Methylation pattern of the imprinting controlling regions and expression of the H19 and IGF-2 genes after exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TDCC) in Sertoli cells.

• Grant number: 11/04202-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: March 01, 2012
• End date: July 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Morphology
• Principal Investigator: Wellerson Rodrigo Scarano
• Grantee: Mariana Antunes Ribeiro
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IBB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Infertility affects 10-15% of couples on reproductive age and male factor may be responsible for 30-50% of cases. Male fertility and the spermatogenesis process are directly related to the ability of Sertoli cells to produce factors for the development of germ cells. Only Sertoli cells have receptors for testosterone and FSH, and therefore, these cells are the main regulators of spermatogenesis. Studies suggest that 60-70% of male infertility cases are considered idiophatic, once the molecular mechanisms involved in spermatogenesis are still unknown. Recent studies report that oligozoospermic men showed an alteration of the DNA methylation pattern in the sperm, specifically in the regions that control the gene expression of genes regulated by imprinting, H19 and IGF2. Largely responsible for changing the methylation pattern of these genes are environmental factors, specially organic compounds with high toxicity, such as 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Experimental models of exposure (mice) showed that TCDD causes low sperm count and delayed puberty. Thus, this study aims to correlate the action of the compound TCDD on human Sertoli cells (in vitro) and its possible deleterious effects in controlling imprinting regions (ICRs) of H19 and IGF2 and their expressions, which can interfere in the spermatogenic process.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

RIBEIRO, MARIANA ANTUNES; DOS REIS, MARIANA BISARRO; DE MORAES, LEONARDO NAZARIO; BRITON-JONES, CHRISTINE; RAINHO, CLAUDIA APARECIDA; SCARANO, WELLERSON RODRIGO. Defining suitable reference genes for RT-qPCR analysis on human sertoli cells after 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) exposure. MOLECULAR BIOLOGY REPORTS, v. 41, n. 11, p. 7063-7066, NOV 2014. (11/04202-1, 12/00253-3)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

RIBEIRO, Mariana Antunes. Análise do imprinting e da expressão dos genes H19 e IGF2 em células de Sertoli humanas apos exposição in vitro ao 2,3,7,8-Tetraclorodibenzo-p-dioxina (TCDD). 2013. Master's Dissertation - Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp). Instituto de Biociências. Botucatu Botucatu.