Project description:We investigated differentially expressed sncRNAs in human sperm as candidate markers for evaluating sperm quality during IVF. We demonstrated that differentially expressed tsRNAs, rsRNAs and miRNAs are linked to sperm quality according to embryo quality, even though these sperm samples were all considered normal by the traditional semen-parameter assessment. Therefore, the sncRNAs, especially tsRNAs and rsRNAs, may be potential clinical biomarkers for the assessment of sperm quality in IVF.
Project description:Plastic derived compounds are one of the most frequent daily world-wide exposures. Previously a mixture of plastic derived toxicants involving bisphenol A (BPA), Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) at lower dose exposures of a gestating female rat were found to promote the epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of disease to the offspring (F1 generation), grand-offspring (F2 generation) and great-grand-offspring (F3 generation). Epigenetic analysis of the male sperm was found to result in differential DNA methylation regions (DMRs) in the transgenerational F3 generation male sperm. The current study is distinct and was designed to identify potential sperm DNA methylation biomarkers for specific transgenerational diseases. Observations show disease specific DMRs called epimutations in the transgenerational F3 generation great-grand-offspring rats ancestrally exposed to plastics. The epigenetic DMR biomarkers were identified for testis disease, kidney disease, and multiple (≥2) diseases. These disease sperm epimutation biomarkers were found to be predominantly disease specific. The genomic locations and features of these DMRs were identified. Interestingly, the disease specific DMR associated genes were previously shown to be linked with each of the specific diseases. Therefore, the germline has ancestrally derived epimutations that potentially transmit transgenerational disease susceptibilities. Epigenetic biomarkers for specific diseases could be used as diagnostics to facilitate clinical management of disease and preventative medicine.
Project description:Background Chronic preconception paternal alcohol use modifies the sperm epigenome, inducing fetoplacental growth defects in the offspring of exposed males. A crucial outstanding question in the field of paternal epigenetic inheritance concerns the resilience of the male reproductive tract and the germline's capacity to recover and correct sperm-inherited epigenetic errors after stressor withdrawal. Objectives We set out to determine if measures of the sperm-inherited epigenetic program revert to match the control treatment one month after withdrawing daily alcohol treatments. Materials and Methods Using a voluntary access model, we exposed C57Bl6/J males to 10% alcohol for ten weeks, withdrew alcohol treatment for four weeks, and used RNA sequencing to examine gene expression patterns in the caput section of the epididymis. We then compared the abundance of sperm small RNA species between treatments. Results In the caput section of the epididymis, chronic alcohol exposures induced changes in the transcriptional control of genetic pathways related to mitochondrial function, oxidative phosphorylation, the generalized stress response (EIF2 signaling), and Sirtuin signaling. Subsequent analysis identified region-specific, alcohol-induced changes in mitochondrial DNA copy number across the epididymis, which correlated with increases in the mitochondrial DNA content of alcohol-exposed sperm. Notably, in the corpus section of the epididymis, increases in mitochondrial DNA copy number persisted one month after alcohol cessation. Analysis of sperm noncoding RNAs between Control and Alcohol-Exposed males one month after alcohol withdrawal revealed a ~100-fold increase in mir-196a, a microRNA induced as part of the Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor 2 (Nrf2)-driven cellular antioxidant response. Discussion and Conclusion Our data reveal that alcohol-induced epididymal mitochondrial dysfunction and differences in sperm noncoding RNA content persist after alcohol withdrawal. Further, differences in mir-196a and sperm mitochondrial DNA copy number may serve as viable biomarkers of adverse alterations in the sperm-inherited epigenetic program.
Project description:Background Chronic preconception paternal alcohol use modifies the sperm epigenome, inducing fetoplacental growth defects in the offspring of exposed males. A crucial outstanding question in the field of paternal epigenetic inheritance concerns the resilience of the male reproductive tract and the germline's capacity to recover and correct sperm-inherited epigenetic errors after stressor withdrawal. Objectives We set out to determine if measures of the sperm-inherited epigenetic program revert to match the control treatment one month after withdrawing daily alcohol treatments. Materials and Methods Using a voluntary access model, we exposed C57Bl6/J males to 10% alcohol for ten weeks, withdrew alcohol treatment for four weeks, and used RNA sequencing to examine gene expression patterns in the caput section of the epididymis. We then compared the abundance of sperm small RNA species between treatments. Results In the caput section of the epididymis, chronic alcohol exposures induced changes in the transcriptional control of genetic pathways related to mitochondrial function, oxidative phosphorylation, the generalized stress response (EIF2 signaling), and Sirtuin signaling. Subsequent analysis identified region-specific, alcohol-induced changes in mitochondrial DNA copy number across the epididymis, which correlated with increases in the mitochondrial DNA content of alcohol-exposed sperm. Notably, in the corpus section of the epididymis, increases in mitochondrial DNA copy number persisted one month after alcohol cessation. Analysis of sperm noncoding RNAs between Control and Alcohol-Exposed males one month after alcohol withdrawal revealed a ~100-fold increase in mir-196a, a microRNA induced as part of the Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor 2 (Nrf2)-driven cellular antioxidant response. Discussion and Conclusion Our data reveal that alcohol-induced epididymal mitochondrial dysfunction and differences in sperm noncoding RNA content persist after alcohol withdrawal. Further, differences in mir-196a and sperm mitochondrial DNA copy number may serve as viable biomarkers of adverse alterations in the sperm- inherited epigenetic program.
Project description:Background Chronic preconception paternal alcohol use modifies the sperm epigenome, inducing fetoplacental growth defects in the offspring of exposed males. A crucial outstanding question in the field of paternal epigenetic inheritance concerns the resilience of the male reproductive tract and the germline's capacity to recover and correct sperm-inherited epigenetic errors after stressor withdrawal. Objectives We set out to determine if measures of the sperm-inherited epigenetic program revert to match the control treatment one month after withdrawing daily alcohol treatments. Materials and Methods Using a voluntary access model, we exposed C57Bl6/J males to 10% alcohol for ten weeks, withdrew alcohol treatment for four weeks, and used RNA sequencing to examine gene expression patterns in the caput section of the epididymis. We then compared the abundance of sperm small RNA species between treatments. Results In the caput section of the epididymis, chronic alcohol exposures induced changes in the transcriptional control of genetic pathways related to mitochondrial function, oxidative phosphorylation, the generalized stress response (EIF2 signaling), and Sirtuin signaling. Subsequent analysis identified region-specific, alcohol-induced changes in mitochondrial DNA copy number across the epididymis, which correlated with increases in the mitochondrial DNA content of alcohol-exposed sperm. Notably, in the corpus section of the epididymis, increases in mitochondrial DNA copy number persisted one month after alcohol cessation. Analysis of sperm noncoding RNAs between Control and Alcohol-Exposed males one month after alcohol withdrawal revealed a ~100-fold increase in mir-196a, a microRNA induced as part of the Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor 2 (Nrf2)-driven cellular antioxidant response. Discussion and Conclusion Our data reveal that alcohol-induced epididymal mitochondrial dysfunction and differences in sperm noncoding RNA content persist after alcohol withdrawal. Further, differences in mir-196a and sperm mitochondrial DNA copy number may serve as viable biomarkers of adverse alterations in the sperm-inherited epigenetic program.