A novel homozygous variant in homologous recombination repair gene ZSWIM7 causes azoospermia in males and primary ovarian insufficiency in females.

ABSTRACT

Infertility is a common, clinically heterogeneous reproductive disorder worldwide with a prevalence of about 15%. To date about eighty genes have been discovered to cause non-syndromic infertility, affecting males and females equally, though traditionally the genetic analysis of each group has been conducted separately. Here, we report the clinical and genetic characterization of a consanguineous family of Pakistani origin with multiple individuals, including male and female, affected with infertility. Males exhibited non-obstructive azoospermia whereas females had primary ovarian insufficiency. Whole exome sequencing revealed a missense variant [c.176C > T, p. (Ser59Leu)] in the ZSWIM7 gene which functions in homologous recombination repair. The variant was found in a homozygous form in all affected males and females. To our knowledge, this is the first family that has individuals affected with infertility in both sexes. This point to the utility of large consanguineous families with multiple affected siblings to reveal joint mechanisms affecting human reproduction.