Mageb4, a Testis-Specific Gene, is Dispensable for Mouse Spermatogenesis

• 作者: Gao Sheng Lin Deng-Feng Sun Fei Wu Xiao-Long Wu Yun-Hao Yun Da-Min Zhou Li-Wei
• 来源期刊: 生殖与发育医学（英文）
• 关键词: Clustered Regularly Interspaced Palindromic Repeats/CRISPR-Associated Protein 9 Mageb4 Male Infertility Spermatogenesis
• 年，卷（期）: 2020,（3）
• 所属期刊栏目: Original Article
• 页码范围: 129-136
• 页数: 8页
• 语种: 中文
• DOI: 10.4103/2096-2924.296546

摘要

Objective::It has recently been shown that the melanoma antigen gene (MAGE) family is expressed in various tumor cell lines but silent in normal tissues, except germ cell lines. Mageb4, a member of the MAGE family, is highly expressed in the testis and homologous in humans and mice. Whole-exome sequencing studies have identified Mageb4 as a possible X-linked cause of inherited male infertility. However, the function of Mageb4 protein remains largely unknown. Methods::Using clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein (Cas) 9 technology, we generated a Mageb4 knockout mouse model ( Mageb4-/Y) to explore the role of this gene in spermatogenesis. Results::First, immunostaining of testicular cells showed that Mageb4 is localized in the cytoplasm of spermatogonia. Second, Mageb4-/Y male mice displayed significant increases in apoptosis. However, Mageb4-/Y male mice showed normal fertility, including normal sperm concentration, sperm motility, and testicular and epididymal histology. Conclusions::These findings suggest that, despite testis-exclusive expression, Mageb4 is dispensable for mouse spermatogenesis. Future research should focus on the role of this gene in apoptosis, aiming to provide clinical guidance regarding male infertility.