Characterization and distribution of HIV-infected cells in semen

Semen is a known vector for both human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and transmission. However, the distribution and characteristics of HIV-infected cells in semen remain unclear. Investigating the possibility of transmission through the spermatozoon in semen is of great clinical significan...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Emerging microbes & infections 2022-12, Vol.11 (1), p.860-872
Main Authors: Gao, Lin, Jiao, Yan-Mei, Ma, Ping, Sun, Lijun, Zhao, Hongxin, Guo, An-Liang, Fan, Xing, Zhang, Chao, Song, Jin-Wen, Zhang, Ji-Yuan, Lu, Fengmin, Wang, Fu-Sheng
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Body fluids
CC chemokine receptor 5
CD4
CD4+ T cell
Chemokines
Cloning
CXC chemokine receptor 4
Flow cytometry
HIV
HIV Core Protein p24 - therapeutic use
HIV Infections
Hospitals
Human immunodeficiency virus
Humans
Hybridization
Immune system
Infections
Infectious diseases
Leukocytes, Mononuclear
Lymphocytes
Male
Medical research
Spermatozoa
T cell
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Summary:Semen is a known vector for both human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and transmission. However, the distribution and characteristics of HIV-infected cells in semen remain unclear. Investigating the possibility of transmission through the spermatozoon in semen is of great clinical significance to improve the strategies for exposure prevention and assisted reproduction for HIV-infected partners. Twenty-six HIV-infected patients, including twelve treatment-naïve (TN) patients and fourteen antiretroviral treated (ART) patients, were enrolled in this study. HIV p24 protein in spermatozoa was detected using imaging flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry, and HIV RNA was identified using next-generation RNAscope in situ hybridization. Additionally, we described the rates of HIV-positive spermatozoon and CD4 + T lymphocytes in semen, and found that p24 + spermatozoon were mainly CD4 negative regardless of whether the patients received ART. Of note, p24-positive cells in semen are predominantly spermatozoa, and we confirmed that motile spermatozoa carried HIV into peripheral blood mononuclear cells of healthy men in vitro. Our findings provide evidence regarding the risk of HIV-infected spermatozoa.
ISSN:2222-1751
2222-1751
DOI:10.1080/22221751.2022.2049982