Genetic variation in leptin and leptin receptor genes is a risk factor for idiopathic recurrent spontaneous abortion

Aim To determine whether maternal leptin (LEP) and leptin receptor (LEPR) gene polymorphisms are associated with idiopathic recurrent spontaneous abortion (IRSA). Methods This case-control association study conducted from 2010 to 2012 at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Center Osijek and Clinical Institute of Medical Genetics Ljubljana included 178 women with a history of three or more IRSAs before the 22nd week of gestation and 145 women with at least two live births and no history of pathologic pregnancies during reproductive period. Polymorphisms of maternal LEP (rs7799039, rs2122627, rs11761556, rs10244329) and LEPR (rs1137101, rs7516341, rs1186403, rs12062820) were assessed by allele specific real-time polymerase chain reaction. Genotype distribution, allele frequencies, and frequency of haplotypes at LEP and LEPR genetic loci were determined. Results We observed more frequent genotype for rs7516341 (nominal P = 0.034, odds ratio [OR] 0.61, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.38-0.97) and rs1137101 (nominal P = 0.048, OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.00-2.80) in the LEPR gene in patients than in controls, but these results did not remain significant after correction for multiple testing according to Bonferroni (adjusted P value threshold was set at 0.05). We did not observe differential distribution of genotype frequencies in the LEP gene between cases and controls. In patients with IRSA, GTCC haplotype in the LEPR gene locus was significantly less frequent than in controls (P = 0.00865, OR 0.45), contrary to ACTC haplotype (P = 0.0087, OR 1.98). Conclusions We showed that genetic variability in the LEPR gene was associated with IRSA, warranting confirmation on a greater number of patients and pathogenesis investigation

The −2549 insertion/deletion polymorphism in the promoter region of the VEGFA gene in couples with idiopathic recurrent spontaneous abortion

Purpose The vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) is crucial for normal vasculogenesis and angiogenesis during pregnancy, and alterations in the VEGFA gene expression were detected in women with idiopathic recurrent spontaneous abortion (IRSA) and spontaneously aborted conceptuses. Our aim was to evaluate whether there is an association between the functional −2549 insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism in the promoter region of the VEGFA gene and IRSA in reproductive couples. Methods We performed a case-control study involving 149 women and their 140 partners with three or more IRSA and 149 control women and men. Allele-specific polymerase chain reaction was used for genotyping. Results We found no association of the −2549 I/D polymorphism with IRSA in women. However, men with the DD genotype have a 1.75-fold increased risk of IRSA compared with men carrying the ID and II genotypes (95 % confidence interval (CI)=1.05–2.93, P=0.032). In addition, the D allele in men contributes to a 1.42-fold increased risk of IRSA (95 % CI= 1.02–1.97, P=0.036) compared to men carrying the I allele. Conclusions Our results indicate that the −2549 I/D polymorphism in the VEGFA gene in men might be associated with IRSA. Additional genetic association studies including both partners, as well as expression studies, are needed to elucidate the role of this polymorphism in IRSA

Transcriptomic signatures for human male infertility

Introduction: Male infertility is a common, complex disorder. A better understanding of pathogenesis and etiology is needed for timely diagnosis and treatment. The aim of this study, therefore, was to identify genes involved in the pathogenesis of idiopathic male infertility based on data from transcriptomic level supported with data from genomic level.Materials and methods: First, we performed whole gene expression analysis in 20 testis biopsy samples of patients with severely impaired (10) and normal spermatogenesis (10). Further, we have performed systematic review of comparable male infertility studies and overlapped the most significantly expressed genes identified in our study with the most differentially expressed genes from selected studies. Gene Ontology analysis and KEGG functional enrichment have been performed with Enrichr analysis tool. Additionally, we have overlapped these genes with the genes where rare variants have been identified previously.Results: In 10 patients with severely impaired spermatogenesis and 10 controls, we identified more than 1,800 differentially expressed genes (p < 0.001). With the systematic review of three previously performed microarray studies that have met inclusion criteria we identified 257 overlapped differentialy expressed genes (144 downregulated and 113 upregulated). Intersection of genes from transcriptomic studies with genes with identified rare variants revealed a total of 7 genes linked with male infertility phenotype (CYP11A1, CYP17A1, RSPH3, TSGA10, AKAP4, CCIN, NDNF).Conclusion: Our comprehensive study highlighted the role of four genes in pathogenesis of male infertility and provided supporting evidence for three promising candidate genes which dysfunction may result in a male infertility disorder

Case Report: Non-ossifying fibromas with pathologic fractures in a patient with NONO-associated X-linked syndromic intellectual developmental disorder

The NONO gene encodes a nuclear protein involved in transcriptional regulation, RNA synthesis and DNA repair. Hemizygous loss-of function, de novo or maternally inherited variants in NONO have been associated with an X-linked syndromic intellectual developmental disorder-34 (OMIM # 300967), characterized by developmental delay, intellectual disability, hypotonia, macrocephaly, elongated face, structural abnormalities of corpus callosum and/or cerebellum, congenital heart defect and left ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy. Few patients have been described in the literature and the phenotype data are limited. We report a 17-year-old boy with dolihocephaly, elongated face, strabismus, speech and motor delay, intellectual disability, congenital heart defect (ASD, VSD and Ebstein’s anomaly), left ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy, bilateral inguinal hernia and cryptorchidism. Additional features included recurrent fractures due to multiple non-ossifying fibromas, thrombocytopenia, and renal anomalies. Exome sequencing revealed a de novo pathogenic variant (NM_001145408.2: c.348+2_ 348+15del) in intron 5 of the NONO gene. Renal anomalies and thrombocytopenia have been rarely reported in patients with NONO—X-linked intellectual disability syndrome, while recurrent fractures due to multiple non-ossifying fibromas have not previously been associated with this syndrome. The phenotypic spectrum of NONO—X-linked intellectual disability syndrome may be broader than currently known

Association of circadian rhythm genes ARNTL/BMAL1 and CLOCK with multiple sclerosis

Prevalence of multiple sclerosis varies with geographic latitude. We hypothesized that this fact might be partially associated with the influence of latitude on circadian rhythm and consequently that genetic variability of key circadian rhythm regulators, ARNTL and CLOCK genes, might contribute to the risk for multiple sclerosis. Our aim was to analyse selected polymorphisms of ARNTL and CLOCK, and their association with multiple sclerosis. A total of 900 Caucasian patients and 1024 healthy controls were compared for genetic signature at 8 SNPs, 4 for each of both genes. We found a statistically significant difference in genotype (ARNTL rs3789327, P = 7.5.10(-5); CLOCK rs6811520 P = 0.02) distributions in patients and controls. The ARNTL rs3789327 CC genotype was associated with higher risk for multiple sclerosis at an OR of 1.67 (95% CI 1.35-2.07, P = 0.0001) and the CLOCK rs6811520 genotype CC at an OR of 1.40 (95% CI 1.13-1.73, P = 0.002). The results of this study suggest that genetic variability in the ARNTL and CLOCK genes might be associated with risk for multiple sclerosis

Identification of rare genetic variation of NLRP1 gene in familial multiple sclerosis

The genetic etiology and the contribution of rare genetic variation in multiple sclerosis (MS) has not yet been elucidated. Although familial forms of MS have been described, no convincing rare and penetrant variants have been reported to date. We aimed to characterize the contribution of rare genetic variation in familial and sporadic MS and have identified a family with two sibs affected by concomitant MS and malignant melanoma (MM). We performed whole exome sequencing in this primary family and 38 multiplex MS families and 44 sporadic MS cases and performed transcriptional and immunologic assessment of the identified variants. We identified a potentially causative homozygous missense variant in NLRP1 gene (Gly587Ser) in the primary family. Further possibly pathogenic NLRP1 variants were identified in the expanded cohort of patients. Stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from MS patients with putatively pathogenic NLRP1 variants showed an increase in IL-1B gene expression and active cytokine IL-1β production, as well as global activation of NLRP1-driven immunologic pathways. We report a novel familial association of MS and MM, and propose a possible underlying genetic basis in NLRP1 gene. Furthermore, we provide initial evidence of the broader implications of NLRP1-related pathway dysfunction in MS

A single nucleotide polymorphism of DNA methyltransferase 3B gene is a risk factor for recurrent spontaneous abortion

Aberrant DNA methylation has been suggested as a potential cause of recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA). Considering the growing evidence on the important roles of DNA methylation in gametogenesis and early pregnancy, we investigated the potential association of DNA methyltransferase gene polymorphisms (DNMT1 rs2228611, DNMT3A rs1550117, DNMT3B rs1569686) with RSA in Slovenian reproductive couples. A total of 146 couples with ≥3 consecutive spontaneous abortions and 149 control women and men with ≥2 normal pregnancies were included. Genotyping was performed using PCR- RFLP methods. We found a statistically significant higher frequency of the DNMT3B rs1569686 GG genotype (X2=7.37 ; P = .025) and G allele (X2 = 6.33 ; P = .012) in RSA women compared with controls. Moreover, the odds for RSA in women were increased under the recessive genetic model (GGvsTG+TT: OR=1.92 ; 95% CI=1.18-3.09 ; P = .008). DNMT3B rs1569686 gene polymorphism in women might be a genetic marker for the susceptibility to RSA

Insight into the complexity of male infertility

Male infertility is a reproductive disorder, accounting for 40–50% of infertility. Currently, in about 70% of infertile men, the cause remains unknown. With the introduction of novel omics and advancement in high-throughput technology, potential biomarkers are emerging. The main purpose of our work was to overview different aspects of omics approaches in association with idiopathic male infertility and highlight potential genes, transcripts, non-coding RNA, proteins, and metabolites worth further exploring. Using the Gene Ontology (GO) analysis, we aimed to compare enriched GO terms from each omics approach and determine their overlapping. A PubMed database screening for the literature published between February 2014 and June 2022 was performed using the keywords: male infertility in association with different omics approaches: genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, ncRNAomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. A GO enrichment analysis was performed using the Enrichr tool. We retrieved 281 global studies: 171 genomics (DNA level), 21 epigenomics (19 of methylation and two histone residue modifications), 15 transcriptomics, 31 non-coding RNA, 29 proteomics, two protein posttranslational modification, and 19 metabolomics studies. Gene ontology comparison showed that different omics approaches lead to the identification of different molecular factors and that the corresponding GO terms, obtained from different omics approaches, do not overlap to a larger extent. With the integration of novel omics levels into the research of idiopathic causes of male infertility, using multi-omic systems biology approaches, we will be closer to finding the potential biomarkers and consequently becoming aware of the entire spectrum of male infertility, their cause, prognosis, and potential treatment