Abstract
BackgroundHuman papillomavirus (HPV) currently represents an important risk factor for cancer development and infertility in humans. Whilst binding of HPV to spermatozoa has been associated with male infertility, an investigation about the presence of HPV-DNA in non-spermatozoal semen cells is lacking. Previous findings documented the presence of HPV in peripheral blood leukocytes. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of HPV markers in semen and blood leukocytes during HPV-16 infection.MethodsA total of 32 subjects, 16 patients affected by HPV-16 semen infection and 16 controls, were evaluated in our andrological centre and enrolled in the study. Semen non-spermatozoal cells from all subjects were isolated and evaluated for the expression of HPV-16 markers (DNA and L1, E6 proteins) and further characterized for their molecular phenotype. Analogue determination was performed on peripheral blood mononuclear cells.ResultsThe presence of HPV-DNA by FISH analysis in a round cell population from semen, confirmed to be CD45+ leukocytes, was observed. These HPV-DNA containing-cells also displayed HPV-16-E6 and HPV-16-L1 viral proteins and, upon further investigation, were found to be CD20+ and CD56+, likely phenotypes of B cells and natural killer cells (NK) respectively. In 25% of the patient group, a very small population of peripheral blood mononuclear cells was found to be positive for HPV-DNA via FISH. These cells displayed the CD20+ and CD56+ phenotype alike. None of the control subjects displayed HPV-DNA in either semen or peripheral blood.ConclusionConsidering the role of CD20+ and CD56+ cell populations in the antiviral immune response, the detection of HPV markers on leukocytes may reflect the presence of virus particles within the endosomal compartment. However, the presence of HPV markers in circulating mononuclear cells raise concerns about the risk of developing cancers to distal organs.
Highlights
Human papillomavirus (HPV) currently represents an important risk factor for cancer development and infertility in humans
The possible access of papillomavirus to peripheral blood leukocytes has been very recently strenghtened by experimental data from animal models, showing that BPV-DNA and transcripts can be found in blood cells a few days after intradermal inoculation of horses with BPV1 [13]
The results of this study have identified, for the first time, the presence of HPV16 in CD45+ leucocytes in the semen of infected patients
Summary
Human papillomavirus (HPV) currently represents an important risk factor for cancer development and infertility in humans. Cervical cancer is the most common cause of mortality related to hybridization (FISH) analysis, HPV-DNA has been detected on both sperm and non-spermatozoal cells [5,6,7]. These latter include Sertoli cells, squamous epithelial cells and ‘round cells’, such as spermatozoal precursors, erythrocytes and leukocytes [8]. Several studies conducted in female patients with cervical cancers, have shown that HPV DNA can be found in peripheral blood, sera, plasma and arterial cord blood [14,15]. The aim of the present study was to better characterize HPV infected round cells in semen and to evaluate the possible presence of HPV infected cells in blood
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
