Single nucleotide polymorphism at 5′ UTR of H2BC1 and promoter methylation influence TSH2B expression

in Reproduction
Authors:
Aniket Patankar Department of Gamete Immunobiology, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

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Kairavi Joshi Department of Gamete Immunobiology, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

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Digumarthi V S Sudhakar Genetic Research Centre, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Faculty of Medical Research, Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India

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Rahul Gajbhiye Department of Clinical Research, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

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Suchitra Surve Department of Clinical Research, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

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Priyanka Parte Department of Gamete Immunobiology, ICMR-National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India

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https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3800-4053

Correspondence should be addressed to P Parte: partep@nirrch.res.in
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1530/REP-24-0382
Volume/Issue:
Volume 169: Issue 5
Article ID:
e240382
Article Type:
Research Article
Online Publication Date:
08 Apr 2025
Copyright:
© the author(s) 2025
Restricted access
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In brief

The transition from histones to protamines during spermiogenesis is critical for male genome integrity and influences fertilisation and early embryogenesis. This study reveals that specific 5′ UTR single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and promoter methylation of the H2BC1 gene may regulate TSH2B expression in sperm, contributing new insights into the regulatory mechanisms of testis-specific genes and their implications for male fertility.

Abstract

The transition from histones to protamines during spermiogenesis plays a crucial role in shaping the male epigenome, and any changes in this process can impact fertilisation potential and the ability of sperm to support early embryogenesis. In our previous research, we observed reduced levels of TSH2B in the sperm of infertile men with oligozoospermia and oligoasthenozoospermia. However, the regulatory mechanisms of the H2BC1 gene, which encodes TSH2B, in the testes are not yet understood. In this study, we investigated whether H2BC1 expression is influenced by SNPs in the 5′ untranslated region (5′ UTR) and promoter methylation. Luciferase assays were performed to assess the impact of 5′ UTR variants in vitro and pyrosequencing was done to evaluate promoter methylation of the H2BC1 gene in the sperm of fertile and infertile men. Our findings suggest that the 5′ UTR variants rs4711096 (c.-83A>G) and rs4712959 (c.-80C>T) positively regulate H2BC1 expression. Methylation analysis indicates hypermethylation of CpG sites, particularly at CpGs 2, 3 and 9 in H2BC1, can influence H2BC1 expression. This study offers new insights into the regulation of testis-specific genes.

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Print ISSN:
1470-1626
Online ISSN:
1741-7899

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