Association between the JC polyomavirus infection and male infertility

PLoS One. 2012;7(8):e42880. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0042880. Epub 2012 Aug 13.

Abstract

In recent years the incidence of male infertility has increased. Many risk factors have been taken into consideration, including viral infections. Investigations into viral agents and male infertility have mainly been focused on human papillomaviruses, while no reports have been published on polyomaviruses and male infertility. The aim of this study was to verify whether JC virus and BK virus are associated with male infertility. Matched semen and urine samples from 106 infertile males and 100 fertile males, as controls, were analyzed. Specific PCR analyses were carried out to detect and quantify large T (Tag) coding sequences of JCV and BKV. DNA sequencing, carried out in Tag JCV-positive samples, was addressed to viral protein 1 (VP1) coding sequences. The prevalence of JCV Tag sequences in semen and urine samples from infertile males was 34% (72/212), whereas the BKV prevalence was 0.94% (2/212). Specifically, JCV Tag sequences were detected in 24.5% (26/106) of semen and 43.4% (46/106) of urine samples from infertile men. In semen and urine samples from controls the prevalence was 11% and 28%, respectively. A statistically significant difference (p<0.05) in JCV prevalence was disclosed in semen and urine samples of cases vs. controls. A higher JC viral DNA load was detected in samples from infertile males than in controls. In samples from infertile males the JC virus type 2 strain, subtype 2b, was more prevalent than ubiquitous type 1. JCV type 2 strain infection has been found to be associated with male infertility. These data suggest that the JC virus should be taken into consideration as an infectious agent which is responsible for male infertility.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • BK Virus / genetics
  • BK Virus / physiology
  • Base Sequence
  • Capsid Proteins / chemistry
  • Capsid Proteins / genetics
  • DNA, Viral / analysis
  • DNA, Viral / urine
  • Humans
  • Infertility, Male / complications*
  • Infertility, Male / urine
  • Infertility, Male / virology*
  • JC Virus / genetics
  • JC Virus / pathogenicity
  • JC Virus / physiology*
  • Male
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Polyomavirus Infections / complications*
  • Semen / virology
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Tumor Virus Infections / complications*

Substances

  • Capsid Proteins
  • DNA, Viral

Grants and funding

This investigation was supported in part by grants from the Ricerca Corrente of the Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Burlo-Garofalo Hospital, Trieste, the Emilia-Romagna Region, Bologna and the Universities of Trieste and Ferrara. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.