Dataset Information

Methylation loss at H19 imprinted gene correlates with methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene promoter hypermethylation in semen samples from infertile males.

ABSTRACT: Aberrant methylation at the H19 paternal imprinted gene has been identified in different cohorts of infertile males. The causes of H19 methylation errors are poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the methylation status of the H19 gene in semen DNA samples from infertile males affected by MTHFR gene promoter hypermethylation. DNA from normal and abnormal semen samples harbouring MTHFR gene promoter hypermethylated, hmMTHFR-nor and hmMTHFR-abn, and without MTHFR methylation, MTHFR-nor and MTHFR-abn, were investigated for methylation status in the H19 locus using bisulfite-treated DNA PCR, followed by cloning and sequencing. The prevalence of H19 hypomethylated clones was 20% in hmMTHFR-nor and 0% in MTHFR-nor semen samples (p<0.05), and 28% in hmMTHFR-abn compared with 16% in MTHFR-abn semen samples (p>0.05). These results underscore the association between H19 methylation defects and hypermethylation of the MTHFR gene promoter in normal semen samples and suggest that aberrant methylation at H19 may occur in the normal sperm of infertile males affected by MTHFR gene dysfunction. These findings provide new insights into the mechanisms causing abnormal methylation in imprinted genes and, in turn, male infertility.

SUBMITTER: Rotondo JC

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3883776 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Methylation loss at H19 imprinted gene correlates with methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene promoter hypermethylation in semen samples from infertile males.

Rotondo John C JC Selvatici Rita R Di Domenico Maura M Marci Roberto R Vesce Fortunato F Tognon Mauro M Martini Fernanda F

Epigenetics 20130724 9

Aberrant methylation at the H19 paternal imprinted gene has been identified in different cohorts of infertile males. The causes of H19 methylation errors are poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the methylation status of the H19 gene in semen DNA samples from infertile males affected by MTHFR gene promoter hypermethylation. DNA from normal and abnormal semen samples harbouring MTHFR gene promoter hypermethylated, hmMTHFR-nor and hmMTHFR-abn, and without MTHFR methylation, MTHFR-nor ...[more]

PMID: 23975186

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Project description:BackgroundCongenital heart disease (CHD), which involve congenital cardiovascular malformations that occur during an embryo stage, may be the result of a complex interaction between genetic factors and environmental factors. The homozygous 677 T/T MTHFR gene and potential factors have been associated with CHD. Our objective was to study associations between potential environmental risk factors and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene polymorphisms in CHD.MethodsA total of 346 children with CHD and 237 healthy children were recruited. Their parents were also enlisted in the study and interviewed face-to-face to identify potential environmental risk factors. The MTHFR genotype was analyzed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). Interactions between environmental risk factors and MTHFR gene polymorphisms were evaluated by the relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI), the attributable proportion due to interaction (AP), and the synergy index (S).ResultsThere were significant differences in the occupational statuses of the mothers and their levels of drug exposure during gestation between the controls and the cases (P<0.05). These differences significantly increased offspring CHD risk (occupation: OR =5.45, 95% CI: 3.46-8.58; drug exposure: OR =4.91, 95% CI: 2.18-11.09). The frequency of the MTHFR gene 677 TT polymorphism in the mothers who had offspring with CHD was significantly different from that in the non-CHD controls (P<0.05). The frequency of this polymorphism also significantly differed between the children with CHD and the control group (P<0.05). An interaction was identified between the presence of the homozygous 677 TT genotype in the children and the mothers' occupational statuses (RERI =9.43, CI: 0.06-18.91).ConclusionsA significant interaction was found between the homozygous 677 T/T MTHFR gene in children and the maternal occupational status and level of drug exposure during gestation. Avoiding or reducing the exposure of the risk factors mentioned above, strengthening pre-pregnancy checkups and guidance might help to reduce the risk of CHD.

Dataset Information

Methylation loss at H19 imprinted gene correlates with methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene promoter hypermethylation in semen samples from infertile males.

Publications

Methylation loss at H19 imprinted gene correlates with methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene promoter hypermethylation in semen samples from infertile males.

Similar Datasets

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