Department of Pharmacy, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan, Taiwan.
Medical Laboratory Techniques Department, Al-Maarif University College, Anbar, Iraq.
J Reprod Immunol. 2024 Aug;164:104274. doi: 10.1016/j.jri.2024.104274. Epub 2024 Jun 4.
Numerous recent studies have examined the impact epigenetics-including DNA methylation-has on spermatogenesis and male infertility. Differential methylation of several genes has been linked to compromised spermatogenesis and/or reproductive failure. Specifically, male infertility has been frequently associated with DNA methylation abnormalities of MEST and H19 inside imprinted genes and MTHFR within non-imprinted genes. Microbial infections mainly result in male infertility because of the immune response triggered by the bacteria' accumulation of immune cells, proinflammatory cytokines, and chemokines. Thus, bacterially produced epigenetic dysregulations may impact host cell function, supporting host defense or enabling pathogen persistence. So, it is possible to think of pathogenic bacteria as potential epimutagens that can alter the epigenome. It has been demonstrated that dysregulated levels of LncRNA correlate with motility and sperm count in ejaculated spermatozoa from infertile males. Therefore, a thorough understanding of the relationship between decreased reproductive capacity and sperm DNA methylation status should aid in creating new diagnostic instruments for this condition. To fully understand the mechanisms influencing sperm methylation and how they relate to male infertility, more research is required.
许多最近的研究都检查了表观遗传学——包括 DNA 甲基化——对精子发生和男性不育的影响。几个基因的差异甲基化与精子发生受损和/或生殖失败有关。具体来说,男性不育症经常与印迹基因内的 MEST 和 H19 以及非印迹基因内的 MTHFR 的 DNA 甲基化异常有关。微生物感染主要导致男性不育,因为细菌会积累免疫细胞、促炎细胞因子和趋化因子,从而引发免疫反应。因此,细菌产生的表观遗传失调可能会影响宿主细胞功能,支持宿主防御或使病原体持续存在。因此,可以认为致病菌是潜在的表观诱变剂,可以改变表观基因组。已经证明,长非编码 RNA 的失调水平与不育男性射出精液中的精子活力和精子计数相关。因此,深入了解生殖能力下降与精子 DNA 甲基化状态之间的关系,有助于为此种病症创造新的诊断工具。为了充分了解影响精子甲基化的机制以及它们与男性不育的关系,需要进行更多的研究。