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Podgrajsek R, Hodzic A, Stimpfel M, Kunej T, Peterlin B. Insight into the complexity of male infertility: a multi-omics review. Syst Biol Reprod Med 2024; 70:73-90. [PMID: 38517373 DOI: 10.1080/19396368.2024.2317804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Male infertility is a reproductive disorder, accounting for 40-50% of infertility. Currently, in about 70% of infertile men, the cause remains unknown. With the introduction of novel omics and advancement in high-throughput technology, potential biomarkers are emerging. The main purpose of our work was to overview different aspects of omics approaches in association with idiopathic male infertility and highlight potential genes, transcripts, non-coding RNA, proteins, and metabolites worth further exploring. Using the Gene Ontology (GO) analysis, we aimed to compare enriched GO terms from each omics approach and determine their overlapping. A PubMed database screening for the literature published between February 2014 and June 2022 was performed using the keywords: male infertility in association with different omics approaches: genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, ncRNAomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. A GO enrichment analysis was performed using the Enrichr tool. We retrieved 281 global studies: 171 genomics (DNA level), 21 epigenomics (19 of methylation and two histone residue modifications), 15 transcriptomics, 31 non-coding RNA, 29 proteomics, two protein posttranslational modification, and 19 metabolomics studies. Gene ontology comparison showed that different omics approaches lead to the identification of different molecular factors and that the corresponding GO terms, obtained from different omics approaches, do not overlap to a larger extent. With the integration of novel omics levels into the research of idiopathic causes of male infertility, using multi-omic systems biology approaches, we will be closer to finding the potential biomarkers and consequently becoming aware of the entire spectrum of male infertility, their cause, prognosis, and potential treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebeka Podgrajsek
- Department of Human Reproduction, University Medical Center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Alenka Hodzic
- Clinical Institute of Genomic Medicine, University Medical Center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Novo mesto, Novo Mesto, Slovenia
| | - Martin Stimpfel
- Department of Human Reproduction, University Medical Center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Medical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Tanja Kunej
- Department of Animal Science, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Domžale, Slovenia
| | - Borut Peterlin
- Clinical Institute of Genomic Medicine, University Medical Center Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Medical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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2
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Huang TK, Huang CH, Chen PA, Chen CH, Lu F, Yang WJ, Huang JYJ, Li BR. Development of a thermotaxis and rheotaxis microfluidic device for motile spermatozoa sorting. Biosens Bioelectron 2024; 258:116353. [PMID: 38696966 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2024.116353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024]
Abstract
Male infertility is a pervasive global reproductive challenge, primarily attributed to a decline in semen quality. Addressing this concern, there has been a growing focus on spermatozoa sorting in assisted reproductive technology. This study introduces a groundbreaking development in the form of a thermotaxis and rheotaxis microfluidic (TRMC) device designed for efficient motile spermatozoa sorting within a short 15-min timeframe. The TRMC device mimics the natural sperm sorting mechanism of the oviduct, selecting spermatozoa with superior motility and DNA integrity. The experimental outcomes demonstrate a remarkable enhancement in the percentage of progressive spermatozoa following sorting, soaring from 3.90% to an impressive 96.11% when subjected to a temperature decrease from 38 °C to 35 °C. Notably, sperm motility exhibited a substantial 69% improvement. The TRMC device exhibited a commendable recovery rate of 60.93%, surpassing current clinical requirements. Furthermore, the sorted spermatozoa displayed a notable reduction in the DNA fragmentation index to 6.94%, signifying a substantial 90% enhancement in DNA integrity. This remarkable advancement positions the TRMC device as highly suitable for applications in in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), offering a promising solution to male infertility challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teng-Kuan Huang
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, College of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Hsien Huang
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, College of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Pei-An Chen
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, College of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Ching Hung Chen
- Taiwan IVF Group, Hsinchu, Taiwan; Ton Yen General Hospital, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Farn Lu
- Taiwan IVF Group, Hsinchu, Taiwan; Ton Yen General Hospital, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Ju Yang
- Taiwan IVF Group, Hsinchu, Taiwan; Ton Yen General Hospital, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Jack Yu Jen Huang
- Taiwan IVF Group, Hsinchu, Taiwan; Ton Yen General Hospital, Hsinchu, Taiwan; Division of Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility, The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Bor-Ran Li
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, College of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan; Center for Emergent Functional Matter Science, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan; Medical Device Innovation and Translation R&D Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
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3
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Dobrijević Z, Stevanović J, Robajac D, Penezić A, Četić D, Baralić M, Nedić O. Association between nitric oxide synthase (NOS3) gene polymorphisms and diabetic nephropathy: An updated meta-analysis. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2024; 586:112197. [PMID: 38462124 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2024.112197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Polymorphisms located within NOS3 gene have been investigated as susceptibility variants for diabetic nephropathy (DN) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in a large number of studies. However, these previous articles yielded inconsistent results and we aimed at elucidating the impact of NOS3 variants on DN risk in T2DM by conducting an updated systematic data synthesis. A total of 36 studies (12,807 participants) were selected for qualitative data synthesis, while 33 records with 11,649 subjects were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled analysis demonstrated the association of minor alleles of rs2070744 and rs1799983 with an increased susceptibility to DN (P < 0.001 and P = 0.015 for allelic model, respectively). For both of these variants, a significant effect of subgrouping according to ethnicity was found. Rs869109213 displayed an association with DN susceptibility, with pooled effect measures indicating a predisposing effect of the minor allele a (Prec = 0.002, ORrec = 1.960, 95%CI 1.288-2.983; Paavs. bb = 0.001, ORaavs. bb = 2.014, 95%CI 1.316-3.083). These findings support the effects of NOS3 variants on the risk of developing DN in T2DM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zorana Dobrijević
- University of Belgrade - Institute for the Application of Nuclear Energy, Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Jovana Stevanović
- University of Belgrade - Institute for the Application of Nuclear Energy, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Dragana Robajac
- University of Belgrade - Institute for the Application of Nuclear Energy, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Ana Penezić
- University of Belgrade - Institute for the Application of Nuclear Energy, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Danilo Četić
- University of Belgrade - Institute for the Application of Nuclear Energy, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Marko Baralić
- University of Belgrade - School of Medicine, Belgrade, Serbia; Department of Nephrology, University Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Olgica Nedić
- University of Belgrade - Institute for the Application of Nuclear Energy, Belgrade, Serbia
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Spaggiari G, Costantino F, Dalla Valentina L, Romeo M, Furini C, Roli L, De Santis MC, Canu G, Trenti T, Granata ARM, Simoni M, Santi D. Are they functional hypogonadal men? Testosterone serum levels unravel male idiopathic infertility subgroups. Endocrine 2024; 84:757-767. [PMID: 38372906 PMCID: PMC11076374 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-024-03717-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate total testosterone distribution in male idiopathic infertility. METHODS A retrospective, real-world case-control clinical study was conducted. Cases consisted of men evaluated for couple infertility, specifically those with alterations in semen parameters and normal gonadotropin levels, and after excluding all known causes of male infertility. Controls were male subjects who underwent semen analysis for screening purposes, without any abnormality detected. The total testosterone distribution was evaluated in cases and controls. Further analyses were performed subgrouping cases according to total testosterone reference threshold suggested by scientific societies (i.e., 3.5 ng/mL). RESULTS Cases included 214 idiopathic infertile men (mean age 38.2 ± 6.2 years) and controls 224 subjects with normozoospermia (mean age 33.7 ± 7.5 years). Total testosterone was not-normally distributed in both cases and controls, with positive asymmetric distribution slightly shifted on the left in cases. The rate of subjects with testosterone lower than 3.5 ng/mL was higher in cases (23.8%) than controls (4.5%) (p < 0.001). In cases with testosterone lower than 3.5 ng/mL, a significant direct correlation between testosterone and the percentage of normal morphology sperms was highlighted, also applying multivariate stepwise linear regression analysis (R = 0.430, standard error = 0.3, p = 0.020). CONCLUSION Although idiopathic infertile men show by definition altered semen analysis and gonadotropins within reference ranges, testosterone serum levels are widely variable in this population. Approximately a quarter of these patients present some sort of functional hypogonadism. Our data support the need to better classify idiopathic male infertility and total testosterone serum levels could be a supportive parameter in tracing the patient's therapeutic profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Spaggiari
- Unit of Endocrinology, Department of Medical Specialties, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria of Modena, Modena, Italy
- Unit of Andrology and Sexual Medicine of the Unit of Endocrinology, Department of Medical Specialties, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria of Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Francesco Costantino
- Unit of Endocrinology, Department of Medical Specialties, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria of Modena, Modena, Italy
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Leonardo Dalla Valentina
- Unit of Endocrinology, Department of Medical Specialties, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria of Modena, Modena, Italy
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Marilina Romeo
- Unit of Endocrinology, Department of Medical Specialties, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria of Modena, Modena, Italy
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Chiara Furini
- Unit of Endocrinology, Department of Medical Specialties, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria of Modena, Modena, Italy
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Laura Roli
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Azienda USL of Modena, Modena, Italy
| | | | - Giulia Canu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Azienda USL of Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Tommaso Trenti
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Azienda USL of Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Antonio R M Granata
- Unit of Endocrinology, Department of Medical Specialties, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria of Modena, Modena, Italy
- Unit of Andrology and Sexual Medicine of the Unit of Endocrinology, Department of Medical Specialties, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria of Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Manuela Simoni
- Unit of Endocrinology, Department of Medical Specialties, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria of Modena, Modena, Italy
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Daniele Santi
- Unit of Endocrinology, Department of Medical Specialties, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria of Modena, Modena, Italy.
- Unit of Andrology and Sexual Medicine of the Unit of Endocrinology, Department of Medical Specialties, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria of Modena, Modena, Italy.
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
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Aponte PM, Gutierrez-Reinoso MA, Garcia-Herreros M. Bridging the Gap: Animal Models in Next-Generation Reproductive Technologies for Male Fertility Preservation. Life (Basel) 2023; 14:17. [PMID: 38276265 PMCID: PMC10820126 DOI: 10.3390/life14010017] [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: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
This review aims to explore advanced reproductive technologies for male fertility preservation, underscoring the essential role that animal models have played in shaping these techniques through historical contexts and into modern applications. Rising infertility concerns have become more prevalent in human populations recently. The surge in male fertility issues has prompted advanced reproductive technologies, with animal models playing a pivotal role in their evolution. Historically, animal models have aided our understanding in the field, from early reproductive basic research to developing techniques like artificial insemination, multiple ovulation, and in vitro fertilization. The contemporary landscape of male fertility preservation encompasses techniques such as sperm cryopreservation, testicular sperm extraction, and intracytoplasmic sperm injection, among others. The relevance of animal models will undoubtedly bridge the gap between traditional methods and revolutionary next-generation reproductive techniques, fortifying our collective efforts in enhancing male fertility preservation strategies. While we possess extensive knowledge about spermatogenesis and its regulation, largely thanks to insights from animal models that paved the way for human infertility treatments, a pressing need remains to further understand specific infertility issues unique to humans. The primary aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive analysis of how animal models have influenced the development and refinement of advanced reproductive technologies for male fertility preservation, and to assess their future potential in bridging the gap between current practices and cutting-edge fertility techniques, particularly in addressing unique human male factor infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro M. Aponte
- Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales (COCIBA), Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ), Quito 170901, Ecuador
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Biomedicina “One-Health”, Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ), Campus Cumbayá, Quito 170901, Ecuador
| | - Miguel A. Gutierrez-Reinoso
- Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias y Recursos Naturales, Carrera de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Técnica de Cotopaxi (UTC), Latacunga 050150, Ecuador;
- Laboratorio de Biotecnología Animal, Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción (UdeC), Chillán 3780000, Chile
| | - Manuel Garcia-Herreros
- Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária (INIAV), 2005-048 Santarém, Portugal
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Mo Y, Liang F, Mehmood A, Shah S, Xie Y, Lin Z, Sun Y, Jiang H, Guo Y, Niu X, Mo D. Leptin Receptor Gln223Arg Polymorphism of Human Spermatozoa Associated with Male Infertility in a Chinese Population. Int J Clin Pract 2023; 2023:4009061. [PMID: 37662867 PMCID: PMC10470079 DOI: 10.1155/2023/4009061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Leptin (LEP) is believed to play a crucial role in male reproduction, while the molecular mechanisms through which LEP affects the male reproductive system are unclear. LEP acts by binding to a leptin receptor (LEPR) which mediates its physiological action, but there are only limited studies on the function of LEPR in human sperm. Purpose This study aimed to determine the Gln223Arg polymorphisms of the LEPR gene in human spermatozoa and evaluate their possible relationship with semen variables. Methods The study was performed on Chinese men: 115 healthy subjects and 108 patients with primary and 98 with secondary infertility. Semen samples were obtained from all patients, and semen variables were analyzed. The genotypic and allelic frequencies of Gln223Arg polymorphism in spermatozoa were determined by PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analyses. Statistical analyses were performed using the chi-square test, the Kruskal-Wallis test, and the Mann-Whitney test. Results There were no significant differences in genotypic or allelic frequency distributions of Gln223Arg polymorphism among men with primary infertility, secondary infertility, and controls. Similarly, semen volume and sperm concentration did not differ with the different genotypes in all groups of men. The percentages of motile sperm for AA + AG genotypes in men with primary infertility (31.98%) were significantly lower than those in secondary infertility, and control men with GG genotypes were 34.41% and 59.36%, respectively. At the same time, the percentages of normal morphology sperm for AA + AG genotypes in men with primary infertility (2.93%) were significantly lower than those in secondary infertility and control men with GG genotypes 3.71% and 6.54%, respectively. Conclusion This study reveals a possible association between the Gln223Arg polymorphism of the LEPR gene in spermatozoa affecting spermatozoal membrane integrity and having a direct role in sperm motility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Mo
- The Reproductive Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning 530029, China
| | - Fangfang Liang
- Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning 530200, China
| | - Arshad Mehmood
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050000, Hebei, China
| | - Suleman Shah
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Health Science Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Ying Xie
- Department of Genetics, Hebei Medical University, Hebei Key Lab of Laboratory Animal, Shijiazhuang 050017, Hebei, China
| | - Zhong Lin
- The Reproductive Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning 530029, China
| | - Yan Sun
- The Reproductive Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning 530029, China
| | - Hesheng Jiang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530005, China
| | - Yafen Guo
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530005, China
| | - Xiangli Niu
- The Reproductive Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning 530029, China
| | - Dinggan Mo
- The Reproductive Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Nanning 530029, China
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Sengseng T, Okutsu T, Songnui A, Boonchuay J, Sakunrang C, Wonglapsuwan M. Molecular Markers of Ovarian Germ Cells of Banana Prawn ( Fenneropenaeus merguiensis). Curr Issues Mol Biol 2023; 45:5708-5724. [PMID: 37504276 PMCID: PMC10378296 DOI: 10.3390/cimb45070360] [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: 06/10/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The banana prawn (Fenneropenaeus merguiensis) is a valuable prawn in the worldwide market. However, cultivation of this species is limited owing to the difficulty in culture management and limited knowledge of reproduction. Therefore, we studied the gene expression and molecular mechanisms involved in oogenesis for elucidating ovarian germ cell development in banana prawns. The tissue-specific distribution of certain genes identified from previous transcriptome data showed that FmCyclinB, FmNanos, and nuclear autoantigenic sperm protein (FmNASP) were only expressed in gonads. The in situ hybridization (ISH) of these three genes showed different expression patterns throughout oogenesis. FmCyclinB was highly expressed in pre-vitellogenic oocytes. FmNanos was expressed at almost the same level during oogenesis but showed the most expression in late pre-vitellogenic stages. Based on the highest expression of FmCyclinB and FmNanos in mid pre-vitellogenic and late pre-vitellogenic oocytes, respectively, we suggested that FmNanos may suppress FmCyclinB expression before initiation of vitellogenesis. Meanwhile, FmNASP expression was detected only in pre-vitellogenesis. Moreover, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis of FmNASP expression was supported by FmNASP ISH analysis based on high expression of FmNASP in sub-adult ovaries, which contain most of pre-vitellogenic oocytes. In this study, we found three reliable ovarian markers for banana prawns and also found a dynamic change of molecular mechanism during the sub-stage of pre-vitellogenesis. We determined the expression levels of these genes involved in oogenesis. Our findings provide information for further studies on banana prawn reproduction which may assist in their cultivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiyavadee Sengseng
- Division of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hatyai, Songkhla 90110, Thailand
| | - Tomoyuki Okutsu
- Japan International Research Center for Agricultural Sciences, Tsukuba 305-8686, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Anida Songnui
- Trang Coastal Fisheries Research and Development Center, Department of Fisheries, Trang 92150, Thailand
| | - Jaruwan Boonchuay
- Division of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hatyai, Songkhla 90110, Thailand
| | - Chanida Sakunrang
- Division of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hatyai, Songkhla 90110, Thailand
| | - Monwadee Wonglapsuwan
- Division of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hatyai, Songkhla 90110, Thailand
- Center for Genomics and Bioinformatics Research, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hatyai, Songkhla 90110, Thailand
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8
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Yu W, Li Y, Chen H, Cui Y, Situ C, Yao L, Zhang X, Lu S, Liu L, Li L, Ren J, Guo Y, Huo Z, Chen Y, Li H, Jiang T, Gu Y, Wang C, Zhu T, Li Y, Hu Z, Guo X. STK33 phosphorylates fibrous sheath protein AKAP3/4 to regulate sperm flagella assembly in spermiogenesis. Mol Cell Proteomics 2023:100564. [PMID: 37146716 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcpro.2023.100564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Spermatogenesis defects are important for male infertility; however, the etiology and pathogenesis are still unknown. Herein, we identified two loss of function mutations of STK33 in 7 individuals with non-obstructive azoospermia. Further functional studies of these frameshift and nonsense mutations revealed that Stk33-/KI male mice were sterile, and Stk33-/KI sperm were abnormal with defects in the mitochondrial sheath (MS), fibrous sheath (FS), outer dense fiber (ODF) and axoneme. Stk33KI/KI male mice were subfertile and had oligoasthenozoospermia. Differential phosphoproteomic analysis and in vitro kinase assay identified novel phosphorylation substrates of STK33, fibrous sheath components AKAP3 and AKAP4, whose expression levels decreased in testis after deletion of Stk33. STK33 regulated the phosphorylation of AKAP3/4, affected the assembly of fibrous sheath in the sperm, and played an essential role in spermiogenesis and male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiling Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Yang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China; School of Public Health, Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211100, China
| | - Hong Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Yiqiang Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Chenghao Situ
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Liping Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Xiangzheng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Shuai Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China; School of Public Health, Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211100, China
| | - Li Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Laihua Li
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Jie Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Yueshuai Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Zian Huo
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Yu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Haojie Li
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Tao Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China; School of Public Health, Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211100, China
| | - Yayun Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China; School of Public Health, Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211100, China
| | - Cheng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China; School of Public Health, Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211100, China
| | - Tianyu Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Yan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Zhibin Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China; School of Public Health, Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211100, China.
| | - Xuejiang Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
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9
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Al-Kass Z, Ntallaris T, Morrell JM, Johannisson A. Deciphering sperm chromatin properties to predict stallion sperm fertility. Anim Reprod Sci 2023; 250:107200. [PMID: 36801727 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2023.107200] [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: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
Although previous studies have examined the relationship between the sperm DNA fragmentation index and fertility in stallions, other aspects of chromatin structure or packaging and fertility have not been explored. In the present study, relationships between fertility and DNA fragmentation index, protamine deficiency, total thiols, free thiols and disulfide bonds in stallion spermatozoa were investigated. Ejaculates (n = 36) were collected from 12 stallions and extended to prepare semen doses for insemination. One dose from each ejaculate was sent to the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. Aliquots of semen were stained for flow cytometry with acridine orange for the Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay (DNA fragmentation Index, %DFI), with chromomycin A3 (CMA) for protamine deficiency, and with monobromobimane (mBBr) for detection of total and free thiols and disulfide bonds. Per season pregnancy rates after insemination were obtained. Mixed linear models were used to analyze data. Negative correlations were found between pregnancy rate and %DFI (r = -0.35, P < 0.03) and pregnancy rate and free thiols (r = -0.60, P < 0.0001). Furthermore, there were positive correlations between total thiols and disulfide bonds (r = 0.95, P < 0.0001), and protamine and disulfide bonds (r = 0.4100, P < 0.01986). Since chromatin integrity, protamine deficiency and packaging were all associated with fertility, a combination of these factors could be used as a biomarker of fertility when assessing ejaculates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyad Al-Kass
- Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala, Sweden; Department of Surgery and Theriogenology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Mosul, Mosul, Iraq
| | - Theodoros Ntallaris
- Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jane M Morrell
- Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Anders Johannisson
- Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), Uppsala, Sweden
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10
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Microdeletions and microduplications linked to severe congenital disorders in infertile men. Sci Rep 2023; 13:574. [PMID: 36631630 PMCID: PMC9834233 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-27750-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Data on the clinical validity of DNA copy number variants (CNVs) in spermatogenic failure (SPGF) is limited. This study analyzed the genome-wide CNV profile in 215 men with idiopathic SPGF and 62 normozoospermic fertile men, recruited at the Andrology Clinic, Tartu University Hospital, Estonia. A two-fold higher representation of > 1 Mb CNVs was observed in men with SPGF (13%, n = 28) compared to controls (6.5%, n = 4). Seven patients with SPGF were identified as carriers of microdeletions (1q21.1; 2.4 Mb) or microduplications (3p26.3, 1.1 Mb; 7p22.3-p22.2, 1.56 Mb; 10q11.22, 1.42 Mb, three cases; Xp22.33; 2.3 Mb) linked to severe congenital conditions. Large autosomal CNV carriers had oligozoospermia, reduced or low-normal bitesticular volume (22-28 ml). The 7p22.3-p22.2 microduplication carrier presented mild intellectual disability, neuropsychiatric problems, and short stature. The Xp22.33 duplication at the PAR1/non-PAR boundary, previously linked to uterine agenesis, was detected in a patient with non-obstructive azoospermia. A novel recurrent intragenic deletion in testis-specific LRRC69 was significantly overrepresented in patients with SPGF compared to the general population (3.3% vs. 0.85%; χ2 test, OR = 3.9 [95% CI 1.8-8.4], P = 0.0001). Assessment of clinically valid CNVs in patients with SPGF will improve their management and counselling for general and reproductive health, including risk of miscarriage and congenital disorders in future offspring.
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11
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Uzunov AV, Meca DC, Secară DC, Munteanu O, Constantin AE, Vasilescu D, Mehedinţu C, Varlas VN, Cîrstoiu MM. Investigaţii actuale în medicina reproductivă – review al literaturii. GINECOLOGIA.RO 2023. [DOI: 10.26416/gine.39.1.2023.7786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
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12
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Saberiyan M, Karimi E, Safi A, Movahhed P, Dehdehi L, Haririan N, Mirfakhraie R. Circular RNAs: Novel Biomarkers in Spermatogenesis Defects and Male Infertility. Reprod Sci 2023; 30:62-71. [PMID: 35178677 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-022-00885-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a new class of endogenous non-coding RNAs involved in several cellular and biological processes, including gene expression regulation, microRNA function, transcription regulation, and translation modification. Therefore, these non-coding RNAs have important roles in the pathogenesis of various diseases. Male infertility is mainly due to abnormal sperm parameters such as motility, morphology, and concentration. Recent studies have confirmed the role of circRNAs in spermatogenesis, and the expression of several circRNAs is confirmed in seminal plasma, spermatozoa, and testicular tissue. It is suggested that deregulation of circRNAs is involved in different types of male infertility, including azoospermia, oligozoospermia, and asthenozoospermia. In the present review, we aimed to discuss the potential roles of circRNAs in spermatogenesis failure, sperm defects, and male infertility. Due to their conserved and special structure and tissue-specific expression pattern, circRNAs can be applied as reliable noninvasive molecular biomarkers, therapeutic and pharmaceutical targets in male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammadreza Saberiyan
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Elham Karimi
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
| | - Amir Safi
- Clinical Biochemistry Research Center, Basic Health Sciences Institute, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
- Young Researchers and Elite Club, Islamic Azad University, Najafabad Branch, , Najafabad, Iran
| | - Parvaneh Movahhed
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Leila Dehdehi
- Clinical Research Developmental Unit, Hajar Hospital, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Nazanin Haririan
- Biology Department, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Reza Mirfakhraie
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Koodakyar St, Velenjak Ave, Chamran highway, 19395-4719, Tehran, Iran.
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13
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Babaei K, Aziminezhad M, Norollahi SE, Vahidi S, Samadani AA. Cell therapy for the treatment of reproductive diseases and infertility: an overview from the mechanism to the clinic alongside diagnostic methods. Front Med 2022; 16:827-858. [PMID: 36562947 DOI: 10.1007/s11684-022-0948-8] [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: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Infertility is experienced by 8%-12% of adults in their reproductive period globally and has become a prevalent concern. Besides routine therapeutic methods, stem cells are rapidly being examined as viable alternative therapies in regenerative medicine and translational investigation. Remarkable progress has been made in understanding the biology and purpose of stem cells. The affected pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are further studied for their possible use in reproductive medicine, particularly for infertility induced by premature ovarian insufficiency and azoospermia. Accordingly, this study discusses current developments in the use of some kinds of MSCs such as adipose-derived stem cells, bone marrow stromal cells, umbilical cord MSCs, and menstrual blood MSCs. These methods have been used to manage ovarian and uterine disorders, and each technique presents a novel method for the therapy of infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kosar Babaei
- Non-Communicable Disease Research Center, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, Iran
| | - Mohsen Aziminezhad
- Non-Communicable Disease Research Center, Neyshabur University of Medical Sciences, Neyshabur, Iran.,UMR INSERM U 1122, IGE-PCV, Interactions Gène-Environment En Physiopathologie Cardiovascular Université De Lorraine, Nancy, France
| | - Seyedeh Elham Norollahi
- Cancer Research Center and Department of Immunology, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
| | - Sogand Vahidi
- Medical Biology Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Ali Akbar Samadani
- Guilan Road Trauma Research Center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
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14
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Nongthombam PD, Malini SS. Association of DAZL polymorphisms and DAZ deletion with male infertility: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Genes Genomics 2022; 45:709-722. [PMID: 36434389 DOI: 10.1007/s13258-022-01345-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Various populations have been investigated for the occurrence of two key DAZL polymorphisms, 260A > G (rs11710967) and 386A > G (rs121918346), as well as complete DAZ cluster deletion, with conflicting results. OBJECTIVE The purpose of the current meta-analysis was to investigate if there is an association between DAZL polymorphisms and complete deletion of the DAZ cluster gene with male infertility. METHODS Up until September 2022, a thorough search was conducted in the Pubmed and Google scholar databases. For 260A > G polymorphism, 8 studies with 2077 cases and 1398 controls, 13 studies for 386A > G polymorphism (4343 cases and 3727 controls) and 17 studies of DAZ deletion (2820 cases and 1589 controls) were included in the pooled analysis. All of the studies were statistically analysed by Review Manager 5.4, and publication bias was evaluated with JASP 0.16.2.0 software utilising funnel plots and Egger's linear regression test. RESULTS The meta analysis result for pooled data indicated no association between 260A > G and 386A > G polymorphisms and male infertility in any of the genetic models or ethnicities. However, there was a definite correlation between complete deletion of the DAZ gene cluster and male infertility, with an OR = 13.23, 95% confidence interval (6.63-26.39), and p < 0.00001. In the stratified analysis by ethnicity, Caucasians and Asian ethnic groups showed the similar relationship. CONCLUSION In order to arrive at more definitive conclusions, further study should be conducted, including studies from a larger range of nations and nationalities.
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15
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Amor H, Jankowski PM, Dahadhah FW, Al Zoubi MS, Hammadeh ME. Impact of tobacco smoking in association with H2BFWT, PRM1 and PRM2 genes variants on male infertility. Andrologia 2022; 54:e14611. [PMID: 36217675 DOI: 10.1111/and.14611] [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: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Tobacco's genotoxic components can cause a wide range of gene defects in spermatozoa such as single- or double-strand DNA breaks, cross-links, DNA-adducts, higher frequencies of aneuploidy and chromosomal abnormalities. The aim in this study was to determine the correlation between sperm quality determined by standard parameters, sperm DNA maturity tested by Chromomycin A3 (CMA3) staining, sperm DNA fragmentation tested by TUNEL assay and tobacco smoking in association with the single nucleotides polymorphisms (SNP) of three nuclear protein genes in spermatozoa (H2BFWT, PRM1 and PRM2). In this study, semen samples of 167 male patients were collected and divided into 54 non-smokers and 113 smokers. The target sequences in the extracted sperm DNA were amplified by PCR followed by Sanger sequencing. The results showed the presence of three variants: rs7885967, rs553509 and rs578953 in H2BFWT gene in the study population. Only one variant rs737008 was detected in PRM1 gene, and three variants were detected in the PRM2 gene: rs2070923, rs1646022 and rs424908. No significant association was observed between the concentration, progressive motility, morphology and the occurrence of H2BFWT, PRM1 and PRM2 SNPs. However, sperm parameters were significantly lower in heavy smokers compared to controls (p < 0.01) (sperm count: 46.00 vs. 78.50 mill/ml, progressive motility: 15.00% vs. 22.00%, and morphology 4.00% vs. 5.00%, respectively). Moreover, the heavy smoker individuals exhibited a considerable increase in CMA3 positivity and sDF compared to non-smokers (p < 0.01) (29.50% vs. 20.50% and 24.50% vs. 12.00%, respectively). In conclusion, smoking altered sperm parameters and sperm DNA integrity, but did not show a linkage with genetic variants in H2BFWT, and protamine genes (PRM1 and PRM2).
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Affiliation(s)
- Houda Amor
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
| | | | - Fatina W Dahadhah
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Saarland University, Homburg, Germany
| | - Mazhar Salim Al Zoubi
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan
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16
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Amor H, Hammadeh ME. A Systematic Review of the Impact of Mitochondrial Variations on Male Infertility. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13071182. [PMID: 35885965 PMCID: PMC9325252 DOI: 10.3390/genes13071182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
According to current estimates, infertility affects one in four couples trying to conceive. Primary or secondary infertility can be due either to both partners or only to the man or the woman. Up to 15% of infertility cases in men can be attributed to genetic factors that can lead to irreversible partial or complete spermatogenic arrest. The increased use of assisted reproductive technology (ART) has provided not only insights into the causes of male infertility but also afforded a diagnostic tool to detect and manage this condition among couples. Genes control a variety of physiological attributes, such as the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis, development, and germ cell differentiation. In the era of ART, it is important to understand the genetic basis of infertility so as to provide the most tailored therapy and counseling to couples. Genetic factors involved in male infertility can be chromosome abnormalities or single-gene disorders, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations, Y-chromosome deletions, multifactorial disorders, imprinting disorders, or endocrine disorders of genetic origin. In this review, we discuss the role of mitochondria and the mitochondrial genome as an indicator of sperm quality and fertility.
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17
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FertilityOnline: A Straightforward Pipeline for Functional Gene Annotation and Disease Mutation Discovery. GENOMICS, PROTEOMICS & BIOINFORMATICS 2022; 20:455-465. [PMID: 34954426 PMCID: PMC9801063 DOI: 10.1016/j.gpb.2021.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Exploring the genetic basis of human infertility is currently under intensive investigation. However, only a handful of genes have been validated in animal models as disease-causing genes in infertile men. Thus, to better understand the genetic basis of human spermatogenesis and bridge the knowledge gap between humans and other animal species, we construct the FertilityOnline, a database integrating the literature-curated functional genes during spermatogenesis into an existing spermatogenic database, SpermatogenesisOnline 1.0. Additional features, including the functional annotation and genetic variants of human genes, are also incorporated into FertilityOnline. By searching this database, users can browse the functional genes involved in spermatogenesis and instantly narrow down the number of candidates of genetic mutations underlying male infertility in a user-friendly web interface. Clinical application of this database was exampled by the identification of novel causative mutations in synaptonemal complex central element protein 1 (SYCE1) and stromal antigen 3 (STAG3) in azoospermic men. In conclusion, FertilityOnline is not only an integrated resource for spermatogenic genes but also a useful tool facilitating the exploration of the genetic basis of male infertility. FertilityOnline can be freely accessed at http://mcg.ustc.edu.cn/bsc/spermgenes2.0/index.html.
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18
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Toujani S, Tucker EJ, Akloul L, Mary L, Pimentel C, Launay E, Freton L, Jouve G, Henry C, Odent S, Belaud-Rotureau MA, Jaillard S. Pseudodicentric Chromosome Originating from an X-Autosome Translocation in a Male Patient with Cryptozoospermia. Cytogenet Genome Res 2022; 162:124-131. [PMID: 35609520 DOI: 10.1159/000524388] [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: 12/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic factors are responsible for 15% of male infertility conditions. Numerical and structural chromosomal anomalies are validated genetic factors leading to spermatogenic quantitative defects, with a frequency depending on the severity of the phenotype. Among the structural chromosomal rearrangements, dicentric chromosomes are generally observed in robertsonian translocations or in cases of Y chromosome isodicentrics. In X-autosome translocations, male carriers are generally infertile, regardless of the position of the breakpoint, due to interrupted spermatogenesis. We report an infertile man bearing an unusual balanced (X;22) translocation, with a centromeric X breakpoint generating a derivative pseudodicentric chromosome psu dic(22;X). Extensive cytogenetic analyses were necessary to determine the precise nature of the derivative chromosome. The likely cause of the reproductive phenotype of the patient is discussed based on meiotic chromosomal conformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saloua Toujani
- Cytogenetics and Cell Biology Department, Rennes University Hospital, Rennes, France
| | - Elena J Tucker
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Linda Akloul
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Rennes University Hospital, Rennes, France
| | - Laura Mary
- Cytogenetics and Cell Biology Department, Rennes University Hospital, Rennes, France
| | - Céline Pimentel
- Department of Obstetric Gynecology and Human Reproduction, Rennes University Hospital, Rennes, France
| | - Erika Launay
- Cytogenetics and Cell Biology Department, Rennes University Hospital, Rennes, France
| | - Lucas Freton
- Department of Urology, Rennes University Hospital, Rennes, France
| | - Guilhem Jouve
- Department of Reproductive Biology, Rennes University Hospital, Rennes, France
| | - Catherine Henry
- Cytogenetics and Cell Biology Department, Rennes University Hospital, Rennes, France
| | - Sylvie Odent
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Rennes University Hospital, Rennes, France
| | - Marc-Antoine Belaud-Rotureau
- Cytogenetics and Cell Biology Department, Rennes University Hospital, Rennes, France.,Department of Reproductive Biology, Rennes University Hospital, Rennes, France.,Rennes 1 University, INSERM, EHESP, IRSET - UMR_S 1085, Rennes, France
| | - Sylvie Jaillard
- Cytogenetics and Cell Biology Department, Rennes University Hospital, Rennes, France.,Rennes 1 University, INSERM, EHESP, IRSET - UMR_S 1085, Rennes, France
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19
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Botezatu A, Vladoiu S, Fudulu A, Albulescu A, Plesa A, Muresan A, Stancu C, Iancu IV, Diaconu CC, Velicu A, Popa OM, Badiu C, Dinu-Draganescu D. Advanced molecular approaches in male infertility diagnosis. Biol Reprod 2022; 107:684-704. [PMID: 35594455 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioac105] [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: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In the recent years a special attention has been given to a major health concern namely to male infertility, defined as the inability to conceive after 12 months of regular unprotected sexual intercourse, taken into account the statistics that highlight that sperm counts have dropped by 50-60% in recent decades. According to the WHO, infertility affects approximately 9% of couples globally, and the male factor is believed to be present in roughly 50% of cases, with exclusive responsibility in 30%. The aim of this manuscript is to present an evidence-based approach for diagnosing male infertility that includes finding new solutions for diagnosis and critical outcomes, retrieving up-to-date studies and existing guidelines. The diverse factors that induce male infertility generated in a vast amount of data that needed to be analysed by a clinician before a decision could be made for each individual. Modern medicine faces numerous obstacles as a result of the massive amount of data generated by the molecular biology discipline. To address complex clinical problems, vast data must be collected, analysed, and used, which can be very challenging. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) methods to create a decision support system can help predict the diagnosis and guide treatment for infertile men, based on analysis of different data as environmental and lifestyle, clinical (sperm count, morphology, hormone testing, karyotype, etc.) and "omics" bigdata. Ultimately, the development of AI algorithms will assist clinicians in formulating diagnosis, making treatment decisions, and predicting outcomes for assisted reproduction techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Botezatu
- "Stefan S. Nicolau" Institute of Virology, Bucharest, Romania
| | - S Vladoiu
- "CI Parhon" National Institute of Endocrinology, Bucharest, Romania
| | - A Fudulu
- "Stefan S. Nicolau" Institute of Virology, Bucharest, Romania
| | - A Albulescu
- "Stefan S. Nicolau" Institute of Virology, Bucharest, Romania.,National Institute for Chemical pharmaceutical Research & Development
| | - A Plesa
- "Stefan S. Nicolau" Institute of Virology, Bucharest, Romania
| | - A Muresan
- "CI Parhon" National Institute of Endocrinology, Bucharest, Romania
| | - C Stancu
- "CI Parhon" National Institute of Endocrinology, Bucharest, Romania
| | - I V Iancu
- "Stefan S. Nicolau" Institute of Virology, Bucharest, Romania
| | - C C Diaconu
- "Stefan S. Nicolau" Institute of Virology, Bucharest, Romania
| | - A Velicu
- "CI Parhon" National Institute of Endocrinology, Bucharest, Romania
| | - O M Popa
- "CI Parhon" National Institute of Endocrinology, Bucharest, Romania
| | - C Badiu
- "CI Parhon" National Institute of Endocrinology, Bucharest, Romania.,"Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
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20
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Osadchuk LV, Osadchuk AV. Role of CAG and GGC Polymorphism of the Androgen Receptor Gene in Male Fertility. RUSS J GENET+ 2022. [DOI: 10.1134/s1022795422020119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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21
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Zhibai Dihuang Pill Alleviates Ureaplasma urealyticum-Induced Spermatogenic Failure and Testicular Dysfunction via MAPK Signaling Pathway. COMPUTATIONAL AND MATHEMATICAL METHODS IN MEDICINE 2022; 2022:7174399. [PMID: 35242210 PMCID: PMC8888053 DOI: 10.1155/2022/7174399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 12/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The testicles and sperm are extremely susceptible to inflammation and oxidative stress. Although Zhibai Dihuang Pill (ZDP) has been reported to treat various infertilities including male infertility induced by Ureaplasma urealyticum (UU) infection, its mechanism is still poorly understood. This study is aimed at clarifying the underlying mechanism of ZDP to protect against UU-infected male infertility. We found that UU-infected infertile rats exhibited weight loss, reduced food intake, and decreased sperm count and vitality. The administration of ZDP improved the general state and sperm motility of rats. In addition, UU infection led to spermatogenesis disorders, impaired secretory function and blood-testis barrier (BTB) of Sertoli cells, and elevated inflammation and oxidative stress. As expected, ZDP suppressed inflammation and oxidative stress to alleviate spermatogenesis disorders. Our research showed that ZDP could improve spermatogenesis disorders and testicular function primarily through the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. ZDP exerts its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects via the MAPK signaling pathway, thus playing an important role in ameliorating spermatogenesis failure and testicular dysfunction.
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22
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Lan KC, Wang HJ, Wang TJ, Lin HJ, Chang YC, Kang HY. Y-chromosome genes associated with sertoli cell-only syndrome identified by array comparative genome hybridization. Biomed J 2022; 46:100524. [PMID: 35358715 DOI: 10.1016/j.bj.2022.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The precise contribution of each chromosome gene or gene family in achieving male fertility is still the subject of debate. Most studies have examined male populations with heterogeneous causes of infertility, and have therefore reached controversial or uncertain conclusions. This study uses Y-chromosome array-based comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) to examine a population of males with a uniform sertoli cell-only syndrome (SCOS) infertility phenotype. METHODS Initial analysis of gene copy number variations in 8 SCOS patients, with determination of the log-ratio of probe signal intensity against a DNA reference, was performed using the Y-chromosome NimbleGen aCGH. To confirm the role of candidate genes, real-time quantitative RT-PCR was used to compare 19 patients who had SCOS non-obstructive azoospermia with 15 patients who had obstructive azoospermia but normal spermatogenesis. RESULTS Our initial aCGH experiments identified CDY1a and CDY1b double deletions in all 8 patients who had total germ cell depletion. However, 5 patients had DAZ1/2 and DAZ3/4 deletions, 1 patient had a DAZ2 and DAZ3/4 deletion, and 2 patients had no DAZ1/2 or DAZ3/4 deletions. Examination of testicular mRNA expression in another 19 patients with SCOS indicated all patients had no detectable levels of CDY1. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that CDY1 deletion in SCOS patients, and analysis of the expression of DAZ and CDY1 genes using aCGH and quantitative RT-PCR, may be useful to predict the presence of mature spermatozoa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuo-Chung Lan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Center for Menopause and Reproductive Medicine Research, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jen-Ai Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan; College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
| | - Hung-Jen Wang
- Department of Urology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Jou Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Jung Lin
- Center for Menopause and Reproductive Medicine Research, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Yung-Chiao Chang
- Center for Menopause and Reproductive Medicine Research, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Hong-Yo Kang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Center for Menopause and Reproductive Medicine Research, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Kaohsiung, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
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23
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Ren S, Chen X, Tian X, Yang D, Dong Y, Chen F, Fang X. The expression, function, and utilization of Protamine1: a literature review. Transl Cancer Res 2022; 10:4947-4957. [PMID: 35116345 PMCID: PMC8799248 DOI: 10.21037/tcr-21-1582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Objective Protamine 1 (PRM1) is specific in sperm and plays essential roles in fertilization, also a member of cancer testis antigen (CTA) family. This study aims to summarize the expression and function of PRM1 in spermatogenesis, and to broaden the current knowledge and inspire future development of PRM1-based therapeutic strategies in cancer treatment and nanomedicine. Background The protamine proteins, are characterized by an arginine-rich core and cysteine residues. Humans express two types of protamine: PRM1 and PRM2. The abnormal expression or proportion of PRM1 and PRM2 is known to be associated with subfertility and infertility, especially for PRM1 which is highly evolutionary conserved in mammalians and expressed in all vertebrates. Biological functions of PRM1 have been unveiled in diverse cellular processes, such as tumorigenesis, somatic cell nucleus transfer, and drug delivery systems. Moreover, PRM1 is identified as a CTA in chronic leukemia (CLL) and colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods Literature was obtained using PubMed and the keywords protamine 1, PRM1, or P1, from January 1, 1980, through July 20, 2021. We also collect the additional evidence through screening references of articles identified through the PubMed searches. Conclusions PRM1 is well-studied in male infertility, and further researches and attempts to develop PRM1 as novel tumor marker, as well as drug delivery vector, will be of important clinical significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengnan Ren
- Department of Breast, Thyroid, Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Xinmin Division of China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xuebo Chen
- Department of Gastrointestinal, Colorectal and Anal Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Xiaofeng Tian
- Department of Breast, Thyroid, Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Xinmin Division of China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Dingquan Yang
- Department of Gastrointestinal, Colorectal and Anal Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Yongli Dong
- Department of Gastrointestinal, Colorectal and Anal Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Fangfang Chen
- Department of Gastrointestinal, Colorectal and Anal Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China.,Nanomedicine Translational Research Center, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xuedong Fang
- Department of Gastrointestinal, Colorectal and Anal Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China
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24
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Saleh Jaweesh M, Hammadeh ME, Dahadhah FW, Al Zoubi MS, Amor H. Association between the single nucleotide variants of the mitochondrial cytochrome B gene (MT-CYB) and the male infertility. Mol Biol Rep 2022; 49:3609-3616. [PMID: 35118571 PMCID: PMC9174114 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-022-07200-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Background Idiopathic male infertility can be attributed to genetic predispositions that affect sperm performance and function. Genetic alterations in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) have been linked to certain types of male infertility and abnormal sperm function. Mutations in the mitochondrial cytochrome B (MT-CYB) gene might lead to some deficiencies in mitochondrial function. Thus, in the current study, we aimed to investigate the effect of mutations in the MT-CYB gene on sperm motility and male infertility. Methods and results Semen specimens were collected from 111 men where 67 men were subfertile and 44 were fertile. QIAamp DNA Mini Kit and REPLI-g Mitochondrial DNA Kit from QIAGEN were used to isolate and amplify the mitochondrial DNA. Followed by PCR and Sanger sequencing for the target sequence in the MT-CYP gene. Sequencing of the MT-CYB gene revealed a total of thirteen single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Eight SNPs were non-synonymous variant (missense variant) including: rs2853508, rs28357685, rs41518645, rs2853507, rs28357376, rs35070048, rs2853506, and rs28660155. While five SNPs were Synonymous variant: rs527236194, rs28357373, rs28357369, rs41504845, and rs2854124. Among these SNPs, three variants showed a significant difference in the frequency of the genotypes between subfertile and fertile groups: rs527236194 (T15784C) (P = 0.0005), rs28357373 (T15629C) (P = 0.0439), and rs41504845 (C15833T) (P = 0.0038). Moreover, two SNPs showed a significant association between allelic frequencies of rs527236194 (T15784C) (P = 0.0014) and rs41504845 (C15833T) (P = 0.0147) and male subfertility. Conclusion The current study showed a significant association between the MT-CYB gene polymorphisms and the development of male infertility. In particular, rs527236194, rs28357373 and rs41504845 variants were found to be the most related to the subfertility group. Further studies on larger and other populations are required to reveal the exact role of this gene in the development of male infertility. In addition, functional studies will be helpful to elucidate the molecular impact of the MT-CYP polymorphisms on mitochondrial function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayyas Saleh Jaweesh
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Saarland University, Homburg, Saar, Germany.
| | - Mohamad Eid Hammadeh
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Saarland University, Homburg, Saar, Germany
| | - Fatina W Dahadhah
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Saarland University, Homburg, Saar, Germany
| | - Mazhar Salim Al Zoubi
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Yarmouk University, Irbid, 21163, Jordan
| | - Houda Amor
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Saarland University, Homburg, Saar, Germany
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25
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Ghadirkhomi E, Angaji SA, Khosravi M, Mashayekhi MR. Association of Novel Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms of Genes Involved in Cell Functions with Male Infertility: A Study of Male Cases in Northwest Iran. J Reprod Infertil 2022; 22:258-266. [PMID: 34987987 PMCID: PMC8669412 DOI: 10.18502/jri.v22i4.7651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Infertility is a global health problem caused by various environmental and genetic factors. Male infertility accounts for 40-50% of all cases of infertility and approximately half of them are grouped as idiopathic with no definitive causes. Previous studies have suggested an association between some SNPs and infertility in men. In this study, an attempt was made to investigate the association of 7 different SNPs of 4 genes involved in common cell functions with male infertility. Methods MTHFR rs1801131 (T>G), MTHFR rs2274976 (G>A), FASLG rs80358238 (A>G), FASLG rs12079514 (A>C), GSTM1 rs1192077068 (G>A), BRCA2 rs4987117 (C>T), and BRCA2 rs11571833 (A>T) were genotyped in 120 infertile men with idiopathic azoospermia or severe oligospermia and 120 proven fertile controls using ARMS-PCR methods. Next, 30% of SNPs were regenotyped to confirm the results. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using SPSS statistical software to evaluate the strength of association. The p<0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results Statistical analysis revealed significant association between MTHFR rs-2274976 AA variant (OR: 10.00, CI: 3.203-31.225), FASLG rs12079514 AC variant (OR: 0.412, CI: 0.212-0.800), and BRCA2 rs11571833 TT variant OR: 6.233, CI: 3.211-12.101) with male infertility, but there was no significant difference between case and control groups in MTHFR rs1801131 (p= 0.111), GSTM1 rs1192077068 (p=0.272), BRCA2 rs4987117 (p=0.221), and FASLG rs80358238 (p=0.161). Conclusion Our findings suggested that some novel polymorphisms including MTHFR rs2274976, FASLG rs12079514, and BRCA2 rs11571833 might be the possible predisposing risk factors for male infertility in cases with idiopathic azoospermia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elham Ghadirkhomi
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed Abdolhamid Angaji
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Kharazmi University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Khosravi
- Biology Department, Faculty of Bio Sciences, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Mashayekhi
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tabriz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran
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26
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Yu R, Chen X, Zhu X, He B, Lu C, Liu Y, Xu X, Wu X. ATF6 deficiency damages the development of spermatogenesis in male Atf6 knockout mice. Andrologia 2021; 54:e14350. [PMID: 34904262 DOI: 10.1111/and.14350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6), also known as ACHM7, ATF6A, encodes a transcription factor that activates target genes for the unfolded protein response (UPR) during endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. It functions as nuclear transcription factor via a cis-acting ER stress response element (ERSE) that is presented in the promoters of genes encoding ER chaperones. Studies have shown that endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) can cause damage to spermatozoa and testes, leading to male sterility. And we find that the expression of ATF6 in spermatozoa of some infertile patients is significantly reduced. Then, we construct the Atf6 knockout mice model and interestingly find a decline in male fertility. The downstream gene testis-specific serine/threonine-protein kinase 4 (Tssk4) is screened based on transcriptome sequencing. We use Western blot and real-time PCR to confirm this result in both 293T cells and Atf6 knockout mice. TSSK4 is essential in male germ cell genesis and sperm maturation. Our results suggest that the expression of TSSK4 may be regulated by ATF6. The effect of Atf6 knockout on the reproductive development of male mice may be related to the low expression of TSSK4, which further verify that there may be some relationship between ERS and male reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ru Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Xihua Chen
- Reproductive Physiology Laboratory, National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, China
| | - Xilin Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Bin He
- Reproductive Physiology Laboratory, National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, China
| | - Cong Lu
- Reproductive Physiology Laboratory, National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, China
| | - Ying Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Xiangbo Xu
- Reproductive Physiology Laboratory, National Research Institute for Family Planning, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaopan Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
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27
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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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28
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Shen YR, Wang HY, Tsai YC, Kuo YC, Wu SR, Wang CY, Kuo PL. The SEPT12 complex is required for the establishment of a functional sperm head-tail junction. Mol Hum Reprod 2021; 26:402-412. [PMID: 32392324 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gaaa031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Revised: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The connecting pieces of the sperm neck link the flagellum and the sperm head, and they are important for initiating flagellar beating. The connecting pieces are important building blocks for the sperm neck; however, the mechanism of connecting piece assembly is poorly understood. In the present study, we explored the role of septins in sperm motility and found that Sept12D197N knock-in (KI) mice produce acephalic and immotile spermatozoa. Electron microscopy analysis showed defective connecting pieces in sperm from KI mice, indicating that SEPT12 is required for the establishment of connecting pieces. We also found that SEPT12 formed a complex with SEPT1, SEPT2, SEPT10 and SEPT11 at the sperm neck and that the D197N mutation disrupted the complex, suggesting that the SEPT12 complex is involved in the assembly of connecting pieces. Additionally, we found that SEPT12 interacted and colocalized with γ-tubulin in elongating spermatids, implying that SEPT12 and pericentriolar materials jointly contribute to the formation of connecting pieces. Collectively, our findings suggest that SEPT12 is required for the formation of striated columns, and the capitulum and for maintaining the stability of the sperm head-tail junction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Ru Shen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Han-Yu Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.,Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Yung-Chieh Tsai
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chi-Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan.,Department of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Department of Sport Management, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Yung-Che Kuo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.,TMU Research Center for Cell Therapy and Regeneration Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Shang-Rung Wu
- Institute of Oral Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Yih Wang
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.,Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Pao-Lin Kuo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.,Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Cheng-Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan
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29
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Wu X, Gao S, Wang L, Bu T, Wu S, Zhou L, Shi J, Wu D, Sun F, Cheng CY. Role of laminin and collagen chains in human spermatogenesis - Insights from studies in rodents and scRNA-Seq transcriptome profiling. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2021; 121:125-132. [PMID: 34325997 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2021.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Studies have demonstrated that biologically active fragments are generated from the basement membrane and the Sertoli cell-spermatid adhesion site known as apical ectoplasmic specialization (apical ES, a testis-specific actin-based anchoring junction) in the rat testis. These bioactive fragments or peptides are produced locally across the seminiferous epithelium through proteolytic cleavage of constituent proteins at the basement membrane and the apical ES. Studies have shown that they are being used to modulate and coordinate cellular functions across the seminiferous epithelium during different stages of the epithelial cycle of spermatogenesis. In this review, we briefly summarize recent findings based on studies using rat testes as a study model regarding the role of these bioactive peptides that serve as a local regulatory network to support spermatogenesis. We also used scRNA-Seq transcriptome datasets in the public domain for OA (obstructive azoospermia) and NAO (non-obstructive azoospermia) human testes versus testes from normal men for analysis in this review. It was shown that there are differential expression of different collagen chains and laminin chains in these testes, suggesting the possibility of a similar local regulatory network in the human testis to support spermatogenesis, and the possible disruption of such network in men is associated with OA and/or NOA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolong Wu
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China; The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, 1230 York Ave, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Sheng Gao
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China
| | - Lingling Wang
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China; The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, 1230 York Ave, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Tiao Bu
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China
| | - Siwen Wu
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, 1230 York Ave, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - 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
| | - Di Wu
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China
| | - Fei Sun
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China.
| | - C Yan Cheng
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, 1230 York Ave, New York, NY 10065, USA.
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30
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Ignatieva EV, Osadchuk AV, Kleshchev MA, Bogomolov AG, Osadchuk LV. A Catalog of Human Genes Associated With Pathozoospermia and Functional Characteristics of These Genes. Front Genet 2021; 12:662770. [PMID: 34290736 PMCID: PMC8287579 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.662770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic causes of the global decline in male fertility are among the hot spots of scientific research in reproductive genetics. The most common way to evaluate male fertility in clinical trials is to determine semen quality. Lower semen quality is very often accompanied by subfertility or infertility, occurs in many diseases and can be caused by many factors, including genetic ones. The following forms of lowered semen quality (pathozoospermia) are known: azoospermia, oligozoospermia, asthenozoospermia, teratozoospermia, and some combined forms. To systematize information about the genetic basis of impaired spermatogenesis, we created a catalog of human genes associated with lowered semen quality (HGAPat) and analyzed their functional characteristics. The catalog comprises data on 126 human genes. Each entry of the catalog describes an association between an allelic variant of the gene and a particular form of lowered semen quality, extracted from the experimental study. Most genes included into the catalog are located on autosomes and are associated with such pathologies as non-obstructive azoospermia, oligozoospermia or asthenozoospermia. Slightly less than half of the included genes (43%) are expressed in the testes in a tissue-specific manner. Functional annotation of genes from the catalog showed that spermatogenic failure can be associated with mutations in genes that control biological processes essential for spermiogenesis (regulating DNA metabolism, cell division, formation of cellular structures, which provide cell movement) as well as with mutations in genes that control cellular responses to unfavorable conditions (stress factors, including oxidative stress and exposure to toxins).
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena V Ignatieva
- The Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia.,Department of Natural Science, Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Alexander V Osadchuk
- The Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Maxim A Kleshchev
- The Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Anton G Bogomolov
- The Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Ludmila V Osadchuk
- The Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
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31
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Aliakbari F, Eshghifar N, Mirfakhraie R, Pourghorban P, Azizi F. Coding and Non-Coding RNAs, as Male Fertility and Infertility Biomarkers. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FERTILITY & STERILITY 2021; 15:158-166. [PMID: 34155862 PMCID: PMC8233923 DOI: 10.22074/ijfs.2021.134602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Semen analysis is usually the first step in the assessment of male fertility. Although analyzes provide valuable information about male fertility, success of cytoplasmic sperm injection using this method is not predictable. In the recent years, studies have shown that sperm quality assessment helps clinicians predict male fertility status based on the expression of biomarkers. To write this article, a comprehensive study was conducted on several RNA transcripts by searching related words on medical information databases by 2018. According to the literature, spermatogenesis based disorders in male infertility have a significant relationship with the expression level of some RNA molecules (like DAZ and PRM1/PRM2 ratio) in semen and testicular tissue. Thus, they might be used as predictor biomarkersto evaluate success rate of testicular sperm extraction (TESE) procedure, but confirmation of this hypothesis requires more extensive research. By comparing the number of RNAs attributed to each fertility disorder in men, it is possible to trace the causes of disease or return fertility to some infertile patients by regulating the mentioned molecules. Further researches can provide a better understanding of the use of RNA expression profiles in the diagnosis and treatment of male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fereshteh Aliakbari
- Men's Health and Reproductive Health Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Nahal Eshghifar
- Men's Health and Reproductive Health Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Cellular and Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Advanced Sciences and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Reza Mirfakhraie
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Parisa Pourghorban
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Sabzevar Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sabzevar, Iran
| | - Faezeh Azizi
- Non-Communicable Disease Control Department, Public Health Department, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran.
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32
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Tao K, Sun Y, Chao Y, Xing L, Leng L, Zhou D, Zhu W, Fan L. β-estradiol promotes the growth of primary human fetal spermatogonial stem cells via the induction of stem cell factor in Sertoli cells. J Assist Reprod Genet 2021; 38:2481-2490. [PMID: 34050447 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-021-02240-y] [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: 02/20/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mammalian spermatogenesis is responsible for male fertility and is supported by the self-renewal and differentiation of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). Sertoli cells provide a supportive microenvironment for SSCs, in part by the production of stem cell factor (SCF), which is a potent regulator of spermatogonia proliferation and survival. METHODS We investigated the novel role of β-estradiol in modulating the proliferation and apoptosis of fetal SSCs via the regulation of SCF secretion in Sertoli cells isolated from human fetal testes. The proliferation of SSCs in the co-culture system was determined by colony formation and BrdU incorporation assays. TUNEL assay was used to measure SSC apoptosis in co-culture in response to treatment with control, β-estradiol, or the combination of β-estradiol and the estrogen receptor inhibitor ICI 182780. RESULTS In the system with purified human fetal Sertoli cells (MIS+/c-Kit-/AP-), β-estradiol upregulated the production of SCF in a dose- and time-dependent manner. In the co-culture system of primary human fetal SSCs (c-Kit+/SSEA-4+/Oct-4+/AP+) and Sertoli cells (MIS+), β-estradiol markedly increased the proliferation of SSCs. Moreover, SSC apoptosis was significantly inhibited by β-estradiol and was completely reversed by the combination of β-estradiol and ICI 182780. CONCLUSION Here we report, for the first time, that β-estradiol can induce the increase of SCF expression in human fetal Sertoli cells and regulates the growth and survival of human fetal SSCs. These novel findings provide new perspectives on the current understanding of the role of estrogen in human spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Tao
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, China.,Department of Medical Laboratory, School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410013, China
| | - Yuan Sun
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, China
| | - Yuanchi Chao
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, China
| | - Liu Xing
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, China.,Reproductive & Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, 410078, China
| | - Lizhi Leng
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, China.,Reproductive & Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, 410078, China
| | - Dai Zhou
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, China.,Reproductive & Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, 410078, China
| | - Wenbing Zhu
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, China.,Reproductive & Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, 410078, China
| | - Liqing Fan
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, China. .,Reproductive & Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, 410078, China.
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33
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Shiraishi K. Genome medicine in male infertility: From karyotyping to single-cell analysis. J Obstet Gynaecol Res 2021; 47:2586-2596. [PMID: 33998107 DOI: 10.1111/jog.14828] [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: 04/03/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Male infertility is a multifactorial pathological condition that affects half of infertile couples. The majority of cases are categorized as idiopathic, especially in cases of nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA). An increasing number of genetic abnormalities have been shown to cause spermatogenic impairment with the development of microarray technologies and next-generation sequencing (NGS), moving beyond classical karyotype and polymerase chain reaction analyses of targeted genes. However, the majority of gene mutations, such as Klinefelter syndrome, azoospermia factor microdeletion, or congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens, fail to function in a one gene-one phenotype manner. Single-cell transcriptome analysis performed using human testicular samples has begun to be published, which has brought about a more comprehensive understanding of testicular pathology. NGS also enables omics approaches, which provide more powerful tools to interrogate the genome, epigenome, transcriptome, and proteome. Simultaneously, the involvement of environmental factors and comorbidities, which may potentially regulate epigenetic factors, has been shown, resulting in a more complex understanding of the pathophysiology of spermatic disorders, especially NOA. The combination of phenotypic data and large amounts of bioinformatical data obtained by NGS may provide a more comprehensive understanding of the pathophysiology of male infertility, which will contribute not only to a diagnosis but also to the proper selection of infertility treatment and the development of new treatment modalities for male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koji Shiraishi
- Department of Urology, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, Ube, Japan
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34
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Isaguliants M, Krasnyak S, Smirnova O, Colonna V, Apolikhin O, Buonaguro FM. Genetic instability and anti-HPV immune response as drivers of infertility associated with HPV infection. Infect Agent Cancer 2021; 16:29. [PMID: 33971936 PMCID: PMC8111735 DOI: 10.1186/s13027-021-00368-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted infection common among men and women of reproductive age worldwide. HPV viruses are associated with epithelial lesions and cancers. HPV infections have been shown to be significantly associated with many adverse effects in reproductive function. Infection with HPVs, specifically of high-oncogenic risk types (HR HPVs), affects different stages of human reproduction, resulting in a series of adverse outcomes: 1) reduction of male fertility (male infertility), characterized by qualitative and quantitative semen alterations; 2) impairment of couple fertility with increase of blastocyst apoptosis and reduction of endometrial implantation of trophoblastic cells; 3) defects of embryos and fetal development, with increase of spontaneous abortion and spontaneous preterm birth. The actual molecular mechanism(s) by which HPV infection is involved remain unclear. HPV-associated infertility as Janus, has two faces: one reflecting anti-HPV immunity, and the other, direct pathogenic effects of HPVs, specifically, of HR HPVs on the infected/HPV-replicating cells. Adverse effects observed for HR HPVs differ depending on the genotype of infecting virus, reflecting differential response of the host immune system as well as functional differences between HPVs and their individual proteins/antigens, including their ability to induce genetic instability/DNA damage. Review summarizes HPV involvement in all reproductive stages, evaluate the adverse role(s) played by HPVs, and identifies mechanisms of viral pathogenicity, common as well as specific for each stage of the reproduction process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Isaguliants
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow, Russia. .,Chumakov Federal Scientific Center for Research and Development of Immune-and-Biological Products of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia. .,Riga Stradiņs University, Riga, Latvia. .,Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Stepan Krasnyak
- Research Institute of Urology and Interventional Radiology named after N.A. Lopatkin, Moscow, Russia
| | - Olga Smirnova
- N.F. Gamaleya National Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology, Moscow, Russia.,Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.,Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedecine, Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Vincenza Colonna
- Institute of Genetics and Biophysics "Adriano Buzzati-Traverso", National Research Council, Naples, Italy
| | - Oleg Apolikhin
- Research Institute of Urology and Interventional Radiology named after N.A. Lopatkin, Moscow, Russia
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35
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Rodriguez-Martinez H, Martinez EA, Calvete JJ, Peña Vega FJ, Roca J. Seminal Plasma: Relevant for Fertility? Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22094368. [PMID: 33922047 PMCID: PMC8122421 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 04/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Seminal plasma (SP), the non-cellular component of semen, is a heterogeneous composite fluid built by secretions of the testis, the epididymis and the accessory sexual glands. Its composition, despite species-specific anatomical peculiarities, consistently contains inorganic ions, specific hormones, proteins and peptides, including cytokines and enzymes, cholesterol, DNA and RNA-the latter often protected within epididymis- or prostate-derived extracellular vesicles. It is beyond question that the SP participates in diverse aspects of sperm function pre-fertilization events. The SP also interacts with the various compartments of the tubular genital tract, triggering changes in gene function that prepares for an eventual successful pregnancy; thus, it ultimately modulates fertility. Despite these concepts, it is imperative to remember that SP-free spermatozoa (epididymal or washed ejaculated) are still fertile, so this review shall focus on the differences between the in vivo roles of the SP following semen deposition in the female and those regarding additions of SP on spermatozoa handled for artificial reproduction, including cryopreservation, from artificial insemination to in vitro fertilization. This review attempts, including our own results on model animal species, to critically summarize the current knowledge of the reproductive roles played by SP components, particularly in our own species, which is increasingly affected by infertility. The ultimate goal is to reconcile the delicate balance between the SP molecular concentration and their concerted effects after temporal exposure in vivo. We aim to appraise the functions of the SP components, their relevance as diagnostic biomarkers and their value as eventual additives to refine reproductive strategies, including biotechnologies, in livestock models and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heriberto Rodriguez-Martinez
- Department of Biomedical & Clinical Sciences (BKV), BKH/Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, SE-58185 Linköping, Sweden
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +46-132-869-25
| | - Emilio A. Martinez
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research “Campus Mare Nostrum”, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (E.A.M.); (J.R.)
| | - Juan J. Calvete
- Laboratorio de Venómica Estructural y Funcional, Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, C.S.I.C., 46010 Valencia, Spain;
| | - Fernando J. Peña Vega
- Laboratory of Equine Reproduction and Equine Spermatology, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, 10003 Caceres, Spain;
| | - Jordi Roca
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research “Campus Mare Nostrum”, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (E.A.M.); (J.R.)
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36
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Salas-Huetos A, Aston KI. Defining new genetic etiologies of male infertility: progress and future prospects. Transl Androl Urol 2021; 10:1486-1498. [PMID: 33850783 PMCID: PMC8039605 DOI: 10.21037/tau.2020.03.43] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Male infertility is a common and complex disease, manifesting as a wide range of phenotypes, ranging from apparently normal semen parameters with an inexplicable inability to conceive, to the complete absence of sperm production. The diversity of male infertility phenotypes, coupled with the extreme complexity of spermatogenesis has significantly confounded the identification of the underlying genetic causes for these conditions, though incremental progress has been made, particularly in the past decade. In this review, we discuss the progress that has been made to date, tools and resources that have proven effective in accelerating discovery of novel genetic markers for male infertility, and areas in which we see the greatest potential for advancing the field in the coming years. These include the development and use of robust phenotyping tools, the continued development of in vitro and animal models for variant validation, increased utilization and refinement of whole genome approaches for discovery, and further expansion of consortia that assemble groups of clinicians and basic researchers with the unified goal of disentangling the complex genetic architecture of male infertility. As these resources mature, and funding agencies increasingly recognize the importance of these efforts for improving human health, the discovery of novel genetic markers for male infertility will certainly continue to accelerate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert Salas-Huetos
- Andrology and IVF Laboratory, Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Kenneth I Aston
- Andrology and IVF Laboratory, Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
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37
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A loss-of-function variant in DNA mismatch repair gene MLH3 underlies severe oligozoospermia. J Hum Genet 2021; 66:725-730. [PMID: 33517345 DOI: 10.1038/s10038-021-00907-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 01/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Male infertility pertains to male's inability to cause pregnancy in a fertile female. It accounts for 40-50% of infertility in human. In the study, presented here, a large consanguineous family of Pakistani origin segregating male infertility in autosomal recessive manner was investigated. Exome sequencing revealed a homozygous frameshift variant [NM_001040108: c.3632delA, p.(Asn1211Metfs*49)] in DNA mismatch repair gene MLH3 (MutL Homolog) that segregated with male infertility within the family. This is the first loss-of-function homozygous variant in the MLH3 gene causing severe oligozoospermia leading to male infertility. Previous studies have demonstrated association of infertility with gene knockout in the mice.
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38
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Nawaz S, Hussain S, Basit S, Ahmad W. First evidence of involvement of TBC1D25 in causing human male infertility. Eur J Med Genet 2021; 64:104142. [PMID: 33460826 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmg.2021.104142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Revised: 01/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Male infertility is a heterogeneous disorder which may result from disruption in molecular and cellular pathways involved in spermatogenesis. Several reports have described abnormal spermatogenesis because of defective autophagy in model organisms. In the present study, we have clinically and genetically characterized a family segregating oligozoospermia in X-linked pattern. Exome sequencing revealed a disease-causing missense variant [NM_002536, c.149 A > C, p.(Glu50Ala)] in TBC1D25, an autophagy gene located on human chromosome Xp11.23. In view of broad expression of the gene in testes and effect of the variant on its interaction with ATG8 homologues, we consider a possible role for the TBC1D25 variant in causing oligozoospermia in the present family. This is the first report describing the involvement of TBC1D25 in causing male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shoaib Nawaz
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Shabir Hussain
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Sulman Basit
- Center for Genetics and Inherited Diseases, Taibah University Madinah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Wasim Ahmad
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, Pakistan.
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39
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Wu X, Lin D, Sun F, Cheng CY. Male Infertility in Humans: An Update on Non-obstructive Azoospermia (NOA) and Obstructive Azoospermia (OA). ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1288:161-173. [PMID: 34453736 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-77779-1_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) and obstructive azoospermia (OA) are two common causes of infertility that affect a considerable number of men. However, few studies were performed to understand the molecular etiology of these disorders. Studies based on bioinformatics and genetic analyses in recent years, however, have yielded insightful information and have identified a number of genes that are involved in these disorders. In this review, we briefly summarize and evaluate these findings. We also discuss findings based on epigenetic modifications of sperm DNAs that affect a number of genes pertinent to NOA and OA. The information summarized in this Chapter should be helpful to investigators in future functional studies of NOA and OA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolong Wu
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Dengfeng Lin
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong, Jiangsu, China
| | - Fei Sun
- Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital (SRRSH), Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - C Yan Cheng
- Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital (SRRSH), Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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40
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Li Y, Wang WL, Tu CF, Meng LL, Hu TY, Du J, Lin G, Nie HC, Tan YQ. A novel homozygous frameshift mutation in MNS1 associated with severe oligoasthenoteratozoospermia in humans. Asian J Androl 2021; 23:197-204. [PMID: 33037173 PMCID: PMC7991825 DOI: 10.4103/aja.aja_56_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT) refers to the combination of various sperm abnormalities, including a decreased sperm count, reduced motility, and abnormal sperm morphology. Only a few genetic causes have been shown to be associated with OAT. Herein, we identified a novel homozygous frameshift mutation in meiosis-specific nuclear structural 1 (MNS1; NM_018365: c.603_604insG: p.Lys202Glufs*6) by whole-exome sequencing in an OAT proband from a consanguineous Chinese family. Subsequent variant screening identified four additional heterozygous MNS1 variants in 6/219 infertile individuals with oligoasthenospermia, but no MNS1 variants were observed among 223 fertile controls. Immunostaining analysis showed MNS1 to be normally located in the whole-sperm flagella, but was absent in the proband's sperm. Expression analysis by Western blot also confirmed that MNS1 was absent in the proband's sperm. Abnormal flagellum morphology and ultrastructural disturbances in outer doublet microtubules were observed in the proband's sperm. A total of three intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles were carried out for the proband's wife, but they all failed to lead to a successful pregnancy. Overall, this is the first study to report a loss-of-function mutation in MNS1 causing OAT in a Han Chinese patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Li
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China
| | - Wei-Li Wang
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China
| | - Chao-Feng Tu
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China.,Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha 410078, China.,Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Changsha 410078, China
| | - Lan-Lan Meng
- Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha 410078, China.,Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Changsha 410078, China
| | - Tong-Yao Hu
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China
| | - Juan Du
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China.,Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha 410078, China.,Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Changsha 410078, China
| | - Ge Lin
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China.,Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha 410078, China.,Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Changsha 410078, China
| | - Hong-Chuan Nie
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China.,Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha 410078, China.,Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Changsha 410078, China
| | - Yue-Qiu Tan
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China.,Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha 410078, China.,Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Changsha 410078, China
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41
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Kulac T, Hekim N, Kocamanoglu F, Beyaz C, Gunes S, Asci R. Methylation patterns of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene promoter in infertile males. Andrologia 2020; 53:e13942. [PMID: 33372270 DOI: 10.1111/and.13942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Errors of folate/homocysteine pathways which are critical for transferring methyl groups have been suggested to affect male fertility. We aimed to evaluate the methylation patterns of the promoter of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene in infertile males and to investigate the association between MTHFR promoter methylation and success of sperm retrieval. Thirty-five nonobstructive azoospermic and 46 severe oligozoospermic patients constituted the study group and were compared with 49 fertile and/or normozoospermic men. The methylation status was analysed by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction. MTHFR promoter methylation was detected in infertile men with NOA and SO in the ratio of 48.6% and 58.7%, respectively. Methylation was also observed in 51% of controls. MTHFR promoter was methylated in 65% of men with viable spermatozoon during TESE. No association was found regarding to the profile of MTHFR promoter methylation between both NOA and SO patients and controls (p = .621). There was no relation between the methylation status of MTHFR promoter and low motility and poor morphology (p = .682 and p = .413, respectively). No association was found between MTHFR promoter methylation and presence of viable spermatozoa (p = .382). Our data indicate that the promoter methylation of MTHFR gene may not be associated with male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuba Kulac
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey
| | - Neslihan Hekim
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey
| | - Fatih Kocamanoglu
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey
| | - Cengiz Beyaz
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey
| | - Sezgin Gunes
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey.,Department of Multidisciplinary Molecular Medicine, Health Sciences Institute, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey
| | - Ramazan Asci
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey.,Department of Multidisciplinary Molecular Medicine, Health Sciences Institute, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey
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42
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Gòdia M, Reverter A, González-Prendes R, Ramayo-Caldas Y, Castelló A, Rodríguez-Gil JE, Sánchez A, Clop A. A systems biology framework integrating GWAS and RNA-seq to shed light on the molecular basis of sperm quality in swine. Genet Sel Evol 2020; 52:72. [PMID: 33292187 PMCID: PMC7724732 DOI: 10.1186/s12711-020-00592-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Genetic pressure in animal breeding is sparking the interest of breeders for selecting elite boars with higher sperm quality to optimize ejaculate doses and fertility rates. However, the molecular basis of sperm quality is not yet fully understood. Our aim was to identify candidate genes, pathways and DNA variants associated to sperm quality in swine by analysing 25 sperm-related phenotypes and integrating genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and RNA-seq under a systems biology framework. RESULTS By GWAS, we identified 12 quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated to the percentage of head and neck abnormalities, abnormal acrosomes and motile spermatozoa. Candidate genes included CHD2, KATNAL2, SLC14A2 and ABCA1. By RNA-seq, we identified a wide repertoire of mRNAs (e.g. PRM1, OAZ3, DNAJB8, TPPP2 and TNP1) and miRNAs (e.g. ssc-miR-30d, ssc-miR-34c, ssc-miR-30c-5p, ssc-miR-191, members of the let-7 family and ssc-miR-425-5p) with functions related to sperm biology. We detected 6128 significant correlations (P-value ≤ 0.05) between sperm traits and mRNA abundances. By expression (e)GWAS, we identified three trans-expression QTL involving the genes IQCJ, ACTR2 and HARS. Using the GWAS and RNA-seq data, we built a gene interaction network. We considered that the genes and interactions that were present in both the GWAS and RNA-seq networks had a higher probability of being actually involved in sperm quality and used them to build a robust gene interaction network. In addition, in the final network we included genes with RNA abundances correlated with more than four semen traits and miRNAs interacting with the genes on the network. The final network was enriched for genes involved in gamete generation and development, meiotic cell cycle, DNA repair or embryo implantation. Finally, we designed a panel of 73 SNPs based on the GWAS, eGWAS and final network data, that explains between 5% (for sperm cell concentration) and 36% (for percentage of neck abnormalities) of the phenotypic variance of the sperm traits. CONCLUSIONS By applying a systems biology approach, we identified genes that potentially affect sperm quality and constructed a SNP panel that explains a substantial part of the phenotypic variance for semen quality in our study and that should be tested in other swine populations to evaluate its relevance for the pig breeding sector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Gòdia
- Animal Genomics Group, Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG) CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB, Campus UAB, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Antonio Reverter
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, 306 Carmody Rd., St. Lucia, Brisbane, QLD, 4067, Australia
| | - Rayner González-Prendes
- Animal Breeding and Genomics, Wageningen University & Research, 6708PB, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Yuliaxis Ramayo-Caldas
- Animal Breeding and Genetics Program, Institute for Research and Technology in Food and Agriculture (IRTA), Torre Marimon, 08140, Caldes de Montbui, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Anna Castelló
- Animal Genomics Group, Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG) CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB, Campus UAB, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.,Unit of Animal Science, Department of Animal and Food Science, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Joan-Enric Rodríguez-Gil
- Unit of Animal Reproduction, Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Armand Sánchez
- Unit of Animal Science, Department of Animal and Food Science, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Alex Clop
- Animal Genomics Group, Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG) CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB, Campus UAB, Cerdanyola del Vallès, 08193, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. .,Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), 08003, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
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43
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Pollard CA, Jenkins TG. Epigenetic mechanisms within the sperm epigenome and their diagnostic potential. Best Pract Res Clin Endocrinol Metab 2020; 34:101481. [PMID: 33358482 DOI: 10.1016/j.beem.2020.101481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The sperm epigenome contains a highly unique and specialized epigenetic landscape. Insightful questions need be asked about these epigenetic signatures and their predictive potential to assess the approximately 1 in 6 couples who experience infertility. Among those couples that do experience infertility, approximately half of the cases involve a male factor. Unfortunately, there is a significant lack of effective diagnostic tools in the male infertility space and thus clinicians are left with little data upon which they can formulate data driven treatment plans. Taking together this information and the striking prevalence of male infertility it's obvious that there is a need for improved diagnostic techniques for male infertility. Many studies have identified what appear to be clinically meaningful epigenetic alterations in sperm that may add utility in the diagnoses of infertility and improvement of pregnancy outcomes. Many researchers believe that continued analysis of these various epigenetic mechanisms may provide powerful predictive insight. In fact, there is promising current data suggesting that the predictive power of DNA methylation, Nuclear Proteins, and miRNA signatures in sperm likely can improve what is currently found with traditional diagnosis of male infertility. The focus of this review is to give a brief understanding to the field of epigenetics and the potential predictive power the sperm epigenome may hold in relation to improving the treatment and diagnosis of male infertility patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chad A Pollard
- Department of Physiology and Developmental Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA
| | - Tim G Jenkins
- Department of Physiology and Developmental Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA.
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44
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Greither T, Schumacher J, Dejung M, Behre HM, Zischler H, Butter F, Herlyn H. Fertility Relevance Probability Analysis Shortlists Genetic Markers for Male Fertility Impairment. Cytogenet Genome Res 2020; 160:506-522. [PMID: 33238277 DOI: 10.1159/000511117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Impairment of male fertility is one of the major public health issues worldwide. Nevertheless, genetic causes of male sub- and infertility can often only be suspected due to the lack of reliable and easy-to-use routine tests. Yet, the development of a marker panel is complicated by the large quantity of potentially predictive markers. Actually, hundreds or even thousands of genes could have fertility relevance. Thus, a systematic method enabling a selection of the most predictive markers out of the many candidates is required. As a criterion for marker selection, we derived a gene-specific score, which we refer to as fertility relevance probability (FRP). For this purpose, we first categorized 2,753 testis-expressed genes as either candidate markers or non-candidates, according to phenotypes in male knockout mice. In a parallel approach, 2,502 genes were classified as candidate markers or non-candidates based on phenotypes in men. Subsequently, we conducted logistic regression analyses with evolutionary rates of genes (dN/dS), transcription levels in testis relative to other organs, and connectivity of the encoded proteins in a protein-protein interaction network as covariates. In confirmation of the procedure, FRP values showed the expected pattern, thus being overall higher in genes with known relevance for fertility than in their counterparts without corresponding evidence. In addition, higher FRP values corresponded with an increased dysregulation of protein abundance in spermatozoa of 37 men with normal and 38 men with impaired fertility. Present analyses resulted in a ranking of genes according to their probable predictive power as candidate markers for male fertility impairment. Thus, AKAP4, TNP1, DAZL, BRDT, DMRT1, SPO11, ZPBP, HORMAD1, and SMC1B are prime candidates toward a marker panel for male fertility impairment. Additional candidate markers are DDX4, SHCBP1L, CCDC155, ODF1, DMRTB1, ASZ1, BOLL, FKBP6, SLC25A31, PRSS21, and RNF17. FRP inference additionally provides clues for potential new markers, thereunder TEX37 and POU4F2. The results of our logistic regression analyses are freely available at the PreFer Genes website (https://prefer-genes.uni-mainz.de/).
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Greither
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Julia Schumacher
- Anthropology, Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution (iomE), Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Mario Dejung
- Quantitative Proteomics, Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB) Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Hermann M Behre
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany
| | - Hans Zischler
- Anthropology, Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution (iomE), Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Falk Butter
- Quantitative Proteomics, Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB) Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Holger Herlyn
- Anthropology, Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution (iomE), Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany,
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45
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Capalbo A, Poli M, Riera-Escamilla A, Shukla V, Kudo Høffding M, Krausz C, Hoffmann ER, Simon C. Preconception genome medicine: current state and future perspectives to improve infertility diagnosis and reproductive and health outcomes based on individual genomic data. Hum Reprod Update 2020; 27:254-279. [PMID: 33197264 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmaa044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Revised: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Our genetic code is now readable, writable and hackable. The recent escalation of genome-wide sequencing (GS) applications in population diagnostics will not only enable the assessment of risks of transmitting well-defined monogenic disorders at preconceptional stages (i.e. carrier screening), but also facilitate identification of multifactorial genetic predispositions to sub-lethal pathologies, including those affecting reproductive fitness. Through GS, the acquisition and curation of reproductive-related findings will warrant the expansion of genetic assessment to new areas of genomic prediction of reproductive phenotypes, pharmacogenomics and molecular embryology, further boosting our knowledge and therapeutic tools for treating infertility and improving women's health. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE In this article, we review current knowledge and potential development of preconception genome analysis aimed at detecting reproductive and individual health risks (recessive genetic disease and medically actionable secondary findings) as well as anticipating specific reproductive outcomes, particularly in the context of IVF. The extension of reproductive genetic risk assessment to the general population and IVF couples will lead to the identification of couples who carry recessive mutations, as well as sub-lethal conditions prior to conception. This approach will provide increased reproductive autonomy to couples, particularly in those cases where preimplantation genetic testing is an available option to avoid the transmission of undesirable conditions. In addition, GS on prospective infertility patients will enable genome-wide association studies specific for infertility phenotypes such as predisposition to premature ovarian failure, increased risk of aneuploidies, complete oocyte immaturity or blastocyst development failure, thus empowering the development of true reproductive precision medicine. SEARCH METHODS Searches of the literature on PubMed Central included combinations of the following MeSH terms: human, genetics, genomics, variants, male, female, fertility, next generation sequencing, genome exome sequencing, expanded carrier screening, secondary findings, pharmacogenomics, controlled ovarian stimulation, preconception, genetics, genome-wide association studies, GWAS. OUTCOMES Through PubMed Central queries, we identified a total of 1409 articles. The full list of articles was assessed for date of publication, limiting the search to studies published within the last 15 years (2004 onwards due to escalating research output of next-generation sequencing studies from that date). The remaining articles' titles were assessed for pertinence to the topic, leaving a total of 644 articles. The use of preconception GS has the potential to identify inheritable genetic conditions concealed in the genome of around 4% of couples looking to conceive. Genomic information during reproductive age will also be useful to anticipate late-onset medically actionable conditions with strong genetic background in around 2-4% of all individuals. Genetic variants correlated with differential response to pharmaceutical treatment in IVF, and clear genotype-phenotype associations are found for aberrant sperm types, oocyte maturation, fertilization or pre- and post-implantation embryonic development. All currently known capabilities of GS at the preconception stage are reviewed along with persisting and forthcoming barriers for the implementation of precise reproductive medicine. WIDER IMPLICATIONS The expansion of sequencing analysis to additional monogenic and polygenic traits may enable the development of cost-effective preconception tests capable of identifying underlying genetic causes of infertility, which have been defined as 'unexplained' until now, thus leading to the development of a true personalized genomic medicine framework in reproductive health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Capalbo
- Igenomix Italy, Marostica, Italy.,Igenomix Foundation, INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Antoni Riera-Escamilla
- Andrology Department, Fundació Puigvert, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Sant Pau (IIB-Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Vallari Shukla
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, DRNF Center for Chromosome Stability, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Miya Kudo Høffding
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, DRNF Center for Chromosome Stability, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Csilla Krausz
- Andrology Department, Fundació Puigvert, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Sant Pau (IIB-Sant Pau), Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", Centre of Excellence DeNothe, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Eva R Hoffmann
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, DRNF Center for Chromosome Stability, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Carlos Simon
- Igenomix Foundation, INCLIVA, Valencia, Spain.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology BIDMC, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
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46
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Gianzo M, Subirán N. Regulation of Male Fertility by the Renin-Angiotensin System. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21217943. [PMID: 33114706 PMCID: PMC7662798 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21217943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is a peptidic system known mainly for its roles in the maintenance of blood pressure and electrolyte and fluid homeostasis. However, several tissues and cells have been described to possess an intrinsic RAS that acts locally through different paracrine and autocrine mechanisms. In the male reproductive system, several components of this system have been observed in various organs and tissues, such as the testes, spermatozoa and seminal fluid. Some functions attributed to this local RAS are maintenance of seminal plasma electrolytes, regulation of steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis, and sperm functions. However, their specific actions in these locations are not fully understood. Therefore, a deep knowledge of the functions of the RAS at both the testicular and seminal levels could clarify its roles in male infertility and sperm physiology, and the different RAS elements could be used to design tools enabling the diagnosis and/or treatment of male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Gianzo
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Nursery, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 48940 Leioa, Spain;
| | - Nerea Subirán
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Nursery, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 48940 Leioa, Spain;
- Innovation in Assisted Reproduction Group, Biocruces-Bizkaia Health Research Institute, 48903 Barakaldo, Spain
- Research and Development Department, MEPRO Medical Reproductive Solutions, 20009 San Sebastian, Spain
- Correspondence:
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47
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Aitken RJ. The Male Is Significantly Implicated as the Cause of Unexplained Infertility. Semin Reprod Med 2020; 38:3-20. [PMID: 33086406 DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1718941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Male infertility is recognized as a relatively common, complex condition, generated by a broad array of environmental and genetic factors. Historical reliance on the conventional semen profile has tended to underestimate the true contribution of "the male factor" to human infertility. This review highlights the importance of genetic and epigenetic factors in the etiology of male infertility, identifying a range of mutations responsible for primary testicular failure and impaired fertilizing potential. More than three quarters of all de novo mutations arise in the male germline via mechanisms that involve the inefficient or defective repair of DNA damage. Understanding the range of factors capable of creating genetic turmoil in the paternal germline is essential, if we are to gain a deep understanding of the causes of male infertility, rather than just the symptoms that characterize its presence. High levels of DNA fragmentation induced by oxidative stress are part of this equation. Oxidative stress is, in turn, driven by biological (age, ejaculation frequency, varicocele, infection), lifestyle (smoking, obesity), and environmental factors (heat, other forms of electromagnetic radiation, and toxins) that can impair the fertilizing potential of the spermatozoa and influence the incidence of spontaneous mutations that may cause infertility in the offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert John Aitken
- Priority Research Centre in Reproductive Science, Faculty of Science and Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.,Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
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48
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Lu Y, Oura S, Matsumura T, Oji A, Sakurai N, Fujihara Y, Shimada K, Miyata H, Tobita T, Noda T, Castaneda JM, Kiyozumi D, Zhang Q, Larasati T, Young SAM, Kodani M, Huddleston CA, Robertson MJ, Coarfa C, Isotani A, Aitken RJ, Okabe M, Matzuk MM, Garcia TX, Ikawa M. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing reveals 30 testis-enriched genes dispensable for male fertility in mice†. Biol Reprod 2020; 101:501-511. [PMID: 31201419 PMCID: PMC6735960 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioz103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2019] [Accepted: 06/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
More than 1000 genes are predicted to be predominantly expressed in mouse testis, yet many of them remain unstudied in terms of their roles in spermatogenesis and sperm function and their essentiality in male reproduction. Since individually indispensable factors can provide important implications for the diagnosis of genetically related idiopathic male infertility and may serve as candidate targets for the development of nonhormonal male contraceptives, our laboratories continuously analyze the functions of testis-enriched genes in vivo by generating knockout mouse lines using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. The dispensability of genes in male reproduction is easily determined by examining the fecundity of knockout males. During our large-scale screening of essential factors, we knocked out 30 genes that have a strong bias of expression in the testis and are mostly conserved in mammalian species including human. Fertility tests reveal that the mutant males exhibited normal fecundity, suggesting these genes are individually dispensable for male reproduction. Since such functionally redundant genes are of diminished biological and clinical significance, we believe that it is crucial to disseminate this list of genes, along with their phenotypic information, to the scientific community to avoid unnecessary expenditure of time and research funds and duplication of efforts by other laboratories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonggang Lu
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Seiya Oura
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.,Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Takafumi Matsumura
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.,Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Asami Oji
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.,RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Nobuyuki Sakurai
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yoshitaka Fujihara
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.,Department of Bioscience and Genetics, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Keisuke Shimada
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Haruhiko Miyata
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Tobita
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.,Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Taichi Noda
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Julio M Castaneda
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Daiji Kiyozumi
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.,Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Qian Zhang
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.,Laboratory Animal Center, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Tamara Larasati
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.,Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Samantha A M Young
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.,Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, Faculty of Science, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Mayo Kodani
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.,Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Caitlin A Huddleston
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Matthew J Robertson
- Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Advanced Technology Cores, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Cristian Coarfa
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Ayako Isotani
- Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Nara, Japan
| | - R John Aitken
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, Faculty of Science, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.,Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Masaru Okabe
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Martin M Matzuk
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Thomas X Garcia
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Houston-Clear Lake, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Masahito Ikawa
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.,Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.,Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.,Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.,The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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49
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Ribas‐Maynou J, Abad C, García‐Segura S, Oliver‐Bonet M, Prada E, Amengual MJ, Navarro J, Benet J. Sperm chromatin condensation and single‐ and double‐stranded DNA damage as important parameters to define male factor related recurrent miscarriage. Mol Reprod Dev 2020; 87:1126-1132. [DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jordi Ribas‐Maynou
- Departament de Biologia Cel·lular, Fisiologia i Immunologia Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Bellaterra Spain
| | - Carlos Abad
- Servei d'Urologia, Corporació Sanitària Parc Taulí Institut Universitari Parc Taulí – UAB Sabadell Spain
| | - Sergio García‐Segura
- Departament de Biologia Cel·lular, Fisiologia i Immunologia Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Bellaterra Spain
| | - Maria Oliver‐Bonet
- Departament de Biologia Cel·lular, Fisiologia i Immunologia Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Bellaterra Spain
| | - Elena Prada
- Servei de Ginecologia. Hospital Universitari Mútua de Terrassa Terrassa Spain
| | - Maria José Amengual
- UDIAT, Centre Diagnòstic, Corporació Sanitària Parc Taulí Institut Universitari Parc Taulí – UAB Sabadell Spain
| | - Joaquima Navarro
- Departament de Biologia Cel·lular, Fisiologia i Immunologia Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Bellaterra Spain
| | - Jordi Benet
- Departament de Biologia Cel·lular, Fisiologia i Immunologia Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Bellaterra Spain
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50
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Robertson MJ, Kent K, Tharp N, Nozawa K, Dean L, Mathew M, Grimm SL, Yu Z, Légaré C, Fujihara Y, Ikawa M, Sullivan R, Coarfa C, Matzuk MM, Garcia TX. Large-scale discovery of male reproductive tract-specific genes through analysis of RNA-seq datasets. BMC Biol 2020; 18:103. [PMID: 32814578 PMCID: PMC7436996 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-020-00826-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The development of a safe, effective, reversible, non-hormonal contraceptive method for men has been an ongoing effort for the past few decades. However, despite significant progress on elucidating the function of key proteins involved in reproduction, understanding male reproductive physiology is limited by incomplete information on the genes expressed in reproductive tissues, and no contraceptive targets have so far reached clinical trials. To advance product development, further identification of novel reproductive tract-specific genes leading to potentially druggable protein targets is imperative. Results In this study, we expand on previous single tissue, single species studies by integrating analysis of publicly available human and mouse RNA-seq datasets whose initial published purpose was not focused on identifying male reproductive tract-specific targets. We also incorporate analysis of additional newly acquired human and mouse testis and epididymis samples to increase the number of targets identified. We detected a combined total of 1178 genes for which no previous evidence of male reproductive tract-specific expression was annotated, many of which are potentially druggable targets. Through RT-PCR, we confirmed the reproductive tract-specific expression of 51 novel orthologous human and mouse genes without a reported mouse model. Of these, we ablated four epididymis-specific genes (Spint3, Spint4, Spint5, and Ces5a) and two testis-specific genes (Pp2d1 and Saxo1) in individual or double knockout mice generated through the CRISPR/Cas9 system. Our results validate a functional requirement for Spint4/5 and Ces5a in male mouse fertility, while demonstrating that Spint3, Pp2d1, and Saxo1 are each individually dispensable for male mouse fertility. Conclusions Our work provides a plethora of novel testis- and epididymis-specific genes and elucidates the functional requirement of several of these genes, which is essential towards understanding the etiology of male infertility and the development of male contraceptives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Robertson
- Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Center for Precision Environmental Health, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Katarzyna Kent
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Houston-Clear Lake, 2700 Bay Area Blvd., Houston, TX, 77058, USA.,Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Nathan Tharp
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Houston-Clear Lake, 2700 Bay Area Blvd., Houston, TX, 77058, USA.,Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Kaori Nozawa
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Laura Dean
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Houston-Clear Lake, 2700 Bay Area Blvd., Houston, TX, 77058, USA.,Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Michelle Mathew
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Houston-Clear Lake, 2700 Bay Area Blvd., Houston, TX, 77058, USA.,Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Sandra L Grimm
- Center for Precision Environmental Health, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Zhifeng Yu
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Christine Légaré
- Department Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproduction, Faculty Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada.,Reproduction, Mother and Youth Health Division, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, 2705 boul Laurier, Quebec, QC, G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - Yoshitaka Fujihara
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.,Department of Bioscience and Genetics, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, 6-1 Kishibeshinmachi, Suita, Osaka, 564-8565, Japan
| | - Masahito Ikawa
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Robert Sullivan
- Department Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproduction, Faculty Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada.,Reproduction, Mother and Youth Health Division, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, 2705 boul Laurier, Quebec, QC, G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - Cristian Coarfa
- Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA. .,Center for Precision Environmental Health, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA. .,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
| | - Martin M Matzuk
- Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Thomas X Garcia
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA. .,Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Houston-Clear Lake, 2700 Bay Area Blvd., Houston, TX, 77058, USA. .,Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, 1 Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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