Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39120570›Full record

ArticleAndrology2025

Phenotypic continuum and poor intracytoplasmic sperm injection intracytoplasmic sperm injection prognosis in patients harboring HENMT1 variants.

Zeina Wehbe, Anne-Laure Barbotin, Angèle Boursier, Caroline Cazin, Jean-Pascal Hograindleur, Marie Bidart, Emeline Fontaine, Pauline Plouvier, Florence Puch, Véronique Satre and 8 more

Abstract readCase Reports
In one paragraph

Article in Andrology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. HENMT1: an RNA methyltransferase in biology and disease.Journal of Zhejiang University. Science. B · 2026
    Review
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

18 authors.

Zeina WehbeUniversité Grenoble Alpes, Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), La Tronche, France.
Anne-Laure BarbotinCHU Lille, Institut de Biologie de la Reproduction-Spermiologie-CECOS, Lille, France.
Angèle BoursierCHU Lille, Institut de Biologie de la Reproduction-Spermiologie-CECOS, Lille, France.
Caroline CazinUniversité Grenoble Alpes, Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), La Tronche, France.
Jean-Pascal HograindleurCHU Grenoble Alpes, UF de Biologie de la Procréation, Grenoble, France.
Marie BidartUniversité Grenoble Alpes, Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), La Tronche, France.
Emeline FontaineUniversité Grenoble Alpes, Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), La Tronche, France.
Pauline PlouvierCHU Lille, Service d'Assistance Médicale à la Procréation et Préservation de la Fertilité, Lille, France.
Florence PuchCHU Grenoble Alpes, Laboratoire de Biochimie et Génétique Moléculaire, Grenoble, France.
Véronique SatreUniversité Grenoble Alpes, Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), La Tronche, France.
Christophe ArnoultUniversité Grenoble Alpes, Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), La Tronche, France.
Selima Fourati Ben MustaphaCentre d'Aide Médicale à la Procréation, Polyclinique les Jasmin, Centre Urbain Nord, Tunis, Tunisia.
Raoudha ZouariCentre d'Aide Médicale à la Procréation, Polyclinique les Jasmin, Centre Urbain Nord, Tunis, Tunisia.
Nicolas Thierry-MiegCNRS, TIMC-IMAG, Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France.
Pierre F RayUniversité Grenoble Alpes, Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), La Tronche, France.ORCID 0000-0003-1544-7449
Zine-Eddine KherrafUniversité Grenoble Alpes, Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), La Tronche, France.
Charles CouttonUniversité Grenoble Alpes, Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), La Tronche, France.
Guillaume MartinezUniversité Grenoble Alpes, Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), La Tronche, France.ORCID 0000-0002-7572-9096

Funding

Centre National de la Recherche ScientifiqueFrench National Research Agency ANR-19-CE17-0014French National Research Agency OLIGO-SPERM ANR-21-CE17-0007Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche MédicaleUniversité Grenoble Alpes
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSmall RNAs interacting with PIWI (piRNAs) play a crucial role in regulating transposable elements and translation during spermatogenesis and are essential in male germ cell development. Disruptions in the piRNA pathway typically lead to severe spermatogenic defects and thus male infertility. The HENMT1 gene is a key player in piRNAs primary biogenesis and dysfunction of HENMT1 protein in meiotic and haploid germ cells resulted in the loss of piRNA methylation, piRNA instability, and TE de-repression. Henmt1-knockout mice exhibit a severe oligo-astheno-teratozoospermia (OAT) phenotype, whereas patients with HENMT1 variants display more severe azoospermia phenotypes, ranging from meiotic arrest to hypospermatogenesis. Through whole-exome sequencing (WES) of infertile patient cohorts, we identified two new patients with variants in the HENMT1 gene presenting spermatozoa in their ejcaulate, providing us the opportunity to study spermatozoa from these patients.

objectivesInvestigate the spermatozoa of two patients harboring an HENMT1 variant to determine whether or not these scarce spermatozoa could be used with assisted reproductive technologies. MATERIALS AND

methodsHENMT1 variants identified by WES were validated through Sanger sequencing. Comprehensive semen analysis was conducted, and sperm cells were subjected to transmission electron microscopy for structural examination, in situ hybridization for aneuploidy assessment, and aniline blue staining for DNA compaction status. Subsequently, we assessed their suitability for in vitro fertilization using intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF-ICSI).

resultsOur investigations revealed a severe OAT phenotype similar to knockout mice, revealing altered sperm concentration, mobility, morphology, aneuploidy and nuclear compaction defects. Multiple IVF-ICSI attempts were also performed, but no live births were achieved. DISCUSSION: We confirm the crucial role of HENMT1 in spermatogenesis and highlight a phenotypic continuum associated with HENMT1 variants. Unfortunately, the clinical outcome of these genetic predispositions remains unfavorable, regardless of the patient's phenotype.

conclusionThe presence of spermatozoa is insufficient to anticipate ICSI pregnancy success in HENMT1 patients.

Indexed as

Infertility, MaleSpermatozoaSperm Injections, IntracytoplasmicAdultFemaleHumansMalePhenotypePrognosisazoospermiainfertilitypiRNApiwi pathwayspermatozoateratozoospermia

Identifiers

PMID39120570
PMCPMC12183014

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.