Homozygous ARMC12 variant causes multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella

Previous studies have established that biallelic variants in armadillo repeat containing 12 (ARMC12) can lead to multiple midpiece abnormalities and asthenozoospermia. This study aims to characterize a homozygous ARMC12 variant associated with multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF), and to evaluate its impact on the sperm ultrastructure and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcomes.

Whole exome sequencing (WES) was employed to screen for genetic variants in a cohort of 92 patients with MMAF, followed by Sanger sequencing validation. Sperm morphological and ultrastructural characteristics were assessed using Papanicolaou staining, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Additionally, immunofluorescence (IF) and Western blotting (WB) were performed to examine the effect of the ARMC12 variant on the expression of key flagellar protein. ICSI was utilized to facilitate fertilization in the partner of the proband.

We identified a proband from a consanguineous family carrying a homozygous ARMC12 c.686G>A variant. Papanicolaou staining, SEM and TEM revealed severe disorganization of mitochondrial structures and a loss of axonemal elements in the proband's sperm. Although the localization of cytochrome c oxidase subunit IV (COX IV) and translocase of outer mitochondrial membrane 20 (TOM20) shifted from a dense and continuous distribution along the mitochondrial sheath to discontinuous, punctate pattern, their total protein levels were not significantly downregulated. Despite a lower blastocyst formation rate of 20% following ICSI, the transfer of a 4BC blastocyst resulted in the successful birth of a healthy male infant.

This study highlights the expanded phenotypic spectrum of ARMC12 variants and emphasizes the association of specific genetic variants with MMAF.