Association of WEE2 Gene Polymorphism with Fertilization Failure in Women Undergoing Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection.

Abstract

Background: Infertility and pregnancy loss are major concerns in reproductive medicine, often linked to genetic factors affecting oocyte maturation. The WEE2 gene, which encodes an oocyte-specific kinase critical for meiosis, plays a vital role in fertilization. Variants in WEE2 have been implicated in oocyte maturation arrest and total fertilisation failure (TFF), particularly in women undergoing assisted reproductive technologies. This study aimed to investigate the association between WEE2 gene polymorphism and fertilization failure in women undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

Materials and methods: This prospective comparative study enrolled 137 infertile women undergoing ICSI procedures. Peripheral blood samples were collected from all participants for genetic analysis. Genotyping of the WEE2 gene variant rs1476640 was performed using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay, which was specifically designed and optimised for this study.

Results: WEE2 gene polymorphism (rs1476640) showed a significant association with fertilization outcomes (p < 0.0001). The T allele was protective, while the C allele increased the risk of fertilization failure (OR = 9.06; 95% CI: 3.27-25.14). Significant differences were also observed in infertility duration, oocyte count, and endometrial thickness between pregnant and non-pregnant women (p < 0.05), but not in age or BMI.

Conclusion: The WEE2 rs1476640 polymorphism is significantly associated with fertilization failure in ICSI-treated women. Screening for this variant may help identify patients at risk and support personalised infertility treatment strategies.