• PMID: 29658237
• Gene Name: CHEK2
• Condition: Asthenospermia, Male infertility
• Association: Associated
• Population size: 80
• Population details: 80 (normal control, oligozoospermia (OS), asthenospermia (AS), and oligoasthenozoospermia (OAS))
• Sex: Male
• Infertility type: Male infertility
• Other associated phenotypes: Asthenospermia, Male infertility

[Impacts of Chk1 and Chk2 gene expressions on sperm concentration and motility]

Feng SY, Zhang L, Li L, Wu ZH, Cheng JJ, Ke XW, Zhang YG.

OBJECTIVE: To study the correlation of the gene expressions of Chk1 and Chk2 with sperm concentration and motility. METHODS: According to sperm concentration and motility (percentage of progressively motile sperm), we divided 80 semen samples into four groups of equal number: normal control, oligozoospermia (OS), asthenospermia (AS), and oligoasthenozoospermia (OAS). We detected the sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) and viability and determined the expressions of Chk1 and Chk2 in the sperm by RT-PCR and Western blot. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were not found in sperm DFI among the control, OS, AS, and OAS groups (21.24±6.93, 19.67±7.64, 21.52±6.92, and 19.28±11.55, P>0.05), but observed in sperm concentration, progressive motility, and viability between the DFI >30% and DFI ≤30% groups (P<0.01). Compared with the normal control, sperm viability was remarkably decreased in the OS, AS, and OAS groups (［83.48±9.87］% vs ［63.86±9.16］%, ［50.45±16.99］%, and ［39.21±15.74］%, P<0.05). RT-PCR showed remarkable differences among the control, OS, AS, and OAS groups in the relative expression level of Chk1 mRNA (0.73±0.22, 0.62±0.14, 1.03±0.39, and 0.92±0.071, P<0.01), which was correlated positively with sperm concentration (b = 80.661, P<0.01) but negatively with sperm motility (b = －19.275, P < 0.01), as well as in that of Chk2 mRNA (0.66±0.30, 0.27±0.09, 0.59±0.19, and 0.42 ± 0.11, P<0.01), which was correlated negatively with sperm concentration (b = －90.809, P<0.01) but positively with sperm motility (b = 27.507, P <0.01). The relative expression levels of the Chk1 protein were significantly different among the four groups (0.63±0.05, 0.42±0.03, 1.13±0.08, and 0.87±0.07, P<0.01), which was correlated positively with sperm concentration (b = 55.74, P<0.01) but negatively with sperm motility (b =－22.649, P<0.01), and so were those of the Chk2 protein (1.23±0.36, 0.37±0.16, 0.87±0.08, and 0.68±0.12, P<0.01), which was correlated negatively with sperm concentration (b =－53.001, P<0.01) but positively with sperm motility (b = 16.676, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Chk1 and Chk2 are significantly expressed in human sperm. In case of sperm DNA damage, up-regulated Chk1 expression may enhance sperm apoptosis and lead to asthenospermia, while increased Chk2 expression may inhibit spermatogenesis and result in oligospermia. FAU - Feng, Shao-Yong AU - Feng SY AD - Department of Urology, Shanxi Da Hospital / Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030031, China. FAU - Zhang, Li AU - Zhang L AD - Department of Urology,Shanxi Da Hospital / Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030031, China. FAU - Li, Li AU - Li L AD - Department of Pathology, Shanxi Da Hospital / Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030031, China. FAU - Wu, Zheng-Hua AU - Wu ZH AD - Department of Urology, The Second People's Hospital of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030001, China. FAU - Cheng, Jian-Jun AU - Cheng JJ AD - Department of Urology, The Second People's Hospital of Shanxi Province, Taiyuan, Shanxi 030001, China. FAU - Ke, Xin-Wen AU - Ke XW AD - Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China.