News | How Does HPV Affect Male Fertility? New Research Highlights Oxidative Stress
A recent study published in Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology examined how high-risk (HR) and low-risk (LR) human papillomavirus (HPV) infections affect male fertility, focusing on sperm quality, oxidative stress, and inflammation in the male genitourinary tract.
Background
HPV is a common sexually transmitted infection closely associated with cervical cancer. It is classified as high-risk (HR-HPV) or low-risk (LR-HPV) based on its association with malignancy or benign genital warts. Although male HPV has been studied less extensively, recent research indicates that its prevalence and potential reproductive effects warrant attention. HPV DNA has been detected in several types of male reproductive-tract samples, but its effects on sperm quality and seminal inflammation remain unclear.
Study Overview
This cross-sectional study enrolled 205 men aged 18 or older who attended urology and andrology clinics for semen analysis between 2018 and 2021. They underwent an initial fertility evaluation for lower urinary tract symptoms or a routine examination. Men were excluded if they had received HPV vaccination, undergone vasectomy, had azoospermia or clinically significant varicocele, had environmental pollutant exposure or a history of alcohol or drug misuse, or had recent fever or antibiotic treatment.
Participants were divided into a control group with no urinary pathogens or leukocytospermia, an LR-HPV group positive for low-oncogenic-risk genotypes, and an HR-HPV group positive for high-oncogenic-risk genotypes. All semen samples were analyzed within one hour of collection. HPV and other urinary pathogens were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and HPV genotyping used PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP).
Results
The median age was 35, and 19% of the 205 participants tested positive for HPV. Of 39 HPV-positive cases, 27 were successfully genotyped. Single-genotype infections predominated, with few multiple infections. HPV-16 was the most common high-risk type, accounting for 59.2%.
Routine semen parameters did not differ significantly between controls and men with HR-HPV or LR-HPV. However, HR-HPV was associated with greater sperm necrosis and higher reactive oxygen species (ROS), indicating oxidative stress. Unexpectedly, HR-HPV was also associated with lower seminal leukocyte counts and lower inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and IL-1β, suggesting a locally immunosuppressed environment.
The study also examined coinfection with other urinary pathogens in HR-HPV-positive men. Coinfection did not significantly affect routine semen-quality parameters but increased sperm necrosis and ROS production. Seminal inflammation remained limited, with low CD45+ leukocyte levels in coinfected participants.
Conclusion
The study highlights the prevalence of HR-HPV genotypes, particularly HPV-16. Although routine semen parameters were unaffected, HR-HPV was associated with increased sperm necrosis, higher ROS, and lower inflammatory cytokines, suggesting local immunosuppression. Identifying male HPV genotypes may be important because HR-HPV could disrupt immune responses, affect reproductive health, and possibly promote viral persistence and transmission.
News | How Does HPV Affect Male Fertility? New Research Highlights Oxidative Stress
News | How Does HPV Affect Male Fertility? New Research Highlights Oxidative Stress
A recent study published in Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology examined how high-risk (HR) and low-risk (LR) human papillomavirus (HPV) infections affect male fertility, focusing on sperm quality, oxidative stress, and inflammation in the male genitourinary tract.
Background
HPV is a common sexually transmitted infection closely associated with cervical cancer. It is classified as high-risk (HR-HPV) or low-risk (LR-HPV) based on its association with malignancy or benign genital warts. Although male HPV has been studied less extensively, recent research indicates that its prevalence and potential reproductive effects warrant attention. HPV DNA has been detected in several types of male reproductive-tract samples, but its effects on sperm quality and seminal inflammation remain unclear.
Study Overview
This cross-sectional study enrolled 205 men aged 18 or older who attended urology and andrology clinics for semen analysis between 2018 and 2021. They underwent an initial fertility evaluation for lower urinary tract symptoms or a routine examination. Men were excluded if they had received HPV vaccination, undergone vasectomy, had azoospermia or clinically significant varicocele, had environmental pollutant exposure or a history of alcohol or drug misuse, or had recent fever or antibiotic treatment.
Participants were divided into a control group with no urinary pathogens or leukocytospermia, an LR-HPV group positive for low-oncogenic-risk genotypes, and an HR-HPV group positive for high-oncogenic-risk genotypes. All semen samples were analyzed within one hour of collection. HPV and other urinary pathogens were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and HPV genotyping used PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP).
Results
The median age was 35, and 19% of the 205 participants tested positive for HPV. Of 39 HPV-positive cases, 27 were successfully genotyped. Single-genotype infections predominated, with few multiple infections. HPV-16 was the most common high-risk type, accounting for 59.2%.
Routine semen parameters did not differ significantly between controls and men with HR-HPV or LR-HPV. However, HR-HPV was associated with greater sperm necrosis and higher reactive oxygen species (ROS), indicating oxidative stress. Unexpectedly, HR-HPV was also associated with lower seminal leukocyte counts and lower inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and IL-1β, suggesting a locally immunosuppressed environment.
The study also examined coinfection with other urinary pathogens in HR-HPV-positive men. Coinfection did not significantly affect routine semen-quality parameters but increased sperm necrosis and ROS production. Seminal inflammation remained limited, with low CD45+ leukocyte levels in coinfected participants.
Conclusion
The study highlights the prevalence of HR-HPV genotypes, particularly HPV-16. Although routine semen parameters were unaffected, HR-HPV was associated with increased sperm necrosis, higher ROS, and lower inflammatory cytokines, suggesting local immunosuppression. Identifying male HPV genotypes may be important because HR-HPV could disrupt immune responses, affect reproductive health, and possibly promote viral persistence and transmission.
Source:
Collected online