• PMID: 24920663
• Gene Name: PARK7
• Condition: Asthenozoospermia
• Association: Associated
• Sex: Male
• Infertility type: Male infertility
• Other associated phenotypes: Asthenozoospermia

PARK7 protein translocating into spermatozoa mitochondria in Chinese asthenozoospermia

Sun Y, Zhang WJ, Zhao X, Yuan RP, Jiang H, Pu XP.

PARK7 (DJ1) is a multifunctional oxidative stress response protein that protects cells against reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial damage. PARK7 defects are known to cause various physiological dysfunctions, including infertility. Asthenozoospermia (AS), i.e. low-motile spermatozoa in the ejaculate, is a common cause of human male infertility. In this study, we found that downregulation of PARK7 resulted in increased levels of lipid peroxide and ROS, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, and reduced mitochondrial complex I enzyme activity in the spermatozoa from AS patients. Furthermore, it was observed that PARK7 was translocated into the mitochondria of damaged spermatozoa in AS. Finally, we examined the oxidative state of PARK7 and the results demonstrated the enhancement of oxidation, expressed by increased sulfonic acid residues, the highest form of oxidation, as the sperm motility decreased. Taken together, these results revealed that PARK7 deficiency may increase the oxidative stress damage to spermatozoa. Our present findings open new avenues of therapeutic intervention targeting PARK7 for the treatment of AS. CI - © 2014 Society for Reproduction and Fertility. FAU - Sun, Yi AU - Sun Y AD - State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic DrugsDepartment of Molecular and Cellular PharmacologySchool of Pharmaceutical Science, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of ChinaDepartment of AndrologyPeking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of ChinaState Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic DrugsDepartment of Molecular and Cellular PharmacologySchool of Pharmaceutical Science, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of ChinaDepartment of AndrologyPeking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China. FAU - Zhang, Wen-Jia AU - Zhang WJ AD - State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic DrugsDepartment of Molecular and Cellular PharmacologySchool of Pharmaceutical Science, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of ChinaDepartment of AndrologyPeking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of ChinaState Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic DrugsDepartment of Molecular and Cellular PharmacologySchool of Pharmaceutical Science, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of ChinaDepartment of AndrologyPeking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China. FAU - Zhao, Xin AU - Zhao X AD - State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic DrugsDepartment of Molecular and Cellular PharmacologySchool of Pharmaceutical Science, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of ChinaDepartment of AndrologyPeking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of ChinaState Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic DrugsDepartment of Molecular and Cellular PharmacologySchool of Pharmaceutical Science, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of ChinaDepartment of AndrologyPeking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China. FAU - Yuan, Ren-Pei AU - Yuan RP AD - State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic DrugsDepartment of Molecular and Cellular PharmacologySchool of Pharmaceutical Science, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of ChinaDepartment of AndrologyPeking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China. FAU - Jiang, Hui AU - Jiang H AD - State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic DrugsDepartment of Molecular and Cellular PharmacologySchool of Pharmaceutical Science, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of ChinaDepartment of AndrologyPeking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, People's Republic of China pxp123@bjmu.edu.cn jianghui55@163.com.