COVID-19 alters levels of fertility-related proteins in men, study
suggests
Date:
April 7, 2022
Source:
American Chemical Society
Summary:
Increasing evidence suggests that the COVID-19 virus can also impair
fertility. Now, researchers have analyzed protein levels in semen
of men who have recovered from COVID-19. The pilot study suggests
that even mild or moderate illness could change the levels of
proteins related to male reproductive function, the researchers say.
FULL STORY ==========================================================================
Many people who recover from COVID-19 experience long-term symptoms,
such as brain fog or heart problems. Increasing evidence suggests that
the virus can also impair fertility. Now, researchers reporting in ACS
Omega have analyzed protein levels in semen of men who have recovered
from COVID-19. The pilot study suggests that even mild or moderate illness could change the levels of proteins related to male reproductive function,
the researchers say.
========================================================================== Although SARS-CoV-2 mainly affects the respiratory system, the virus
-- and the body's response to it -- also damages other tissues. Recent
evidence indicates that COVID-19 infection can reduce male fertility, and
the virus has been detected in male reproductive organs. Firuza Parikh
and Rajesh Parikh at Jaslok Hospital, Sanjeeva Srivastava at the Indian Institute of Technology and colleagues wondered if COVID-19 infection
could have long-term impacts on the male reproductive system. To find
out, they decided to compare levels of proteins in the semen of healthy
men and those who previously had mild or moderate cases of COVID-19.
The researchers analyzed semen samples from 10 healthy men and 17 men who
had recently recovered from COVID-19. None of the men, who ranged in age
from 20 to 45, had a prior history of infertility. The team found that
the recovered men had significantly reduced sperm count and motility, and
fewer normally shaped sperm, than men who hadn't had COVID-19. When the researchers analyzed semen proteins using liquid chromatography-tandem
mass spectrometry, they found 27 proteins at higher levels and 21
proteins at lower levels in COVID-19-recovered men compared with the
control group. Many of the proteins were involved in reproductive
function. Two of the fertility-related proteins, semenogelin 1 and
prosaposin, were present at less than half their levels in the semen
of the COVID-19-recovered group than in the semen of controls. These
findings suggest that SARS-CoV-2 has direct or indirect effects on
male reproductive health that linger after recovery, the researchers
say. The work might also reveal insights into the pathophysiology of
human reproduction in recovered men, they add.
However, they note that larger studies should be done to confirm these findings, and a control group of men who recently recovered from other
flu-like illnesses should be included to ensure that the findings are
specific for COVID-19.
The authors acknowledge funding from Jaslok Hospital.
========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by American_Chemical_Society. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.
========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Susmita Ghosh, Swapneil Parikh, Mehar Un Nissa, Arup Acharjee,
Avinash
Singh, Dhruv Patwa, Prashant Makwana, Arundhati Athalye, Abhilash
Barpanda, Malini Laloraya, Sanjeeva Srivastava, Firuza Parikh. Semen
Proteomics of COVID-19 Convalescent Men Reveals Disruption of Key
Biological Pathways Relevant to Male Reproductive Function. ACS
Omega, 2022; 7 (10): 8601 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c06551 ==========================================================================
Link to news story:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/04/220407141845.htm
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