1
|
Zhang X, Xue J, Jiang S, Zheng H, Wang C. Forkhead-associated phosphopeptide binding domain 1 (FHAD1) deficiency impaired murine sperm motility. PeerJ 2024; 12:e17142. [PMID: 38563001 PMCID: PMC10984166 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Genetic knockout-based studies conducted in mice provide a powerful means of assessing the significance of a gene for fertility. Forkhead-associated phosphopeptide binding domain 1 (FHAD1) contains a conserved FHA domain, that is present in many proteins with phospho-threonine reader activity. How FHAD1 functions in male fertility, however, remains uncertain. Methods Fhad1-/- mice were generated by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout, after which qPCR was used to evaluate changes in gene expression, with subsequent analyses of spermatogenesis and fertility. The testis phenotypes were also examined using immunofluorescence and histological staining, while sperm concentrations and motility were quantified via computer-aided sperm analysis. Cellular apoptosis was assessed using a TUNEL staining assay. Results The Fhad1-/-mice did not exhibit any abnormal changes in fertility or testicular morphology compared to wild-type littermates. Histological analyses confirmed that the testicular morphology of both Fhad1-/-and Fhad1+/+ mice was normal, with both exhibiting intact seminiferous tubules. Relative to Fhad1+/+ mice, however, Fhad1-/-did exhibit reductions in the total and progressive motility of epididymal sperm. Analyses of meiotic division in Fhad1-/-mice also revealed higher levels of apoptotic death during the first wave of spermatogenesis. Discussion The findings suggest that FHAD1 is involved in both meiosis and the modulation of sperm motility.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xi Zhang
- Department of Reproductive Health and Infertility Clinic, The Affiliated Huai’an No. 1 People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huai’an, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jiangyang Xue
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- The Central Laboratory of Birth Defects Prevention and Control, Ningbo Key Laboratory for the Prevention and Treatment of Embryogenic Diseases, Women and Children’s Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shan Jiang
- College of Nursing, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Haoyu Zheng
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Gynaecology, The Affiliated Huai’an No. 1 People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huai’an, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chang Wang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- College of Nursing, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Chen Y, Luo M, Tu H, Qi Y, Guo Y, Zhang X, Cui Y, Gao M, Zhou X, Zhu T, Zhu H, Situ C, Li Y, Guo X. STYXL1 regulates CCT complex assembly and flagellar tubulin folding in sperm formation. Nat Commun 2024; 15:44. [PMID: 38168070 PMCID: PMC10761714 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44337-1] [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: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Tubulin-based microtubule is a core component of flagella axoneme and essential for sperm motility and male fertility. Structural components of the axoneme have been well explored. However, how tubulin folding is regulated in sperm flagella formation is still largely unknown. Here, we report a germ cell-specific co-factor of CCT complex, STYXL1. Deletion of Styxl1 results in male infertility and microtubule defects of sperm flagella. Proteomic analysis of Styxl1-/- sperm reveals abnormal downregulation of flagella-related proteins including tubulins. The N-terminal rhodanese-like domain of STYXL1 is important for its interactions with CCT complex subunits, CCT1, CCT6 and CCT7. Styxl1 deletion leads to defects in CCT complex assembly and tubulin polymerization. Collectively, our findings reveal the vital roles of germ cell-specific STYXL1 in CCT-facilitated tubulin folding and sperm flagella development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu Chen
- Department of Histology and Embryology, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
- Medical Research Center, Changzhou Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Changzhou Medical Center, Nanjing Medical University, Changzhou, 213000, China
| | - Mengjiao Luo
- Department of Histology and Embryology, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Haixia Tu
- Department of Histology and Embryology, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Sir Run Run Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Yaling Qi
- Department of Histology and Embryology, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Yueshuai Guo
- Department of Histology and Embryology, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Xiangzheng Zhang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Yiqiang Cui
- Department of Histology and Embryology, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Mengmeng Gao
- Department of Histology and Embryology, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Xin Zhou
- Department of Histology and Embryology, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Tianyu Zhu
- Department of Histology and Embryology, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Hui Zhu
- Department of Histology and Embryology, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Chenghao Situ
- Department of Histology and Embryology, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Sir Run Run Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
| | - Xuejiang Guo
- Department of Histology and Embryology, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Hu J, Li G, Huang M, Shen Q, Gu H, Xue N, Zhang J, Xu X, Yang W, Xing A, Wu X, Wang Y, Wu R, Xu C, Li Y, Fang Y, Cao Y. Analysis of microbiota reveals the underlying mechanism of PHF11 in the development of Enterococcus-regulated endometriotic cysts. iScience 2023; 26:108158. [PMID: 37915596 PMCID: PMC10616313 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Endometriosis (EMS) is a prevalent disease and the etiologies has not uniform. Microbiota is associated with human diseases. To delve into the relationship between EMS and microbiota, Ectopic (EM) and eutopic (EU) endometrial tissues, pharyngeal swabs, and stools were collected from EMS patients. The microbiota composition of EM and EU partially overlapped, with similar taxon numbers and diversity, but the richness levels were significantly different. A comparison of intestinal microbes in healthy individuals (FN) and EMS patients (FE) revealed that the richness of Enterococcus, Pseudomonas, Haemophilus, and Neisseria was enhanced in FE. In addition, Enterococcus-induced mice (EFA) presented with a higher degree of lesion infiltration and a wider distribution of lesions. Proteomic analysis revealed the expression of plant homeodomain finger 11 (PHF11) was notably downregulated in EFA. And the downregulated expression of PHF11 was accompanied by the upregulated expression of interleukin 8 (IL-8). Our findings suggest a potential regulatory mechanism for PHF11 in EMS development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Hu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, Anhui 230022, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
| | - Guanjian Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, Anhui 230022, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
| | - Miaomiao Huang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, Anhui 230022, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
| | - Qunshan Shen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, Anhui 230022, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
| | - Hao Gu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230022, China
| | - Nairui Xue
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, Anhui 230022, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
| | - Junqiang Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, Anhui 230022, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
- Engineering Research Center of Biopreservation and Artifical Organs, Ministry of Education, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
| | - Xiaofeng Xu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, Anhui 230022, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
- Engineering Research Center of Biopreservation and Artifical Organs, Ministry of Education, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
| | - Wenjuan Yang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, Anhui 230022, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Genetics, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
| | - Aying Xing
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, Anhui 230022, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Genetics, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
| | - Xiao Wu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, Anhui 230022, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Genetics, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, Anhui 230022, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Genetics, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
| | - Rong Wu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, Anhui 230022, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Genetics, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
| | - Chuan Xu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, Anhui 230022, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health and Genetics, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
| | - Yuqian Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, Anhui 230022, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
- Biopreservation and Artificial Organs, Anhui Provincial Engineering Research Center, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
| | - Yuan Fang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, Anhui 230022, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
- Biopreservation and Artificial Organs, Anhui Provincial Engineering Research Center, Anhui Medical University, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
| | - Yunxia Cao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, No 218 Jixi Road, Hefei, Anhui 230022, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, No 81 Meishan Road, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Wang P, Zhang X, Huo H, Li W, Liu Z, Wang L, Li L, Sun YH, Huo J. Transcriptomic analysis of testis and epididymis tissues from Banna mini-pig inbred line boars with single-molecule long-read sequencing†. Biol Reprod 2023; 108:465-478. [PMID: 36477198 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioac216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In mammals, testis and epididymis are critical components of the male reproductive system for androgen production, spermatogenesis, sperm transportation, as well as sperm maturation. Here, we report single-molecule real-time sequencing data from the testis and epididymis of the Banna mini-pig inbred line (BMI), a promising laboratory animal for medical research. We obtained high-quality full-length transcriptomes and identified 9879 isoforms and 8761 isoforms in the BMI testis and epididymis, respectively. Most of the isoforms we identified have novel exon structures that will greatly improve the annotation of testis- and epididymis-expressed genes in pigs. We also found that 3055 genes (over 50%) were shared between BMI testis and epididymis, indicating widespread expression profiles of genes related to reproduction. We characterized extensive alternative splicing events in BMI testis and epididymis and showed that 96 testis-expressed genes and 79 epididymis-expressed genes have more than six isoforms, revealing the complexity of alternative splicing. We accurately defined the transcribed isoforms in BMI testis and epididymis by combining Pacific Biotechnology Isoform-sequencing (PacBio Iso-Seq) and Illumina RNA Sequencing (RNA-seq) techniques. The refined annotation of some key genes governing male reproduction will facilitate further understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying BMI male sterility. In addition, the high-confident identification of 548 and 669 long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in these two tissues has established a candidate gene set for future functional investigations. Overall, our study provides new insights into the role of the testis and epididymis during BMI reproduction, paving the path for further studies on BMI male infertility.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pei Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Xia Zhang
- College of Life Science, Lyuliang University, Lvliang, China
| | - Hailong Huo
- Yunnan Vocational and Technical college of Agriculture, Kunming, China
| | - Weizhen Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Zhipeng Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Lina Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Luogang Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Yu H Sun
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Jinlong Huo
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
- Department of Biology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
DNALI1 deficiency causes male infertility with severe asthenozoospermia in humans and mice by disrupting the assembly of the flagellar inner dynein arms and fibrous sheath. Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:127. [PMID: 36792588 PMCID: PMC9932082 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-05653-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
The axonemal dynein arms (outer (ODA) and inner dynein arms (IDAs)) are multiprotein structures organized by light, intermediate, light intermediate (LIC), and heavy chain proteins. They hydrolyze ATP to promote ciliary and flagellar movement. Till now, a variety of dynein protein deficiencies have been linked with asthenospermia (ASZ), highlighting the significance of these structures in human sperm motility. Herein, we detected bi-allelic DNALI1 mutations [c.663_666del (p.Glu221fs)], in an ASZ patient, which resulted in the complete loss of the DNALI1 in the patient's sperm. We identified loss of sperm DNAH1 and DNAH7 rather than DNAH10 in both DNALI1663_666del patient and Dnali1-/- mice, demonstrating that mammalian DNALI1 is a LIC protein of a partial IDA subspecies. More importantly, we revealed that DNALI1 loss contributed to asymmetries in the most fibrous sheath (FS) of the sperm flagellum in both species. Immunoprecipitation revealed that DNALI1 might interact with the cytoplasmic dynein complex proteins in the testes. Furthermore, DNALI1 loss severely disrupted the transport and assembly of the FS proteins, especially AKAP3 and AKAP4, during flagellogenesis. Hence, DNALI1 may possess a non-classical molecular function, whereby it regulates the cytoplasmic dynein complex that assembles the flagella. We conclude that a DNALI deficiency-induced IDAs injury and an asymmetric FS-driven tail rigid structure alteration may simultaneously cause flagellum immotility. Finally, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) can effectively resolve patient infertility. Collectively, we demonstrate that DNALI1 is a newly causative gene for AZS in both humans and mice, which possesses multiple crucial roles in modulating flagellar assembly and motility.
Collapse
|
6
|
Xu H, Ding H, Zheng H. Murine fertility and spermatogenesis are independent of the testis-specific Spdye4a gene. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2023; 330:114148. [PMID: 36272447 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2022.114148] [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: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While many testis-enriched genes have been identified as important regulators of the spermatogenic process, the specific roles played by several of these genes and their functional importance has yet to be fully clarified. METHODS We employed a CRISPR/Cas9 approach to introduce a 5 bp in-frame deletion within the Spdye4a gene (Exon 2) of C57BL/6 mice (Spdye4a-/-). Fertility and sperm counts were evaluated. Testes tissues and cell suspensions were analyzed via histological and immunofluorescence staining. mRNA and protein levels of candidate genes were assessed through qPCR and Western blotting. In vitro fertilization was used to assess the ability of sperm cells to bind to egg cells. RESULTS Spdye4a-/- mice did not exhibit any reduction in fertility, and exhibited comparable sperm counts, morphology and motility to those of wildtype littermates. Functionally, Spdye4a-/- sperm exhibited normal sperm-egg binding activity in vitro. Furthermore, the testes of Spdye4a-/- mice exhibited a full range of germ cells from spermatogonia to mature spermatozoa. No differences in the progression of meiotic prophase I were observed when comparing Spdye4a-/- and wildtype mice, indicating that the loss of Spdye4a had no adverse effect on spermatogenesis. DISCUSSION Spdye4a is dispensable in the context of mice fertility and spermatogenesis. This study will prevent other laboratories from expending repeated efforts to generate similar knockout mice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hongge Xu
- Department of Gynaecology, The Affiliated Huaian No. 1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huaian 223300, China
| | - Hongyan Ding
- Department of Gynaecology, The Affiliated Huaian No. 1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huaian 223300, China
| | - Haoyu Zheng
- Department of Gynaecology, The Affiliated Huaian No. 1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huaian 223300, China.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Wang HQ, Wang T, Gao F, Ren WZ. Application of CRISPR/Cas Technology in Spermatogenesis Research and Male Infertility Treatment. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13061000. [PMID: 35741761 PMCID: PMC9223233 DOI: 10.3390/genes13061000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
As the basis of animal reproductive activity, normal spermatogenesis directly determines the efficiency of livestock production. An in-depth understanding of spermatogenesis will greatly facilitate animal breeding efforts and male infertility treatment. With the continuous development and application of gene editing technologies, they have become valuable tools to study the mechanism of spermatogenesis. Gene editing technologies have provided us with a better understanding of the functions and potential mechanisms of action of factors that regulate spermatogenesis. This review summarizes the applications of gene editing technologies, especially CRISPR/Cas9, in deepening our understanding of the function of spermatogenesis-related genes and disease treatment. The problems of gene editing technologies in the field of spermatogenesis research are also discussed.
Collapse
|
8
|
Cazin C, Neirijnck Y, Loeuillet C, Wehrli L, Kühne F, Lordey I, Mustapha SFB, Bouker A, Zouari R, Thierry-Mieg N, Nef S, Arnoult C, Ray PF, Kherraf ZE. Combined Use of Whole Exome Sequencing and CRISPR/Cas9 to Study the Etiology of Non-Obstructive Azoospermia: Demonstration of the Dispensable Role of the Testis-Specific Genes C1orf185 and CCT6B. Cells 2021; 11:cells11010118. [PMID: 35011680 PMCID: PMC8750304 DOI: 10.3390/cells11010118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The genetic landscape of male infertility is highly complex. It is estimated that at least 4000 genes are involved in human spermatogenesis, but only few have so far been extensively studied. In this study, we investigated by whole exome sequencing two cases of idiopathic non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) due to severe hypospermatogenesis. After variant filtering and prioritizing, we retained for each patient a homozygous loss-of-function (LoF) variant in a testis-specific gene, C1orf185 (c.250C>T; p.Gln84Ter) and CCT6B (c.615-2A>G), respectively. Both variants are rare according to the gnomAD database and absent from our local control cohort (n = 445). To verify the implication of these candidate genes in NOA, we used the CRISPR/Cas9 system to invalidate the mouse orthologs 4930522H14Rik and Cct6b and produced two knockout (KO) mouse lines. Sperm and testis parameters of homozygous KO adult male mice were analyzed and compared with those of wild-type animals. We showed that homozygous KO males were fertile and displayed normal sperm parameters and a functional spermatogenesis. Overall, these results demonstrate that not all genes highly and specifically expressed in the testes are essential for spermatogenesis, and in particular, we conclude that bi-allelic variants of C1orf185 and CCT6B are most likely not to be involved in NOA and male fertility.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Cazin
- Team Genetics Epigenetics and Therapies of Infertility, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, University Grenoble Alpes, INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR 5309, 38000 Grenoble, France; (C.C.); (C.L.); (C.A.); (P.F.R.)
- UM GI-DPI, CHU Grenoble Alpes, 38000 Grenoble, France;
| | - Yasmine Neirijnck
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, CH-1211 Genève 4, Switzerland; (Y.N.); (L.W.); (F.K.); (S.N.)
| | - Corinne Loeuillet
- Team Genetics Epigenetics and Therapies of Infertility, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, University Grenoble Alpes, INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR 5309, 38000 Grenoble, France; (C.C.); (C.L.); (C.A.); (P.F.R.)
| | - Lydia Wehrli
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, CH-1211 Genève 4, Switzerland; (Y.N.); (L.W.); (F.K.); (S.N.)
| | - Françoise Kühne
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, CH-1211 Genève 4, Switzerland; (Y.N.); (L.W.); (F.K.); (S.N.)
| | | | - Selima Fourati Ben Mustapha
- Centre d’Aide Médicale à la Procréation, Polyclinique les Jasmins, Centre Urbain Nord, Tunis 1003, Tunisia; (S.F.B.M.); (A.B.); (R.Z.)
| | - Amin Bouker
- Centre d’Aide Médicale à la Procréation, Polyclinique les Jasmins, Centre Urbain Nord, Tunis 1003, Tunisia; (S.F.B.M.); (A.B.); (R.Z.)
| | - Raoudha Zouari
- Centre d’Aide Médicale à la Procréation, Polyclinique les Jasmins, Centre Urbain Nord, Tunis 1003, Tunisia; (S.F.B.M.); (A.B.); (R.Z.)
| | | | - Serge Nef
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, CH-1211 Genève 4, Switzerland; (Y.N.); (L.W.); (F.K.); (S.N.)
| | - Christophe Arnoult
- Team Genetics Epigenetics and Therapies of Infertility, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, University Grenoble Alpes, INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR 5309, 38000 Grenoble, France; (C.C.); (C.L.); (C.A.); (P.F.R.)
| | - Pierre F. Ray
- Team Genetics Epigenetics and Therapies of Infertility, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, University Grenoble Alpes, INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR 5309, 38000 Grenoble, France; (C.C.); (C.L.); (C.A.); (P.F.R.)
- UM GI-DPI, CHU Grenoble Alpes, 38000 Grenoble, France;
| | - Zine-Eddine Kherraf
- Team Genetics Epigenetics and Therapies of Infertility, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, University Grenoble Alpes, INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR 5309, 38000 Grenoble, France; (C.C.); (C.L.); (C.A.); (P.F.R.)
- UM GI-DPI, CHU Grenoble Alpes, 38000 Grenoble, France;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +33-(0)4-7676-8303
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Liu X, Teng Z, Wang Z, Zhu P, Song Z, Liu F. Expressions of HSPA1L and HSPA9 are associated with poor sperm quality of low-motility spermatozoa in fertile men. Andrologia 2021; 54:e14321. [PMID: 34796524 DOI: 10.1111/and.14321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Human semen is a heterogeneous group containing a portion of low-motility sperm, which may determine the sperm quality evaluation. Abnormally expressed proteins in low-motility spermatozoa will be the candidates for sperm biology research. By comparing proteomes of high- or low-motility spermatozoa from the same semen of normal fertile men, 21 differentially expressed proteins were identified. Proteins with molecular chaperone function were significantly over-represented, of which HSPA1L and HSPA9 significantly decreased in low-motility sperm. Compared with young adult testes with normal spermatogenesis, HSPA1L and HSPA9 had decreased expressions in elderly testis characterised with poor spermatogenesis, suggesting their associations with spermatogenesis. Decreased expressions of HSPA1L and HSPA9 in low-motility spermatozoa were validated by Western Blot and immunofluorescence quantification analysis. HSPA1L was mainly expressed on sperm post-acrosome and midpiece, whilst HSAP9 was mainly expressed on acrosome and sperm tail. HSPA1L antibody could inhibit sperm motility validated by antibody blocking experiment, whilst HSPA9 antibody showed no significant effect on sperm motility. The study demonstrated that low-motility spermatozoa from fertile men had poor sperm quality, in which differential expressed proteins were promising markers for evaluating sperm quality, understanding mechanism of male infertility with unexplained causes, and providing new idea for male infertility research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xuexia Liu
- Central Laboratory, Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, China
| | - Zi Teng
- Central Laboratory, Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, China
| | - Zhixin Wang
- Central Laboratory, Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, China
| | - Peng Zhu
- Central Laboratory, Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, China
| | - Zhan Song
- Central Laboratory, Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, China
| | - Fujun Liu
- Central Laboratory, Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, China
| |
Collapse
|