Loss-of-function <i>CFTR</i> p.G970D missense mutation might cause congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens and be associated with impaired spermatogenesis.

Jian-wen Hou; Xiao-liang LI; Li Wang; Cong-ling Dai; Na LI; Xiao-hui Jiang; Yue-qiu Tan; Er-po Tian; Qin-tong LI; Wen-ming XU

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Loss-of-function CFTR p.G970D missense mutation might cause congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens and be associated with impaired spermatogenesis.

Author: Jian-Wen HOU ¹ ; Xiao-Liang LI ¹ ; Li WANG ² ; Cong-Ling DAI ³ ; Na LI ⁴ ; Xiao-Hui JIANG ⁵ ; Yue-Qiu TAN ³ ; Er-Po TIAN ⁶ ; Qin-Tong LI ⁷ ; Wen-Ming XU ¹
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1. Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, Key Laboratory of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
2. Reproductive Medical Center, Gansu Provincial Maternal and Child-Care Hospital, Lanzhou 730050, China.
3. Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China.
4. Institute of Pediatrics, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510623, China.
5. Human Sperm Bank, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
6. Reproductive Medical Center, Chengdu Xi'nan Gynecology Hospital, Chengdu 610041, China.
7. Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Publication Type:Journal Article
Keywords: CFTR; azoospermia; congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens; male infertility; mutation; spermatogenesis
MeSH: Humans; Animals; Mice; Male; Mutation, Missense; Retrospective Studies; Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator/genetics*; Infertility, Male/genetics*; Mutation; Vas Deferens/abnormalities*; Spermatogenesis/genetics*
From: Asian Journal of Andrology 2023;25(1):58-65
CountryChina
Language:English
Abstract: Congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens (CBAVD) is observed in 1%-2% of males presenting with infertility and is clearly associated with cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) mutations. CFTR is one of the most well-known genes related to male fertility. The frequency of CFTR mutations or impaired CFTR expression is increased in men with nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA). CFTR mutations are highly polymorphic and have established ethnic specificity. Compared with F508Del in Caucasians, the p.G970D mutation is reported to be the most frequent CFTR mutation in Chinese patients with cystic fibrosis. However, whether p.G970D participates in male infertility remains unknown. Herein, a loss-of-function CFTR p.G970D missense mutation was identified in a patient with CBAVD and NOA. Subsequent retrospective analysis of 122 Chinese patients with CBAVD showed that the mutation is a common pathogenic mutation (4.1%, 5/122), excluding polymorphic sites. Furthermore, we generated model cell lines derived from mouse testes harboring the homozygous Cftr p.G965D mutation equivalent to the CFTR variant in patients. The Cftr p.G965D mutation may be lethal in spermatogonial stem cells and spermatogonia and affect the proliferation of spermatocytes and Sertoli cells. In spermatocyte GC-2(spd)ts (GC2) Cftr p.G965D cells, RNA splicing variants were detected and CFTR expression decreased, which may contribute to the phenotypes associated with impaired spermatogenesis. Thus, this study indicated that the CFTR p.G970D missense mutation might be a pathogenic mutation for CBAVD in Chinese males and associated with impaired spermatogenesis by affecting the proliferation of germ cells.