• PMID: 24667226
• Gene Name: SLC2A1
• Condition: Role in spermatogenesis
• Association: Associated
• Sex: Male
• Infertility type: Male infertility
• Other associated phenotypes: Role in spermatogenesis

Expression and potential roles of HLA-G in human spermatogenesis and early embryonic development

Yao GD, Shu YM, Shi SL, Peng ZF, Song WY, Jin HX, Sun YP.

As one of the non-classical major histocompatibility complex(MHC)-1 antigens, Human Leukocyte Antigen G (HLA-G), has been suggested as a prognostic marker to identify the embryo developmental potential. In the present study, we investigated the potential roles of HLA-G in human spermatogenesis and early embryonic development. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed that HLA-G's expression was increased with increased Johnsen score in testicular tissues. There was no significant difference in HLA-G mRNA expression between testicular tissues with Johnsen score of 8-9 and normal sperm from ejaculated semen. HLA-G mRNA expression was detected in human zygotes, embryos and blastocysts but not in unfertilized oocytes. In testicular tissues where sperm was obtained by testicular sperm extraction (Johnsen score was 8 to 9), there were no correlations between HLA-G mRNA expression and fertilization, cleavage and high-quality embryo rates. At 48-72 h post-fertilization, HLA-G expression was higher in fast growing embryos. HLA-G specific siRNA injection into zygotes not only slowed down embryonic cleavage rate at 48 h post-fertilization, but also down-regulated the expression of embryo metabolism related gene (SLC2A1) and cell cycle-regulated gene (CCND2). Taken together, our findings suggested that HLA-G plays significant roles in human spermatogenesis and early embryonic development. FAU - Yao, Gui-Dong AU - Yao GD AD - Center for Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, People's Republic of China. FAU - Shu, Yi-Min AU - Shu YM AD - Program of Reproductive and Stem Cell Biology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America. FAU - Shi, Sen-Lin AU - Shi SL AD - Center for Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, People's Republic of China. FAU - Peng, Zhao-Feng AU - Peng ZF AD - Center for Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, People's Republic of China. FAU - Song, Wen-Yan AU - Song WY AD - Center for Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, People's Republic of China. FAU - Jin, Hai-Xia AU - Jin HX AD - Center for Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, People's Republic of China.