Stress modeling of the human sperm sncRNA transcriptome and causal importance of dynamic miRNA in reproductive and developmental outcomes

Epidemiological evidence shows that paternal preconception exposures to environmental perturbations, such as
stress and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), are associated with changes in reproductive outcomes,
offspring gestational development, and ultimately, offspring health and disease. Studies in animal models have
implicated the germ cell transfer of small non-coding RNA (sncRNA), including miRNA and tRNA fragments, in
programming these effects. We recently published our foundational work which allowed us to construct a scaffold
to initially assess the composition of, and dynamic changes in, sncRNA (including miRNA, piRNA, and tRNA) in
sperm samples from a young, healthy and relatively homogenous student cohort. This repeated-measures
design allowed us to define in humans the between- and within-participant variation in the most abundant sperm
sncRNA content over time. In addition, by utilizing complex modeling of the relationships between individual
sncRNA and perceived stress states preceding each sperm donation, we were able to identify specific sncRNA
responsive to the dynamics of prior stress. Ultimately, our model identified highly expressed miRNA common to
all subjects, including miR-34c-5p and miR-16-5p, and three miRNA, including miR-181a-5p and let-7f-5p, that
fit strict criterion for dynamic expression within- and between-subjects, and were associated with prior perceived
stress. To test our hypothesis, the following Aims are provided: 1) in Aim 1 to test our current sperm sncRNA
framework within a larger and more representative cohort of students, we will examine the outcomes identified
in our first study, including perceived stress across 6 months of sperm collection and test the sncRNA populations
for expression, variance, and responses to prior perceived stress; 2) in Aim 2 to test the additional influence of
subject ACEs in our model, as one of the major influences on adult current stress perception, for effects on
sperm sncRNA in low vs high ACE-exposed males; and 3) in Aim 3 to substantiate a causal importance of the
sperm-associated miRNA previously identified in our model that were consistently expressed at high levels
across subjects, or dynamically expressed in association with prior perceived stress within- and between-
subjects. We will utilize mouse zygotic microinjection of miRNA inhibitors to specifically reduce levels of normally
highly expressed sperm-associated miRNA, miR-22-3p, miR-16-5p, and miR-34c-5p, and miRNA mimics to
specifically elevate individual miRNA normally lowly expressed, but dynamically environmentally responsive,
miR-181a-5p, miR-4454, or let-7f-5p. Outcomes will examine the impact of these microinjections on in vitro
preimplantation embryonic development, in vivo embryonic and fetal development, and transcriptomic changes
by RNA sequencing of E7.5 embryos.

Grant Number: 5R01HD105771-04
NIH Institute/Center: NIH
Principal Investigator: Tracy Bale