Mageb4, a testis-specific gene, is dispensable for mouse spermatogenesis

Objective: It has recently been shown that the melanoma antigen gene (MAGE) family is expressed in various tumor cell lines but silent in normal tissues, except germ cell lines. Mageb4, a member of the MAGE family, is highly expressed in the testis and homologous in humans and mice. Whole-exome sequ...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Sheng Gao, Da-Min Yun, Li-Wei Zhou, Yun-Hao Wu, Deng-Feng Lin, Xiao-Long Wu, Fei Sun
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wolters Kluwer Health/LWW 2020-01-01
Series:Reproductive and Developmental Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.repdevmed.org/article.asp?issn=2096-2924;year=2020;volume=4;issue=3;spage=129;epage=136;aulast=Gao
Description
Summary:Objective: It has recently been shown that the melanoma antigen gene (MAGE) family is expressed in various tumor cell lines but silent in normal tissues, except germ cell lines. Mageb4, a member of the MAGE family, is highly expressed in the testis and homologous in humans and mice. Whole-exome sequencing studies have identified Mageb4 as a possible X-linked cause of inherited male infertility. However, the function of Mageb4 protein remains largely unknown. Methods: Using clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein (Cas) 9 technology, we generated a Mageb4 knockout mouse model (Mageb4−/Y) to explore the role of this gene in spermatogenesis. Results: First, immunostaining of testicular cells showed that Mageb4 is localized in the cytoplasm of spermatogonia. Second, Mageb4−/Y male mice displayed significant increases in apoptosis. However, Mageb4−/Y male mice showed normal fertility, including normal sperm concentration, sperm motility, and testicular and epididymal histology. Conclusions: These findings suggest that, despite testis-exclusive expression, Mageb4 is dispensable for mouse spermatogenesis. Future research should focus on the role of this gene in apoptosis, aiming to provide clinical guidance regarding male infertility.
ISSN:2096-2924
2589-8728