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Updated: Jun 24, 2026
09:02
Modeling Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Non-Hepatic 293T-NE-3NRs Cells
Published on: June 5, 2020
Effects of hepatitis B virus S protein on human sperm function
Xiao-Ling Zhou1, Ping-Nan Sun, Tian-Hua Huang
1Research Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, People's Republic of China.
Human Reproduction (Oxford, England)
|March 13, 2009
Summary
Hepatitis B virus surface protein (HBs) impairs human sperm function, reducing motility and fertilization capacity. The asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGP-R) on sperm may facilitate HBs entry, contributing to these negative effects.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Virology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Hepatitis B virus (HBV) exists in semen and male germ cells of infected patients.
- The impact of HBV surface protein (HBs) on human sperm function remains largely unknown.
- HBs is the primary component of the HBV envelope protein.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of HBs on human sperm function.
- To explore the potential role of the asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGP-R) in HBs interaction with sperm.
Main Methods:
- Sperm motility analysis
- Sperm penetration assays
- Mitochondrial membrane potential assays
- Immunolocalization via confocal microscopy
- Flow cytometry
Main Results:
- HBs significantly reduced sperm motility and mitochondrial membrane potential in a dose- and time-dependent manner.
- Fertilization rates and fertilizing index were significantly lower in HBs-treated sperm compared to controls.
- HBs and ASGP-R co-localized on the postacrosomal region of sperm.
- ASGP-R monoclonal antibody (MAb) and asialofoetuin inhibited HBs-induced sperm dysfunction.
Conclusions:
- HBs exerts detrimental effects on human sperm function.
- ASGP-R is implicated in the uptake of HBs into sperm cells.
- Targeting ASGP-R may mitigate HBs-induced sperm impairment.
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