Child Health and Human Development Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Mol Hum Reprod. 2024 Mar 28;30(4). doi: 10.1093/molehr/gaae008.
5,10-Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is an enzyme that plays a key role in providing methyl groups for DNA methylation, including during spermatogenesis. A common genetic variant in humans (MTHFR 677C>T) results in reduced enzyme activity and has been linked to various disorders, including male infertility. A new animal model has been created by reproducing the human equivalent of the polymorphism in mice using CRISPR/Cas9. Biochemical parameters in the Mthfr 677TT mice recapitulate alterations found in MTHFR 677TT men. Our aims were to characterize the sperm DNA methylome of the Mthfr 677CC and TT mice on a control diet (2 mg folic acid/kg diet) and assess the effects of folic acid supplementation (10 mg/kg diet) on the sperm DNA methylome. Body and reproductive organ weights, testicular sperm counts, and histology were examined. DNA methylation in sperm was assessed using bisulfite pyrosequencing and whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS). Reproductive parameters and locus-specific imprinted gene methylation were unaffected by genotype or diet. Using WGBS, sperm from 677TT mice had 360 differentially methylated tiles as compared to 677CC mice, predominantly hypomethylation (60% of tiles). Folic acid supplementation mostly caused hypermethylation in sperm of males of both genotypes and was found to partially correct the DNA methylation alterations in sperm associated with the TT genotype. The new mouse model will be useful in understanding the role of MTHFR deficiency in male fertility and in designing folate supplementation regimens for the clinic.
5,10-亚甲基四氢叶酸还原酶 (MTHFR) 是一种在提供 DNA 甲基化所需甲基基团方面发挥关键作用的酶,包括在精子发生过程中。人类中一种常见的遗传变异(MTHFR 677C>T)导致酶活性降低,并与各种疾病有关,包括男性不育。通过使用 CRISPR/Cas9 在小鼠中复制人类同源多态性,创建了一种新的动物模型。Mthfr 677TT 小鼠的生化参数重现了 MTHFR 677TT 男性中发现的改变。我们的目的是在对照饮食(2 mg 叶酸/公斤饮食)下描述 Mthfr 677CC 和 TT 小鼠的精子 DNA 甲基组,并评估叶酸补充(10 mg/公斤饮食)对精子 DNA 甲基组的影响。检查了体重和生殖器官重量、睾丸精子计数和组织学。使用亚硫酸氢盐焦磷酸测序和全基因组亚硫酸氢盐测序 (WGBS) 评估精子中的 DNA 甲基化。基因型或饮食对生殖参数和局灶性印记基因甲基化没有影响。使用 WGBS,与 677CC 小鼠相比,677TT 小鼠的精子中有 360 个差异甲基化的平铺,主要是低甲基化(60%的平铺)。叶酸补充主要导致两种基因型雄性精子的过度甲基化,并且发现部分纠正了与 TT 基因型相关的精子 DNA 甲基化改变。这种新的小鼠模型将有助于理解 MTHFR 缺乏在男性生育中的作用,并为临床设计叶酸补充方案。