ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The seminal virome and its implications for fertility remain poorly understood. To date, there are no defined panels for the detection of viruses of clinical interest in seminal samples. RESULTS: In this study, we characterized the human seminal virome based on more than 1,000 studies published over the last five years. CONCLUSIONS: The number of studies investigating viruses that occur in human semen has increased, and to date, these studies have been mostly prospective or related to specific clinical findings. Through the joint analysis of all these studies, we have listed the viruses related to the worsening of seminal parameters and propose a new panel with the main viruses already described that possibly affect male fertility and health. This panel can assist in evaluating semen quality and serve as a tool for investigation in cases of infertility.
RéSUMé: CONTEXTE: Le virome séminal et ses implications pour la fertilité restent mal compris. À ce jour, il n'existe pas de panels définis pour la détection des virus d'intérêt clinique dans les échantillons de sperme. RéSULTATS: Dans cette étude, nous avons caractérisé le virome séminal humain sur la base de plus de 1000 études publiées au cours des cinq dernières années. CONCLUSIONS: Le nombre d'études portant sur les virus présents dans le sperme humain a augmenté et, à ce jour, ces études ont principalement été prospectives ou liées à des résultats cliniques spécifiques. Grâce à l'analyse conjointe de toutes ces études, nous avons répertorié les virus liés à l'aggravation des paramètres spermatiques, et nous proposons un nouveau panel avec les principaux virus déjà décrits qui peuvent affecter la fertilité et la santé masculines. Ce panel peut aider à évaluer la qualité du sperme et servir d'outil d'investigation dans les cas d'infertilité.
ABSTRACT
Cervical cancer is associated with infection by certain types of human papillomaviruses (HPVs), and this affects women worldwide. Despite the improvements in prevention and cure of HPV-induced cervical cancer, it remains the second most common type of cancer in women in the least developed regions of the world. Epigenetic modifications are stable long-term changes that occur in the DNA, and are part of a natural evolutionary process of necessary adaptations to the environment. They do not result in changes in the DNA sequence, but do affect gene expression and genomic stability. Epigenetic changes are important in several biological processes. The effects of the environment on gene expression can contribute to the development of numerous diseases. Epigenetic modifications may serve a critical role in cancer cells, by silencing tumor suppressor genes, activating oncogenes, and exacerbating defects in DNA repair mechanisms. Although cervical cancer is directly related to a persistent high-risk HPV infection, several epigenetic changes have been identified in both the viral DNA and the genome of the infected cells: DNA methylation, histone modification and gene silencing by non-coding RNAs, which initiate and sustain epigenetic changes. In the present review, recent advances in the role of epigenetic changes in cervical cancer are summarized.
