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Moazamian A, Saez F, Drevet JR, Aitken RJ, Gharagozloo P. Redox-Driven Epigenetic Modifications in Sperm: Unraveling Paternal Influences on Embryo Development and Transgenerational Health. Antioxidants (Basel) 2025; 14:570. [PMID: 40427452 PMCID: PMC12108309 DOI: 10.3390/antiox14050570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2025] [Revised: 04/29/2025] [Accepted: 05/08/2025] [Indexed: 05/29/2025] Open
Abstract
Male-factor infertility accounts for nearly half of all infertility cases, and mounting evidence points to oxidative stress as a pivotal driver of sperm dysfunction, genetic instability, and epigenetic dysregulation. In particular, the oxidative DNA lesion 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) has emerged as a central mediator at the interface of DNA damage and epigenetic regulation. We discuss how this lesion can disrupt key epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, and small non-coding RNAs, thereby influencing fertilization outcomes, embryo development, and offspring health. We propose that the interplay between oxidative DNA damage and epigenetic reprogramming is further exacerbated by aging in both the paternal and maternal germlines, creating a "perfect storm" that increases the risk of heritable (epi)mutations. The consequences of unresolved oxidative lesions can thus persist beyond fertilization, contributing to transgenerational health risks. Finally, we explore the promise and potential pitfalls of antioxidant therapy as a strategy to mitigate sperm oxidative damage. While antioxidant supplementation may hold significant therapeutic value for men with subfertility experiencing elevated oxidative stress, a careful, personalized approach is essential to avoid reductive stress and unintended epigenetic disruptions. Recognizing the dual role of oxidative stress in shaping both the genome and the epigenome underscores the need for integrating redox biology into reproductive medicine, with the aim of improving fertility treatments and safeguarding the health of future generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aron Moazamian
- EVALSEM, GReD Institute, CRBC, Faculté de Médecine, Université Clermont Auvergne, 28 Place Henri Dunant, 6300 Clermont-Ferrand, France; (F.S.); (J.R.D.)
- CellOxess Biotechnology, Research & Development, Ewing, NJ 08638, USA
| | - Fabrice Saez
- EVALSEM, GReD Institute, CRBC, Faculté de Médecine, Université Clermont Auvergne, 28 Place Henri Dunant, 6300 Clermont-Ferrand, France; (F.S.); (J.R.D.)
| | - Joël R. Drevet
- EVALSEM, GReD Institute, CRBC, Faculté de Médecine, Université Clermont Auvergne, 28 Place Henri Dunant, 6300 Clermont-Ferrand, France; (F.S.); (J.R.D.)
| | - Robert John Aitken
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, University of Newcastle, Newcastle 2308, Australia;
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Rhon-Calderon EA, Hemphill CN, Savage AJ, Riesche L, Schultz RM, Bartolomei MS. In vitro fertilization induces reproductive changes in male mouse offspring and has multigenerational effects. JCI Insight 2025; 10:e188931. [PMID: 40036079 PMCID: PMC12016927 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.188931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2025] [Indexed: 03/06/2025] Open
Abstract
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a noncoital method of conception used to treat human infertility. Although IVF is viewed as largely safe, it is associated with adverse outcomes in the fetus, placenta, and adult offspring. Because studies focusing on the effect of IVF on the male reproductive system are limited, we used a mouse model to assess the morphological and molecular effects of IVF on male offspring. We evaluated 3 developmental stages: 18.5-day fetuses and 12- and 39-week-old adults. Regardless of age, we observed changes in testicular-to-body weight ratios, serum testosterone levels, testicular morphology, gene expression, and DNA methylation. Also, sperm showed changes in morphology and DNA methylation. To assess multigenerational phenotypes, we mated IVF-conceived and naturally conceived males with wild-type females. Offspring from IVF males exhibited decreased fetal-to-placental weight ratios and changes in placenta gene expression and morphology regardless of sex. At 12 weeks of age, offspring showed higher body weights and differences in glucose, triglyceride, insulin, total cholesterol, HDL-C, and LDL/VLDL-C levels. Both sexes showed changes in gene expression in liver, testes, and ovaries and decreased global DNA methylation. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that male IVF offspring exhibit abnormal testicular and sperm morphology and molecular alterations with a multigenerational impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric A. Rhon-Calderon
- Epigenetics Institute, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Cassidy N. Hemphill
- Epigenetics Institute, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Alexandra J. Savage
- Epigenetics Institute, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Laren Riesche
- Epigenetics Institute, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Richard M. Schultz
- Department of Biology, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Marisa S. Bartolomei
- Epigenetics Institute, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Center for Women’s Health and Reproductive Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Maezawa S, Yukawa M, Sakashita A, Barski A, Namekawa SH. Site-specific DNA demethylation during spermatogenesis presets the sites of nucleosome retention in mouse sperm. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2025:2025.01.10.632457. [PMID: 39829778 PMCID: PMC11741358 DOI: 10.1101/2025.01.10.632457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2025]
Abstract
DNA methylation patterns are inherited from the parental germline to the embryo. In mature sperm, the sites of unmethylated DNA are tightly coupled to sites of histone retention at gene regulatory elements that are implicated in paternal epigenetic inheritance. The timing and mechanism of site-specific DNA demethylation in the male germline currently remains unknown. Here, we perform genome-wide profiling of DNA methylation during spermatogenesis by capturing methylated DNA through interaction with a methyl-DNA binding protein domain (MBD). Our data demonstrate that there is a site-specific change in DNA methylation during the mitosis-to-meiosis transition. Importantly, the genomic sites that are demethylated during this transition predetermine nucleosome retention sites in spermatozoa. These results suggest that site-specific DNA demethylation during the mitosis-to-meiosis transition of spermatogenesis prepares embryonic gene expression after fertilization. We therefore propose DNA demethylation during spermatogenesis as a novel phase of epigenetic reprogramming that contributes to embryonic gene regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- So Maezawa
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Applied Biological Science, Tokyo University of Science, Chiba 278-8510, Japan
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Division of Developmental Biology, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45229, USA
| | - Masashi Yukawa
- Division of Allergy and immunology, Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45229, USA
| | - Akihiko Sakashita
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Division of Developmental Biology, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45229, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, 160-8582 Japan
| | - Artem Barski
- Division of Allergy and immunology, Division of Human Genetics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45229, USA
| | - Satoshi H. Namekawa
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Division of Developmental Biology, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45229, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California Davis, Davis, California, 95616, USA
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Smith ZD, Hetzel S, Meissner A. DNA methylation in mammalian development and disease. Nat Rev Genet 2025; 26:7-30. [PMID: 39134824 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-024-00760-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 12/15/2024]
Abstract
The DNA methylation field has matured from a phase of discovery and genomic characterization to one seeking deeper functional understanding of how this modification contributes to development, ageing and disease. In particular, the past decade has seen many exciting mechanistic discoveries that have substantially expanded our appreciation for how this generic, evolutionarily ancient modification can be incorporated into robust epigenetic codes. Here, we summarize the current understanding of the distinct DNA methylation landscapes that emerge over the mammalian lifespan and discuss how they interact with other regulatory layers to support diverse genomic functions. We then review the rising interest in alternative patterns found during senescence and the somatic transition to cancer. Alongside advancements in single-cell and long-read sequencing technologies, the collective insights made across these fields offer new opportunities to connect the biochemical and genetic features of DNA methylation to cell physiology, developmental potential and phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary D Smith
- Department of Genetics, Yale Stem Cell Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
| | - Sara Hetzel
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexander Meissner
- Department of Genome Regulation, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin, Germany.
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Foong YH, Caldwell B, Thorvaldsen JL, Krapp C, Mesaros CA, Zhou W, Kohli RM, Bartolomei MS. TET1 displays catalytic and non-catalytic functions in the adult mouse cortex. Epigenetics 2024; 19:2374979. [PMID: 38970823 PMCID: PMC11229741 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2024.2374979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/08/2024] Open
Abstract
TET1/2/3 dioxygenases iteratively demethylate 5-methylcytosine, beginning with the formation of 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC). The post-mitotic brain maintains higher levels of 5hmC than most peripheral tissues, and TET1 ablation studies have underscored the critical role of TET1 in brain physiology. However, deletion of Tet1 precludes the disentangling of the catalytic and non-catalytic functions of TET1. Here, we dissect these functions of TET1 by comparing adult cortex of Tet1 wildtype (Tet1 WT), a novel Tet1 catalytically dead mutant (Tet1 HxD), and Tet1 knockout (Tet1 KO) mice. Using DNA methylation array, we uncover that Tet1 HxD and KO mutations perturb the methylation status of distinct subsets of CpG sites. Gene ontology (GO) analysis on specific differential 5hmC regions indicates that TET1's catalytic activity is linked to neuronal-specific functions. RNA-Seq further shows that Tet1 mutations predominantly impact the genes that are associated with alternative splicing. Lastly, we performed High-performance Liquid Chromatography Mass-Spectrometry lipidomics on WT and mutant cortices and uncover accumulation of lysophospholipids lysophosphatidylethanolamine and lysophosphatidylcholine in Tet1 HxD cortex. In summary, we show that Tet1 HxD does not completely phenocopy Tet1 KO, providing evidence that TET1 modulates distinct cortical functions through its catalytic and non-catalytic roles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yee Hoon Foong
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, Smilow Center for Translational Research, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Blake Caldwell
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, Smilow Center for Translational Research, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Joanne L. Thorvaldsen
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, Smilow Center for Translational Research, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Christopher Krapp
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, Smilow Center for Translational Research, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Clementina A. Mesaros
- Translational Biomarkers Core, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Center of Excellence in Environmental Toxicology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Wanding Zhou
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, Smilow Center for Translational Rsearch, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Rahul M. Kohli
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, Smilow Center for Translational Rsearch, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Marisa S. Bartolomei
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, Smilow Center for Translational Research, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, Smilow Center for Translational Rsearch, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Rhon-Calderon EA, Hemphill CN, Savage AJ, Riesche L, Schultz RM, Bartolomei MS. In Vitro Fertilization induces reproductive changes in male mouse offspring and has multigenerational effects. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.11.06.622317. [PMID: 39574745 PMCID: PMC11580855 DOI: 10.1101/2024.11.06.622317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2025]
Abstract
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a non-coital method of conception used to treat human infertility. Although IVF is viewed as largely safe, it is associated with adverse outcomes in the fetus, placenta, and adult offspring life. Because studies focusing on the effect of IVF on the male reproductive system are limited, we used a mouse model to assess the morphological and molecular effects of IVF on male offspring. We evaluated three developmental stages: 18.5-day fetuses and 12- and 39-week-old adults. Regardless of age, we observed changes in testicular-to-body weight ratios, serum testosterone levels, testicular morphology, gene expression, and DNA methylation. Also, sperm showed changes in morphology and DNA methylation. To assess multigenerational phenotypes, we mated IVF and naturally conceived males with wild-type females. Offspring from IVF males exhibited decreased fetal weight-to-placental weight ratios and changes in placenta morphology regardless of sex. At 12-weeks-of-age, offspring showed higher body weights and differences in glucose, triglycerides, insulin, total cholesterol, HDL and LDL/VLDL levels. Both sexes showed changes in gene expression in liver, testes and ovaries, and decreased global DNA methylation. Collectively, our findings demonstrate that male IVF offspring exhibit abnormal testicular and sperm morphology and molecular alterations and transmit defects multigenerationally.
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