Preferential retention of the E6 and E7 regions of the human papilloma virus type 18 genome by human sperm cells.

OBJECTIVE

To determine if sperm cells differentially take up or retain different regions of human papilloma virus (HPV) type 18 genome.

DESIGN

A descriptive clinical study.

SETTING

A major medical center affiliated with a medical college.

PATIENTS

Twenty-three randomly selected patients who attended Fertility Clinics at the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. Semen specimens were obtained from volunteered patients who attended fertility clinics at the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

The presence of various regions of HPV type 18 genome in sperm cells was determined by polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

Among 23 sperm specimens that were positive for HPV type 18 DNA by polymerase chain reaction, the upstream regulatory region, E6, E7, E1, and L1 regions or open region frames were detected in 4 (17%), 7 (30%), 19 (83%), 5 (22%), and 1 (4%) specimens, respectively. The differential display of the presence of various regions of the HPV type 18 genome was not the result of different amplification and detection efficiencies of these DNA fragments.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that the oncogenic portion of HPV DNA is present in spermatozoa. Furthermore, the E6 and E7 regions of the viral genome preferentially were taken up and/or retained by the human sperm cells.