Human papillomavirus sperm infection and assisted reproduction: a dangerous hazard with a possible safe solution

• Published in: Human reproduction (Oxford) Vol. 27; no. 4; pp. 967 - 973
• Main Authors: Garolla, Andrea, Lenzi, Andrea, Palù, Giorgio, Pizzol, Damiano, Bertoldo, Alessandro, De Toni, Luca, Foresta, Carlo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Oxford University Press 01.04.2012
• Subjects: Adult; Antiviral Agents - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Capsids; DNA; DNA fragmentation; DNA, Viral - drug effects; Female; Fertilization in Vitro - adverse effects; Fertilization in Vitro - methods; Fluorescence; Fluorescence in situ hybridization; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Hazards; Human papillomavirus; Human papillomavirus 16 - drug effects; Human papillomavirus 16 - genetics; Human papillomavirus 16 - isolation & purification; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; In Situ Nick-End Labeling; Infection; Infertility; Male; Medical sciences; Motility; Papillomavirus Infections - prevention & control; Papillomavirus Infections - transmission; Polysaccharide-Lyases - adverse effects; Polysaccharide-Lyases - pharmacology; Reproduction; Risk reduction; Semen; Semen Analysis; Sperm; Spermatozoa - drug effects; Spermatozoa - virology; Statistical analysis; assisted reproduction; sperm infection; sperm selection; male infertility; human papillomavirus; Spermatozoa; Semen; Selection; Assisted procreation; Papovaviridae; Germinal cell; Papillomavirus; Virus; Infection; Vertebrata; Human papillomavirus; Mammalia; Male sterility; Male genital diseases; Hazard
• ISSN: 0268-1161; 1460-2350; 1460-2350
• DOI: 10.1093/humrep/des009

BACKGROUND Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection has been demonstrated in the sperm of a large percentage of sexually active males and is associated with an impairment of sperm parameters, with a particular negative impact on sperm motility, suggesting a possible role in male infertility. Conventional sperm selection techniques have a low efficiency in removing HPV. METHODS Evaluation of sperm parameters, terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling test to evaluate DNA fragmentation and fluorescence in situ hybridization or immunohistochemistry for HPV were performed on semen samples from infected patients (n= 22), control subjects (n= 13) and on pooled control sperm samples incubated with HPV16-L1 (HPV capsid), before and after direct swim-up and modified swim-up (with added Heparinase-III). Moreover, cytofluorimetry for HPV detection was performed in pooled sperm pre- and post-incubation with HPV 16-L1 before and after direct and modified swim-up. Statistical analysis was performed with a two-tailed Student's t-test. RESULTS Direct swim-up reduces the number of HPV-infected sperm by ∼24% (P< 0.01), while modified swim-up is able to remove completely HPV DNA both from naturally and artificially infected sperm. Enzymatic treatment with Heparinase-III tended to decrease sperm motility, viability and DNA integrity but the effects were not significant. CONCLUSIONS This study shows that Heparinase-III treatment seems not to affect spermatozoa in vitro and suggests that this treatment should be investigated further as a means of preparing sperm from patients who are infected with HPV in order to reduce the risk of HPV infection when using assisted reproduction techniques.