Oxidative Stress, DNA Fragmentation and Caspase-3 Regulation in HIV-1 Positive Men: A Study of Sperm Preparation

• DOI: 10.14716/ijtech.v16i2.6420
• Publication Date: 2025-03-25T06:12:59Z
• Authors: Margaretha Napitu...; Friska Zai; Silvia W Lestari; Latisha Witjaksono; Zulfikar Drakel; Dhriti Bhavnani; Evy Yunihastuti; Gita Pratama; Ria Kodariah; Kusmardi Kusmardi
• Keywords: Fragmentation

The impact of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection on male fertility, specifically sperm quality, remains inconclusive in global studies. However, stable HIV-positive men undergoing antiretroviral therapy (ARV) experience improved quality of life and increased life expectancy, which fuels their desire for parenthood. This study aimed to investigate sperm quality in HIV-positive men in Indonesia by examining oxidative stress, DNA fragmentation, and caspase-3 apoptosis after sperm preparation. A comparison was made between HIV-positive men (case group) and HIV-negative men (control group). Out of the initial 47 participants, seven were excluded due to conditions such as azoospermia, low motility, or high sperm count. The final sample comprised 40 participants, and semen samples were collected at the HIV Integrated Clinic in Jakarta, Indonesia. Sperm preparation was conducted using the Gradient Density Centrifugation method. The variable measured were the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) by Thiobarbituric Reactive Substances Assay (TBARS), DNA Fragmentation Index (DFI) by Sperm Chromatin Dispersion (SCD) method, and apoptotic rate represented as caspase-3 expression by immunocytochemistry (ICC). Those examinations were conducted before and after sperm preparation. Significant increases were observed in MDA levels, DNA fragmentation index (DFI), and caspase-3 expression in the case group before (p < 0.01) and after preparation (p < 0.01). These findings suggest that sperm preparation can selectively choose sperm based on oxidative stress, DNA fragmentation, and caspase-3 expression in HIV-positive patients. In conclusion, our study sheds light on sperm quality in HIV-positive men and underscores the potential of sperm preparation in improving fertility outcomes. Further research is necessary to explore management strategies and mechanisms for enhancing sperm quality in stable HIV-positive men receiving ARV treatment.