Effect of COVID-19 on Platelet Mitochondrial Bioenergetic, Antioxidants and Oxidative Stress in Infertile Men.

NCT ID: NCT05421234

Last Updated: 2022-06-22

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

UNKNOWN

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

45 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2022-04-01

Study Completion Date

2023-03-30

Brief Summary

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To verify the hypothesis that infertility and the effect of SARS-CoV-2 on infertility may damage platelet mitochondrial bioenergetics and endogenous coenzyme Q10 levels in infertile men.

Detailed Description

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Infertility is defined as the failure of the reproductive system to achieve pregnancy after 12 months of unprotected sex life. The pathobiochemical mechanisms of male fertility disorders include reduced sperm motility and quality, oxidative stress, reduced antioxidant capacity, mtDNA fragmentation, and sperm mitochondrial dysfunction.

Sperm contain a number of mitochondria that are spirally arranged around the middle part of the axomen. The main role of mitochondria in spermatozoa is to generate the energy needed for their motility (1, 2). Endogenous sources - coenzyme Q10 and carnitine - are key for energy production (ATP) in sperm mitochondria. Physiological functions of sperm require a minimal amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS), but uncontrolled ROS production contributes to reduced motility and sperm count, fragmentation of mtDNA (3).

In recent years, blood cells (platelets, lymphocytes and monocytes) have been used to diagnose mitochondrial disorders. Isolated peripheral blood platelets are an available source of mitochondria to assess mitochondrial health. Platelets receive energy mainly through glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation. Platelet mitochondrial dysfunction has been demonstrated in patients with chronic kidney disease (4, 5), in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (6), in patients with acute COVID-19 (7). An O2k-respirometer (Oroboros, Austria) (8, 9) is used for respirometric analysis of platelet mitochondrial bioenergetics.

None information is available on the effect of infertility on platelet mitochondrial function, none on the effect of SARS-CoV-2 on platelet mitochondrial function in infertile patients, or the effect of vaccination on sperm function. Testicular damage and subsequent infertility due to SARS-CoV infection is expected. -2, directly via SARS-CoV-2 binding to ACE2 receptors or secondarily, in relation to the immunological and inflammatory response (10). SARS-CoV-2 virus induces excessive production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, mainly interleukin 6 (IL6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα). Cytokines can impair sperm movement and reduce sperm count. High levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines have been found in infertile men (with oligozoospermia, asthenozoospermia, teratozoospermia) (11).

SARS-CoV-2 virus can manipulate mitochondrial function in patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome, which may persist for a long time (12). In previous our study the investigators found modulation of platelet mitochondrial respiration, reduction ATP production via oxidative phosphorylation, reduces endogenous coenzyme Q10 production, reprogramming of cellular metabolism patients after 4-7 weeks overcoming acute COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 (7). In another studies the investigators confirmed platelet mitochondrial bioenergetic deficiency, reduced endogenous coenzyme Q10 production in patients with post-COVID-19 syndrome, 3-6 months after overcoming COVID-19 (13, 14, 15). Results of this study contribute to the understanding of the pathobiochemical mechanisms of infertility on subcellular level and to verify the hypothesis that infertility and the effect of SARS-CoV-2 on infertility may affect platelet mitochondrial bioenergetics and endogenous coenzyme Q10 levels.

Conditions

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Infertility, Male COVID-19

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

OTHER

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

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infertile men with post-COVID-19 (vaccinated or without vaccination)

15 infertile men with post-COVID-19 (vaccinated or without vaccination)

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

diagnostic test and sperm analysis

Intervention Type OTHER

Diagnostic Test: 2x14 ml of peripheral blood collected in the tube with anticoagulant, for platelet isolation, respirometry mitochondrial analysis, antioxidants (coenzyme Q10, vitamin E, gamma-tocopherol, beta-carotene) and TBARS estimation.

Sperm analysis: standard spermiogram examination (volume, pH, number, motility and pathology) in the broker chamber, as well as extended examinations: mioxsys for redox potential, Vitalsperm (eosin-nigrosine staining) for sperm vitality and anti-sperm antibody (IgG) test.

infertile men without post-COVID-19 (vaccinated or without vaccination)

15 infertile men without post-COVID-19 (vaccinated or without vaccination)

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

diagnostic test and sperm analysis

Intervention Type OTHER

Diagnostic Test: 2x14 ml of peripheral blood collected in the tube with anticoagulant, for platelet isolation, respirometry mitochondrial analysis, antioxidants (coenzyme Q10, vitamin E, gamma-tocopherol, beta-carotene) and TBARS estimation.

Sperm analysis: standard spermiogram examination (volume, pH, number, motility and pathology) in the broker chamber, as well as extended examinations: mioxsys for redox potential, Vitalsperm (eosin-nigrosine staining) for sperm vitality and anti-sperm antibody (IgG) test.

Control: 15 healthy men volunteers (no COVID-19, no other pathologies)

15 healthy men volunteers (no COVID-19, no other pathologies) as control group

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

diagnostic test and sperm analysis

Intervention Type OTHER

Diagnostic Test: 2x14 ml of peripheral blood collected in the tube with anticoagulant, for platelet isolation, respirometry mitochondrial analysis, antioxidants (coenzyme Q10, vitamin E, gamma-tocopherol, beta-carotene) and TBARS estimation.

Sperm analysis: standard spermiogram examination (volume, pH, number, motility and pathology) in the broker chamber, as well as extended examinations: mioxsys for redox potential, Vitalsperm (eosin-nigrosine staining) for sperm vitality and anti-sperm antibody (IgG) test.

Interventions

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diagnostic test and sperm analysis

Diagnostic Test: 2x14 ml of peripheral blood collected in the tube with anticoagulant, for platelet isolation, respirometry mitochondrial analysis, antioxidants (coenzyme Q10, vitamin E, gamma-tocopherol, beta-carotene) and TBARS estimation.

Sperm analysis: standard spermiogram examination (volume, pH, number, motility and pathology) in the broker chamber, as well as extended examinations: mioxsys for redox potential, Vitalsperm (eosin-nigrosine staining) for sperm vitality and anti-sperm antibody (IgG) test.

Intervention Type OTHER

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Infertile patients without COVID-19
* Infertile patients after COVID-19 Control group: healthy volunteers

Exclusion Criteria

* disagreement with informed consent
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

40 Years

Eligible Sex

MALE

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

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GYN-FIV

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role collaborator

Comenius University

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

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Anna Gvozdjáková, Prof.Dr.DSc.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

CU in Bratislava, Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacobiochemical Laboratory of 3rd department of Medicine

Locations

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Pharmacobiochemical Laboratory of Third Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Comenius University in Bratislava

Bratislava, , Slovakia

Site Status

Countries

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Slovakia

References

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Sheweita SA, Tilmisany AM, Al-Sawaf H. Mechanisms of male infertility: role of antioxidants. Curr Drug Metab. 2005 Oct;6(5):495-501. doi: 10.2174/138920005774330594.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 16248841 (View on PubMed)

Gvozdjakova A, Kucharska J, Dubravicky J, Mojto V, Singh RB. Coenzyme Q(1)(0), alpha-tocopherol, and oxidative stress could be important metabolic biomarkers of male infertility. Dis Markers. 2015;2015:827941. doi: 10.1155/2015/827941. Epub 2015 Feb 25.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 25810566 (View on PubMed)

Gvozdjakova A, Sumbalova Z, Kucharska J, Chladekova A, Rausova Z, Vancova O, Komlosi M, Ulicna O, Mojto V. Platelet mitochondrial bioenergetic analysis in patients with nephropathies and non-communicable diseases: a new method. Bratisl Lek Listy. 2019;120(9):630-635. doi: 10.4149/BLL_2019_104.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 31475544 (View on PubMed)

Gvozdjakova A, Sumbalova Z, Kucharska J, Komlosi M, Rausova Z, Vancova O, Szamosova M, Mojto V. Platelet Mitochondrial Respiration, Endogenous Coenzyme Q10 and Oxidative Stress in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease. Diagnostics (Basel). 2020 Mar 23;10(3):176. doi: 10.3390/diagnostics10030176.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 32210203 (View on PubMed)

Gvozdjakova A, Sumbalova Z, Kucharska J, Szamosova M, Capova L, Rausova Z, Vancova O, Mojto V, Langsjoen P, Palacka P. Platelet mitochondrial respiration and coenzyme Q10 could be used as new diagnostic strategy for mitochondrial dysfunction in rheumatoid diseases. PLoS One. 2021 Sep 28;16(9):e0256135. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0256135. eCollection 2021.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 34582480 (View on PubMed)

Sumbalova Z, Kucharska J, Palacka P, Rausova Z, Langsjoen PH, Langsjoen AM, Gvozdjakova A. Platelet mitochondrial function and endogenous coenzyme Q10 levels are reduced in patients after COVID-19. Bratisl Lek Listy. 2022;123(1):9-15. doi: 10.4149/BLL_2022_002.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 34967652 (View on PubMed)

Pesta D, Gnaiger E. High-resolution respirometry: OXPHOS protocols for human cells and permeabilized fibers from small biopsies of human muscle. Methods Mol Biol. 2012;810:25-58. doi: 10.1007/978-1-61779-382-0_3.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 22057559 (View on PubMed)

Abobaker A, Raba AA. Does COVID-19 affect male fertility? World J Urol. 2021 Mar;39(3):975-976. doi: 10.1007/s00345-020-03208-w. Epub 2020 Apr 21. No abstract available.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 32318855 (View on PubMed)

Rajak P, Roy S, Dutta M, Podder S, Sarkar S, Ganguly A, Mandi M, Khatun S. Understanding the cross-talk between mediators of infertility and COVID-19. Reprod Biol. 2021 Dec;21(4):100559. doi: 10.1016/j.repbio.2021.100559. Epub 2021 Sep 1.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 34547545 (View on PubMed)

Gvozdjakova A, Klauco F, Kucharska J, Sumbalova Z. Is mitochondrial bioenergetics and coenzyme Q10 the target of a virus causing COVID-19? Bratisl Lek Listy. 2020;121(11):775-778. doi: 10.4149/BLL_2020_126.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 33164536 (View on PubMed)

Boguenet M, Bouet PE, Spiers A, Reynier P, May-Panloup P. Mitochondria: their role in spermatozoa and in male infertility. Hum Reprod Update. 2021 Jun 22;27(4):697-719. doi: 10.1093/humupd/dmab001.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 33555313 (View on PubMed)

Khalili MA, Leisegang K, Majzoub A, Finelli R, Panner Selvam MK, Henkel R, Mojgan M, Agarwal A. Male Fertility and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Systematic Review of the Literature. World J Mens Health. 2020 Oct;38(4):506-520. doi: 10.5534/wjmh.200134. Epub 2020 Aug 14.

Reference Type RESULT
PMID: 32814369 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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COVID-19-INFERTILITY-SK01/2022

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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