Investigation of the 5 and10 Methylene Tetrahydrofolate Reductase gene Methylation with Sperm Parameters in the Male of Kermanshah

Subject Areas : Journal of Animal Biology

Tayebeh Amjadian ¹ , Parichehre Yaghmaei ² , Nasim Hayati ³ , Kheirollah Yari ⁴

1 - Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad Universit, Tehran, Iran
2 - Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad Universit, Tehran, Iran
3 - Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad Universit, Tehran, Iran
4 - Medical Biology Research Center, Health Technology Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran

Received: 2024-01-19 Accepted : 2024-03-08 Published : 2024-08-06

Keywords: Male infertility, DNA methylation, MTHFR gene, qMSP,

Abstract :

Infertility is one of the most common health problems in the world, affecting about 15% of couples. Abnormal DNA methylation in sperm can be affective in male infertility. 5 and 10-methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is a vital enzyme for regulating DNA methylation patterns in sperm and the folate cycle, playing a crucial role in spermatogenesis processes. A Change in the expression level of this gene can lead to male infertility. This study aimed to investigate the level of methylation of the MTHFR gene in different methylated regions (DMRs) and the correlation between sperm DNA methylation patterns with semen quality parameters in fertile and infertile individuals. Semen samples were collected from 30 infertile men and 15 fertile men. After DNA treatment with sodium bisulfite, the methylation status of the MTHFR gene in DMRs was evaluated by qMSP method. There is a significant correlation between DMR methylation of the MTHFR gene in the infertile group compared to the fertile group (p = 0.036) and an increase was observed in infertile men. Additionally, a significant decrease in sperm parameters (sperm concentration, count, and morphology) was observed in the men of the infertile group. Also, there was a negative correlation between the methylation of DMRs of the MTHFR gene and semen parameters in patients. Hypermethylation of the MTHFR gene in DMRs in infertile individuals is associated with a decrease in sperm parameters.

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