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How the Zika Virus Persists in Semen and Alters the Spermatozoa

11 Sep 2018 | By INSERM (Newsroom) | Circulation, metabolism, nutrition

Crédits: AdobeStock

While we already knew that the Zika virus is sexually transmitted and that it remains in the semen for several months after infection, what we did not know was why it persists and why there is a decrease in the number of spermatozoa in infected men. A team of Inserm researchers led by Nathalie Dejucq-Rainsford (Unit 1085 “Research Institute for Environmental and Occupational Health”, Irset), has shown that the virus infects several types of testicular cells –including the germ cells responsible for spermatozoa– which could alter the process of sex cell production. In addition, the low levels of immune defense of the testicle against Zika could be detrimental to eliminating the virus in the organ and as such contribute to its persistence in semen. This research was published in Journal of Clinical Investigation.

The mosquito-borne Zika virus leads to birth defects and can also be sexually transmitted from men to women. The virus can persist in semen for several months and be transmitted more than 40 days after symptoms disappear, which suggests infection of the male reproductive system. Animal models suggest that sexual transmission could facilitate infection of the fetus in pregnant women. Decreases in the number of spermatozoa and increases in abnormal spermatozoa have also been observed in the semen of infected men. However, the organ responsible for the persistence of the virus in semen remained to be elucidated, in addition to the origin of the modifications of the semen.

Using a novel human testicular culture model, the team of Dr. Dejucq-Rainsford at Inserm (Inserm Unit 1085 “Research Institute for Environmental and Occupational Health”, Irset) has shown that the Zika virus infects a number of testicular cell categories, including the germ cells responsible for spermatozoa. They did this by exposing to the virus testicular fragments from uninfected men and maintaining them in culture for 9 days to track the development of the infection. These findings were confirmed in Zika patients with the demonstration of infected testicular germ cells and spermatozoa in semen.

Following further analysis, the researchers suggest that the testicle could constitute a reservoir for the virus, which would explain why it is found in semen long after having disappeared from the rest of the body. Indeed, this organ has low levels of defense against the infection because it does not produce the proteins essential for an antiviral response (interferons) and that it produces only very small quantities of the molecules tasked with signaling the presence of pathogens to the immune system (pro-inflammatory cytokines).

In addition, and unlike other organs, the infected testicular cells do not die – they persist in the testicle. These various elements could enable the virus to be produced in the testicle for long periods without it being eliminated by the immune system.

Finally, infection of the germ cells themselves as well as of other testicular cells involved in the spermatozoa production process (Sertoli cells, Leydig cells) and in their expulsion from the testicle (peritubular contractile cells) could affect semen production. A hypothesis supported by the observation of modifications of semen recorded in infected men up to two months after contact with the Zika virus.

This study provides essential information on the manner in which the Zika virus can persist in semen and modify its parameters, as well as a valuable tool for testing the efficacy of antiviral agents on testicular infection ex vivo.

Medias
Researcher Contact
Nathalie Dejucq Rainsford Directrice de recherche Inserm Responsable de l’équipe « Physiologie et physiopathologie du tractus uro-génital » Unité 1085 "Institut de recherche, santé, environnement et travail", Irset rf.1senner-vinu@drofsniar-qcujed.eilahtan 02 23 23 50 69
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Zika virus infects human testicular tissue and germ cells Giulia Matusali1, Laurent Houzet1, Anne-Pascale Satie1, Dominique Mahé1, Florence Aubry1,  Thérèse Couderc2,3, Julie Frouard1, Salomé Bourgeau1, Karim Bensalah4, Sylvain Lavoué5, Guillaume Joguet6, Louis Bujan7, André Cabié8, Gleide Avelar9, Marc Lecuit2,3,10, Anna Le  Tortorec1, Nathalie Dejucq-Rainsford1* 1 Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) - UMR_S1085, F-35000 Rennes, France 2 Institut Pasteur, Biology of Infection Unit, Paris, France   3 Inserm U1117, Paris, France 4 Service d’Urologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Rennes, F-35000 Rennes, France 5 Unité de coordination hospitalière des prélèvements d'organes et de tissus, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Rennes, F-35000 Rennes, France 6 Centre Caribéen de Médecine de la Reproduction-CECOS CHU de Pointe à Pitre Guadeloupe, France 7 Research Group on Human Fertility EA 3694, University Paul Sabatier Toulouse III-CECOS, Hôpital Paule de Viguier, CHU Toulouse, Toulouse, France 8 Inserm Centre d'Investigation Clinique 1424, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Martinique, France; Service de maladies infectieuses, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Martinique, France 9 Department of morphology, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil 10 Paris-Descartes University, Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Necker-Enfants Malades University Hospital, Paris, France JCI DOI: 10.1172/JCI121735
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