AUTHOR=Wang Zuomin , Ma Yuxiang , Chen Zude , Yang Riwei , Liu Qinwei , Pan Jinyou , Wang Jiamin , Liu Yangzhou , Zhou Mingda , Zhang Yihan , Zhou Yuhao , Yang Shuxin , Zou Bangyu , Lin Jingwei , Cai Yingxin , Jiang Zheng , Zhou Zhen , Zhao Zhigang 

TITLE=COVID-19 inhibits spermatogenesis in the testes by inducing cellular senescence

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Genetics

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/genetics/articles/10.3389/fgene.2022.981471

DOI=10.3389/fgene.2022.981471

ISSN=1664-8021

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Introduction:</bold> COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) has been linked to organ damage in humans since its worldwide outbreak. It can also induce severe sperm damage, according to research conducted at numerous clinical institutions. However, the exact mechanism of damage is still unknown.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> In this study, testicular bulk-RNA-seq Data were downloaded from three COVID-19 patients and three uninfected controls from GEO to evaluate the effect of COVID-19 infection on spermatogenesis. Relative expression of each pathway and the correlation between genes or pathways were analyzed by bioinformatic methods.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> By detecting the relative expression of each pathway and the correlation between genes or pathways, we found that COVID-19 could induce testicular cell senescence through MAPK signaling pathway. Cellular senescence was synergistic with MAPK pathway, which further affected the normal synthesis of cholesterol and androgen, inhibited the normal synthesis of lactate and pyruvate, and ultimately affected spermatogenesis. The medications targeting MAPK signaling pathway, especially MAPK1 and MAPK14, are expected to be effective therapeutic medications for reducing COVID-19 damage to spermatogenesis.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold> These results give us a new understanding of how COVID-19 inhibits spermatogenesis and provide a possible solution to alleviate this damage.</p>