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Published on: August 20, 2019
Loss-of-function variants in KCTD19 cause non-obstructive azoospermia in humans
Junyan Liu1, Fazal Rahim1, Jianteng Zhou1
1Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institute of Health and Medicine, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, China.
Genetic variants in KCTD19 cause male infertility by disrupting chromosome segregation during meiosis I. This study identifies KCTD19 as crucial for male fertility and understanding non-obstructive azoospermia.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Reproductive Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) is a severe form of male infertility with limited understanding of its genetic underpinnings.
- Congenital factors are implicated in NOA, necessitating further research into specific genetic causes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify genetic variants associated with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA).
- To investigate the role of KCTD19 in male meiosis and fertility.
Main Methods:
- Genetic sequencing to identify variants in KCTD19.
- Testicular histology to analyze meiotic progression in affected individuals and KCTD19 mutant mice.
- Immunohistochemistry to assess KCTD19 protein expression.
Main Results:
- Identified pathogenic variants (frameshift and nonsense) in KCTD19 in infertile males and families.
- Observed meiotic metaphase I (MMI) arrest in affected individuals and Kctd19 mutant mice.
- Demonstrated a complete loss of KCTD19 protein in mutant testes, indicating its essential role.
Conclusions:
- Pathogenic KCTD19 variants are a cause of male infertility due to meiotic arrest.
- KCTD19 is essential for proper chromosome individualization during MMI.
- This study expands the genetic knowledge of non-obstructive azoospermia.
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