Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39122675›Full record

ArticleNature communications2024

Inherited defects of piRNA biogenesis cause transposon de-repression, impaired spermatogenesis, and human male infertility.

Birgit Stallmeyer, Clara Bühlmann, Rytis Stakaitis, Ann-Kristin Dicke, Farah Ghieh, Luisa Meier, Ansgar Zoch, David MacKenzie MacLeod, Johanna Steingröver, Özlem Okutman and 21 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 36 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
36citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–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

36 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  19. Frontiers in microbiology · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

31 authors.

Birgit StallmeyerCentre of Medical Genetics, Institute of Reproductive Genetics, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
Clara BühlmannCentre of Medical Genetics, Institute of Reproductive Genetics, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
Rytis StakaitisDivision of Genetics, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-5946-1731
Ann-Kristin DickeCentre of Medical Genetics, Institute of Reproductive Genetics, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-2171-0525
Farah GhiehCentre of Medical Genetics, Institute of Reproductive Genetics, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
Luisa MeierCentre of Medical Genetics, Institute of Reproductive Genetics, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
Ansgar ZochCentre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
David MacKenzie MacLeodCentre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
Johanna SteingröverCentre of Medical Genetics, Institute of Reproductive Genetics, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.ORCID 0009-0007-2272-026X
Özlem OkutmanLaboratoire de Génétique Médicale LGM, institut de génétique médicale d'Alsace IGMA, INSERM UMR 1112, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
Daniela FietzInstitute of Veterinary Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen, Gießen, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-7945-1810
Adrian PilatzClinic for Urology, Paediatric Urology and Andrology, Justus Liebig University Gießen, Gießen, Germany.ORCID 0000-0001-8072-1841
Antoni Riera-EscamillaAndrology Department, Fundació Puigvert, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Sant Pau, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.ORCID 0000-0002-4485-3094
Miguel J XavierBiosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.ORCID 0000-0003-0709-7223
Christian RuckertCentre of Medical Genetics, Department of Medical Genetics, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
Sara Di PersioCentre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Department of Clinical and Surgical Andrology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany.
Nina NeuhausCentre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Department of Clinical and Surgical Andrology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany.ORCID 0000-0003-0181-6194
Ali Sami GurbuzDepartment of Gynecology and Obstetrics Novafertil IVF Center, Konya, Turkey.
Ahmet ŞalvarciDepartment of Andrology Novafertil IVF Center, Konya, Turkey.
Nicolas Le MayLaboratoire de Génétique Médicale LGM, institut de génétique médicale d'Alsace IGMA, INSERM UMR 1112, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
Kevin McElenyNewcastle Fertility Centre, The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Corinna FriedrichCentre of Medical Genetics, Institute of Reproductive Genetics, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
Godfried van der HeijdenDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0001-5894-7027
Margot J WyrwollCentre of Medical Genetics, Institute of Reproductive Genetics, University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
Sabine KlieschCentre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Department of Clinical and Surgical Andrology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany.ORCID 0000-0002-7561-4870
Joris A VeltmanBiosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-3218-8250
Csilla KrauszAndrology Department, Fundació Puigvert, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas Sant Pau, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
Stéphane VivilleLaboratoire de Génétique Médicale LGM, institut de génétique médicale d'Alsace IGMA, INSERM UMR 1112, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.ORCID 0000-0002-5088-3003
Donald F ConradDivision of Genetics, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA.ORCID 0000-0003-3828-8970
Dónal O'CarrollCentre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-8626-2217
Frank TüttelmannCentre of Medical Genetics, Institute of Reproductive Genetics, University of Münster, Münster, Germany. frank.tuettelmann@ukmuenster.de.ORCID 0000-0003-2745-9965

Funding

Project IIIP50HD096723 · NICHD · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · PI Kyle Edwin Orwig · 2019 to 2026
$15.0M
GENOMICS OF SPERMATOGENIC IMPAIRMENTR01HD078641 · NICHD · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · PI Kenneth Ivan Aston, DONALD F. CONRAD · 2014 to 2026
$6.3M
Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (Federal Ministry of Education and Research) 01GR2303Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation) CRU326, 329621271NICHD NIH HHS P50 HD096723NICHD NIH HHS R01 HD078641Wellcome Trust 209451,
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

piRNAs are crucial for transposon silencing, germ cell maturation, and fertility in male mice. Here, we report on the genetic landscape of piRNA dysfunction in humans and present 39 infertile men carrying biallelic variants in 14 different piRNA pathway genes, including PIWIL1, GTSF1, GPAT2, MAEL, TDRD1, and DDX4. In some affected men, the testicular phenotypes differ from those of the respective knockout mice and range from complete germ cell loss to the production of a few morphologically abnormal sperm. A reduced number of pachytene piRNAs was detected in the testicular tissue of variant carriers, demonstrating impaired piRNA biogenesis. Furthermore, LINE1 expression in spermatogonia links impaired piRNA biogenesis to transposon de-silencing and serves to classify variants as functionally relevant. These results establish the disrupted piRNA pathway as a major cause of human spermatogenic failure and provide insights into transposon silencing in human male germ cells.

Indexed as

DNA Transposable ElementsInfertility, MaleRNA, Small InterferingSpermatogenesisTestisAdultAnimalsArgonaute ProteinsDEAD-box RNA HelicasesGene SilencingHumansLong Interspersed Nucleotide ElementsMaleMiceMice, KnockoutPiwi-Interacting RNAArgonaute ProteinsDEAD-box RNA HelicasesDNA Transposable ElementsPiwi-Interacting RNAPIWIL1 protein, humanRNA, Small Interfering

Identifiers

PMID39122675
PMCPMC11316121

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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.