Genetic mutation analysis of 22 patients with congenital absence of vas deferens: a single-center study

• Published in: Biology of reproduction 2022-01, Vol.106 (1), p.108-117
• Main Authors: Tan, Mao-Qing, Huang, Wu-Jian, Lan, Feng-Hua, Xu, Yong-Jun, Zheng, Mei-Yu, Tang, Ying
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adhesion G-protein-coupled receptor G2; Adult; Asians - genetics; Azoospermia - genetics; carbonic anhydrase 12; China; congenital absence of the vas deferens; cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator; Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator - genetics; DNA Mutational Analysis; Epithelial Sodium Channels - genetics; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; Humans; Infertility, Male - genetics; Male; Male Urogenital Diseases - genetics; Mutation; Mutation, Missense; Polymorphism, Genetic; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled - genetics; RESEARCH ARTICLE; Sequence Analysis, DNA; sodium channel epithelial 1 subunit beta; Sodium-Hydrogen Exchanger 3 - genetics; solute carrier family 9 isoform 3; Vas Deferens - abnormalities
• ISSN: 0006-3363; 1529-7268
• DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioab194

Congenital absence of the vas deferens (CAVD), a congenital malformation of the male reproductive system, causes obstructive azoospermia and male infertility. Currently, the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) has been recognized as the main pathogenic gene in CAVD, with some other genes, such as adhesion G-protein-coupled receptor G2 (ADGRG2), solute carrier family 9 isoform 3 (SLC9A3), sodium channel epithelial 1 subunit beta (SCNN1B), and carbonic anhydrase 12 (CA12), being candidate genes in the pathogenesis of CAVD. However, the frequency and spectrum of these mutations, as well as the pathogenic mechanisms of CAVD, have not been fully investigated. Here, we sequenced all genes with potentially pathogenic mutations using next-generation sequencing and verified all identified variants by Sanger sequencing. Further bioinformatic analysis was performed to predict the pathogenicity of mutations. We described the distribution of the p.V470M, poly-T, and TG-repeat CFTR polymorphisms and identified novel missense mutations in the CFTR and SLC9A3 genes, respectively. Taken together, we identified mutations in the CFTR, ADGRG2, SLC9A3, SCNN1B, and CA12 genes in 22 patients with CAVD, thus broadening the genetic spectrum of Chinese patients with CAVD. Summary sentence Fifteen CFTR mutations including a novel one were identified in 22 patients with CAVD. The distributions of p.V470M, poly-T, and TG-repeat CFTR polymorphisms were described. Novel missense mutations in CFTR and SLC9A3 were identified. Graphical Abstract