1
|
Luo C, Chen Z, Meng L, Tan C, He W, Tu C, Du J, Lu GX, Lin G, Tan YQ, Hu TY. A hemizygous loss-of-function variant in BCORL1 is associated with male infertility and oligoasthenoteratozoospermia. Clin Genet 2024; 106:27-36. [PMID: 38342987 DOI: 10.1111/cge.14500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/13/2024]
Abstract
Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT) is a common type of male infertility; however, its genetic causes remain largely unknown. Some of the genetic determinants of OAT are gene defects affecting spermatogenesis. BCORL1 (BCL6 corepressor like 1) is a transcriptional corepressor that exhibits the OAT phenotype in a knockout mouse model. A hemizygous missense variant of BCORL1 (c.2615T > G:p.Val872Gly) was reported in an infertile male patient with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA). Nevertheless, the correlation between BCORL1 variants and OAT in humans remains unknown. In this study, we used whole-exome sequencing to identify a novel hemizygous nonsense variant of BCORL1 (c.1564G > T:p.Glu522*) in a male patient with OAT from a Han Chinese family. Functional analysis showed that the variant produced a truncated protein with altered cellular localization and a dysfunctional interaction with SKP1 (S-phase kinase-associated protein 1). Further population screening identified four BCORL1 missense variants in subjects with both OAT (1 of 325, 0.31%) and NOA (4 of 355, 1.13%), but no pathogenic BCORL1 variants among 362 fertile subjects. In conclusion, our findings indicate that BCORL1 is a potential candidate gene in the pathogenesis of OAT and NOA, expanded its disease spectrum and suggested that BCORL1 may play a role in spermatogenesis by interacting with SKP1.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chen Luo
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, NHC Key Laboratory of Human Stem Cell and Reproduction Engineering, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Zixu Chen
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, NHC Key Laboratory of Human Stem Cell and Reproduction Engineering, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Lanlan Meng
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, NHC Key Laboratory of Human Stem Cell and Reproduction Engineering, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-XIANGYA, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Chen Tan
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, NHC Key Laboratory of Human Stem Cell and Reproduction Engineering, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Wenbin He
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-XIANGYA, Changsha, Hunan, China
- College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Chaofeng Tu
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, NHC Key Laboratory of Human Stem Cell and Reproduction Engineering, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-XIANGYA, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Juan Du
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, NHC Key Laboratory of Human Stem Cell and Reproduction Engineering, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-XIANGYA, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Guang-Xiu Lu
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-XIANGYA, Changsha, Hunan, China
- College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Ge Lin
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, NHC Key Laboratory of Human Stem Cell and Reproduction Engineering, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-XIANGYA, Changsha, Hunan, China
- College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yue-Qiu Tan
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, NHC Key Laboratory of Human Stem Cell and Reproduction Engineering, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-XIANGYA, Changsha, Hunan, China
- College of Life Sciences, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Tong-Yao Hu
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, NHC Key Laboratory of Human Stem Cell and Reproduction Engineering, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
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.
Collapse
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.
| |
Collapse
|