Frontiers in Endocrinology (Jan 2023)

Novel HYDIN variants associated with male infertility in two Chinese families

  • Hui Yu,
  • Hui Yu,
  • Xiao Shi,
  • Zhongmei Shao,
  • Zhongmei Shao,
  • Hao Geng,
  • Hao Geng,
  • Hao Geng,
  • Senzhao Guo,
  • Senzhao Guo,
  • Senzhao Guo,
  • Kuokuo Li,
  • Kuokuo Li,
  • Kuokuo Li,
  • Meng Gu,
  • Meng Gu,
  • Meng Gu,
  • Chuan Xu,
  • Chuan Xu,
  • Chuan Xu,
  • Yang Gao,
  • Yang Gao,
  • Yang Gao,
  • Qing Tan,
  • Qing Tan,
  • Zongliu Duan,
  • Zongliu Duan,
  • Zongliu Duan,
  • Huan Wu,
  • Huan Wu,
  • Huan Wu,
  • Rong Hua,
  • Rong Hua,
  • Rui Guo,
  • Rui Guo,
  • Zhaolian Wei,
  • Zhaolian Wei,
  • Zhaolian Wei,
  • Ping Zhou,
  • Ping Zhou,
  • Ping Zhou,
  • Yunxia Cao,
  • Yunxia Cao,
  • Yunxia Cao,
  • Xiaojin He,
  • Xiaojin He,
  • Xiaojin He,
  • Liang Li,
  • Xiaoping Zhang,
  • Mingrong Lv,
  • Mingrong Lv,
  • Mingrong Lv,
  • Mingrong Lv

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2023.1118841
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14

Abstract

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IntroductionInfertility is a major disease affecting human life and health, among which male factors account for about half. Asthenoteratozoospermia accounts for the majority of male infertility. High-throughput sequencing techniques have identified numerous variants in genes responsible for asthenoteratozoospermia; however, its etiology still needs to be studied.MethodIn this study, we performed whole-exome sequencing on samples from 375 patients with asthenoteratozoospermia and identified two HYDIN compound heterozygous variants, a primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD)-associated gene, in two unrelated subjects. H&E staining, SEM were employed to analyze the varies on sperm of patients, further, TEM was employed to determine the ultrastructure defects. And westernblot and immunostaining were chose to evaluate the variation of structural protein. ICSI was applied to assist the mutational patient to achieve offspring.ResultWe identified two HYDIN compound heterozygous variants. Patient AY078 had novel compound heterozygous splice variants (c.5969-2A>G, c.6316+1G>A), altering the consensus splice acceptor site of HYDIN. He was diagnosed with male infertility and PCD, presenting with decreased sperm progressive motility and morphological abnormalities, and bronchial dilatation in the inferior lobe. Compared to the fertile control, HYDIN levels, acrosome and centrosome markers (ACTL7A, ACROSIN, PLCζ1, and Centrin1), and flagella components (TOMM20, SEPT4, SPEF2, SPAG6, and RSPHs) were significantly reduced in HYDIN-deficient patients. Using intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), the patient successfully achieved clinical pregnancy. AY079 had deleterious compound heterozygous missense variants, c.9507C>G (p. Asn3169Lys) and c.14081G>A (p. Arg4694His), presenting with infertility; however, semen samples and PCD examination were unavailable.DiscussionOur findings provide the first evidence that the loss of HYDIN function causes asthenoteratozoospermia presenting with various defects in the flagella structure and the disassembly of the acrosome and neck. Additionally, ICSI could rescue this failure of insemination caused by immobile and malformed sperm induced by HYDIN deficiency.

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