The influence of HIV treatment on sperm mitochondria

Cooperating countries: Nigeria and Austria

Coordinating institution: University of Lagos, Olufunke Dosumu, odosumu@unilag.edu.ng

Partner institution: Medical University Vienna

Project duration: 1 September 2023 - 31 August 2025

Abstract:

38 Million people are living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) world-wide. The World health organization (WHO) advises for immediate treatment upon testing positive for HIV with a combinatorial antiretroviral therapy (cART). Treatment of HIV in Nigeria consists of two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (Tenofovir Disproxil Fumarate and Lamivudine) and an integrase inhibitor (Dolutegravir), which efficiently minimizes viral load and is the recommended first line regime by the WHO.

As viral inhibition was the foremost goal, the reproductive rights of people living with HIV (PLHV) were not prioritized. Moreover, cART has been indicted with reports of male infertility, reduced libido, lower pregnancy rates, and outcomes. With the aim of viral inhibition largely achieved, there is now a gradual shift from the pure treatment of the disease to other health aspects of people living with HIV, like reproduction. However, so far the underlying causes of the decreased fertility of PLHV are not well understood.

This collaborative study seeks to first employ a more reliable marker of male fertility to gain novel insights into the infertility of PLHV - the mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn), which has been shown to be a more accurate predictor of male fertility, as it varies inversely with semen parameters and fertilization capacity. Second, the study seeks to investigate the factors directly/indirectly affecting mtDNAcn including cART. Hence, the proposed pilot study will examine the effects of short and long-term administration of Dolutegravir-based cART on fertility by studying the relationship between sperm mtDNAcn, mitochondria morphology, DNA methylation, and semen quality in HIV-infected men.

This project will be conducted in close collaboration with UNILAG and MedUniWien and it will foster regular interactions with scientists in both institutions, including a vivid exchange of knowledge and methods.