Investigation shows that high -risk human papillomavirus could affect the fertility of men

Infections caused by human papillomavirus genotypes (HPV) high -risk seem have more negative effects on male fertility and the ability of the immune system to eliminate infectionaccording to a new study published in ‘Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology‘.

In depth

Uterus neck cancer, The fourth type of cancer most frequent in women, It causes approximately 350,000 deaths a year, mostly in countries of medium and low income. It is known that HPV infection causes 95 percent of these cases. The public health authorities of 37 countries are currently vaccinating girls between nine and 14 years old, before they normally begin their sexual activity. However, The complete set of potential effects of HPV in men and children is still unknown.

“Here We demonstrate that genital infection by HPV is very frequent in menwith variable effects on the inflammation of semen and the quality of sperm depending on the infectious viral genotype, “said the professor of the National University of Córdoba (Argentina) and main author of the study, Virginia Rivero.

More than 200 different genotypes have been identified, which usually qualify in high-risk genotypes (HPV-AR) and low risk (HPV-BL). HPV-AR can be detected in approximately 100% of cervical cancers in women and in a high percentage of anal, genital and mouth and throat cancers in women and men. HPV-LR is usually detected in abnormal cervical cells but benign in women and warts on the surface of the larynx and the genitals in both sexes, but without causing cancer.

Researchers from the National Agency for Scientific and Technological Promotion, Secretary of Science and Technology of the National University of Córdoba, Pip Conicetes (Argentina) studied the effects of HPV in a cross section of the male population in Argentina: 205 voluntary adult men who went to a single urology and andrology clinic for An initial fertility evaluation or urinary tract problems between 2018 and 2021. None had been vaccinated against the HPV.

More details

The volunteers donated a sample of their semen and the presence or absence of HPV and other sexually transmitted infections through PCR. Among the 205 individuals analyzed, 19 percent tested positive for HPV test. Specifically, 20 men were classified as positive for HPV-AR, while 7 identified themselves as positive for HPV-LR. These positive HPV individuals were compared to 43 men in which no infection was detected. Another 12 men were positive to HPV, but You could not determine its genotype due to its low viral load.

Most positive men to HPV were infected by a single genotypebut three were carriers of two genotypes simultaneously.

First, the researchers studied semen samples with a battery of routine analysis methods, as recommended by the World Health Organization. Following these criteria, they did not find indications of differences in the quality of semen between the three groups.

However, this apparent normal fertility suggestion in men infected with HPV turned out to be far from reality. When Rivero and his colleagues examined the samples with more specific and high resolution methodsThey were surprised to discover that positive men to HPV-AR had significantly lower counts of white blood cells CD45+ (Leukocytes) in his semen. They also found evidence that the sperm of positive men HPV-AR can suffer frequent damage due to oxidative stress, judging by its high production of reactive oxygen species (ROS).

To take into account

While the low levels of ros are A product of the normal sperm functionelevated levels can cause the breakdown of the cell membrane, breaks in DNA and uncontrolled and non -programmed cell death. In fact, researchers showed that Seopositive men to HPV-AR had a higher percentage of dead sperm.

“We conclude that men infected by the HPV-ARbut not those infected with HPV-LR, show greater sperm death due to oxidative stress and a local immune response weakened in the urogenital tract, “Rivero explained, who added that”These results suggest that seropositive men to HPV-AR could have fertility problems“