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Published on: September 3, 2012
Cytotoxic and viricidal effects of human semen on mumps virus-infected lymphocytes: In vitro studies
Fei Wang1, Xinyi Shao1, Binghao Bao2
1Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
Abstract:
Viruses in human semen may be sexually transmitted via free and cell-mediated viral infection. The potential effects of semen on the infection and sexual transmission of most viruses in semen remain largely unclear. The present study elucidated the inhibitory effects of human seminal plasma (SP) on Jurkat cell (JC)-mediated mumps virus (MuV) infection. We demonstrated that MuV efficiently infected JCs and that the JCs infected by MuV (JC-MuV) mediated MuV infection of HeLa cells. Remarkably, SP was highly cytotoxic to JCs and inhibited JC-MuV infection of HeLa cells. The cytotoxic factor possessed a molecular weight of less than 3 kDa, whereas that of the viricidal factor was over 100 kDa. The cooperation of cytotoxic and viricidal factors was required for the SP inhibition of JC-MuV infection, and prostatic fluid (PF) was responsible for both the cytotoxic and viricidal effects of SP. The cytotoxic effects we observed were resistant to the treatment of PF with boiling water, proteinase K, RNase A, and DNase I. Our results provide novel insights into the antiviral properties of SP, which may limit cell-mediated sexual viral transmission.
Insights
Human seminal plasma (SP) inhibits mumps virus (MuV) spread through cells. SP contains cytotoxic and viricidal factors, primarily from prostatic fluid, limiting cell-mediated sexual transmission of viruses.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Reproductive Health
Background:
- Viruses in semen can be sexually transmitted through free or cell-mediated infection.
- The impact of semen on viral infection and sexual transmission is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the inhibitory effects of human seminal plasma (SP) on mumps virus (MuV) infection mediated by Jurkat cells (JCs).
Main Methods:
- MuV infection of JCs and subsequent infection of HeLa cells by infected JCs (JC-MuV) were analyzed.
- The cytotoxic and viricidal effects of SP on JCs and JC-MuV were assessed.
- Molecular weight and resistance to treatments (boiling, proteinase K, RNase A, DNase I) of SP factors were determined.
- Prostatic fluid (PF) was analyzed for its role in SP's effects.
Main Results:
- MuV efficiently infected JCs, and JC-MuV mediated further infection of HeLa cells.
- SP exhibited significant cytotoxicity to JCs and inhibited JC-MuV mediated HeLa cell infection.
- SP contains a cytotoxic factor (<3 kDa) and a viricidal factor (>100 kDa).
- Prostatic fluid (PF) contains both cytotoxic and viricidal factors responsible for SP's inhibitory effects.
- Cytotoxic effects of PF were resistant to heat, proteinase K, RNase A, and DNase I treatments.
Conclusions:
- Human seminal plasma possesses antiviral properties that inhibit cell-mediated mumps virus transmission.
- Cytotoxic and viricidal factors in prostatic fluid cooperate to limit viral spread.
- These findings offer new insights into how seminal plasma may restrict sexual transmission of viruses.
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