, Kumar N, Moitra A, Kale HT, Jha RK, Rawat S, Verma G, Gupta NJ, Deenadayal M, Tolani AD, Raychaudhuri S, Chandra Shekar P, Thangaraj K. TEX13B is essential for metabolic reprogramming during germ cell differentiation. Hum Reprod 2024:deae094. [PMID: 38741233 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deae094] [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: 11/13/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION What is the functional significance of Tex13b in male germ cell development and differentiation? SUMMARY ANSWER Tex13b regulates male germ cell differentiation by metabolic reprogramming during spermatogenesis. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Studies in mice and humans suggest that TEX13B is a transcription factor and is exclusively expressed in germ cells. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION We sequenced the coding regions of TEX13B in 628 infertile men and 427 ethnically matched fertile control men. Further, to identify the molecular function of Tex13b, we created a Tex13b knockout and conditional overexpression system in GC-1spg (hereafter, GC-1) cells. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Our recent exome sequencing study identified novel candidate genes for male infertility. TEX13B was found to be one of the potential candidates, hence we explored the role of TEX13B in male infertility within a large infertile case-control cohort. We performed functional analyses of Tex13b in a GC-1 cell line using CRISPR-Cas9. We differentially labelled the cell proteins by stable isotope labelling of amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) and performed mass spectrometry-based whole-cell proteomics to identify the differential protein regulation in knockout cells compared to wild-type cells. We found that Tex13b knockout leads to downregulation of the OXPHOS complexes and upregulation of glycolysis genes, which was further validated by western blotting. These results were further confirmed by respirometry analysis in Tex13b knockout cells. Further, we also performed a conditional overexpression of TEX13B in GC-1 cells and studied the expression of OXPHOS complex proteins by western blotting. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE We identified a rare variant, rs775429506 (p.Gly237Glu), exclusively in two non-obstructive-azoospermia (NOA) men, that may genetically predispose these men for infertility. Further, we demonstrated that Tex13b functions in the transcription regulation of OXPHOS complexes. LARGE SCALE DATA N/A. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION We examined the function of Tex13b in GC-1 in vitro by knocking out and conditional overexpression, for understanding the function of Tex13b in germ cells. Unfortunately, this could not be replicated in either an animal model or in patient-derived tissue due to the non-availability of an animal model or patient's testis biopsies. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS This study identified that Tex13b plays an important role in male germ cell development and differentiation. The findings of this study would be useful for screening infertile males with spermatogenic failure and counselling them before the implementation of assisted reproduction technique(s). STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) Funding was provided by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) under the network project (BSC0101 and MLP0113) and SERB, the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India (J C Bose Fellowship: JCB/2019/000027). The authors do not have any competing interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umesh Kumar
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, India
| | | | - Nithyapriya Kumar
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, India
| | - Anurupa Moitra
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, India
| | - Hanuman T Kale
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, India
| | - Rajan Kumar Jha
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, India
| | - Shivali Rawat
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, India
| | - Geetika Verma
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, India
| | | | - Mamata Deenadayal
- Infertility Institute and Research Center (IIRC), Mamata Fertility Hospital, Hyderabad, India
| | - Aarti Deenadayal Tolani
- Infertility Institute and Research Center (IIRC), Mamata Fertility Hospital, Hyderabad, India
| | | | - P Chandra Shekar
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), Hyderabad, India
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7
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Zhang G, Ye F, Yang Y, Xiong D, Zhi W, Wu Y, Sun Y, Zeng J, Liu W. Identification of a novel mutation in chibby family member 2 in a non-obstructive azoospermic patient. Reprod Biol 2024; 24:100891. [PMID: 38733656 DOI: 10.1016/j.repbio.2024.100891] [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: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
Azoospermia constitutes a significant factor in male infertility, defined by the absence of spermatozoa in the ejaculate, afflicting 15% of infertile men. However, a subset of azoospermic cases remains unattributed to known genetic variants. Prior investigations have identified the chibby family member 2 (CBY2) as prominently and specifically expressed in the testes of both humans and mice, implicating its potential involvement in spermatogenesis. In this study, we conducted whole exome sequencing (WES) on an infertile family to uncover novel genetic factors contributing to azoospermia. Our analysis revealed a homozygous c .355 C>A variant of CBY2 in a non-obstructive azoospermic patient. This deleterious variant significantly diminished the protein expression of CBY2 both in vivo and in vitro, leading to a pronounced disruption of spermatogenesis at the early round spermatid stage post-meiosis. This disruption was characterized by a nearly complete loss of elongating and elongated spermatids. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and co-immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated the interaction between CBY2 and Piwi-like protein 1 (PIWIL1). Immunofluorescence staining further confirmed the co-localization of CBY2 and PIWIL1 in the testes during the spermatogenic process in both humans and mice. Additionally, diminished PIWIL1 expression was observed in the testicular tissue from the affected patient. Our findings suggest that the homozygous c .355 C>A variant of CBY2 compromises CBY2 function, contributing to defective spermatogenesis at the round spermiogenic stage and implicating its role in the pathogenesis of azoospermia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guohui Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Sichuan Provincial Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Chengdu 610045, China; Reproductive Medicine Center, Sichuan Provincial Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Chengdu 610045, China
| | - Fei Ye
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Sichuan Provincial Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Chengdu 610045, China
| | - Yihong 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, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Dongsheng Xiong
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Sichuan Provincial Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Chengdu 610045, China
| | - Weiwei Zhi
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Sichuan Provincial Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Chengdu 610045, China
| | - Yang Wu
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Sichuan Provincial Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Chengdu 610045, China
| | - Yongkang Sun
- Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, 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
| | - Jiuzhi Zeng
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Sichuan Provincial Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Chengdu 610045, China.
| | - Weixin Liu
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Sichuan Provincial Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Chengdu 610045, China.
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8
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Lampitto M, Barchi M. Recent advances in mechanisms ensuring the pairing, synapsis and segregation of XY chromosomes in mice and humans. Cell Mol Life Sci 2024; 81:194. [PMID: 38653846 PMCID: PMC11039559 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-024-05216-0] [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: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Sex chromosome aneuploidies are among the most common variations in human whole chromosome copy numbers, with an estimated prevalence in the general population of 1:400 to 1:1400 live births. Unlike whole-chromosome aneuploidies of autosomes, those of sex chromosomes, such as the 47, XXY aneuploidy that causes Klinefelter Syndrome (KS), often originate from the paternal side, caused by a lack of crossover (CO) formation between the X and Y chromosomes. COs must form between all chromosome pairs to pass meiotic checkpoints and are the product of meiotic recombination that occurs between homologous sequences of parental chromosomes. Recombination between male sex chromosomes is more challenging compared to both autosomes and sex chromosomes in females, as it is restricted within a short region of homology between X and Y, called the pseudo-autosomal region (PAR). However, in normal individuals, CO formation occurs in PAR with a higher frequency than in any other region, indicating the presence of mechanisms that promote the initiation and processing of recombination in each meiotic division. In recent years, research has made great strides in identifying genes and mechanisms that facilitate CO formation in the PAR. Here, we outline the most recent and relevant findings in this field. XY chromosome aneuploidy in humans has broad-reaching effects, contributing significantly also to Turner syndrome, spontaneous abortions, oligospermia, and even infertility. Thus, in the years to come, the identification of genes and mechanisms beyond XY aneuploidy is expected to have an impact on the genetic counseling of a wide number of families and adults affected by these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Lampitto
- Section of Anatomy, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy
| | - Marco Barchi
- Section of Anatomy, Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
- Section of Anatomy, Department of Medicine, Saint Camillus International University of Health Sciences, Rome, Italy.
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9
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Chotiner JY, Leu NA, Yang F, Cossu IG, Guan Y, Lin H, Wang PJ. TRIP13 localizes to synapsed chromosomes and functions as a dosage-sensitive regulator of meiosis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.25.559355. [PMID: 37808842 PMCID: PMC10557606 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.25.559355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Meiotic progression requires coordinated assembly and disassembly of protein complexes involved in chromosome synapsis and meiotic recombination. The AAA+ ATPase TRIP13 and its orthologue Pch2 are instrumental in remodeling HORMA domain proteins. Meiosis-specific HORMAD proteins are associated with unsynapsed chromosome axes but depleted from the synaptonemal complex (SC) of synapsed chromosome homologues. Here we report that TRIP13 localizes to the synapsed SC in early pachytene spermatocytes and to telomeres throughout meiotic prophase I. Loss of TRIP13 leads to meiotic arrest and thus sterility in both sexes. Trip13-null meiocytes exhibit abnormal persistence of HORMAD1 and HOMRAD2 on synapsed SC and chromosome asynapsis that preferentially affects XY and centromeric ends. These findings confirm the previously reported phenotypes of the Trip13 hypomorph alleles. Trip13 heterozygous (Trip13+/-) mice also exhibit meiotic defects that are less severe than the Trip13-null mice, showing that TRIP13 is a dosage-sensitive regulator of meiosis. Localization of TRIP13 to the synapsed SC is independent of SC axial element proteins such as REC8 and SYCP2/SYCP3. The N- or C-terminal FLAG-tagged TRIP13 proteins are functional and recapitulate the localization of native TRIP13 to SC and telomeres in knockin mice. Therefore, the evolutionarily conserved localization of TRIP13/Pch2 to the synapsed chromosomes provides an explanation for dissociation of HORMA domain proteins upon chromosome synapsis in diverse organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Y. Chotiner
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - N. Adrian Leu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Fang Yang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Isabella G. Cossu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Yongjuan Guan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- College of Life Sciences, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Huijuan Lin
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - P. Jeremy Wang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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10
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Verpoest W, Okutman Ö, Van Der Kelen A, Sermon K, Viville S. Genetics of infertility: a paradigm shift for medically assisted reproduction. Hum Reprod 2023; 38:2289-2295. [PMID: 37801292 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dead199] [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: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The field of reproductive genetics has undergone significant advancements with the completion of the Human Genome Project and the development of high-throughput sequencing techniques. This has led to the identification of numerous genes involved in both male and female infertility, revolutionizing the diagnosis and management of infertility patients. Genetic investigations, including karyotyping, specific genetic tests, and high-throughput sequencing, have become essential in determining the genetic causes of infertility. Moreover, the integration of genetics into reproductive medicine has expanded the scope of care to include not only affected individuals or couples but also their family members. Genetic consultations and counselling play a crucial role in identifying potentially affected relatives and offering tailored therapy and the possibility of fertility preservation. Despite the current limited therapeutic options, an increasing understanding of genotype-phenotype correlations in infertility genes holds promise for improved treatment outcomes. The availability of genetic diagnostic tools has reduced the number of idiopathic infertility cases by providing accurate aetiological diagnoses. The transition from research to clinical practice in reproductive genetics requires the establishment of genetic consultations and data warehousing systems to provide up-to-date information on gene-disease relationships. Overall, the integration of genetics into reproductive medicine has brought about a paradigm shift, emphasizing the familial dimension of infertility and offering new possibilities for personalized care and family planning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willem Verpoest
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel), Clinical Sciences, Research Group Genetics of Reproduction and Development, Brussels IVF Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Özlem Okutman
- Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles (H.U.B), Hôpital Erasme, Service de Gynécologie-Obstetrique, Clinique de Fertilité, Route de Lennik, Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Annelore Van Der Kelen
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (UZ Brussel), Clinical Sciences, Research Group Genetics of Reproduction and Development, Centre for Medical Genetics, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Karen Sermon
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Research Group Genetics of Reproduction and Development, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Stéphane Viville
- Laboratoire de Génétique Médicale LGM, Institut de Génétique Médicale d'Alsace IGMA, INSERM UMR 1112, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Laboratoire de Diagnostic Génétique, Unité de Génétique de l'infertilité (UF3472), Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
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11
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Kaltsas A, Dimitriadis F, Zachariou D, Zikopoulos A, Symeonidis EN, Markou E, Tien DMB, Takenaka A, Sofikitis N, Zachariou A. From Diagnosis to Treatment: Comprehensive Care by Reproductive Urologists in Assisted Reproductive Technology. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2023; 59:1835. [PMID: 37893553 PMCID: PMC10608107 DOI: 10.3390/medicina59101835] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
Infertility is a global health concern, with male factors playing an especially large role. Unfortunately, however, the contributions made by reproductive urologists in managing male infertility under assisted reproductive technology (ART) often go undervalued. This narrative review highlights the important role played by reproductive urologists in diagnosing and treating male infertility as well as any barriers they face when providing services. This manuscript presents a comprehensive review of reproductive urologists' role in managing male infertility, outlining their expertise in diagnosing and managing male infertility as well as reversible causes and performing surgical techniques such as sperm retrieval. This manuscript investigates the barriers limiting urologist involvement such as limited availability, awareness among healthcare professionals, and financial constraints. This study highlights a decrease in male fertility due to lifestyle factors like sedentary behavior, obesity, and substance abuse. It stresses the significance of conducting an evaluation process involving both male and female partners to identify any underlying factors contributing to infertility and to identify patients who do not require any interventions beyond ART. We conclude that engaging urologists more effectively in infertility management is key to optimizing fertility outcomes among couples undergoing assisted reproductive technology treatments and requires greater education among healthcare providers regarding the role urologists and lifestyle factors that could have an effect on male fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aris Kaltsas
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece; (A.K.); (A.Z.); (N.S.)
| | - Fotios Dimitriadis
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (F.D.); (E.N.S.)
| | - Dimitrios Zachariou
- Third Orthopaedic Department, National and Kapodestrian University of Athens, KAT General Hospital, 14561 Athens, Greece;
| | - Athanasios Zikopoulos
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece; (A.K.); (A.Z.); (N.S.)
| | - Evangelos N. Symeonidis
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece; (F.D.); (E.N.S.)
| | - Eleftheria Markou
- Department of Microbiology, University Hospital of Ioannina, 45500 Ioannina, Greece;
| | - Dung Mai Ba Tien
- Department of Andrology, Binh Dan Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam;
| | - Atsushi Takenaka
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8503, Japan;
| | - Nikolaos Sofikitis
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece; (A.K.); (A.Z.); (N.S.)
| | - Athanasios Zachariou
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece; (A.K.); (A.Z.); (N.S.)
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12
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Fan S, Wang Y, Jiang H, Jiang X, Zhou J, Jiao Y, Ye J, Xu Z, Wang Y, Xie X, Zhang H, Li Y, Liu W, Zhang X, Ma H, Shi B, Zhang Y, Zubair M, Shah W, Xu Z, Xu B, Shi Q. A novel recombination protein C12ORF40/REDIC1 is required for meiotic crossover formation. Cell Discov 2023; 9:88. [PMID: 37612290 PMCID: PMC10447524 DOI: 10.1038/s41421-023-00577-5] [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: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023] Open
Abstract
During meiosis, at least one crossover must occur per homologous chromosome pair to ensure normal progression of meiotic division and accurate chromosome segregation. However, the mechanism of crossover formation is not fully understood. Here, we report a novel recombination protein, C12ORF40/REDIC1, essential for meiotic crossover formation in mammals. A homozygous frameshift mutation in C12orf40 (c.232_233insTT, p.Met78Ilefs*2) was identified in two infertile men with meiotic arrest. Spread mouse spermatocyte fluorescence immunostaining showed that REDIC1 forms discrete foci between the paired regions of homologous chromosomes depending on strand invasion and colocalizes with MSH4 and later with MLH1 at the crossover sites. Redic1 knock-in (KI) mice homozygous for mutation c.232_233insTT are infertile in both sexes due to insufficient crossovers and consequent meiotic arrest, which is also observed in our patients. The foci of MSH4 and TEX11, markers of recombination intermediates, are significantly reduced numerically in the spermatocytes of Redic1 KI mice. More importantly, our biochemical results show that the N-terminus of REDIC1 binds branched DNAs present in recombination intermediates, while the identified mutation impairs this interaction. Thus, our findings reveal a crucial role for C12ORF40/REDIC1 in meiotic crossover formation by stabilizing the recombination intermediates, providing prospective molecular targets for the clinical diagnosis and therapy of infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suixing Fan
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institute of Health and Medicine, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yuewen Wang
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institute of Health and Medicine, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Hanwei Jiang
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institute of Health and Medicine, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Xiaohua Jiang
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institute of Health and Medicine, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Jianteng Zhou
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institute of Health and Medicine, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yuying Jiao
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institute of Health and Medicine, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Jingwei Ye
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institute of Health and Medicine, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Zishuo Xu
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institute of Health and Medicine, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yue Wang
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institute of Health and Medicine, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Xuefeng Xie
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institute of Health and Medicine, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Huan Zhang
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institute of Health and Medicine, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yang Li
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institute of Health and Medicine, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institute of Health and Medicine, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Xiangjun Zhang
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institute of Health and Medicine, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Hui Ma
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institute of Health and Medicine, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Baolu Shi
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institute of Health and Medicine, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Yuanwei Zhang
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institute of Health and Medicine, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Muhammad Zubair
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institute of Health and Medicine, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Wasim Shah
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institute of Health and Medicine, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Zhipeng Xu
- Institute of Andrology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Bo Xu
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institute of Health and Medicine, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China.
| | - Qinghua Shi
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institute of Health and Medicine, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China.
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13
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Qureshi S, Hardy JJ, Pombar C, Berman AJ, Malcher A, Gingrich T, Hvasta R, Kuong J, Munyoki S, Hwang K, Orwig KE, Ahmed J, Olszewska M, Kurpisz M, Conrad DF, Jaseem Khan M, Yatsenko AN. Genomic study of TEX15 variants: prevalence and allelic heterogeneity in men with spermatogenic failure. Front Genet 2023; 14:1134849. [PMID: 37234866 PMCID: PMC10206016 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1134849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Human spermatogenesis is a highly intricate process that requires the input of thousands of testis-specific genes. Defects in any of them at any stage of the process can have detrimental effects on sperm production and/or viability. In particular, the function of many meiotic proteins encoded by germ cell specific genes is critical for maturation of haploid spermatids and viable spermatozoa, necessary for fertilization, and is also extremely sensitive to even the slightest change in coding DNA. Methods: Here, using whole exome and genome approaches, we identified and reported novel, clinically significant variants in testis-expressed gene 15 (TEX15), in unrelated men with spermatogenic failure (SPGF). Results: TEX15 mediates double strand break repair during meiosis. Recessive loss-of-function (LOF) TEX15 mutations are associated with SPGF in humans and knockout male mice are infertile. We expand earlier reports documenting heterogeneous allelic pathogenic TEX15 variants that cause a range of SPGF phenotypes from oligozoospermia (low sperm) to nonobstructive azoospermia (no sperm) with meiotic arrest and report the prevalence of 0.6% of TEX15 variants in our patient cohort. Among identified possible LOF variants, one homozygous missense substitution c.6835G>A (p.Ala2279Thr) co-segregated with cryptozoospermia in a family with SPGF. Additionally, we observed numerous cases of inferred in trans compound heterozygous variants in TEX15 among unrelated individuals with varying degrees of SPGF. Variants included splice site, insertions/deletions (indels), and missense substitutions, many of which resulted in LOF effects (i.e., frameshift, premature stop, alternative splicing, or potentially altered posttranslational modification sites). Conclusion: In conclusion, we performed an extensive genomic study of familial and sporadic SPGF and identified potentially damaging TEX15 variants in 7 of 1097 individuals of our combined cohorts. We hypothesize that SPGF phenotype severity is dictated by individual TEX15 variant's impact on structure and function. Resultant LOFs likely have deleterious effects on crossover/recombination in meiosis. Our findings support the notion of increased gene variant frequency in SPGF and its genetic and allelic heterogeneity as it relates to complex disease such as male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sidra Qureshi
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Khyber Medical University, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Jimmaline J. Hardy
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Magee-Women’s Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Christopher Pombar
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Magee-Women’s Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Andrea J. Berman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Agnieszka Malcher
- Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Tara Gingrich
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Magee-Women’s Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Rachel Hvasta
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Magee-Women’s Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Jannah Kuong
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Magee-Women’s Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Sarah Munyoki
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Magee-Women’s Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Kathleen Hwang
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Kyle E. Orwig
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Magee-Women’s Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Jawad Ahmed
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Khyber Medical University, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Marta Olszewska
- Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Maciej Kurpisz
- Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - Donald F. Conrad
- Department of Genetics, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, OR, United States
| | - Muhammad Jaseem Khan
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Khyber Medical University, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Alexander N. Yatsenko
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Magee-Women’s Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- Department of Genetics, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
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14
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Ozturk S. Genetic variants underlying spermatogenic arrests in men with non-obstructive azoospermia. Cell Cycle 2023; 22:1021-1061. [PMID: 36740861 PMCID: PMC10081088 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2023.2171544] [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: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Spermatogenic arrest is a severe form of non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA), which occurs in 10-15% of infertile men. Interruption in spermatogenic progression at premeiotic, meiotic, or postmeiotic stage can lead to arrest in men with NOA. Recent studies have intensively focused on defining genetic variants underlying these spermatogenic arrests by making genome/exome sequencing. A number of variants were discovered in the genes involving in mitosis, meiosis, germline differentiation and other basic cellular events. Herein, defined variants in NOA cases with spermatogenic arrests and created knockout mouse models for the related genes are comprehensively reviewed. Also, importance of gene panel-based screening for NOA cases was discussed. Screening common variants in these infertile men with spermatogenic arrests may contribute to elucidating the molecular background and designing novel treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saffet Ozturk
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Akdeniz University School of Medicine, Antalya, Turkey
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15
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A 3-Gene Random Forest Model to Diagnose Non-obstructive Azoospermia Based on Transcription Factor-Related Henes. Reprod Sci 2023; 30:233-246. [PMID: 35715550 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-022-01008-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) is one of the most severe forms of male infertility, but its diagnosis biomarkers with high sensitivity and specificity are largely unknown. Transcription factors (TFs) play essential roles in many pathological processes in different diseases. Herein, we aimed to identify the TFs showing high diagnosis ability for NOA through machine learning algorithms. The transcriptome data of the testicular tissue from 11 control and 47 NOA subjects were set as the training dataset; meanwhile, 1665 TFs were retrieved from the HumanTFDB. Through the feature extraction methods, including genomic difference analysis, Lasso, Boruta, SVM-RFE, and logistic regression, ETV2, TBX2, and ZNF689 were ultimately screened and then were included in the random forest (RF) diagnosis model. The RF model displayed high predictive power in the training (F-measure = 1) and two external validation (n = 31, F-measure = 0.902; n = 20, F-measure = 0.941) cohorts. The seminal plasma and testicular biopsy samples of 20 control and 20 NOA patients were collected from the local hospital, and the expression levels of ETV2, TBX2, and ZNF689 were measured via RT-qPCR and immunohistochemistry. The RF model could also distinguish the NOA samples in the local cohort (F-measure = 0.741). Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis, which was based on the 432 testicular cell samples from an NOA patient, showed that ETV2, TBX2, and ZNF689 were all significantly associated with spermatogenesis. In all, a 3-TF random forest diagnosis model was successfully established, providing novel insights into the latent mechanisms of NOA.
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16
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Huang Y, Roig I. Genetic control of meiosis surveillance mechanisms in mammals. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1127440. [PMID: 36910159 PMCID: PMC9996228 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1127440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Meiosis is a specialized cell division that generates haploid gametes and is critical for successful sexual reproduction. During the extended meiotic prophase I, homologous chromosomes progressively pair, synapse and desynapse. These chromosomal dynamics are tightly integrated with meiotic recombination (MR), during which programmed DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are formed and subsequently repaired. Consequently, parental chromosome arms reciprocally exchange, ultimately ensuring accurate homolog segregation and genetic diversity in the offspring. Surveillance mechanisms carefully monitor the MR and homologous chromosome synapsis during meiotic prophase I to avoid producing aberrant chromosomes and defective gametes. Errors in these critical processes would lead to aneuploidy and/or genetic instability. Studies of mutation in mouse models, coupled with advances in genomic technologies, lead us to more clearly understand how meiosis is controlled and how meiotic errors are linked to mammalian infertility. Here, we review the genetic regulations of these major meiotic events in mice and highlight our current understanding of their surveillance mechanisms. Furthermore, we summarize meiotic prophase genes, the mutations that activate the surveillance system leading to meiotic prophase arrest in mouse models, and their corresponding genetic variants identified in human infertile patients. Finally, we discuss their value for the diagnosis of causes of meiosis-based infertility in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Huang
- Genome Integrity and Instability Group, Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.,Histology Unit, Department of Cell Biology, Physiology, and Immunology, Cytology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Ignasi Roig
- Genome Integrity and Instability Group, Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain.,Histology Unit, Department of Cell Biology, Physiology, and Immunology, Cytology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
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17
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Song J, Sha Y, Liu X, Zeng X, Zhao X. Novel mutations of TEX11 are associated with non-obstructive azoospermia. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1159723. [PMID: 37124723 PMCID: PMC10140331 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1159723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) affects 10% of infertile men worldwide, and genetic studies revealed that there are plenty of monogenic mutations that responsible for a part of idiopathic NOA cases. Testis-expressed gene 11 (TEX11) is an X-linked meiosis-specific gene, many pathogenic variants in TEX11 have been detected in NOA patients, and the deficiency of this gene can cause abnormal meiotic recombination and chromosomal synapsis. However, many NOA-affected cases caused by TEX11 mutation remain largely unknown. This study reported three novel TEX11 mutations (exon 5, c.313C>T: p.R105*), (exon 7, c.427A>C: p.K143Q) and (exon 29, c.2575G>A: p.G859R). Mutations were screened using whole-exome sequencing (WES) and further verified by amplifying and sequencing the specific exon. Histological analysis of testicular biopsy specimens revealed a thicker basement membrane of the seminiferous tubules and poorly developed spermatocytes, and no post-meiotic round spermatids or mature spermatozoa were observed in the seminiferous tubules of patients with TEX11 mutation. Conclusion This study presents three novel variants of TEX11 as potential infertility alleles that have not been previously reported. It expanded the variant spectrum of patients with NOA, which also emphasizes the necessity of this gene screening for the clinical auxiliary diagnosis of patients with azoospermia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Song
- Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, China
- School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - 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
| | - Xiaojun Liu
- School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Xuhui Zeng
- School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, China
- *Correspondence: Xuhui Zeng, ; Xiuling Zhao,
| | - Xiuling Zhao
- School of Medicine, Nantong University, Nantong, China
- *Correspondence: Xuhui Zeng, ; Xiuling Zhao,
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18
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Hardy J, Pollock N, Gingrich T, Sweet P, Ramesh A, Kuong J, Basar A, Jiang H, Hwang K, Vukina J, Jaffe T, Olszewska M, Kurpisz M, Yatsenko AN. Genomic testing for copy number and single nucleotide variants in spermatogenic failure. J Assist Reprod Genet 2022; 39:2103-2114. [PMID: 35849255 PMCID: PMC9474750 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-022-02538-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To identify clinically significant genomic copy number (CNV) and single nucleotide variants (SNV) in males with unexplained spermatogenic failure (SPGF). MATERIALS AND METHODS Peripheral blood DNA from 97/102 study participants diagnosed with oligozoospermia, severe oligozoospermia, or non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) was analyzed for CNVs via array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) and SNVs using whole-exome sequencing (WES). RESULTS Of the 2544 CNVs identified in individuals with SPGF, > 90% were small, ranging from 0.6 to 75 kb. Thirty, clinically relevant genomic aberrations, were detected in 28 patients (~ 29%). These included likely diagnostic CNVs in 3/41 NOA patients (~ 7%): 1 hemizygous, intragenic TEX11 deletion, 1 hemizygous DDX53 full gene deletion, and 1 homozygous, intragenic STK11 deletion. High-level mosaicism for X chromosome disomy (~ 10% 46,XY and ~ 90% 47,XXY) was also identified in 3 of 41 NOA patients who previously tested normal with conventional karyotyping. The remaining 24 CNVs detected were heterozygous, autosomal recessive carrier variants. Follow-up WES analysis confirmed 8 of 27 (30%) CNVs (X chromosome disomy excluded). WES analysis additionally identified 13 significant SNVs and/or indels in 9 patients (~ 9%) including X-linked AR, KAL1, and NR0B1 variants. CONCLUSION Using a combined genome-wide aCGH/WES approach, we identified pathogenic and likely pathogenic SNVs and CNVs in 15 patients (15%) with unexplained SPGF. This value equals the detection rate of conventional testing for aneuploidies and is considerably higher than the prevalence of Y chromosome microdeletions. Our results underscore the importance of comprehensive genomic analysis in emerging diagnostic testing of complex conditions like male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Hardy
- Department of OBGYN and Reproductive Sciences, Magee-Womens Research Institute, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 204 Craft Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - N Pollock
- Department of OBGYN and Reproductive Sciences, Magee-Womens Research Institute, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 204 Craft Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - T Gingrich
- Department of OBGYN and Reproductive Sciences, Magee-Womens Research Institute, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 204 Craft Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - P Sweet
- Department of OBGYN and Reproductive Sciences, Magee-Womens Research Institute, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 204 Craft Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - A Ramesh
- Department of OBGYN and Reproductive Sciences, Magee-Womens Research Institute, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 204 Craft Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - J Kuong
- Department of OBGYN and Reproductive Sciences, Magee-Womens Research Institute, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 204 Craft Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - A Basar
- Department of OBGYN and Reproductive Sciences, Magee-Womens Research Institute, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 204 Craft Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - H Jiang
- Department of OBGYN and Reproductive Sciences, Magee-Womens Research Institute, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 204 Craft Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - K Hwang
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - J Vukina
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - T Jaffe
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA
| | - M Olszewska
- Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - M Kurpisz
- Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, Poland
| | - A N Yatsenko
- Department of OBGYN and Reproductive Sciences, Magee-Womens Research Institute, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, 204 Craft Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.
- Department of Genetics, School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.
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19
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Molangiri A, Varma S, M S, Kambham S, Duttaroy AK, Basak S. Prenatal exposure to bisphenol S and bisphenol A differentially affects male reproductive system in the adult offspring. Food Chem Toxicol 2022; 167:113292. [PMID: 35842007 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2022.113292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Early exposure to bisphenol may result in adverse reproductive health in later life. The use of bisphenol S (BPS) has increased considerably after bisphenol A (BPA) is regulated worldwide. However, little is known about the fetal exposure to BPS compared with BPA and its effects on the reproductive system in the adult male offspring. Here, we investigated the effects of orally administered BPS and BPA (0.4, 4.0, 40.0 μg/kg bw/d) during gestation (gD4-21) on testicular development by evaluating the sperm DNA damage & methylation and testicular functions in the 90 d Wistar rats. Male offspring prenatally exposed to BPS (0.4 μg/kg) had higher plasma testosterone than BPA and control. The testis histology reveals thickened membrane by producing a wide interstitial gap between seminiferous tubules, increased testicular inflammation, oxidative stress, TIMP-1 expression, and decreased VCAM-1 expression. BPS promotes apoptosis by up-regulating IL-6, cleaved caspases, and a spike in sperm DNA fragmentation. Prenatal BPS exposure reduces sperm motility mediated via impaired PI3K-AKT signaling and increases testicular TEX11 expression in the offspring. Exposure of the fetus to BPS interferes developmental programming of the male reproductive system in the offspring. BPS could be an equally potent endocrine disruptor affecting male reproductive functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Archana Molangiri
- National Institute of Nutrition, Indian Council of Medical Research, Hyderabad, India
| | - Saikanth Varma
- National Institute of Nutrition, Indian Council of Medical Research, Hyderabad, India
| | - Satyavani M
- National Institute of Nutrition, Indian Council of Medical Research, Hyderabad, India
| | - Saikrishna Kambham
- National Institute of Nutrition, Indian Council of Medical Research, Hyderabad, India
| | - Asim K Duttaroy
- Department of Nutrition, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway
| | - Sanjay Basak
- National Institute of Nutrition, Indian Council of Medical Research, Hyderabad, India.
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20
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Huang Y, Tian R, Xu J, Ji Z, Zhang Y, Zhao L, Yang C, Li P, Zhi E, Bai H, Han S, Luo J, Zhao J, Zhang J, Zhou Z, Li Z, Yao C. Novel copy number variations within SYCE1 caused meiotic arrest and non-obstructive azoospermia. BMC Med Genomics 2022; 15:137. [PMID: 35718780 PMCID: PMC9208180 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-022-01288-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) is the most severe disease in male infertility, but the genetic causes for majority of NOA remain unknown. Methods Two Chinese NOA-affected patients were recruited to identify the genetic causal factor of infertility. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was conducted in the two patients with NOA. Sanger sequencing and CNV array were used to ascertain the WES results. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and immunofluorescence (IF) were carried out to evaluate the stage of spermatogenesis arrested in the affected cases. Results Novel heterozygous deletion (LOH) within SYCE1 (seq[GRCh37] del(10)(10q26.3)chr10:g.135111754_135427143del) and heterozygous loss of function (LoF) variant in SYCE1 (NM_001143763: c.689_690 del:p.F230fs) were identified in one NOA-affected patient. While homozygous deletion within SYCE1 (seq[GRCh37] del(10)(10q26.3)chr10:g.135340247_135379115del) was detected in the other patient with meiotic arrest. H&E and IF staining demonstrated that the spermatogenesis was arrested at pachytene stage in the two patients with NOA, suggesting these two novel CNVs within SYCE1 could lead to meiotic defect and NOA. Conclusions We identified that two novel CNVs within SYCE1 are associated with meiotic arrest and male infertility. Thus, our study expands the knowledge of variants in SYCE1 and provides a new insight to understand the genetic etiologies of NOA. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12920-022-01288-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhua Huang
- Department of Andrology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, The Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Ruhui Tian
- Department of Andrology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, The Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Junwei Xu
- Department of Andrology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, The Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Zhiyong Ji
- State Key Lab of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Yuxiang Zhang
- Department of Andrology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, The Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Liangyu Zhao
- Department of Andrology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, The Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200080, China.,School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Chao Yang
- Department of Andrology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, The Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Peng Li
- Department of Andrology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, The Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Erlei Zhi
- Department of Andrology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, The Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Haowei Bai
- Department of Andrology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, The Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Sha Han
- Department of Andrology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, The Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Jiaqiang Luo
- Department of Andrology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, The Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200080, China
| | - Jingpeng Zhao
- State Key Lab of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Reproductive Medicine Research Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510620, China
| | - Zhi Zhou
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China.
| | - Zheng Li
- Department of Andrology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, The Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200080, China. .,State Key Lab of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
| | - Chencheng Yao
- Department of Andrology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, The Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200080, China. .,School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China.
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21
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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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22
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Ling L, Li F, Yang P, Oates RD, Silber S, Kurischko C, Luca FC, Leu NA, Zhang J, Yue Q, Skaletsky H, Brown LG, Rozen S, Page DC, Wang PJ, Zheng K. Genetic characterization of a missense mutation in the X-linked TAF7L gene identified in an oligozoospermic man. Biol Reprod 2022; 107:157-167. [PMID: 35554494 PMCID: PMC9310510 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioac093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2021] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
While hundreds of knockout mice show infertility as a major phenotype, causative genic mutations of male infertility in humans remain rather limited. Here we report the identification of a missense mutation (D136G) in the X-linked TAF7L gene as a potential cause of oligozoospermia in men. The human aspartate (D136) is evolutionally conserved across species, and its change to glycine (G) is predicted to be detrimental. Genetic complementation experiments in budding yeast demonstrate that the conserved aspartate or its analogous asparagine (N) residue in yeast TAF7 is essential for cell viability and thus its mutation to glycine is lethal. Although the corresponding D144G substitution in the mouse Taf7l gene does not affect male fertility, RNA-seq analyses reveal alterations in transcriptome profiles in the Taf7l (D144G) mutant testes. These results support this TAF7L mutation as a risk factor for oligozoospermia in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Ling
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Fangfang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Pinglan Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Robert D Oates
- Department of Urology, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Sherman Silber
- Infertility Center of St. Louis, St. Luke's Hospital, St. Louis, MO 63017, USA
| | - Cornelia Kurischko
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Francis C Luca
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - N Adrian Leu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jinwen Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Qiuling Yue
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Helen Skaletsky
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Whitehead Institute, and Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 455 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Laura G Brown
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Whitehead Institute, and Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 455 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Steve Rozen
- Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore, 8 College Road, 169857, Singapore
| | - David C Page
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Whitehead Institute, and Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 455 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - P Jeremy Wang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Ke Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
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23
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Jiang H, Zhang Y, Ma H, Fan S, Zhang H, Shi Q. Identification of pathogenic mutations from nonobstructive azoospermia patients. Biol Reprod 2022; 107:85-94. [PMID: 35532179 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioac089] [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: 01/15/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
It is estimated that approximately 25% of nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA) cases are caused by single genetic anomalies, including chromosome aberrations and gene mutations. The identification of these mutations in NOA patients has always been a research hot spot in the area of human infertility. However, compared with more than 600 genes reported to be essential for fertility in mice, mutations in approximately 75 genes have been confirmed to be pathogenic in patients with male infertility, in which only 14 were identified from NOA patients. The small proportion suggested that there is much room to improve the methodology of mutation screening and functional verification. Fortunately, recent advances in whole exome sequencing and CRISPR-Cas9 have greatly promoted research on the etiology of human infertility and made improvements possible. In this review, we summarized the pathogenic mutations found in NOA patients and the efforts we have made to improve the efficiency of mutation screening from NOA patients and functional verification with the application of new technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanwei Jiang
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale,Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Yuanwei Zhang
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale,Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Hui Ma
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale,Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Suixing Fan
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale,Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Huan Zhang
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale,Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Qinghua Shi
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale,Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
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24
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Ali H, Unar A, Zubair M, Dil S, Ullah F, Khan I, Hussain A, Shi Q. In silico analysis of a novel pathogenic variant c.7G > A in C14orf39 gene identified by WES in a Pakistani family with azoospermia. Mol Genet Genomics 2022; 297:719-730. [PMID: 35305148 DOI: 10.1007/s00438-022-01876-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Infertility is a multifactorial disorder that affects approximately 12% of couples of childbearing ages worldwide. Few studies have been conducted to understand the genetic causes of infertility in depth. The synaptonemal complex (SC), which is essential for the progression of meiosis, is a conserved tripartite structure that binds homologous chromosomes together and is thus required for fertility. This study investigated genetic causes of infertility in a Pakistani consanguineous family containing two patients suffering from non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA). We performed whole-exome sequencing, followed by Sanger sequencing, and identified a novel pathogenic variant (c.7G > A [p.D3N]) in the SC coding gene C14orf39, which was recessively co-segregated with NOA. In silico analysis revealed that charges on wild-type residues were lost, which may result in loss of interactions with other molecules and residues, and a reduction in protein stability occurred, which was caused by the p.D3N mutation. The novel variant generated the mutant protein C14ORF39D3N, and homozygous mutations in C14orf39 resulted in NOA. The transcriptome profile of C14ORF39 shows that it is specifically expressed in early brain development, which suggests that research in this area is required to study other functions of C14ORF39 in addition to its role in the germline. This research highlights the conserved role of C14orf39/SIX6OS1 in assembly of the SC and its indispensable role in facilitating genetic diagnosis in patients with infertility, which may enable the development of future treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haider Ali
- First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, 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
| | - Ahsanullah Unar
- First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, 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
| | - Muhammad Zubair
- First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, 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
- First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, 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
| | - Farman Ullah
- Center of Biotechnology and Microbiology, University of Swat, Swat, 19120, Pakistan
| | - Ihsan Khan
- First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, 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
| | - Ansar Hussain
- First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, 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
- First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, 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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25
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Adamczewska D, Słowikowska-Hilczer J, Walczak-Jędrzejowska R. The Fate of Leydig Cells in Men with Spermatogenic Failure. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:570. [PMID: 35455061 PMCID: PMC9028943 DOI: 10.3390/life12040570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The steroidogenic cells in the testicle, Leydig cells, located in the interstitial compartment, play a vital role in male reproductive tract development, maintenance of proper spermatogenesis, and overall male reproductive function. Therefore, their dysfunction can lead to all sorts of testicular pathologies. Spermatogenesis failure, manifested as azoospermia, is often associated with defective Leydig cell activity. Spermatogenic failure is the most severe form of male infertility, caused by disorders of the testicular parenchyma or testicular hormone imbalance. This review covers current progress in knowledge on Leydig cells origin, structure, and function, and focuses on recent advances in understanding how Leydig cells contribute to the impairment of spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Renata Walczak-Jędrzejowska
- Department of Andrology and Reproductive Endocrinology, Medical University of Lodz, 92-213 Lodz, Poland; (D.A.); (J.S.-H.)
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26
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Tang D, Li K, Geng H, Xu C, Lv M, Gao Y, Wang G, Yu H, Shao Z, Shen Q, Jiang H, Zhang X, He X, Cao Y. Identification of deleterious variants in patients with male infertility due to idiopathic non-obstructive azoospermia. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2022; 20:63. [PMID: 35366911 PMCID: PMC8976310 DOI: 10.1186/s12958-022-00936-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) is the most severe type of male infertility, affecting 1% of men worldwide. Most of its etiologies remain idiopathic. Although genetic studies have identified dozens of NOA genes, monogenic mutations can also account for a small proportion of idiopathic NOA cases. Hence, this genetic study was conducted to explore the causes of monogenic variants of NOA in a cohort of Chinese patients. METHODS Following the screening using chromosomal karyotyping, Y chromosome microdeletion analyses, and sex hormone assessments, subsequent whole-exome sequencing analysis was performed in 55 unrelated idiopathic NOA patients with male infertility to explore potential deleterious variants associated with spermatogenesis. We also performed Sanger sequencing to demonstrate the variants. Testicular biopsy or microsurgical testicular sperm extraction was also performed to confirm the diagnosis of NOA and identify spermatozoa. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed to assess the histopathology of spermatogenesis. RESULTS Abnormal testicular pathological phenotypes included Sertoli cell-only syndrome, maturation arrest, and hypospermatogenesis. Using bioinformatics analysis, we detected novel variants in two recessive genes, FANCA (NM_000135, c.3263C > T, c.1729C > G) and SYCE1 (NM_001143763, c.689_690del); one X-linked gene, TEX11 (NM_031276, c.466A > G, c.559_560del); and two dominant genes, DMRT1 (NM_021951, c.425C > T, c.340G > A) and PLK4 (NM_001190799, c.2785A > G), in eight patients, which corresponded to 14.55% (8/55) of the patients. CONCLUSION This study presented some novel variants of known pathogenic genes for NOA. Further, it expanded the variant spectrum of NOA patients, which might advance clinical genetic counseling in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongdong Tang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Medicine Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study On Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Kuokuo Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Medicine Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study On Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Hao Geng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Medicine Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study On Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Chuan Xu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Medicine Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study On Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Mingrong Lv
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Medicine Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study On Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Yang Gao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Medicine Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study On Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Guanxiong Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Medicine Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study On Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Hui Yu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Medicine Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study On Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Zhongmei Shao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Medicine Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study On Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Qunshan Shen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Medicine Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study On Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China
| | - Hui Jiang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Peking University Third Hospital, No 38 Xueyuan Road, Beijing, 100191, China.
| | - Xiansheng Zhang
- Department of Urology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, China.
| | - Xiaojin He
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Medicine Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, China.
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study On Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.
- Anhui Provincial Human Sperm Bank, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China.
| | - Yunxia Cao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Medicine Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, 230022, Anhui, China.
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study On Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, No. 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, 230032, Anhui, China.
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Tran KT, Sheng Y, Doungkamchan C, Castro CA, Orwig KE. Induced pluripotent stem cell line from a mouse model of human azoospermia with a frameshift mutation Tex11_1260Ins(TT). Stem Cell Res 2022; 60:102728. [PMID: 35240466 PMCID: PMC9026566 DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2022.102728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Infertility is a common disease that impacts 15% of reproductive age couples worldwide, and genetic causes are implicated in about half of those cases. Non-obstructive azoospermia is a severe form of male infertility that features spermatogenic failure resulting in no sperm in the ejaculate and severely reduces the chance to have biological children. We created a Tex11_1260Ins(TT) (1260GATA → TTGGTA) mutant mouse that models the Tex11_1258(TT) mutation identified from a patient with nonobstructive azoospermia. The Tex11_1260Ins(TT) iPSC cells displayed characteristics of pluripotent-like morphology, expressed pluripotent protein markers, show normal karyotype, and can to differentiate into tissues of the three germ layers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Kyle E. Orwig
- Corresponding author at: Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, USA. (K.E. Orwig)
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Behvarz M, Rahmani SA, Siasi Torbati E, Danaei Mehrabad S, Bikhof Torbati M. Association of CATSPER1, SPATA16 and TEX11 genes polymorphism with idiopathic azoospermia and oligospermia risk in Iranian population. BMC Med Genomics 2022; 15:47. [PMID: 35248021 PMCID: PMC8897944 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-022-01197-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Male infertility is a heterogeneous disease which can occur due to spermatogenesis defects. The idiopathic azoospermia and oligospermia are the common cause of male infertility with unknown underlying molecular mechanisms. The aim of this study was to investigate association of idiopathic azoospermia and oligospermia with single-nucleotide polymorphisms of CATSPER1, SPATA16 and TEX11 genes in Iranian-Azeri men.
Methods
In this case–control study, we recruited 100 infertile men (case group) and 100 fertile men (control group) from Azeri population in north western provinces, Iran, population. The genomic DNA was extracted using a proteinase K method from peripheral blood leukocytes. The genotypes analysis was conducted using tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction method. The obtained data were analyzed by statistical software.
Results
We found a significant difference in the frequencies of heterozygote AB and mutant homozygote BB genotypes in the CATSPER1 (rs2845570) gene polymorphism between patients and healthy controls (p < 0.05). Moreover, we observed a significant difference in the frequencies of heterozygote BA genotype in the SPATA16 (rs1515442) gene polymorphism between patients and healthy controls (p < 0.05). However, no significant difference was found in genotypes distribution of case and control groups in the TEX11 (rs143246552) gene polymorphism.
Conclusion
Our finding showed that the CATSPER1 (rs2845570) and SPATA16 (rs1515442) genes polymorphism may play an important role in idiopathic azoospermia and oligospermia in Iranian Azeri population. However, more extensive studies with larger sample sizes from different ethnic origins are essential for access more accurate results.
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Kadri NK, Zhang J, Oget-Ebrad C, Wang Y, Couldrey C, Spelman R, Charlier C, Georges M, Druet T. High male specific contribution of the X-chromosome to individual global recombination rate in dairy cattle. BMC Genomics 2022; 23:114. [PMID: 35144552 PMCID: PMC8832838 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-022-08328-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Meiotic recombination plays an important role in reproduction and evolution. The individual global recombination rate (GRR), measured as the number of crossovers (CO) per gametes, is a complex trait that has been shown to be heritable. The sex chromosomes play an important role in reproduction and fertility related traits. Therefore, variants present on the X-chromosome might have a high contribution to the genetic variation of GRR that is related to meiosis and to reproduction. Results We herein used genotyping data from 58,474 New Zealand dairy cattle to estimate the contribution of the X-chromosome to male and female GRR levels. Based on the pedigree-based relationships, we first estimated that the X-chromosome accounted for 30% of the total additive genetic variance for male GRR. This percentage was equal to 19.9% when the estimation relied on a SNP-BLUP approach assuming each SNP has a small contribution. We then carried out a haplotype-based association study to map X-linked QTL, and subsequently fine-mapped the identified QTL with imputed sequence variants. With this approach we identified three QTL with large effect accounting for 7.7% of the additive genetic variance of male GRR. The associated effects were equal to + 0.79, − 1.16 and + 1.18 CO for the alternate alleles. In females, the estimated contribution of the X-chromosome to GRR was null and no significant association with X-linked loci was found. Interestingly, two of the male GRR QTL were associated with candidate genes preferentially expressed in testis, in agreement with a male-specific effect. Finally, the most significant QTL was associated with PPP4R3C, further supporting the important role of protein phosphatase in double-strand break repair by homologous recombination. Conclusions Our study illustrates the important role the X-chromosome can have on traits such as individual recombination rate, associated with testis in males. We also show that contribution of the X-chromosome to such a trait might be sex dependent. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-022-08328-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- N K Kadri
- Unit of Animal Genomics, GIGA-R, 11 Avenue de l'Hôpital (B34), University of Liège, 4000, Liège, Belgium.,Animal Genomics, ETH Zürich, Universitätstrasse 2, 8092, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - J Zhang
- Unit of Animal Genomics, GIGA-R, 11 Avenue de l'Hôpital (B34), University of Liège, 4000, Liège, Belgium
| | - C Oget-Ebrad
- Unit of Animal Genomics, GIGA-R, 11 Avenue de l'Hôpital (B34), University of Liège, 4000, Liège, Belgium
| | - Y Wang
- Livestock Improvement Corporation Ltd, Private Bag 3016, 3240, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - C Couldrey
- Livestock Improvement Corporation Ltd, Private Bag 3016, 3240, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - R Spelman
- Livestock Improvement Corporation Ltd, Private Bag 3016, 3240, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - C Charlier
- Unit of Animal Genomics, GIGA-R, 11 Avenue de l'Hôpital (B34), University of Liège, 4000, Liège, Belgium
| | - M Georges
- Unit of Animal Genomics, GIGA-R, 11 Avenue de l'Hôpital (B34), University of Liège, 4000, Liège, Belgium
| | - T Druet
- Unit of Animal Genomics, GIGA-R, 11 Avenue de l'Hôpital (B34), University of Liège, 4000, Liège, Belgium.
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30
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Yang F, Gracia Gervasi M, Orta G, Tourzani DA, De la Vega-Beltrán JL, Ruthel G, Darszon A, Visconti PE, Wang PJ. C2CD6 regulates targeting and organization of the CatSper calcium channel complex in sperm flagella. Development 2022; 149:dev199988. [PMID: 34919125 PMCID: PMC8774747 DOI: 10.1242/dev.199988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The CatSper cation channel is essential for sperm capacitation and male fertility. The multi-subunit CatSper complexes form highly organized calcium signaling nanodomains on flagellar membranes. Here, we report identification of an uncharacterized protein, C2CD6, as a subunit of the mouse CatSper complex. C2CD6 contains a calcium-dependent, membrane-targeting C2 domain. C2CD6 associates with the CatSper calcium-selective, core-forming subunits. Deficiency of C2CD6 depletes the CatSper nanodomains from the flagellum and results in male sterility. C2CD6-deficient sperm are defective in hyperactivation and fail to fertilize oocytes both in vitro and in vivo. CatSper currents are present but at a significantly lower level in C2CD6-deficient sperm. Transient treatments with either Ca2+ ionophore, starvation, or a combination of both restore the fertilization capacity of C2CD6-deficient sperm. C2CD6 interacts with EFCAB9, a pH-dependent calcium sensor in the CatSper complex. We postulate that C2CD6 facilitates incorporation of the CatSper complex into the flagellar plasma membrane and may function as a calcium sensor. The identification of C2CD6 may enable the long-sought reconstitution of the CatSper ion channel complex in a heterologous system for male contraceptive development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Yang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Maria Gracia Gervasi
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Gerardo Orta
- Departamento de Genética del Desarrollo y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, México
| | - Darya A. Tourzani
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Jose Luis De la Vega-Beltrán
- Departamento de Genética del Desarrollo y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, México
| | - Gordon Ruthel
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Alberto Darszon
- Departamento de Genética del Desarrollo y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, México
| | - Pablo E. Visconti
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - P. Jeremy Wang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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31
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Zhang Y, Li P, Liu N, Jing T, Ji Z, Yang C, Zhao L, Tian R, Chen H, Huang Y, Zhi E, Ou N, Bai H, Zhou Y, Li Z, Yao C. Novel Bi-Allelic Variants of FANCM Cause Sertoli Cell-Only Syndrome and Non-Obstructive Azoospermia. Front Genet 2022; 12:799886. [PMID: 34976027 PMCID: PMC8714797 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.799886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) is the most severe disease in male infertility, but the genetic causes for the majority of NOA remain unknown. FANCM is a member of Fanconi Anemia (FA) core complex, whose defects are associated with cell hypersensitivity to DNA interstrand crosslink (ICL)-inducing agents. It was reported that variants in FANCM (MIM: 609644) might cause azoospermia or oligospermia. However, there is still a lack of evidence to explain the association between different FANCM variants and male infertility phenotypes. Herein, we identified compound heterozygous variants in FANCM in two NOA-affected brothers (c. 1778delG:p. R593Qfs*76 and c. 1663G > T:p. V555F), and a homozygous variant in FANCM (c. 1972C > T:p. R658X) in a sporadic case with NOA, respectively. H&E staining and immunohistochemistry showed Sertoli cell-only Syndrome (SCOS) in the three patients with NOA. Collectively, our study expands the knowledge of variants in FANCM, and provides a new insight to understand the genetic etiology of NOA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxiang Zhang
- Depart. of Andrology, Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Lab of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Peng Li
- Depart. of Andrology, Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Lab of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Nachuan Liu
- Depart. of Andrology, Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Lab of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Tao Jing
- Depart. of Andrology, Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Lab of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhiyong Ji
- State Key Lab of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chao Yang
- Depart. of Andrology, Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Lab of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Liangyu Zhao
- Depart. of Andrology, Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Lab of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ruhui Tian
- Depart. of Andrology, Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Lab of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Huixing Chen
- Depart. of Andrology, Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Lab of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuhua Huang
- Depart. of Andrology, Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Lab of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Erlei Zhi
- Depart. of Andrology, Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Lab of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ningjing Ou
- State Key Lab of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Haowei Bai
- Depart. of Andrology, Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Lab of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuchuan Zhou
- The International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zheng Li
- Depart. of Andrology, Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Lab of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chencheng Yao
- Depart. of Andrology, Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Lab of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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OUP accepted manuscript. Hum Reprod 2022; 37:1664-1677. [DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deac092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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33
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Xie C, Wang W, Tu C, Meng L, Lu G, Lin G, Lu LY, Tan YQ. OUP accepted manuscript. Hum Reprod Update 2022; 28:763-797. [PMID: 35613017 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmac024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Chunbo Xie
- Institute of Reproduction and Stem Cell 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
| | - Weili Wang
- Institute of Reproduction and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Chaofeng Tu
- Institute of Reproduction and Stem Cell 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
- NHC Key Laboratory of Human Stem Cell and Reproductive Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
- College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Lanlan Meng
- Institute of Reproduction and Stem Cell 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
| | - Guangxiu Lu
- Institute of Reproduction and Stem Cell 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
- NHC Key Laboratory of Human Stem Cell and Reproductive Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
- College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Ge Lin
- Institute of Reproduction and Stem Cell 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
- NHC Key Laboratory of Human Stem Cell and Reproductive Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
- College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
| | - Lin-Yu Lu
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Ministry of Education) and Women's Reproductive Health Laboratory of Zhejiang Province, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yue-Qiu Tan
- Institute of Reproduction and Stem Cell 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
- NHC Key Laboratory of Human Stem Cell and Reproductive Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
- College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China
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Sudhakar DVS, Shah R, Gajbhiye RK. Genetics of Male Infertility - Present and Future: A Narrative Review. J Hum Reprod Sci 2021; 14:217-227. [PMID: 34759610 PMCID: PMC8527069 DOI: 10.4103/jhrs.jhrs_115_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Infertility affects 8%–12% of couples worldwide with a male factor contributing to nearly 50% of couples either as a primary or contributing cause. Several genetic factors that include single-gene and multiple-gene defects associated with male infertility were reported in the past two decades. However, the etiology remains ambiguous in a majority of infertile men (~40%). The objective of this narrative review is to provide an update on the genetic factors associated with idiopathic male infertility and male reproductive system abnormalities identified in the last two decades. We performed a thorough literature search in online databases from January 2000 to July 2021. We observed a total of 13 genes associated with nonobstructive azoospermia due to maturation/meiotic arrest. Several studies that reported novel genes associated with multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella are also discussed in this review. ADGRG2, PANK2, SCNN1B, and CA12 genes are observed in non-CFTR-related vas aplasia. The genomic analysis should be quickly implemented in clinical practice as the detection of gene abnormalities in different male infertility phenotypes will facilitate genetic counseling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Digumarthi V S Sudhakar
- Department of Gamete Immunobiology, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Rupin Shah
- Lilavati Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Rahul K Gajbhiye
- Clinical Research Lab and Andrology Clinic, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
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Qu W, Liu C, Xu YT, Xu YM, Luo MC. The formation and repair of DNA double-strand breaks in mammalian meiosis. Asian J Androl 2021; 23:572-579. [PMID: 34708719 PMCID: PMC8577251 DOI: 10.4103/aja202191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Programmed DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are necessary for meiosis in mammals. A sufficient number of DSBs ensure the normal pairing/synapsis of homologous chromosomes. Abnormal DSB repair undermines meiosis, leading to sterility in mammals. The DSBs that initiate recombination are repaired as crossovers and noncrossovers, and crossovers are required for correct chromosome separation. Thus, the placement, timing, and frequency of crossover formation must be tightly controlled. Importantly, mutations in many genes related to the formation and repair of DSB result in infertility in humans. These mutations cause nonobstructive azoospermia in men, premature ovarian insufficiency and ovarian dysgenesis in women. Here, we have illustrated the formation and repair of DSB in mammals, summarized major factors influencing the formation of DSB and the theories of crossover regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Qu
- Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Cong Liu
- Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Ya-Ting Xu
- Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Yu-Min Xu
- Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Meng-Cheng Luo
- Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Developmentally Originated Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
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Ji Z, Yao C, Yang C, Huang C, Zhao L, Han X, Zhu Z, Zhi E, Liu N, Zhou Z, Li Z. Novel Hemizygous Mutations of TEX11 Cause Meiotic Arrest and Non-obstructive Azoospermia in Chinese Han Population. Front Genet 2021; 12:741355. [PMID: 34621296 PMCID: PMC8491544 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.741355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Testis-expressed gene 11 (TEX11) mutation has been associated with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) and meiotic arrest. An analogous mutation of TEX11 in the mouse impairs meiosis and can be rescued by in vitro expansion of SSCs and gene therapy. However, a lack of genetic screening of a large cohort of Asian patients (including pedigree analysis) and proper functional evaluation limit the clinical application of TEX11 mutation screening. Thus, we performed whole-exome sequencing (WES) in 479 patients with NOA and identified three novel mutations (two splicing mutations and one missense mutation) in TEX11 in three pairs of siblings from three families and four novel pathogenic mutations (three frameshift mutations and a non-sense mutation) of TEX11 in four sporadic NOA-affected cases. Novel variants among family members were segregated by disease phenotype, and all the seven mutations were predicted to be pathogenic. Histological analysis showed that three patients with TEX11 mutations underwent meiotic arrest. The four mutations that resulted in protein truncations and defective meiosis-specific sporulation domain SPO22 were validated by Western blot. In total, we find seven of 479 patients of NOA (1.5%) carrying TEX11 mutations. Our study expands the knowledge of mutations of TEX11 gene in Asian patients with NOA. The high prevalence and X-linked inherited mode indicated that TEX11 might be included in genetic screening panels for the clinical evaluation of patients with NOA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyong Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Department of Andrology, The Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chencheng Yao
- Department of Andrology, The Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chao Yang
- Department of Andrology, The Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chuan Huang
- Department of Andrology, The Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,The Human Sperm Bank, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, China
| | - Liangyu Zhao
- Department of Andrology, The Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xia Han
- Department of Andrology, The Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zijue Zhu
- Department of Andrology, The Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Erlei Zhi
- Department of Andrology, The Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Nachuan Liu
- Department of Andrology, The Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhi Zhou
- School of Life Sciences and Technology, Shanghai Tech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Zheng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Department of Andrology, The Center for Men's Health, Urologic Medical Center, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Ji C, Wang Y, Wei X, Zhang X, Cong R, Yao L, Qin C, Song N. Potential of testis-derived circular RNAs in seminal plasma to predict the outcome of microdissection testicular sperm extraction in patients with idiopathic non-obstructive azoospermia. Hum Reprod 2021; 36:2649-2660. [PMID: 34477868 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deab196] [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: 01/08/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Do testis-derived circular RNAs (circRNAs) in seminal plasma have potential as biomarkers to predict the outcome of microdissection testicular sperm extraction (micro-TESE) in patients with idiopathic non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA)? SUMMARY ANSWER Testis-derived circRNAs in the seminal plasma can indeed be used for predicting the outcome of micro-TESE in patients with idiopathic NOA. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Micro-TESE is an effective method to obtain sperm samples from patients with idiopathic NOA. However, its success rate is only 40-50% in such patients. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION Six idiopathic NOA patients with different micro-TESE results were included as the discovery cohort. Their testicular tissues were used for extracting and sequencing circRNAs. Five circRNAs with the most significantly different expression levels were selected for further verification. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Fifty-two patients with idiopathic NOA were included as the validation cohort. Preoperative seminal plasma samples of 52 patients with idiopathic NOA and 25 intraoperative testicular tissues were collected and divided into 'success' and 'failure' groups according to the results of micro-TESE. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to verify differences in the expression levels of the selected circRNAs between the two groups in the testicular tissues and seminal plasma. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Whether at the seminal plasma or testicular tissue level, the differences in the expression levels of the three circRNAs (hsa_circ_0000277, hsa_circ_0060394 and hsa_circ_0007773) between the success and failure groups were consistent with the sequencing results. A diagnostic receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis of the AUC indicated excellent diagnostic performance of these circRNAs in seminal plasma in predicting the outcome of micro-TESE (AUC values: 0.920, 0.928 and 0.891, respectively). On the basis of least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) logistic regression, the three circRNAs were combined to construct a new prediction model. The diagnostic ROC curve analysis of the model showed an AUC value of 0.958. The expression levels of these circRNAs in seminal plasma using three normospermic volunteer samples remained stable after 48 h at room temperature. LARGE SCALE DATA NA. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION This was a single-center retrospective study with relatively few cases. The functions of these circRNAs, as well as their relationship with spermatogenesis, have not yet been established. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Testis-derived circRNAs in seminal plasma can reflect the microenvironment of the testis and can be used as reliable biomarkers to screen patients with idiopathic NOA who might be suitable for micro-TESE. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This article was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant no. 81871151). There were no competing interests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengjian Ji
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Yichun Wang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xiyi Wei
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xingyu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Rong Cong
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Liangyu Yao
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Chao Qin
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Ninghong Song
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China.,Department of Urology, The Affiliated Kezhou People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Xinjiang, China
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Krausz C, Cioppi F. Genetic Factors of Non-Obstructive Azoospermia: Consequences on Patients' and Offspring Health. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10174009. [PMID: 34501457 PMCID: PMC8432470 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10174009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-Obstructive Azoospermia (NOA) affects about 1% of men in the general population and is characterized by clinical heterogeneity implying the involvement of several different acquired and genetic factors. NOA men are at higher risk to be carriers of known genetic anomalies such as karyotype abnormalities and Y-chromosome microdeletions in respect to oligo-normozoospermic men. In recent years, a growing number of novel monogenic causes have been identified through Whole Exome Sequencing (WES). Genetic testing is useful for diagnostic and pre-TESE prognostic purposes as well as for its potential relevance for general health. Several epidemiological observations show a link between azoospermia and higher morbidity and mortality rate, suggesting a common etiology for NOA and some chronic diseases, including cancer. Since on average 50% of NOA patients has a positive TESE outcome, the identification of genetic factors in NOA patients has relevance also to the offspring's health. Although still debated, the observed increased risk of certain neurodevelopmental disorders, as well as impaired cardiometabolic and reproductive health profile in children conceived with ICSI from NOA fathers may indicate the involvement of transmissible genetic factors. This review provides an update on the reproductive and general health consequences of known genetic factors causing NOA, including offspring's health.
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Karimi H, Boroujeni PB, Sabbaghian M, Meybodi AM. Gene Alterations and Expression Spectrum of NANOS3 in Nonobstructive Azoospermia. Reprod Sci 2021; 29:92-99. [PMID: 34417763 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-021-00680-6] [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: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Nanos3, a zinc finger RNA-binding protein, suppresses the apoptosis in primordial germ cells (PGCs) during migration to gonads and maintains the PGC population. The genetic variations and expression of NANOS3 in patients with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) were evaluated in this study. The study included 100 idiopathic infertile men with NOA and 100 fertile men as the as the case and control groups, respectively. NANOS3 gene variations were analyzed using the standard polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing. For mRNA and protein expression analysis, testicular biopsy specimens from 27 patients including 9 obstructive azoospermia (OA), 9 maturation arrest (MA), and 9 Sertoli cell-only syndromes (SCOS) were collected and evaluated using the real-time PCR technique and immunohistochemistry. Although the evaluation of the 5`UTR regulatory region has shown the significant difference in the numbers of TG repeats in rs11182456 between groups, the odd ratio was not strong enough to consider that as a certain risk factor lead to azoospermia and infertility. Meanwhile, NANOS3 expression at mRNA level had a significant difference among OA, SCOS, and MA groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamideh Karimi
- Department of Genetics, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Parnaz Borjian Boroujeni
- Department of Genetics, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Marjan Sabbaghian
- Department of Andrology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran. .,Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, 12 Hafez St, Banihashem St, Resalat St, PO Box 19395-4644, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Anahita Mohseni Meybodi
- Department of Genetics, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran. .,Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, 12 Hafez St, Banihashem St, Resalat St, PO Box 19395-4644, Tehran, Iran. .,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada. .,Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Molecular Diagnostics Division, London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada.
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The male germline-specific protein MAPS is indispensable for pachynema progression and fertility. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2025421118. [PMID: 33602822 PMCID: PMC7923350 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2025421118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Meiosis is a specialized cell division that creates haploid germ cells from diploid progenitors. Through differential RNA expression analyses, we previously identified a number of mouse genes that were dramatically elevated in spermatocytes, relative to their very low expression in spermatogonia and somatic organs. Here, we investigated in detail 1700102P08Rik, one of these genes, and independently conclude that it encodes a male germline-specific protein, in agreement with a recent report. We demonstrated that it is essential for pachynema progression in spermatocytes and named it male pachynema-specific (MAPS) protein. Mice lacking Maps (Maps -/- ) suffered from pachytene arrest and spermatocyte death, leading to male infertility, whereas female fertility was not affected. Interestingly, pubertal Maps -/- spermatocytes were arrested at early pachytene stage, accompanied by defects in DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair, crossover formation, and XY body formation. In contrast, adult Maps -/- spermatocytes only exhibited partially defective crossover but nonetheless were delayed or failed in progression from early to mid- and late pachytene stage, resulting in cell death. Furthermore, we report a significant transcriptional dysregulation in autosomes and XY chromosomes in both pubertal and adult Maps -/- pachytene spermatocytes, including failed meiotic sex chromosome inactivation (MSCI). Further experiments revealed that MAPS overexpression in vitro dramatically decreased the ubiquitination levels of cellular proteins. Conversely, in Maps -/- pachytene cells, protein ubiquitination was dramatically increased, likely contributing to the large-scale disruption in gene expression in pachytene cells. Thus, MAPS is a protein essential for pachynema progression in male mice, possibly in mammals in general.
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Sang Y, Liu J, Li X, Zhou G, Zhang Y, Gao L, Zhao Y, Zhou X. The effect of SiNPs on DNA methylation of genome in mouse spermatocytes. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:43684-43697. [PMID: 33840017 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-13459-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Silica nanoparticles (SiNPs), which are the main inorganic components of atmospheric particulate matter, have been proved to have certain male reproductive toxicity in previous studies. Spermatogenesis involves complex epigenetic regulation, but it is still unclear if SiNPs exposure will interfere with the DNA methylation patterns in mouse spermatocytes. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of SiNPs on DNA methylation in the mouse spermatocyte GC-2spd(ts). GC-2 cells were treated with 0 and 20 μg/mL SiNPs for 24 h. MeDIP-seq assay was then performed to analyze the differentially methylated genes related to spermatogenesis. The results showed that SiNPs induced extensive methylation changes in the genome of GC-2 cells, and 24a total of 428 hyper-methylated genes and 398 hypo-methylated genes were identified. Gene Ontology and pathway analysis showed that differential DNA methylation induced by SiNPs was probably involved with abnormal transcription and translation, mitochondrial damage, and cell apoptosis. Results from qRT-PCR verification showed that the expression of spermatogenesis-related genes Akap1, Crem, Spz1, and Tex11 were dysregulated by SiNPs exposure, which was consistent with the MeDIP-seq assay. In general, this study suggested that SiNPs caused genome-wide DNA methylation changes in GC-2 cells, providing valuable reference for the future epigenetic studies in SiNPs-induced male reproductive toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujian Sang
- Department of Toxicology and Hygienic Chemistry, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Jianhui Liu
- Department of Toxicology and Hygienic Chemistry, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Xiangyang Li
- Department of Toxicology and Hygienic Chemistry, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Guiqing Zhou
- Department of Toxicology and Hygienic Chemistry, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- Department of Toxicology and Hygienic Chemistry, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Leqiang Gao
- Department of Toxicology and Hygienic Chemistry, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Yanzhi Zhao
- Yanjing Medical College, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China.
| | - Xianqing Zhou
- Department of Toxicology and Hygienic Chemistry, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China.
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China.
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Yang Q, Mumusoglu S, Qin Y, Sun Y, Hsueh AJ. A kaleidoscopic view of ovarian genes associated with premature ovarian insufficiency and senescence. FASEB J 2021; 35:e21753. [PMID: 34233068 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202100756r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Ovarian infertility and subfertility presenting with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) and diminished ovarian reserve are major issues facing the developed world due to the trend of delaying childbirth. Ovarian senescence and POI represent a continuum of physiological/pathophysiological changes in ovarian follicle functions. Based on advances in whole exome sequencing, evaluation of gene copy variants, together with family-based and genome-wide association studies, we discussed genes responsible for POI and ovarian senescence. We used a gene-centric approach to sort out literature deposited in the Ovarian Kaleidoscope database (http://okdb.appliedbioinfo.net) by sub-categorizing candidate genes as ligand-receptor signaling, meiosis and DNA repair, transcriptional factors, RNA metabolism, enzymes, and others. We discussed individual gene mutations found in POI patients and verification of gene functions in gene-deleted model organisms. Decreased expression of some of the POI genes could be responsible for ovarian senescence, especially those essential for DNA repair, meiosis and mitochondrial functions. We propose to set up a candidate gene panel for targeted sequencing in POI patients together with studies on mitochondria-associated genes in middle-aged subfertile patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingling Yang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Henan Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Sezcan Mumusoglu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hacettepe University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Yingying Qin
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Yingpu Sun
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Henan Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Aaron J Hsueh
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
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Johnsson M, Whalen A, Ros-Freixedes R, Gorjanc G, Chen CY, Herring WO, de Koning DJ, Hickey JM. Genetic variation in recombination rate in the pig. Genet Sel Evol 2021; 53:54. [PMID: 34171988 PMCID: PMC8235837 DOI: 10.1186/s12711-021-00643-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Meiotic recombination results in the exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes. Recombination rate varies between different parts of the genome, between individuals, and is influenced by genetics. In this paper, we assessed the genetic variation in recombination rate along the genome and between individuals in the pig using multilocus iterative peeling on 150,000 individuals across nine genotyped pedigrees. We used these data to estimate the heritability of recombination and perform a genome-wide association study of recombination in the pig. Results Our results confirmed known features of the recombination landscape of the pig genome, including differences in genetic length of chromosomes and marked sex differences. The recombination landscape was repeatable between lines, but at the same time, there were differences in average autosome-wide recombination rate between lines. The heritability of autosome-wide recombination rate was low but not zero (on average 0.07 for females and 0.05 for males). We found six genomic regions that are associated with recombination rate, among which five harbour known candidate genes involved in recombination: RNF212, SHOC1, SYCP2, MSH4 and HFM1. Conclusions Our results on the variation in recombination rate in the pig genome agree with those reported for other vertebrates, with a low but nonzero heritability, and the identification of a major quantitative trait locus for recombination rate that is homologous to that detected in several other species. This work also highlights the utility of using large-scale livestock data to understand biological processes. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12711-021-00643-0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Johnsson
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, Scotland, UK. .,Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7023, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Andrew Whalen
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, Scotland, UK
| | - Roger Ros-Freixedes
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, Scotland, UK.,Departament de Ciència Animal, Universitat de Lleida-Agrotecnio-CERCA Center, Lleida, Spain
| | - Gregor Gorjanc
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, Scotland, UK
| | - Ching-Yi Chen
- Pig Improvement Company, Genus plc, 100 Bluegrass Commons Blvd., Ste2200, Hendersonville, TN, 37075, USA
| | - William O Herring
- Pig Improvement Company, Genus plc, 100 Bluegrass Commons Blvd., Ste2200, Hendersonville, TN, 37075, USA
| | - Dirk-Jan de Koning
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 7023, 750 07, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - John M Hickey
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, Scotland, UK
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Kolmykov S, Vasiliev G, Osadchuk L, Kleschev M, Osadchuk A. Whole-Exome Sequencing Analysis of Human Semen Quality in Russian Multiethnic Population. Front Genet 2021; 12:662846. [PMID: 34178030 PMCID: PMC8232892 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.662846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The global trend toward the reduction of human spermatogenic function observed in many countries, including Russia, raised the problem of extensive screening and monitoring of male fertility and elucidation of its genetic and ethnic mechanisms. Recently, whole-exome sequencing (WES) was developed as a powerful tool for genetic analysis of complex traits. We present here the first Russian WES study for identification of new genes associated with semen quality. The experimental 3 × 2 design of the WES study was based on the analysis of 157 samples including three ethnic groups—Slavs (59), Buryats (n = 49), and Yakuts (n = 49), and two different semen quality groups—pathozoospermia (n = 95) and normospermia (n = 62). Additionally, our WES study group was negative for complete AZF microdeletions of the Y-chromosome. The normospermia group included men with normal sperm parameters in accordance with the WHO-recommended reference limit. The pathozoospermia group included men with impaired semen quality, namely, with any combined parameters of sperm concentration <15 × 106/ml, and/or progressive motility <32%, and/or normal morphology <4%. The WES was performed for all 157 samples. Subsequent calling and filtering of variants were carried out according to the GATK Best Practices recommendations. On the genotyping stage, the samples were combined into four cohorts: three sets corresponded to three ethnic groups, and the fourth set contained all the 157 whole-exome samples. Association of the obtained polymorphisms with semen quality parameters was investigated using the χ2 test. To prioritize the obtained variants associated with pathozoospermia, their effects were determined using Ensembl Variant Effect Predictor. Moreover, polymorphisms located in genes expressed in the testis were revealed based on the genomic annotation. As a result, the nine potential SNP markers rs6971091, rs557806, rs610308, rs556052, rs1289658, rs278981, rs1129172, rs12268007, and rs17228441 were selected for subsequent verification on our previously collected population sample (about 1,500 males). The selected variants located in seven genes FAM71F1, PPP1R15A, TRIM45, PRAME, RBM47, WDFY4, and FSIP2 that are expressed in the testis and play an important role in cell proliferation, meiosis, and apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Semyon Kolmykov
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia.,Department of Computational Biology, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi, Russia
| | - Gennady Vasiliev
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Ludmila Osadchuk
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Maxim Kleschev
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Alexander Osadchuk
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
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Qureshi S, Bibi N, Ahmed J, Khan MJ. Computational screening of pathogenic non-synonymous SNPs of the human TEX11 gene and their structural and functional consequences. Meta Gene 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mgene.2021.100874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
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46
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Liu C, Liu H, Zhang H, Wang L, Li M, Cai F, Wang X, Wang L, Zhang R, Yang S, Liu W, Liang Y, Wang L, Song X, Su S, Gao H, Jiang J, Li J, Luo M, Gao F, Chen Q, Li W, Chen ZJ. Paternal USP26 mutations raise Klinefelter syndrome risk in the offspring of mice and humans. EMBO J 2021; 40:e106864. [PMID: 33978233 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2020106864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Current understanding holds that Klinefelter syndrome (KS) is not inherited, but arises randomly during meiosis. Whether there is any genetic basis for the origin of KS is unknown. Here, guided by our identification of some USP26 variations apparently associated with KS, we found that knockout of Usp26 in male mice resulted in the production of 41, XXY offspring. USP26 protein is localized at the XY body, and the disruption of Usp26 causes incomplete sex chromosome pairing by destabilizing TEX11. The unpaired sex chromosomes then result in XY aneuploid spermatozoa. Consistent with our mouse results, a clinical study shows that some USP26 variations increase the proportion of XY aneuploid spermatozoa in fertile men, and we identified two families with KS offspring wherein the father of the KS patient harbored a USP26-mutated haplotype, further supporting that paternal USP26 mutation can cause KS offspring production. Thus, some KS should originate from XY spermatozoa, and paternal USP26 mutations increase the risk of producing KS offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Innovation Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Fertility Preservation Lab, Reproductive Medicine Center, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hongbin Liu
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Shandong Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Haobo Zhang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Shandong Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Lina Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Innovation Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Mengjing Li
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Shandong Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Feifei Cai
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Xiuge Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Innovation Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Li Wang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Shandong Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Ruidan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Innovation Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Sijie Yang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Shandong Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Wenwen Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Innovation Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Liang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory for Assisted Reproduction and Reproductive Genetics, Shanghai, China
| | - Liying Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Innovation Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaohui Song
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Shandong Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Shizhen Su
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Shandong Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Hui Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Innovation Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Jiang
- Genome Tagging Project (GTP) Center, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Jinsong Li
- Genome Tagging Project (GTP) Center, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Mengcheng Luo
- Department of Tissue and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Fei Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Innovation Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qi Chen
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Wei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Innovation Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Fertility Preservation Lab, Reproductive Medicine Center, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zi-Jiang Chen
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, China.,Shandong Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Jinan, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory for Assisted Reproduction and Reproductive Genetics, Shanghai, China
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Variants in GCNA, X-linked germ-cell genome integrity gene, identified in men with primary spermatogenic failure. Hum Genet 2021; 140:1169-1182. [PMID: 33963445 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-021-02287-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Male infertility impacts millions of couples yet, the etiology of primary infertility remains largely unknown. A critical element of successful spermatogenesis is maintenance of genome integrity. Here, we present a genomic study of spermatogenic failure (SPGF). Our initial analysis (n = 176) did not reveal known gene-candidates but identified a potentially significant single-nucleotide variant (SNV) in X-linked germ-cell nuclear antigen (GCNA). Together with a larger follow-up study (n = 2049), 7 likely clinically relevant GCNA variants were identified. GCNA is critical for genome integrity in male meiosis and knockout models exhibit impaired spermatogenesis and infertility. Single-cell RNA-seq and immunohistochemistry confirm human GCNA expression from spermatogonia to elongated spermatids. Five identified SNVs were located in key functional regions, including N-terminal SUMO-interacting motif and C-terminal Spartan-like protease domain. Notably, variant p.Ala115ProfsTer7 results in an early frameshift, while Spartan-like domain missense variants p.Ser659Trp and p.Arg664Cys change conserved residues, likely affecting 3D structure. For variants within GCNA's intrinsically disordered region, we performed computational modeling for consensus motifs. Two SNVs were predicted to impact the structure of these consensus motifs. All identified variants have an extremely low minor allele frequency in the general population and 6 of 7 were not detected in > 5000 biological fathers. Considering evidence from animal models, germ-cell-specific expression, 3D modeling, and computational predictions for SNVs, we propose that identified GCNA variants disrupt structure and function of the respective protein domains, ultimately arresting germ-cell division. To our knowledge, this is the first study implicating GCNA, a key genome integrity factor, in human male infertility.
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Bellil H, Ghieh F, Hermel E, Mandon-Pepin B, Vialard F. Human testis-expressed (TEX) genes: a review focused on spermatogenesis and male fertility. Basic Clin Androl 2021; 31:9. [PMID: 33882832 PMCID: PMC8061069 DOI: 10.1186/s12610-021-00127-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 02/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Spermatogenesis is a complex process regulated by a multitude of genes. The identification and characterization of male-germ-cell-specific genes is crucial to understanding the mechanisms through which the cells develop. The term “TEX gene” was coined by Wang et al. (Nat Genet. 2001; 27: 422–6) after they used cDNA suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) to identify new transcripts that were present only in purified mouse spermatogonia. TEX (Testis expressed) orthologues have been found in other vertebrates (mammals, birds, and reptiles), invertebrates, and yeasts. To date, 69 TEX genes have been described in different species and different tissues. To evaluate the expression of each TEX/tex gene, we compiled data from 7 different RNA-Seq mRNA databases in humans, and 4 in the mouse according to the expression atlas database. Various studies have highlighted a role for many of these genes in spermatogenesis. Here, we review current knowledge on the TEX genes and their roles in spermatogenesis and fertilization in humans and, comparatively, in other species (notably the mouse). As expected, TEX genes appear to have a major role in reproduction in general and in spermatogenesis in humans but also in all mammals such as the mouse. Most of them are expressed specifically or predominantly in the testis. As most of the TEX genes are highly conserved in mammals, defects in the male (gene mutations in humans and gene-null mice) lead to infertility. In the future, cumulative data on the human TEX genes’ physiological functions and pathophysiological dysfunctions should become available and is likely to confirm the essential role of this family in the reproductive process. Thirteen TEX genes are now referenced in the OMIM database, and 3 have been linked to a specific phenotype. TEX11 (on Xq13.1) is currently the gene most frequently reported as being associated with azoospermia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hela Bellil
- Département de Génétique, CHI de Poissy St Germain en Laye, Poissy, France
| | - Farah Ghieh
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, F-78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France.,Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, BREED, F-94700, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Emeline Hermel
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, F-78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France.,Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, BREED, F-94700, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Béatrice Mandon-Pepin
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, F-78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France.,Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, BREED, F-94700, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - François Vialard
- Département de Génétique, CHI de Poissy St Germain en Laye, Poissy, France. .,Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, F-78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France. .,Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, BREED, F-94700, Maisons-Alfort, France.
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49
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Genetics of Azoospermia. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22063264. [PMID: 33806855 PMCID: PMC8004677 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22063264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Azoospermia affects 1% of men, and it can be due to: (i) hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction, (ii) primary quantitative spermatogenic disturbances, (iii) urogenital duct obstruction. Known genetic factors contribute to all these categories, and genetic testing is part of the routine diagnostic workup of azoospermic men. The diagnostic yield of genetic tests in azoospermia is different in the different etiological categories, with the highest in Congenital Bilateral Absence of Vas Deferens (90%) and the lowest in Non-Obstructive Azoospermia (NOA) due to primary testicular failure (~30%). Whole-Exome Sequencing allowed the discovery of an increasing number of monogenic defects of NOA with a current list of 38 candidate genes. These genes are of potential clinical relevance for future gene panel-based screening. We classified these genes according to the associated-testicular histology underlying the NOA phenotype. The validation and the discovery of novel NOA genes will radically improve patient management. Interestingly, approximately 37% of candidate genes are shared in human male and female gonadal failure, implying that genetic counselling should be extended also to female family members of NOA patients.
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50
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Fan S, Jiao Y, Khan R, Jiang X, Javed AR, Ali A, Zhang H, Zhou J, Naeem M, Murtaza G, Li Y, Yang G, Zaman Q, Zubair M, Guan H, Zhang X, Ma H, Jiang H, Ali H, Dil S, Shah W, Ahmad N, Zhang Y, Shi Q. Homozygous mutations in C14orf39/SIX6OS1 cause non-obstructive azoospermia and premature ovarian insufficiency in humans. Am J Hum Genet 2021; 108:324-336. [PMID: 33508233 PMCID: PMC7895996 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2021.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Human infertility is a multifactorial disease that affects 8%-12% of reproductive-aged couples worldwide. However, the genetic causes of human infertility are still poorly understood. Synaptonemal complex (SC) is a conserved tripartite structure that holds homologous chromosomes together and plays an indispensable role in the meiotic progression. Here, we identified three homozygous mutations in the SC coding gene C14orf39/SIX6OS1 in infertile individuals from different ethnic populations by whole-exome sequencing (WES). These mutations include a frameshift mutation (c.204_205del [p.His68Glnfs∗2]) from a consanguineous Pakistani family with two males suffering from non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) and one female diagnosed with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) as well as a nonsense mutation (c.958G>T [p.Glu320∗]) and a splicing mutation (c.1180-3C>G) in two unrelated Chinese men (individual P3907 and individual P6032, respectively) with meiotic arrest. Mutations in C14orf39 resulted in truncated proteins that retained SYCE1 binding but exhibited impaired polycomplex formation between C14ORF39 and SYCE1. Further cytological analyses of meiosis in germ cells revealed that the affected familial males with the C14orf39 frameshift mutation displayed complete asynapsis between homologous chromosomes, while the affected Chinese men carrying the nonsense or splicing mutation showed incomplete synapsis. The phenotypes of NOA and POI in affected individuals were well recapitulated by Six6os1 mutant mice carrying an analogous mutation. Collectively, our findings in humans and mice highlight the conserved role of C14ORF39/SIX6OS1 in SC assembly and indicate that the homozygous mutations in C14orf39/SIX6OS1 described here are responsible for infertility of these affected individuals, thus expanding our understanding of the genetic basis of human infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suixing Fan
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, 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
| | - Yuying Jiao
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, 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
| | - Ranjha Khan
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, 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
| | - Xiaohua Jiang
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, 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
| | - Abdul Rafay Javed
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, 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
| | - Asim Ali
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, 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
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, 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
| | - Jianteng Zhou
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, 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
| | - Muhammad Naeem
- Medical Genetics Research Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan
| | - Ghulam Murtaza
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, 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
| | - Yang Li
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, 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
| | - Gang Yang
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, 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
| | - Qumar Zaman
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, 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
| | - Muhammad Zubair
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, 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
| | - Haiyang Guan
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, 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
| | - Xingxia Zhang
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, 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
| | - Hui Ma
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, 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
| | - Hanwei Jiang
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, 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
| | - Haider Ali
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, 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
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, 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
| | - Wasim Shah
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, 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
| | - Niaz Ahmad
- Shahbaz Sharif District Hospital, Multan 60800, Pakistan
| | - Yuanwei Zhang
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, 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
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, 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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