Association of Sperm Methylation at LINE-1, Four Candidate Genes, and Nicotine/Alcohol Exposure With the Risk of Infertility

Wenjing Zhang; Wenjing Zhang; Min Li; Feng Sun; Xuting Xu; Zhaofeng Zhang; Junwei Liu; Xiaowei Sun; Aiping Zhang; Yupei Shen; Jianhua Xu; Maohua Miao; Bin Wu; Yao Yuan; Xianliang Huang; Huijuan Shi; Jing Du

doi:10.3389/fgene.2019.01001

Frontiers in Genetics (Oct 2019)

Association of Sperm Methylation at LINE-1, Four Candidate Genes, and Nicotine/Alcohol Exposure With the Risk of Infertility

Wenjing Zhang,
Wenjing Zhang,
Min Li,
Feng Sun,
Xuting Xu,
Zhaofeng Zhang,
Junwei Liu,
Xiaowei Sun,
Aiping Zhang,
Yupei Shen,
Jianhua Xu,
Maohua Miao,
Bin Wu,
Yao Yuan,
Xianliang Huang,
Huijuan Shi,
Jing Du

Affiliations

Wenjing Zhang: NHC Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation (Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research), Fudan University, Shanghai, China
Wenjing Zhang: Reproductive Medical Center, Changhai Hospital of Shanghai, Shanghai, China
Min Li: NHC Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation (Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research), Fudan University, Shanghai, China
Feng Sun: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
Xuting Xu: Huzhou Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Huzhou Central Hospital, Zhejiang, China
Zhaofeng Zhang: NHC Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation (Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research), Fudan University, Shanghai, China
Junwei Liu: NHC Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation (Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research), Fudan University, Shanghai, China
Xiaowei Sun: NHC Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation (Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research), Fudan University, Shanghai, China
Aiping Zhang: Bio-X Institutes, Key Laboratory for the Genetics of Developmental and Neuropsychiatric Disorders, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
Yupei Shen: NHC Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation (Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research), Fudan University, Shanghai, China
Jianhua Xu: NHC Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation (Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research), Fudan University, Shanghai, China
Maohua Miao: NHC Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation (Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research), Fudan University, Shanghai, China
Bin Wu: NHC Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation (Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research), Fudan University, Shanghai, China
Yao Yuan: NHC Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation (Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research), Fudan University, Shanghai, China
Xianliang Huang: Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research Hospital, Shanghai, China
Huijuan Shi: NHC Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation (Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research), Fudan University, Shanghai, China
Jing Du: NHC Key Laboratory of Reproduction Regulation (Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research), Fudan University, Shanghai, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2019.01001
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 10

Abstract

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In this study, we examined whether smoking and drinking affect sperm quality and the DNA methylation of the repetitive element LINE-1, MEST, P16, H19, and GNAS in sperm. Semen samples were obtained from 143 male residents in a minority-inhabited district of Guizhou province in southwest China. Quantitative DNA methylation analysis of the samples was performed using MassARRAY EpiTYPER assays. Sperm motility was significantly lower in both the nicotine-exposed (P = 0.0064) and the nicotine- and alcohol-exposed (P = 0.0008) groups. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels were higher in the nicotine-exposed group (P = 0.0026). The repetitive element LINE-1 was hypermethylated in the three exposed groups, while P16 was hypomethylated in the alcohol and both the alcohol and nicotine exposure groups. Our results also show that alcohol and nicotine exposure altered sperm cell quality, which may be related to the methylation levels of MEST and GNAS. In addition, MEST, GNAS, and the repetitive element LINE1 methylation was significantly associated with the concentration of sperm as well as FSH and luteinizing hormone levels.

Published in Frontiers in Genetics

ISSN: 1664-8021 (Online)
Publisher: Frontiers Media S.A.
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science: Biology (General): Genetics
Website: http://journal.frontiersin.org/journal/genetics

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