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Fakhro KA, Awwad J, Garibova S, Saraiva LR, Avella M. Conserved genes regulating human sex differentiation, gametogenesis and fertilization. J Transl Med 2024; 22:473. [PMID: 38764035 PMCID: PMC11103854 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05162-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The study of the functional genome in mice and humans has been instrumental for describing the conserved molecular mechanisms regulating human reproductive biology, and for defining the etiologies of monogenic fertility disorders. Infertility is a reproductive disorder that includes various conditions affecting a couple's ability to achieve a healthy pregnancy. Recent advances in next-generation sequencing and CRISPR/Cas-mediated genome editing technologies have facilitated the identification and characterization of genes and mechanisms that, if affected, lead to infertility. We report established genes that regulate conserved functions in fundamental reproductive processes (e.g., sex determination, gametogenesis, and fertilization). We only cover genes the deletion of which yields comparable fertility phenotypes in both rodents and humans. In the case of newly-discovered genes, we report the studies demonstrating shared cellular and fertility phenotypes resulting from loss-of-function mutations in both species. Finally, we introduce new model systems for the study of human reproductive biology and highlight the importance of studying human consanguineous populations to discover novel monogenic causes of infertility. The rapid and continuous screening and identification of putative genetic defects coupled with an efficient functional characterization in animal models can reveal novel mechanisms of gene function in human reproductive tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khalid A Fakhro
- Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
- Weill Cornell Medicine, Doha, Qatar
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Johnny Awwad
- Reproductive Medicine Unit, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
- Obstetrics & Gynecology, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
- Vincent Memorial Obstetrics & Gynecology Service, The Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Luis R Saraiva
- Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Matteo Avella
- Research Branch, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar.
- College of Health and Life Sciences, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar.
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.
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Yin L, Jiang N, Li T, Zhang Y, Yuan S. Telomeric function and regulation during male meiosis in mice and humans. Andrology 2024. [PMID: 38511802 DOI: 10.1111/andr.13631] [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: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Telomeres are unique structures situated at the ends of chromosomes. Preserving the structure and function of telomeres is essential for maintaining genomic stability and promoting genetic diversity during male meiosis in mammals. MATERIAL-METHODS This review compiled recent literature on the function and regulation of telomeres during male meiosis in both mice and humans, and also highlighted the critical roles of telomeres in reproductive biology and medicine. RESULTS-DISCUSSION Various structures, consisting of the LINC complex (SUN-KASH), SPDYA-CDK2, TTM trimer (TERB1-TERB2-MAJIN), and shelterin, are critical in controlling telomeric activities, such as nuclear envelope attachment and bouquet formation. Other than telomere-related proteins, cohesins and genes responsible for regulating telomere function are also highlighted, though the exact mechanism remains unclear. The gene-mutant mouse models with meiotic defects directly reveal the essential roles of telomeres in male meiosis. Recently reported mutant genes associated with telomere activity in clinical practice have also been illustrated in detail. CONCLUSIONS Proper regulation of telomere activities is essential for male meiosis progression in mice and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisha Yin
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Nan Jiang
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Tao Li
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Youzhi Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Xianning Medical College, Hubei University of Science and Technology; Hubei Engineering Research Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine of South Hubei Province, Xianning, China
| | - Shuiqiao Yuan
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Laboratory of Animal Center, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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Yalcin Z, Liang M, Abdelrazek IM, Friedrich C, Bareke E, Nabil A, Tüttelmann F, Majewski J, Abdalla E, Tan SL, Slim R. A report of two homozygous TERB1 protein-truncating variants in two unrelated women with primary infertility. J Assist Reprod Genet 2024; 41:751-756. [PMID: 38277113 PMCID: PMC10957843 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-024-03031-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To investigate the genetic etiology of patients with female infertility. METHODS Whole Exome Sequencing was performed on genomic DNA extracted from the patient's blood. Exome data were filtered for damaging rare biallelic variants in genes with possible roles in reproduction. Sanger sequencing was used to validate the selected variants and segregate them in family members. RESULTS A novel homozygous likely pathogenic variant, c.626G>A, p.Trp209*, was identified in the TERB1 gene of the patient. Additionally, we report a second homozygous pathogenic TERB1 variant, c.1703C>G, p.Ser568*, in an infertile woman whose azoospermic brother was previously described to be homozygous for her variant. CONCLUSIONS Here, we report for the first time two homozygous likely pathogenic and pathogenic TERB1 variants, c.626G>A, p.Trp209* and c.1703C>G, p.Ser568*, respectively, in two unrelated women with primary infertility. TERB1 is known to play an essential role in homologous chromosome movement, synapsis, and recombination during the meiotic prophase I and has an established role in male infertility in humans. Our data add TERB1 to the shortlist of Meiosis I genes associated with human infertility in both sexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeynep Yalcin
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Manqi Liang
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Ibrahim M Abdelrazek
- Department of Human Genetics, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Corinna Friedrich
- Institute of Reproductive Genetics, University of Münster, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Eric Bareke
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Amira Nabil
- Department of Human Genetics, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Frank Tüttelmann
- Institute of Reproductive Genetics, University of Münster, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Jacek Majewski
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Ebtesam Abdalla
- Department of Human Genetics, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Seang-Lin Tan
- OriginElle Fertility Clinic, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Rima Slim
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
- Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, 1001 Décarie Blvd, Montréal, Québec, H4A 3J1, Canada.
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van Heerden D, Klima S, van den Bout I. How nuclear envelope dynamics can direct laminopathy phenotypes. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2024; 86:102290. [PMID: 38048657 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2023.102290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
The nuclear envelope separates the genome from the cytoplasmic environment. However, the nuclear envelope is also physically associated with the genome and exerts influence on gene expression and genome modification. The nucleus is dynamic, changing shape and responding to cell movement, disassembling and assembling during cell division, and undergoing rupture and repair. These dynamics can be impacted by genetic disease, leading to a family of diseases called laminopathies. Their disparate phenotypes suggest that multiple processes are affected. We highlight three such processes here, which we believe can be used to classify most of the laminopathies. While much still needs to be learned, some commonalities between these processes, such as proteins involved in nuclear envelope formation and rupture repair, may drive a variety of laminopathies. Here we review the latest information regarding nuclear dynamics and its role in laminopathies related to mutations in the nuclear lamina and linker of nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton complex (LINC) proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- David van Heerden
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Centre for Neuroendocrinology, Department of Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Stefanie Klima
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Centre for Neuroendocrinology, Department of Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Iman van den Bout
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa; Centre for Neuroendocrinology, Department of Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa.
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Che JF, Wu HX, Zeng SC, Wu YR, Dai J, Cheng DH, Gong F, Lu GX, Lin G, Dai C. Defects in phospholipase C zeta cause polyspermy and low fertilization after conventional IVF: not just ICSI failure. Asian J Androl 2023; 26:00129336-990000000-00142. [PMID: 38048167 PMCID: PMC10919416 DOI: 10.4103/aja202355] [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: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Phospholipase C zeta (PLCζ) is a key sperm-borne oocyte-activating factor that triggers Ca2+ oscillations and the subsequent block to polyspermy following gamete fusion. Mutations in PLCZ1, the gene encoding PLCζ, cause male infertility and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) fertilization failure; and PLCζ expression and localization patterns are significantly correlated with ICSI fertilization rate (FR). However, in conventional in vitro fertilization (cIVF), whether and how sperm PLCζ affects fertilization remain unclear. Herein, we identified one previously reported and two novel PLCZ1 mutations associated with polyspermy in vitro that are characterized by excessive sperm-zona binding and a delay in pronuclei (PN) formation. Immunofluorescence staining and oocyte activation testing revealed that virtually all spermatozoa from patients lacked functional PLCζ and were thus unable to evoke Ca2+ oscillations. ICSI with an artificial oocyte activation treatment successfully rescued the polyspermic phenotype and resulted in a live birth. Furthermore, we analyzed PLCζ in an additional 58 males after cIVF treatment in the Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya (Changsha, China) between February 2019 and January 2022. We found that the proportion of spermatozoa that expressed PLCζ was positively correlated with both 2PN rate and total FR. The optimal cutoff value below which males were likely to experience low FR (total FR ≤30%) after cIVF was 56.7% for the proportion of spermatozoa expressing PLCζ. Our study expands the mutation and the phenotypic spectrum of PLCZ1 and further suggests that PLCζ constitutes a promising biomarker for identifying low FRs cases in cIVF due to sperm-related oocyte activation deficiency and that sperm PLCζ analysis may benefit the wider male population and not only men with ICSI failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian-Fang Che
- School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410013, China
| | - Hui-Xia Wu
- School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410013, China
| | - Si-Cong Zeng
- School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410013, China
- Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Yue-Ren Wu
- School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410013, China
| | - Jing Dai
- Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha 410008, China
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Changsha 410078, China
| | - De-Hua Cheng
- Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha 410008, China
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Changsha 410078, China
| | - Fei Gong
- Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha 410008, China
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Changsha 410078, China
| | - Guang-Xiu Lu
- School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410013, China
- Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha 410008, China
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Changsha 410078, China
- National Engineering and Research Center of Human Stem Cell, Changsha 410205, China
| | - Ge Lin
- Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha 410008, China
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Changsha 410078, China
- National Engineering and Research Center of Human Stem Cell, Changsha 410205, China
| | - Can Dai
- School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410013, China
- Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha 410008, China
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