Smoking induces differential miRNA expression in human spermatozoa: A potential transgenerational epigenetic concern?
Open accessAbstract
Recent work has suggested that environmental chemicals, including those contained in cigarette smoke, can have adverse effects on the exposed individuals as well as their future progeny. The mechanisms underlying transmission of environmentally induced phenotypes through the germ line are not well understood. However, a predominant process appears to be the establishment of permanent heritable epigenetic alterations, and a number of studies have implicated microRNAs in such processes. Here, we show that cigarette smoke induces specific differences in the spermatozoal microRNA content of human smokers compared with non-smokers, and that these altered microRNAs appear to predominantly mediate pathways vital for healthy sperm and normal embryo development, particularly cell death and apoptosis. microRNA-mediated perturbation of such pathways may explain how harmful phenotypes can be induced in the progeny of smokers.
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Smoking was later found to be associated with reduced sperm count, motility and morphology, and altered sperm microRNA, mitochondria and protein in the smoker parent.
“was later found to be associated with reduced sperm count, motility and morphology, and altered sperm microRNA, mitochondria and protein in the smoker parent 201,202”
From Intergenerational transmission of trauma effects: putative role of epigenetic mechanisms (2018) · cites this paper as [202]
The Discussion reports altered sperm microRNA expression in smokers. But the Study population section reports no significant difference in sperm count, motility, or morphology between smokers and non-smokers. The cited passages do not establish altered sperm mitochondria or protein; the reported Ston1 and TRIM26 changes concern mRNA expression. Page numbers are unavailable in our copy. (LLM, conf=0.90)
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- Authors
- Marczylo, E. L., Amoako, A. A., Konje, J. C., Gant, T. W., & Marczylo, T. H.
- Affiliations
- MRC Toxicology Unit (GB)
- Leicester Royal Infirmary (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Marczylo, Emma L.
- Venue
- Epigenetics
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2012-05
- Volume
- 7
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 432-439
- ISSN
- 1559-2294 (ISSN-L)
- 1559-2308
- OpenAlex
- W2075006526
- Cited by
- 227
- References
- 53
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 21 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 20 · 2017: 24 · 2016: 23 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 21 · 2013: 11 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 18.62
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Epigenetics (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Leicester Research Archive (University of Leicester) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- European Chemical Industry Council
- Medical Research Council
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Sperm and Testicular Function
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cancer Research › MicroRNA in disease regulation
- Keywords
- cigarette smoking, microRNA expression, spermatozoa, transgenerational epigenetic inheritance, germline, semen quality, apoptosis, cell death, embryonic development, environmental exposure
- MeSH terms
- Tripartite Motif Proteins, Adult, DNA-Binding Proteins, Environmental Exposure, Humans, Male, Smoking, Sperm Count, Sperm Motility, Spermatozoa, Tobacco Smoke Pollution, Cell Death, Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis, Transcription Factor TFIIA, MicroRNAs, Epigenesis, Genetic, Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases, Young Adult
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