• PMID: 22000911
• Gene Name: FSHB
• Condition: Infertility
• Association: The study concludes that FSHB -211 TT genotype might represent a novel treatable form of male infertility characterized by severe spermatogenic impairment and low or inappropriately normal FSH plasma levels.
• Mutation: FSHB -211 TT genotype
• Population size: 762
• Population details: 762 ( 514 nonobstructive azoospermia and oligozoospermia, 248 normozoospermia)
• Sex: Male
• Infertility type: Male infertility
• Other associated phenotypes: Azoospermia, Oligozoospermia

Toward a pharmacogenetic approach to male infertility: polymorphism of follicle-stimulating hormone beta-subunit promoter

Ferlin A, Vinanzi C, Selice R, Garolla A, Frigo AC, Foresta C.

OBJECTIVE: To verify in another population (Italians) whether a single-nucleotide polymorphism in the FSHB gene promoter previously associated with serum FSH levels in Estonians is indeed associated with sperm count and FSH plasma levels, and especially to verify whether it could be a pharmacogenetic tool for the treatment of male infertility with FSH. DESIGN: Cross-sectional and prospective study. SETTING: Infertility center at a university hospital. PATIENT(S): Five hundred fourteen subjects with nonobstructive azoospermia and oligozoospermia and 248 subjects with normozoospermia. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Semen parameters, reproductive hormone levels, and FSHB -211 G/T polymorphism (rs10835638). RESULT(S): FSHB -211 TT genotype was associated with significantly lower FSH levels (mean ± SD: 3.3 ± 2.5 IU/L vs. 9.1 ± 8.9 IU/L in GG homozygotes). TT homozygotes were seen in 25% of subjects with azoo-oligozoospermia and low FSH levels (≤1.5 IU/L). We did not observe this genotype in men with high FSH levels (>8 IU/L) or in men with normozoospermia. Treatment with FSH induced a significantly higher improvement in sperm count and quality in TT homozygotes regarding carriers of the G allele. CONCLUSION(S): FSHB -211 TT genotype might represent a novel treatable form of male infertility characterized by severe spermatogenic impairment and low or inappropriately normal FSH plasma levels. This genetic marker could represent a valid pharmacogenetic approach for identification of potential responders to FSH treatment. CI - Copyright © 2011 American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. FAU - Ferlin, Alberto AU - Ferlin A AD - Section of Clinical Pathology and Center for Human Reproduction Pathology, Department of Histology, Microbiology, and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Padova, Padova, Italy. FAU - Vinanzi, Cinzia AU - Vinanzi C FAU - Selice, Riccardo AU - Selice R FAU - Garolla, Andrea AU - Garolla A FAU - Frigo, Anna Chiara AU - Frigo AC