Dynein Axonemal Heavy Chain Research Articles

DNAH3 deficiency causes flagellar inner dynein arm loss and male infertility in humans and mice

Axonemal protein complexes, including the outer and inner dynein arms (ODA/IDA), are highly ordered structures of the sperm flagella that drive sperm motility. Deficiencies in several axonemal proteins have been associated with male infertility, which is characterized by asthenozoospermia or asthenoteratozoospermia. Dynein axonemal heavy chain 3 (DNAH3) resides in the IDA and is highly expressed in the testis. However, the relationship between DNAH3 and male infertility is still unclear. Herein, we identified biallelic variants of DNAH3 in four unrelated Han Chinese infertile men with asthenoteratozoospermia through whole-exome sequencing (WES). These variants contributed to deficient DNAH3 expression in the patients’ sperm flagella. Importantly, the patients represented the anomalous sperm flagellar morphology, and the flagellar ultrastructure was severely disrupted. Intriguingly, Dnah3 knockout (KO) male mice were also infertile, especially showing the severe reduction in sperm movement with the abnormal IDA and mitochondrion structure. Mechanically, nonfunctional DNAH3 expression resulted in decreased expression of IDA-associated proteins in the spermatozoa flagella of patients and KO mice, including DNAH1, DNAH6, and DNALI1, the deletion of which has been involved in disruption of sperm motility. Moreover, the infertility of patients with DNAH3 variants and Dnah3 KO mice could be rescued by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment. Our findings indicated that DNAH3 is a novel pathogenic gene for asthenoteratozoospermia and may further contribute to the diagnosis, genetic counseling, and prognosis of male infertility.

DNAH3 deficiency causes flagellar inner dynein arm loss and male infertility in humans and mice.

Axonemal protein complexes, including the outer and inner dynein arms (ODA/IDA), are highly ordered structures of the sperm flagella that drive sperm motility. Deficiencies in several axonemal proteins have been associated with male infertility, which is characterized by asthenozoospermia or asthenoteratozoospermia. Dynein axonemal heavy chain 3 (DNAH3) resides in the IDA and is highly expressed in the testis. However, the relationship between DNAH3 and male infertility is still unclear. Herein, we identified biallelic variants of DNAH3 in four unrelated Han Chinese infertile men with asthenoteratozoospermia through whole-exome sequencing (WES). These variants contributed to deficient DNAH3 expression in the patients' sperm flagella. Importantly, the patients represented the anomalous sperm flagellar morphology, and the flagellar ultrastructure was severely disrupted. Intriguingly, Dnah3 knockout (KO) male mice were also infertile, especially showing the severe reduction in sperm movement with the abnormal IDA and mitochondrion structure. Mechanically, nonfunctional DNAH3 expression resulted in decreased expression of IDA-associated proteins in the spermatozoa flagella of patients and KO mice, including DNAH1, DNAH6, and DNALI1, the deletion of which has been involved in disruption of sperm motility. Moreover, the infertility of patients with DNAH3 variants and Dnah3 KO mice could be rescued by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment. Our findings indicated that DNAH3 is a novel pathogenic gene for asthenoteratozoospermia and may further contribute to the diagnosis, genetic counseling, and prognosis of male infertility.

Novel bi-allelic DNAH3 variants cause oligoasthenoteratozoospermia

BackgroundOligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT) is a widespread cause of male infertility. One of the usual clinical manifestations of OAT is multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF), which are frequently associated with mutations and defects in the dynein family. However, the relationship between the newly identified Dynein Axonemal Heavy Chain 3 (DNAH3) mutation and oligonasthenospermia in humans has not yet been established.MethodsWhole exome sequencing, pathogenicity analysis, and species conservation analysis of mutation sites were conducted on two patients from different unrelated families with DNAH3 mutations. We identified representative mutation sites and predicted the protein structure following these mutations. The sperm characteristics of the two patients with DNAH3 mutations were verified using Papanicolaou staining, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Additionally, mRNA and protein levels were assessed through RT-qPCR and Western blotting.ResultsThe biallelic mutations in the first progenitor included a heterozygous deletion and insertion, c.6535_6536 delinsAC (to infect mutation (p.Asp2179Thr), and stop codon premutation, c.3249G > A (p.Trp1083Ter). In Family II, the patient (P2) harbored a DNAH3 heterozygous missense mutation, c. 10439G> A(p.Arg3480Gln), along with a stop codon premutation, (c.10260G > A; p.Trp3420Ter). Patients with premature termination of transcription or translation due to DNAH3 mutations exhibit OAT phenotypes, including fibrous sheath dysplasia and multiple tail malformations. We identified the representative sites after mutation, predicted the protein structure, and assessed changes in the protein levels of DNAH3 and related genes following mutations. Notably,a significant reduction in DNAH3 protein expression was validated in these patients. We may explore in the future how DNAH3 affects sperm motility and quality through regulatory mechanisms involving protein structural changes.ConclusionNovel biallelic mutations in DNAH3, especially those resulting in a premature stop codon, may alter protein expression, structure, and active site, leading to spermatogenic failure and potentially inducing OAT. The discovery of new mutations in DNAH3 may be the key to the diagnosis and treatment of OAT.

Further evidence from DNAH12 supports favorable fertility outcomes of infertile males with dynein axonemal heavy chain gene family variants

Male infertility is a major concern affecting reproductive health. Biallelic deleterious variants of most DNAH gene family members have been linked to male infertility, with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) being an efficacious way to achieve offspring. However, the association between DNAH12 and male infertility is still limited. Here, we identified one homozygous variant and two compound heterozygous variants in DNAH12 from three infertile Chinese men. Semen analysis revealed severe asthenozoospermia, abnormal morphology, and structure of sperm flagella. Furthermore, the Dnah12 knock-out mouse revealed severe spermatogenesis failure and validated the same male infertility phenotype. Favorable fertility outcomes were achieved through ICSI in three human individuals and Dnah12 knock-out mice. Collectively, our study indicated that biallelic variants of DNAH12 can induce male infertility in both human beings and mice. Notably, evidence from DNAH12 enhanced that ICSI was an optimal intervention to achieve favorable fertility outcomes for infertile males with DNAH gene family variants.

The methylome of motile cilia.

Cilia are highly complex motile, sensory, and secretory organelles that contain perhaps 1000 or more distinct protein components, many of which are subject to various posttranslational modifications such as phosphorylation, N-terminal acetylation, and proteolytic processing. Another common modification is the addition of one or more methyl groups to the side chains of arginine and lysine residues. These tunable additions delocalize the side-chain charge, decrease hydrogen bond capacity, and increase both bulk and hydrophobicity. Methylation is usually mediated by S-adenosylmethionine (SAM)-dependent methyltransferases and reversed by demethylases. Previous studies have identified several ciliary proteins that are subject to methylation including axonemal dynein heavy chains that are modified by a cytosolic methyltransferase. Here, we have performed an extensive proteomic analysis of multiple independently derived cilia samples to assess the potential for SAM metabolism and the extent of methylation in these organelles. We find that cilia contain all the enzymes needed for generation of the SAM methyl donor and recycling of the S-adenosylhomocysteine and tetrahydrofolate byproducts. In addition, we find that at least 155 distinct ciliary proteins are methylated, in some cases at multiple sites. These data provide a comprehensive resource for studying the consequences of methyl marks on ciliary biology.

The association and underlying mechanism of the digit ratio (2D:4D) in hypospadias.

The second-to-fourth digit (2D:4D) ratio is thought to be associated with prenatal androgen exposure. However, the relationship between the 2D:4D ratio and hypospadias is poorly understood, and its molecular mechanism is not clear. In this study, by analyzing the hand digit length of 142 boys with hypospadias (23 distal, 68 middle, and 51 proximal) and 196 controls enrolled in Shanghai Children's Hospital (Shanghai, China) from December 2020 to December 2021, we found that the 2D:4D ratio was significantly increased in boys with hypospadias ( P < 0.001) and it was positively correlated with the severity of the hypospadias. This was further verified by the comparison of control mice and prenatal low testosterone mice model obtained by knocking out the risk gene (dynein axonemal heavy chain 8 [ DNAH8 ]) associated with hypospadias. Furthermore, the discrepancy was mainly caused by a shift in 4D. Proteomic characterization of a mouse model validated that low testosterone levels during pregnancy can impair the growth and development of 4D. Comprehensive mechanistic explorations revealed that during the androgen-sensitive window, the downregulation of the androgen receptor (AR) caused by low testosterone levels, as well as the suppressed expression of chondrocyte proliferation-related genes such as Wnt family member 5a ( Wnt5a ), Wnt5b , Smad family member 2 ( Smad2 ), and Smad3 ; mitochondrial function-related genes in cartilage such as AMP-activated protein kinase ( AMPK ) and nuclear respiratory factor 1 ( Nrf-1 ); and vascular development-related genes such as myosin light chain ( MLC ), notch receptor 3 ( Notch3 ), and sphingosine kinase 1 ( Sphk1 ), are responsible for the limitation of 4D growth, which results in a higher 2D:4D ratio in boys with hypospadias via decreased endochondral ossification. This study indicates that the ratio of 2D:4D is a risk marker of hypospadias and provides a potential molecular mechanism.

Next-Generation Sequencing-Based Copy Number Variation Analysis in Chinese Patients with Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia Revealed Novel DNAH5 Copy Number Variations.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s43657-023-00130-0.

Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease is associated with variants in filaggrin, epithelial integrity, and cellular interactions

BackgroundPrevious studies identified upto 6% of patients with Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease (AERD) have family history of AERD indicating a possible link with genetic polymorphisms. However, whole exome sequencing (WES) studies of such associations are currently lacking. ObjectivesWe sought to examine whether WES can identify pathogenic variants associated with AERD. MethodsAERD diagnosis was confirmed in patients with nasal polyps and asthma. WES was performed using an Illumina sequencing platform. Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) terms were used to define the patients’ phenotypes. Exomiser was used to annotate, filter, and prioritize possible disease-causing genetic variants. ResultsAmong thirty-nine patients with AERD, 41% reported a family history of asthma and 5% a family history of AERD. Pathogenic exome variants in the filaggrin gene (FLG) were found in two patients (5%). Other variants not known to be pathogenic were detected in an additional 16 patients (41%) in genes related to epithelial integrity and cellular interactions, including genes encoding desmoglein 3 (DSG3), dynein axonemal heavy chain 9 (DNAH9), collagen type VII alpha 1 chain (COL7A1), collagen type XVII alpha 1 chain (COL17A1), chromodomain helicase DNA binding protein-7 (CHD7), TSC complex subunit 2/tuberous sclerosis-2 protein (TSC2), P-selectin (SELP), and platelet-derived growth factor receptor-alpha (PDGFRA). ConclusionWES identified a monogenic susceptibility to AERD in 5% of patients with FLG pathogenic variants. Other variants, not previously identified as pathogenic, were found in genes relevant to epithelial integrity and cellular interactions and may further reveal genetic factors that contribute to this condition.

Identification and validation of a prognostic-related mutant gene DNAH5 for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide and has a poor prognosis. Thus, there is a need for an effective biomarker to improve and predict the prognosis of HCC. RNA sequencing data, simple nucleotide variation data, and clinical data of HCC patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) to identify mutant genes, simple nucleotide variation data, and clinical data of HCC patients from the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) to validate the prognostic value of mutant genes were the data sources of the present study. To identify the overall survival (OS)-related mutant genes, a Kaplan-Meier (KM) analysis was conducted. We carried out univariate Cox and multivariate Cox regression analyses to identify the independent prognostic factors. We also conducted a correlation analysis of immune cells and mutant genes. To explore the molecular mechanisms of mutant genes, we conducted a gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). A nomogram was constructed to help predict the prognosis of HCC. In addition, we explored the expression profile of mutant genes in HCC based on a TCGA dataset, an ICGC dataset, and our own HCC tissue samples. We identified and validated a mutant gene, dynein axonemal heavy chain 5 (DNAH5), which was negatively related to the OS of HCC patients. Univariate Cox and multivariate Cox regression analyses revealed that the mutant gene DNAH5 could act as an independent prognostic factor for HCC. Most pathways of the mutant gene DNAH5 were involved in cancer development and progression based on GSEA analysis. The mutant gene DNAH5 was negatively correlated with monocytes, naive CD4 T cells, activated dendritic cells, and activated mast cells. In addition, the mRNA and protein levels of DNAH5 had a significantly higher level of expression in the tissue samples of patients with HCC. A nomogram consisting of the pathological stage, DNAH5, and tumor mutation burden (TMB) performed well. The mutant gene DNAH5 had a significantly higher level of expression in the tissue samples of patients with HCC, could act as an independent prognostic factor for HCC, and is a potential new immunotherapy target for HCC.

Statistical methods to detect mother-father genetic interaction effects on risk of infertility: A genome-wide approach.

Infertility is a heterogeneous phenotype, and for many couples, the causes of fertility problems remain unknown. One understudied hypothesis is that allelic interactions between the genotypes of the two parents may influence the risk of infertility. Our aim was, therefore, to investigate how allelic interactions can be modeled using parental genotype data linked to 15,789 pregnancies selected from the Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort Study. The newborns in 1304 of these pregnancies were conceived using assisted reproductive technologies (ART), and the remainder were conceived naturally. Treating the use of ART as a proxy for infertility, different parameterizations were implemented in a genome-wide screen for interaction effects between maternal and paternal alleles at the same locus. Some of the models were more similar in the way they were parameterized, and some produced similar results when implemented on a genome-wide scale. The results showed near-significant interaction effects in genes relevant to the phenotype under study, such as Dynein axonemal heavy chain 17 (DNAH17) with a recognized role in male infertility. More generally, the interaction models presented here are readily adaptable to the study of other phenotypes in which maternal and paternal allelic interactions are likely to be involved.

Novel variants in DNAH6 cause male infertility associated with multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF) and ICSI outcomes.

Variations in the dynein axonemal heavy chain gene, dynein axonemal heavy chain 6 ( DNAH6 ), lead to multiple morphological abnormalities of the flagella. Recent studies have reported that these deficiencies may result in sperm head deformation. However, whether DNAH6 is also involved in human acrosome biogenesis remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate DNAH6 gene variants and their potential functions in the formation of defective sperm heads and flagella. Whole-exome sequencing was performed on a cohort of 375 patients with asthenoteratozoospermia from the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University (Hefei, China). Hematoxylin and eosin staining, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy were performed to analyze the sperm morphology and ultrastructure. Immunofluorescence staining and Western blot analysis were conducted to examine the effects of genetic variants. We identified three novel deleterious variants in DNAH6 among three unrelated families. The absence of inner dynein arms and radial spokes was observed in the sperm of patients with DNAH6 variants. Additionally, deficiencies in the acrosome, abnormal chromatin compaction, and vacuole-containing sperm heads were observed in these patients with DNAH6 variants. The decreased levels of the component proteins in these defective structures were further confirmed in sperm from patients with DNAH6 variants using Western blot. After intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment, the partner of one patient with a DNAH6 variant achieved successful pregnancy. Overall, novel variants in DNAH6 genes that contribute to defects in the sperm head and flagella were identified, and the findings indicated ICSI as an effective clinical treatment for such patients.

Identification of novel compound heterozygous variants in the DNAH1 gene of a Chinese family with left-right asymmetry disorder.

Most internal organs in humans and other vertebrates exhibit striking left-right asymmetry in position and structure. Variation of normal organ positioning results in left-right asymmetry disorders and presents as internal organ reversal or randomization. Up to date, at least 82 genes have been identified as the causative genetic factors of left-right asymmetry disorders. This study sought to discover potential pathogenic variants responsible for left-right asymmetry disorder present in a Han-Chinese family using whole exome sequencing combined with Sanger sequencing. Novel compound heterozygous variants, c.5690A>G (p.Asn1897Ser) and c.7759G>A (p.Val2587Met), in the dynein axonemal heavy chain 1 gene (DNAH1), were found in the proband and absent in unaffected family members. Conservation analysis has shown that the variants affect evolutionarily conserved residues, which may impact the tertiary structure of the DNAH1 protein. The novel compound heterozygous variants may potentially bear responsibility for left-right asymmetry disorder, which results from a perturbation of left-right axis coordination at the earliest embryonic development stages. This study broadens the variant spectrum of left-right asymmetry disorders and may be helpful for genetic counseling and healthcare management for the diagnosed individual, and promotes a greater understanding of the pathophysiology.

Mechanisms of damage to sperm structure in mice on the zinc-deficient diet

BackgroundZinc (Zn)is an essential trace element for spermatogenesis and its deficiency causes abnormal spermatogenesis. ObjectiveThe present study was conducted to examine the mechanisms by which Zn-deficient diet impairs sperm morphology and its reversibility. Methods30 SPF grade male Kunming (KM) mice were randomly divided into three groups, 10 mice per group. Zn-normal diet group (ZN group) was given Zn-normal diet（Zn content= 30 mg/kg）for 8 weeks. Zn-deficienct diet group (ZD group) was given Zn-deficienct diet（Zn content< 1 mg/kg）for 8 weeks. Zn-deficient and Zn-normal diet group（ZDN group）was given 4 weeks Zn-deficienct diet followed by 4 weeks Zn-normal diet. After 8 weeks, the overnight fasted mice were sacrificed, and blood and organs were collected for further analysis. ResultsThe experimental results showed that Zn-deficienct diet leads to increased abnormal morphology sperm and testicular oxidative stress.The rate of abnormal morphology sperm, chromomycin A3(CMA3), DNA fragmentation index (DFI), malondialdehyde (MDA) were significantly increased, and a-kinase anchor protein 4(AKAP4), dynein axonemal heavy chain 1(DNAH1), sperm associated antigen 6(SPAG6), cilia and flagella associated protein 44(CFAP44), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (NRF2), NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1(NQO1)and heme oxygenase 1(HO1) were significantly decreased in the ZD group mice. While the changes in above indicators caused by Zn-deficient diet were significantly alleviated in the ZDN group. ConclusionIt was concluded that Zn-deficient diet causes abnormal morphology sperm and testicular oxidative stress in male mice. Abnormal morphology sperm caused by Zn-deficient diet are reversible, and Zn-normal diet can alleviate them.

Novel biallelic variants in DNAH1 cause multiple morphological abnormalities of sperm flagella with favorable outcomes of fertility after ICSI in Han Chinese males.

Multiple morphological abnormalities of sperm flagella is an idiopathic asthenoteratozoospermia characterized by absent, short, coiled, angulation, and irregular-caliber flagella. Genetic variants of DNAH1 gene have been identified as a causative factor of multiple morphological abnormalities of sperm flagella and intracytoplasmic sperm injection is an available strategy for infertile males with dynein axonemal heavy chain 1 defects to conceive. To identify novel variants and candidate mutant hotspots of DNAH1 gene related to multiple morphological abnormalities of sperm flagella and male infertility in humans. TheDNAH1variants were identified by whole exome sequencing and confirmed with Sanger sequencing. Papanicolaou staining, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and immunostaining were performed to investigate the morphological and ultrastructural characteristics of spermatozoa. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection was applied for the assisted reproductive therapy of males harboring biallelic DNAH1 variants. We identified 18 different DNAH1 variants in 11 unrelated families, including nine missense variants (p.A2564T, p.T3657R, p.G1862R, p.L2296P, p.T4041I, p.L611P, p.A913D, p.R1932Q, p.R2356W) and nine loss-of-function variants (c.2301-1G>T, p.Q1518*, p.R1702*, p.D2845Mfs*2, p.P3909Rfs*33, p.Q4040Dfs*33, p.Q4058*, p.E4060Pfs*61, p.V4071Cfs*54). A total of 66.7% (12/18) of the identified variants were novel. Morphological analysis based on Papanicolaou staining and scanning electron microscopy demonstrated the typical multiple morphological abnormalities of sperm flagella characteristics of dynein axonemal heavy chain 1-deficient spermatozoa. Immunostaining further revealed the absence of inner dynein arms but not outer dynein arms, which induced a general ultrastructural disorganization, such as the loss of central pair and mis-localization of the microtubule doublets and outer dense fibers. To date, seven affected couples have accepted the intracytoplasmic sperm injection treatment, and three of them have given birth to five healthy babies. These findings further expand the variant spectrum of DNAH1 gene related to multiple morphological abnormalities of sperm flagella and male infertility in humans, thus providing new information for the molecular diagnosis of asthenoteratozoospermia. The favorable fertility outcomes of intracytoplasmic sperm injection will facilitate the genetic counseling and clinical treatment of infertile males with multiple morphological abnormalities of sperm flagella in the future.

Whole-exome sequencing identified novel DNAH5 homozygous variants in two consanguineous families with primary ciliary dyskinesia.

Whole-exome sequencing identified novel DNAH5 homozygous variants in two consanguineous families with primary ciliary dyskinesia.

Dynein axonemal heavy chain 10 deficiency causes primary ciliary dyskinesia in humans and mice.

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a congenital, motile ciliopathy with pleiotropic symptoms. Although nearly 50 causative genes have been identified, they only account for approximately 70% of definitive PCD cases. Dynein axonemal heavy chain 10 (DNAH10) encodes a subunit of the inner arm dynein heavy chain in motile cilia and sperm flagella. Based on the common axoneme structure of motile cilia and sperm flagella, DNAH10 variants are likely to cause PCD. Using exome sequencing, we identified a novel DNAH10 homozygous variant (c.589C > T, p.R197W) in a patient with PCD from a consanguineous family. The patient manifested sinusitis, bronchiectasis, situs inversus, and asthenoteratozoospermia. Immunostaining analysis showed the absence of DNAH10 and DNALI1 in the respiratory cilia, and transmission electron microscopy revealed strikingly disordered axoneme 9+2 architecture and inner dynein arm defects in the respiratory cilia and sperm flagella. Subsequently, animal models of Dnah10-knockin mice harboring missense variants and Dnah10-knockout mice recapitulated the phenotypes of PCD, including chronic respiratory infection, male infertility, and hydrocephalus. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to report DNAH10 deficiency related to PCD in human and mouse models, which suggests that DNAH10 recessive mutation is causative of PCD.

P-Element-Induced Wimpy Testis Proteins and P-Element-Induced Wimpy Testis-Interacting RNAs Expression in Ovarian Cancer Stem Cells.

Background: P-element-induced wimpy testis (PIWI)-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are a type of noncoding RNA and are predominantly expressed in germline cells. piRNAs function as gene regulators and potential biomarkers for the development of a number of malignancies. The biological importance of piRNAs in ovarian cancer is still unknown. In this study, we investigated the expression of piRNAs in ovarian cancer stem cells and compared it with that in adherent cells. Methods: To assess changes in the expression levels of PIWIL1/HIWI, PIWIL2/HILI, PIWIL3, and PIWIL4/HIWI2, we used quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis. Changes in piRNA expression levels in ovarian cancer stem cells were analyzed using Arraystar piRNA microarray screening. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis was conducted to determine the potential functions of piRNAs. Results: Using microarray analysis, we identified a cohort of differentially expressed piRNAs. Fifteen piRNAs, including DQ570763 and DQ597396, were downregulated, and 58 piRNAs were upregulated when compared with those in adherent A2780 and SKOV3 cells (p > 0.05, >2.0, respectively). GO functions of the downregulated piRNAs (DQ570763 and DQ570797) suggest that their roles are commonly associated with the Golgi apparatus. In addition, A2780-SP and SKOV3-SP cells had higher PIWIL3 and PIWIL4 mRNA levels than adherent cells (A2780 and SKOV3). Moreover, we determined, using receiver operating characteristic plot, that the expression level of PIWIL4 was lower in responders than in nonresponders after treatment with platins in patients with ovarian cancer. Finally, in ovarian cancer, PIWIL4 expression was associated with somatic mutations of dynein axonemal heavy chain 2, signal induced proliferation associated 1 like 2, YTH N6-methyladenosine RNA-binding protein 1, TBC1 domain family member 8, and LPS responsive Beige-like anchor protein. Conclusion: Our study showed that PIWI proteins and piRNAs are potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for ovarian cancer.

Multiomics Analysis of a DNAH5-Mutated PCD Organoid Model Revealed the Key Role of the TGF-β/BMP and Notch Pathways in Epithelial Differentiation and the Immune Response in DNAH5-Mutated Patients

Dynein axonemal heavy chain 5 (DNAH5) is the most mutated gene in primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), leading to abnormal cilia ultrastructure and function. Few studies have revealed the genetic characteristics and pathogenetic mechanisms of PCD caused by DNAH5 mutation. Here, we established a child PCD airway organoid directly from the bronchoscopic biopsy of a patient with the DNAH5 mutation. The motile cilia in the organoid were observed and could be stably maintained for an extended time. We further found abnormal ciliary function and a decreased immune response caused by the DNAH5 mutation through single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-Seq) and proteomic analyses. Additionally, the directed induction of the ciliated cells, regulated by TGF-β/BMP and the Notch pathway, also increased the expression of inflammatory cytokines. Taken together, these results demonstrated that the combination of multiomics analysis and organoid modelling could reveal the close connection between the immune response and the DNAH5 gene.

Novel compound heterozygous mutations in DNAH1 cause primary infertility in Han Chinese males with multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella.

This study aimed to identify genetic causes responsible for multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF) in the Han Chinese population. Three primary infertile males with completely immobile sperm and MMAF were enrolled. Whole-exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing were performed to identify disease-causing genes. Subsequently, morphological and ultrastructural analyses of sperm flagella were investigated. The probable impact of genetic variants on protein function was analyzed by online bioinformatic tools and immunofluorescence assay. Three patients with dynein axonemal heavy chain 1 (DNAH1) gene compound heterozygous variations were identified. DNAH1 c.7435C>T, p.R2479X and c.10757T>C, p.F3586S were identified in the patient from Family 1, c.11726_11727delCT, p.P3909fs and c.12154delC, p.L4052fs were found in the patient from Family 2, and c.10627-3C>G and c.11726_11727delCT, p.P3909fs existed in the patient from Family 3. Four of these variations have not been reported, and all the mutations showed pathogenicity by functional effect predictions. The absence of the center pair and disorganization of the fibrous sheath were present in sperm flagella at the ultrastructural level. Moreover, the expression of DNAH1 was absent in spermatozoa from the participants, validating the pathogenicity of the variants. All three couples have undergone intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), and two couples of them became pregnant after the treatment. In conclusion, the newly identified DNAH1 mutations can expand the mutational and phenotypic spectrum of MMAF genes and provide a theoretical basis for genetic diagnosis in MMAF patients. It is recommended to conduct genetic screening in male infertility patients with MMAF and provide rational genetic counseling, and ICSI might be an optimal strategy to help with fertilization and conception for patients with DNAH1 mutations.

DNAH7 mutations benefit colorectal cancer patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a malignant tumor associated with a high mortality rate. While the advent of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has been a gamechanger, only a small percentage of CRC patients benefit from ICIs. The pathological mechanism of CRC is not well understood, but somatic mutations, especially missense mutations, are believed to play an important role. This study examined the relationship between ICIs in colorectal cancer and missense mutations in the axonemal dynein heavy chain gene 7 (DNAH7). A clinical cohort (n=690) and the CRC data from the publicly available Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) were examined. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis, ESTIMATE analysis, and clinical correlation analysis were performed to explore the effects and mechanisms of DNAH7 mutation on immunotherapy in colorectal cancer. The results showed that CRC patients with DNAH7 mutations can benefit more from ICIs (P<0.05). Patients with DNAH7 mutation had higher ESTIMATE scores, immune scores, and matrix scores, compared to patients without the DNAH7 mutation (P<0.001). The transport of small molecules, keratinization, asthma, autoimmune thyroid disease, allograft rejection, and other pathways were significantly enriched in DNAH7 mutated tissues (P<0.05). The top key genes associated with the DNAH7 mutation included AQP8, MS4A12, GUCA2B, and ZG16 (P<0.01). The current study not only demonstrated the significance of DNAH7 as a risk factor and prognostic feature in CRC, but also revealed that DNAH7 mutations might affect the clinical efficacy of ICIs by impacting the tumor immune microenvironment.