OGG1 Ser326Cys polymorphism interacts with cigarette smoking to increase oxidative DNA damage in human sperm and the risk of male infertility

8-Oxoguanine DNA glycosylase 1 (OGG1) plays an important role in repairing oxidative DNA damage induced by chemical agents, such as tobacco. This study examined the effects of OGG1 Ser326Cys polymorphism and cigarette smoking, alone or combined, on sperm oxidative DNA damage and the risk of male infertility. A total of 620 idiopathic infertile subjects and 480 fertile controls were recruited in this study. Sperm 8-hydroxydeoxyguanine (8-OHdG) was measured by immunofluorescent assay using flow cytometry and genotypes were determined by OpenArray platform with a chip-based Taq-Man genotyping technology. Our results demonstrated that both cigarette smoking and OGG1 polymorphism can affect the sperm 8-OHdG levels. Individuals with variant Cys/Cys homozygote showed higher levels of sperm 8-OHdG than wide-type homozygote carriers (Ser/Ser). Stratified analysis found that the association between OGG1 polymorphism and sperm 8-OHdG levels was only observed among smokers with pack-years ≥5 but not among those subjects with pack-years < 5 (pack-years = packs smoked per day × years as a smoker). Further analysis based on the case–control study revealed that variant allele (Cys) of OGG1 was significantly associated with male infertility risk in a dominant model (OR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.01–1.82; trend P < 0.001). Furthermore, we found a significant gene–environment interaction between OGG1 Ser326Cys polymorphism and cigarette smoking in relation to male infertility risk (Pinteration = 0.0003). These findings provided the first evidence about potential interactive effects of OGG1 polymorphism and cigarette smoking on male infertility risk.

► We studied OGG1 SNP and smoking on sperm DNA damage and male infertility risk.
► Both cigarette smoking and OGG1 SNP can affect the sperm 8-OHdG levels.
► OGG1 Cys/Cys carries have higher 8-OHdG level to increased risk of infertility.
► The association between varient and 8-OHdG is only observed in heavy smokers.
► Gene–environment interaction exits between OGG1 polymorphism and smoking.