COVID-19-associated inhibition of energy accumulation pathways in human semen samples.
F S Sci
; 2(4): 355-364, 2021 Nov.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1340890
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate transcriptional alterations in human semen samples associated with COVID-19 infection.DESIGN:
Retrospective observational cohort study.SETTING:
City hospital. PATIENTS Ten patients who had recovered from mild COVID-19 infection. Eight of these patients had different sperm abnormalities that were diagnosed before infection. The control group consisted of 5 healthy donors without known abnormalities and no history of COVID-19 infection.INTERVENTIONS:
We used RNA sequencing to determine gene expression profiles in all studied biosamples. Original standard bioinformatic instruments were used to analyze activation of intracellular molecular pathways. MAIN OUTCOMEMEASURES:
Routine semen analysis, gene expression levels, and molecular pathway activation levels in semen samples.RESULTS:
We found statistically significant inhibition of genes associated with energy production pathways in the mitochondria, including genes involved in the electron transfer chain and genes involved in toll-like receptor signaling. All protein-coding genes encoded by the mitochondrial genome were significantly down-regulated in semen samples collected from patients after recovery from COVID-19.CONCLUSIONS:
Our results may provide a molecular basis for the previously observed phenomenon of decreased sperm motility associated with COVID-19 infection. Moreover, the data will be beneficial for the optimization of preconception care for men who have recently recovered from COVID-19 infection.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
COVID-19
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Qualitative research
Limits:
Humans
/
Male
Language:
English
Journal:
F S Sci
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
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