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Persistent Marburg Virus Infection in the Testes of Nonhuman Primate Survivors

Kayla M Coffin1, Jun Liu1, Travis K Warren1

  • 1United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), 1425 Porter Street, Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.

Cell Host & Microbe
|September 4, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Marburg virus can persist in testes, damaging sperm production and potentially leading to sexual transmission. Targeting immune suppression may help clear this persistent infection.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Immunology
  • Reproductive Biology

Background:

  • Sexual transmission of filoviruses, including Marburg virus (MARV) and Ebola virus, is a known phenomenon.
  • Mechanisms of filovirus testicular persistence and shedding in semen remain poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how filoviruses establish persistence in the testes.
  • To elucidate the cellular events and consequences of persistent MARV infection in the testicular immune-privileged site.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized crab-eating macaques that survived MARV infection after antiviral treatment.
  • Examined persistent MARV infection in seminiferous tubules, focusing on Sertoli cells and the blood-testis barrier.
  • Assessed testicular damage, including spermatogenic cell depletion and immune cell infiltration (CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells).

Main Results:

  • Persistent MARV infection was observed in seminiferous tubules of surviving macaques.
  • MARV primarily persisted in Sertoli cells, disrupting the blood-testis barrier.
  • Persistence led to severe testicular damage, depletion of spermatogenic cells, and infiltration of immunosuppressive regulatory T cells.

Conclusions:

  • MARV persistence in Sertoli cells compromises the blood-testis barrier and immune privilege.
  • Testicular damage and immune cell infiltration may facilitate sexual transmission of filoviruses.
  • Targeting immunosuppression could be a strategy to eliminate filovirus persistence in immune-privileged sites.
Keywords:
EBOVEbola virusMARVMarburg virusTregfilovirusimmunosuppressionpersistent infectiontestisviral persistence

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