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Power Guerra N, Bierkämper M, Pablik J, Hummel T, Witt M. Histochemical Evidence for Reduced Immune Response in Nasal Mucosa of Patients with COVID-19. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4427. [PMID: 38674011 PMCID: PMC11050322 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Revised: 04/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The primary entry point of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the nasal mucosa, where viral-induced inflammation occurs. When the immune response fails against SARS-CoV-2, understanding the altered response becomes crucial. This study aimed to compare SARS-CoV-2 immunological responses in the olfactory and respiratory mucosa by focusing on epithelia and nerves. Between 2020 and 2022, we obtained post mortem tissues from the olfactory cleft from 10 patients with histologically intact olfactory epithelia (OE) who died with or from COVID-19, along with four age-matched controls. These tissues were subjected to immunohistochemical reactions using antibodies against T cell antigens CD3, CD8, CD68, and SARS spike protein for viral evidence. Deceased patients with COVID-19 exhibited peripheral lymphopenia accompanied by a local decrease in CD3+ cells in the OE. However, SARS-CoV-2 spike protein was sparsely detectable in the OE. With regard to the involvement of nerve fibers, the present analysis suggested that SARS-CoV-2 did not significantly alter the immune response in olfactory or trigeminal fibers. On the other hand, SARS spike protein was detectable in both nerves. In summary, the post mortem investigation demonstrated a decreased T cell response in patients with COVID-19 and signs of SARS-CoV-2 presence in olfactory and trigeminal fibers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Power Guerra
- Smell & Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01309 Dresden, Germany; (N.P.G.); (M.B.); (T.H.)
| | - Martin Bierkämper
- Smell & Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01309 Dresden, Germany; (N.P.G.); (M.B.); (T.H.)
| | - Jessica Pablik
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01309 Dresden, Germany;
| | - Thomas Hummel
- Smell & Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01309 Dresden, Germany; (N.P.G.); (M.B.); (T.H.)
| | - Martin Witt
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biostructural Foundations of Medical Sciences, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, 61-781 Poznań, Poland
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01309 Dresden, Germany
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2
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Radke J, Meinhardt J, Aschman T, Chua RL, Farztdinov V, Lukassen S, Ten FW, Friebel E, Ishaque N, Franz J, Huhle VH, Mothes R, Peters K, Thomas C, Schneeberger S, Schumann E, Kawelke L, Jünger J, Horst V, Streit S, von Manitius R, Körtvélyessy P, Vielhaber S, Reinhold D, Hauser AE, Osterloh A, Enghard P, Ihlow J, Elezkurtaj S, Horst D, Kurth F, Müller MA, Gassen NC, Melchert J, Jechow K, Timmermann B, Fernandez-Zapata C, Böttcher C, Stenzel W, Krüger E, Landthaler M, Wyler E, Corman V, Stadelmann C, Ralser M, Eils R, Heppner FL, Mülleder M, Conrad C, Radbruch H. Proteomic and transcriptomic profiling of brainstem, cerebellum and olfactory tissues in early- and late-phase COVID-19. Nat Neurosci 2024; 27:409-420. [PMID: 38366144 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-024-01573-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Neurological symptoms, including cognitive impairment and fatigue, can occur in both the acute infection phase of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and at later stages, yet the mechanisms that contribute to this remain unclear. Here we profiled single-nucleus transcriptomes and proteomes of brainstem tissue from deceased individuals at various stages of COVID-19. We detected an inflammatory type I interferon response in acute COVID-19 cases, which resolves in the late disease phase. Integrating single-nucleus RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics, we could localize two patterns of reaction to severe systemic inflammation, one neuronal with a direct focus on cranial nerve nuclei and a separate diffuse pattern affecting the whole brainstem. The latter reflects a bystander effect of the respiratory infection that spreads throughout the vascular unit and alters the transcriptional state of mainly oligodendrocytes, microglia and astrocytes, while alterations of the brainstem nuclei could reflect the connection of the immune system and the central nervous system via, for example, the vagus nerve. Our results indicate that even without persistence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in the central nervous system, local immune reactions are prevailing, potentially causing functional disturbances that contribute to neurological complications of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josefine Radke
- Institute of Pathology, Universitätsmedizin Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Jenny Meinhardt
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tom Aschman
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Robert Lorenz Chua
- Center of Digital Health, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Vadim Farztdinov
- Core Facility High Throughput Mass Spectrometry, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sören Lukassen
- Center of Digital Health, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Foo Wei Ten
- Center of Digital Health, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ekaterina Friebel
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Naveed Ishaque
- Center of Digital Health, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jonas Franz
- Department of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Valerie Helena Huhle
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ronja Mothes
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kristin Peters
- Institute of Pathology, Universitätsmedizin Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Carolina Thomas
- Department of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Shirin Schneeberger
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Elisa Schumann
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Leona Kawelke
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Julia Jünger
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Viktor Horst
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Simon Streit
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Regina von Manitius
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Péter Körtvélyessy
- Department of Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stefan Vielhaber
- Department of Neurology, Otto von Guerike University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Dirk Reinhold
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Otto von Guerike University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Anja E Hauser
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Immune Dynamics, Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum, a Leibniz Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anja Osterloh
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Philipp Enghard
- Department of Nephrology and Medical Intensive Care, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jana Ihlow
- Department of Pathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sefer Elezkurtaj
- Department of Pathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - David Horst
- Department of Pathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Florian Kurth
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Respiratory Medicine, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marcel A Müller
- Institute of Virology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nils C Gassen
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Julia Melchert
- Institute of Virology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Katharina Jechow
- Center of Digital Health, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Camila Fernandez-Zapata
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, a cooperation between the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association and Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Chotima Böttcher
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, a cooperation between the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association and Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Werner Stenzel
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Elke Krüger
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universitätsmedizin Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Markus Landthaler
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
- Institut für Biologie, Humboldt Universität, Berlin, Germany
| | - Emanuel Wyler
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
| | - Victor Corman
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Respiratory Medicine, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), associated partner, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christine Stadelmann
- Department of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Markus Ralser
- Core Facility High Throughput Mass Spectrometry, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Roland Eils
- Center of Digital Health, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Frank L Heppner
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence NeuroCure, Berlin, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Mülleder
- Core Facility High Throughput Mass Spectrometry, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian Conrad
- Center of Digital Health, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Helena Radbruch
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
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3
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Lahmer T, Weirich G, Porubsky S, Rasch S, Kammerstetter FA, Schustetter C, Schüffler P, Erber J, Dibos M, Delbridge C, Kuhn PH, Jeske S, Steinhardt M, Chaker A, Heim M, Heemann U, Schmid RM, Weichert W, Stock KF, Slotta-Huspenina J. Postmortem Minimally Invasive Autopsy in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients at the Bedside: A Proof-of-Concept Study at the ICU. Diagnostics (Basel) 2024; 14:294. [PMID: 38337812 PMCID: PMC10854968 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14030294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Economic restrictions and workforce cuts have continually challenged conventional autopsies. Recently, the COVID-19 pandemic has added tissue quality and safety requirements to the investigation of this disease, thereby launching efforts to upgrade autopsy strategies. METHODS In this proof-of-concept study, we performed bedside ultrasound-guided minimally invasive autopsy (US-MIA) in the ICU of critically ill COVID-19 patients using a structured protocol to obtain non-autolyzed tissue. Biopsies were assessed for their quality (vitality) and length of biopsy (mm) and for diagnosis. The efficiency of the procedure was monitored in five cases by recording the time of each step and safety issues by swabbing personal protective equipment and devices for viral contamination. FINDINGS Ultrasound examination and tissue procurement required a mean time period of 13 min and 54 min, respectively. A total of 318 multiorgan biopsies were obtained from five patients. Quality and vitality standards were fulfilled, which not only allowed for specific histopathological diagnosis but also the reliable detection of SARS-CoV-2 virions in unexpected organs using electronic microscopy and RNA-expressing techniques. INTERPRETATION Bedside multidisciplinary US-MIA allows for the fast and efficient acquisition of autolytic-free tissue and offers unappreciated potential to overcome the limitations of research in postmortem studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Lahmer
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Straße 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; (S.R.); (J.E.); (M.D.); (R.M.S.)
| | - Gregor Weirich
- Institute of Pathology, School of Medicine, Technical University Munich, Ismaninger Straße 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; (G.W.); (F.A.K.); (C.S.); (P.S.); (C.D.); (P.H.K.); (W.W.); (J.S.-H.)
| | - Stefan Porubsky
- Institut für Pathologie, Universitätsklinikum Mainz, Langenbeckstraße 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany;
| | - Sebastian Rasch
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Straße 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; (S.R.); (J.E.); (M.D.); (R.M.S.)
| | - Florian A. Kammerstetter
- Institute of Pathology, School of Medicine, Technical University Munich, Ismaninger Straße 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; (G.W.); (F.A.K.); (C.S.); (P.S.); (C.D.); (P.H.K.); (W.W.); (J.S.-H.)
| | - Christian Schustetter
- Institute of Pathology, School of Medicine, Technical University Munich, Ismaninger Straße 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; (G.W.); (F.A.K.); (C.S.); (P.S.); (C.D.); (P.H.K.); (W.W.); (J.S.-H.)
| | - Peter Schüffler
- Institute of Pathology, School of Medicine, Technical University Munich, Ismaninger Straße 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; (G.W.); (F.A.K.); (C.S.); (P.S.); (C.D.); (P.H.K.); (W.W.); (J.S.-H.)
| | - Johanna Erber
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Straße 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; (S.R.); (J.E.); (M.D.); (R.M.S.)
| | - Miriam Dibos
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Straße 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; (S.R.); (J.E.); (M.D.); (R.M.S.)
| | - Claire Delbridge
- Institute of Pathology, School of Medicine, Technical University Munich, Ismaninger Straße 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; (G.W.); (F.A.K.); (C.S.); (P.S.); (C.D.); (P.H.K.); (W.W.); (J.S.-H.)
| | - Peer Hendrik Kuhn
- Institute of Pathology, School of Medicine, Technical University Munich, Ismaninger Straße 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; (G.W.); (F.A.K.); (C.S.); (P.S.); (C.D.); (P.H.K.); (W.W.); (J.S.-H.)
| | - Samuel Jeske
- Institute of Virology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich/Helmholtz Zentrum München, Trogerstraße 30, 81675 Munich, Germany;
| | - Manuel Steinhardt
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Straße 22, 81675 Munich, Germany;
| | - Adam Chaker
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Hospital Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Ismaninger Straße 22, 81675 Munich, Germany;
| | - Markus Heim
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Medicine, School of Medicine, Technical University Munich, Ismaninger Straße 22, 81675 Munich, Germany;
| | - Uwe Heemann
- Department of Nephrology, School of Medicine, Technical University Munich, Ismaninger Straße 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; (U.H.); (K.F.S.)
| | - Roland M. Schmid
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Ismaninger Straße 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; (S.R.); (J.E.); (M.D.); (R.M.S.)
| | - Wilko Weichert
- Institute of Pathology, School of Medicine, Technical University Munich, Ismaninger Straße 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; (G.W.); (F.A.K.); (C.S.); (P.S.); (C.D.); (P.H.K.); (W.W.); (J.S.-H.)
| | - Konrad Friedrich Stock
- Department of Nephrology, School of Medicine, Technical University Munich, Ismaninger Straße 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; (U.H.); (K.F.S.)
| | - Julia Slotta-Huspenina
- Institute of Pathology, School of Medicine, Technical University Munich, Ismaninger Straße 22, 81675 Munich, Germany; (G.W.); (F.A.K.); (C.S.); (P.S.); (C.D.); (P.H.K.); (W.W.); (J.S.-H.)
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4
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Meinhardt J, Streit S, Dittmayer C, Manitius RV, Radbruch H, Heppner FL. The neurobiology of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Nat Rev Neurosci 2024; 25:30-42. [PMID: 38049610 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-023-00769-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
Worldwide, over 694 million people have been infected with SARS-CoV-2, with an estimated 55-60% of those infected developing COVID-19. Since the beginning of the pandemic in December 2019, different variants of concern have appeared and continue to occur. With the emergence of different variants, an increasing rate of vaccination and previous infections, the acute neurological symptomatology of COVID-19 changed. Moreover, 10-45% of individuals with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection experience symptoms even 3 months after disease onset, a condition that has been defined as 'post-COVID-19' by the World Health Organization and that occurs independently of the virus variant. The pathomechanisms of COVID-19-related neurological complaints have become clearer during the past 3 years. To date, there is no overt - that is, truly convincing - evidence for SARS-CoV-2 particles in the brain. In this Review, we put special emphasis on discussing the methodological difficulties of viral detection in CNS tissue and discuss immune-based (systemic and central) effects contributing to COVID-19-related CNS affection. We sequentially review the reported changes to CNS cells in COVID-19, starting with the blood-brain barrier and blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier - as systemic factors from the periphery appear to primarily influence barriers and conduits - before we describe changes in brain parenchymal cells, including microglia, astrocytes, neurons and oligodendrocytes as well as cerebral lymphocytes. These findings are critical to understanding CNS affection in acute COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 in order to translate these findings into treatment options, which are still very limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Meinhardt
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Simon Streit
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Carsten Dittmayer
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Regina V Manitius
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Helena Radbruch
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Frank L Heppner
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.
- Cluster of Excellence, NeuroCure, Berlin, Germany.
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
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5
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Magaki S, Zhang T, Han K, Hilda M, Yong WH, Achim C, Fishbein G, Fishbein MC, Garner O, Salamon N, Williams CK, Valdes-Sueiras MA, Hsu JJ, Kelesidis T, Mathisen GE, Lavretsky H, Singer EJ, Vinters HV. HIV and COVID-19: two pandemics with significant (but different) central nervous system complications. FREE NEUROPATHOLOGY 2024; 5:5-5. [PMID: 38469363 PMCID: PMC10925920 DOI: 10.17879/freeneuropathology-2024-5343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) cause significant neurologic disease. Central nervous system (CNS) involvement of HIV has been extensively studied, with well-documented invasion of HIV into the brain in the initial stage of infection, while the acute effects of SARS-CoV-2 in the brain are unclear. Neuropathologic features of active HIV infection in the brain are well characterized whereas neuropathologic findings in acute COVID-19 are largely non-specific. On the other hand, neuropathologic substrates of chronic dysfunction in both infections, as HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) and post-COVID conditions (PCC)/long COVID are unknown. Thus far, neuropathologic studies on patients with HAND in the era of combined antiretroviral therapy have been inconclusive, and autopsy studies on patients diagnosed with PCC have yet to be published. Further longitudinal, multidisciplinary studies on patients with HAND and PCC and neuropathologic studies in comparison to controls are warranted to help elucidate the mechanisms of CNS dysfunction in both conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shino Magaki
- Section of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles CA, USA
| | - Ting Zhang
- Section of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles CA, USA
| | - Karam Han
- Section of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles CA, USA
| | - Mirbaha Hilda
- Section of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles CA, USA
| | - William H. Yong
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California-Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Cristian Achim
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Gregory Fishbein
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Michael C. Fishbein
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Omai Garner
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Noriko Salamon
- Department of Radiological Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Christopher K. Williams
- Section of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles CA, USA
| | - Miguel A. Valdes-Sueiras
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jeffrey J. Hsu
- Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Theodoros Kelesidis
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Glenn E. Mathisen
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Olive View-University of California Los Angeles Medical Center, Sylmar, CA, USA
| | - Helen Lavretsky
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Elyse J. Singer
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Harry V. Vinters
- Section of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles CA, USA
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Brain Research Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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6
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Heinrich F, Mertz KD, Glatzel M, Beer M, Krasemann S. Using autopsies to dissect COVID-19 pathogenesis. Nat Microbiol 2023; 8:1986-1994. [PMID: 37798476 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-023-01488-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 has resulted in millions of deaths as a result of COVID-19. Suitable models were missing at the beginning of the pandemic, and studies investigating disease pathogenesis relied on patients who had succumbed to COVID-19. Since then, autopsies of patients have substantially contributed to our understanding of the pathogenesis of COVID-19 and associated major organ complications. Here we summarize how autopsies have complemented experimental studies, mainly in animal models, and how they have facilitated critical knowledge of COVID-19 to improve daily clinical practice and develop therapeutic interventions. Employing advanced histopathologic and molecular genetic methods in post-mortem tissues, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of autopsies for virology research and clinical practice in current and emerging infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Heinrich
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Kirsten D Mertz
- Institute of Pathology, Kantonsspital Baselland, Liestal, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Markus Glatzel
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Martin Beer
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Susanne Krasemann
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
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7
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Woo MS, Shafiq M, Fitzek A, Dottermusch M, Altmeppen H, Mohammadi B, Mayer C, Bal LC, Raich L, Matschke J, Krasemann S, Pfefferle S, Brehm TT, Lütgehetmann M, Schädler J, Addo MM, Schulze Zur Wiesch J, Ondruschka B, Friese MA, Glatzel M. Vagus nerve inflammation contributes to dysautonomia in COVID-19. Acta Neuropathol 2023; 146:387-394. [PMID: 37452829 PMCID: PMC10412500 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-023-02612-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Dysautonomia has substantially impacted acute COVID-19 severity as well as symptom burden after recovery from COVID-19 (long COVID), yet the underlying causes remain unknown. Here, we hypothesized that vagus nerves are affected in COVID-19 which might contribute to autonomic dysfunction. We performed a histopathological characterization of postmortem vagus nerves from COVID-19 patients and controls, and detected SARS-CoV-2 RNA together with inflammatory cell infiltration composed primarily of monocytes. Furthermore, we performed RNA sequencing which revealed a strong inflammatory response of neurons, endothelial cells, and Schwann cells which correlated with SARS-CoV-2 RNA load. Lastly, we screened a clinical cohort of 323 patients to detect a clinical phenotype of vagus nerve affection and found a decreased respiratory rate in non-survivors of critical COVID-19. Our data suggest that SARS-CoV-2 induces vagus nerve inflammation followed by autonomic dysfunction which contributes to critical disease courses and might contribute to dysautonomia observed in long COVID.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcel S Woo
- Institute of Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Mohsin Shafiq
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Antonia Fitzek
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Matthias Dottermusch
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hermann Altmeppen
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Behnam Mohammadi
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christina Mayer
- Institute of Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Lukas C Bal
- Institute of Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Lukas Raich
- Institute of Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jakob Matschke
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Susanne Krasemann
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Susanne Pfefferle
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Theo Brehm
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, Hamburg, Germany
- I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Marc Lütgehetmann
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Julia Schädler
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Marylyn M Addo
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, Hamburg, Germany
- I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Institute for Infection Research and Vaccine Development (IIRVD), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Julian Schulze Zur Wiesch
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, Hamburg, Germany
- I. Department of Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Benjamin Ondruschka
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Manuel A Friese
- Institute of Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Markus Glatzel
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
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8
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Vargas-Schaffer G. Pharmacological Proposal Approach to Managing Chronic Pain Associated with COVID-19. Biomedicines 2023; 11:1812. [PMID: 37509450 PMCID: PMC10376228 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11071812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2023] [Revised: 06/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Post-COVID syndrome is widespread and chronic pain associated with this syndrome is increasingly being seen in pain clinics. Understanding and managing Chronic Post-COVID Pain (CPCoP) is essential in improving the quality of life of patients. Relevant sections: Identify the types of pain associated with post-COVID syndrome and look for ways to treat them. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Based on our experience, we have identified five groups within CPCoP: (1) chronic pain post-hospitalization in intensive care or long hospitalizations, (2) pain associated with rehabilitation, (3) exacerbation of existing chronic pain pre-COVID-19 infection, (4) central and peripheral neuropathic pain post-COVID-19 infection, (5) chronic pain post vaccination. To fight against misinformation, we created an information capsule for doctors, nurses, and other health workers at a conference via the ECHO* program, delivered 2-3 times a year. CONCLUSIONS In pandemic and post-pandemic periods, it is important to determine the sequelae that a disease can leave in the general population, and to understand and treat them. The model proposed may serve as an inspiration to other pain centers to treat the increasing number of patients with CPCoP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grisell Vargas-Schaffer
- Pain Center, Centre Hospitalier de l'Universitaire de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM), Montréal, QC H2X 3E4, Canada
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9
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Lebrun L, Absil L, Remmelink M, De Mendonça R, D'Haene N, Gaspard N, Rusu S, Racu ML, Collin A, Allard J, Zindy E, Schiavo AA, De Clercq S, De Witte O, Decaestecker C, Lopes MB, Salmon I. SARS-Cov-2 infection and neuropathological findings: a report of 18 cases and review of the literature. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2023; 11:78. [PMID: 37165453 PMCID: PMC10170054 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-023-01566-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION COVID-19-infected patients harbour neurological symptoms such as stroke and anosmia, leading to the hypothesis that there is direct invasion of the central nervous system (CNS) by SARS-CoV-2. Several studies have reported the neuropathological examination of brain samples from patients who died from COVID-19. However, there is still sparse evidence of virus replication in the human brain, suggesting that neurologic symptoms could be related to mechanisms other than CNS infection by the virus. Our objective was to provide an extensive review of the literature on the neuropathological findings of postmortem brain samples from patients who died from COVID-19 and to report our own experience with 18 postmortem brain samples. MATERIAL AND METHODS We used microscopic examination, immunohistochemistry (using two different antibodies) and PCR-based techniques to describe the neuropathological findings and the presence of SARS-CoV-2 virus in postmortem brain samples. For comparison, similar techniques (IHC and PCR) were applied to the lung tissue samples for each patient from our cohort. The systematic literature review was conducted from the beginning of the pandemic in 2019 until June 1st, 2022. RESULTS In our cohort, the most common neuropathological findings were perivascular haemosiderin-laden macrophages and hypoxic-ischaemic changes in neurons, which were found in all cases (n = 18). Only one brain tissue sample harboured SARS-CoV-2 viral spike and nucleocapsid protein expression, while all brain cases harboured SARS-CoV-2 RNA positivity by PCR. A colocalization immunohistochemistry study revealed that SARS-CoV-2 antigens could be located in brain perivascular macrophages. The literature review highlighted that the most frequent neuropathological findings were ischaemic and haemorrhagic lesions, including hypoxic/ischaemic alterations. However, few studies have confirmed the presence of SARS-CoV-2 antigens in brain tissue samples. CONCLUSION This study highlighted the lack of specific neuropathological alterations in COVID-19-infected patients. There is still no evidence of neurotropism for SARS-CoV-2 in our cohort or in the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laetitia Lebrun
- Department of Pathology, Erasme University Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB)Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles (HUB), CUB Hôpital Erasme, 808 Route de Lennik, B-1070, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Lara Absil
- Department of Pathology, Erasme University Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB)Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles (HUB), CUB Hôpital Erasme, 808 Route de Lennik, B-1070, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Myriam Remmelink
- Department of Pathology, Erasme University Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB)Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles (HUB), CUB Hôpital Erasme, 808 Route de Lennik, B-1070, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Ricardo De Mendonça
- Department of Pathology, Erasme University Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB)Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles (HUB), CUB Hôpital Erasme, 808 Route de Lennik, B-1070, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nicky D'Haene
- Department of Pathology, Erasme University Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB)Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles (HUB), CUB Hôpital Erasme, 808 Route de Lennik, B-1070, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nicolas Gaspard
- Department of Neurology, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles (HUB), CUB Hôpital Erasme, Erasme University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Stefan Rusu
- Department of Pathology, Erasme University Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB)Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles (HUB), CUB Hôpital Erasme, 808 Route de Lennik, B-1070, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Marie-Lucie Racu
- Department of Pathology, Erasme University Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB)Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles (HUB), CUB Hôpital Erasme, 808 Route de Lennik, B-1070, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Amandine Collin
- DIAPath, Center for Microscopy and Molecular Imaging (CMMI), ULB, Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Justine Allard
- DIAPath, Center for Microscopy and Molecular Imaging (CMMI), ULB, Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Egor Zindy
- DIAPath, Center for Microscopy and Molecular Imaging (CMMI), ULB, Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Andrea Alex Schiavo
- Department of Pathology, Erasme University Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB)Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles (HUB), CUB Hôpital Erasme, 808 Route de Lennik, B-1070, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sarah De Clercq
- Department of Pathology, Erasme University Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB)Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles (HUB), CUB Hôpital Erasme, 808 Route de Lennik, B-1070, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Olivier De Witte
- Department of Neurosurgery, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB)Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles (HUB), CUB Hôpital ErasmeErasme University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Christine Decaestecker
- DIAPath, Center for Microscopy and Molecular Imaging (CMMI), ULB, Gosselies, Belgium
- Laboratory of Image Synthesis and Analysis, Brussels School of Engineering/École Polytechnique de Brussels, ULB, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Maria-Beatriz Lopes
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Isabelle Salmon
- Department of Pathology, Erasme University Hospital, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB)Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles (HUB), CUB Hôpital Erasme, 808 Route de Lennik, B-1070, Brussels, Belgium.
- DIAPath, Center for Microscopy and Molecular Imaging (CMMI), ULB, Gosselies, Belgium.
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10
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Solomon IH, Singh A, Folkerth RD, Mukerji SS. What Can We Still Learn from Brain Autopsies in COVID-19? Semin Neurol 2023. [PMID: 37023787 DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1767716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
Neuropathological findings have been published from ∼900 patients who died with or from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections, representing less than 0.01% of the close to 6.4 million deaths reported to the World Health Organization 2 years into the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. In this review, we extend our prior work summarizing COVID-19 neuropathology by including information on published autopsies up to June 2022, and neuropathological studies in children, COVID-19 variants, secondary brain infections, ex vivo brain imaging, and autopsies performed in countries outside of the United States or Europe. We also summarize research studies that investigate mechanisms of neuropathogenesis in nonhuman primates and other models. While a pattern of cerebrovascular pathology and microglial-predominant inflammation remains the primary COVID-19-associated neuropathological finding, there is no singular understanding of the mechanisms that underlie neurological symptoms in acute COVID-19 or the post-acute COVID-19 condition. Thus, it is paramount that we incorporate microscopic and molecular findings from brain tissue into what we know about the clinical disease so that we attain best practice guidance and direct research priorities for the study of the neurological morbidity of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaac H Solomon
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Arjun Singh
- Division of Neuroimmunology and Neuro-Infectious Diseases, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Healing Hospital, Chandigarh, India
| | - Rebecca D Folkerth
- Office of Chief Medical Examiner and Department of Forensic Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York
| | - Shibani S Mukerji
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
- Division of Neuroimmunology and Neuro-Infectious Diseases, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Vaccine and Immunotherapy Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, Massachusetts
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11
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Schänzer A, Dittmayer C, Weis J, Stenzel W, Goebel HH. [Neuropathology II: diseases of the central and peripheral nervous systems : Outlook on new techniques in electron microscopy]. PATHOLOGIE (HEIDELBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 44:113-120. [PMID: 36715732 PMCID: PMC9886214 DOI: 10.1007/s00292-022-01178-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
In the diagnosis of diseases of the central and peripheral nervous systems, the use of electron microscopic analyses has become rare these days. However, there are questions in which the method is helpful in confirming the etiopathogenesis of the disease. Hereditary neurodegenerative and metabolic diseases, such as the lysosomal storage disease neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis, are associated with pathognomonic storage products not only in the central nervous system (CNS) but also in extracerebral tissues such as sweat glands and lymphocytes. These tissues are easily accessible and thus function as "windows to the CNS". In addition, there are new methods that overcome limitations of conventional electron microscopy and may improve ultrastructural diagnostics. This is particularly important for the correct classification of viral particles such as SARS-CoV‑2, leading to a better understanding of COVID19-associated diseases in the CNS and peripheral nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Schänzer
- Institut für Neuropathologie, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen, Arndtstr. 16, 35392, Gießen, Deutschland.
| | - Carsten Dittmayer
- Institut für Neuropathologie, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member der Freien Universität Berlin und Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Deutschland
| | - Joachim Weis
- Institut für Neuropathologie, Universitätsklinikum der RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Deutschland
| | - Werner Stenzel
- Institut für Neuropathologie, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member der Freien Universität Berlin und Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Deutschland
| | - Hans-Hilmar Goebel
- Institut für Neuropathologie, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member der Freien Universität Berlin und Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Deutschland
- Abteilung für Neuropathologie, Universitätsmedizin der JGU Mainz, Mainz, Deutschland
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12
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Heinrich F, Huter T, Mertens S, Lange P, Vering J, Heinemann A, Nörz DS, Hoffmann A, Aepfelbacher M, Ondruschka B, Krasemann S, Lütgehetmann M. New Postmortem Perspective on Emerging SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern, Germany. Emerg Infect Dis 2023; 29:652-656. [PMID: 36787498 PMCID: PMC9973696 DOI: 10.3201/eid2903.221297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
We performed autopsies on persons in Germany who died from COVID-19 and observed higher nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 viral loads for variants of concern (VOC) compared with non-VOC lineages. Pulmonary inflammation and damage appeared higher in non-VOC than VOC lineages until adjusted for vaccination status, suggesting COVID-19 vaccination may mitigate pulmonary damage.
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13
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Mothes R, Pascual-Reguant A, Koehler R, Liebeskind J, Liebheit A, Bauherr S, Philipsen L, Dittmayer C, Laue M, von Manitius R, Elezkurtaj S, Durek P, Heinrich F, Heinz GA, Guerra GM, Obermayer B, Meinhardt J, Ihlow J, Radke J, Heppner FL, Enghard P, Stockmann H, Aschman T, Schneider J, Corman VM, Sander LE, Mashreghi MF, Conrad T, Hocke AC, Niesner RA, Radbruch H, Hauser AE. Distinct tissue niches direct lung immunopathology via CCL18 and CCL21 in severe COVID-19. Nat Commun 2023; 14:791. [PMID: 36774347 PMCID: PMC9922044 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36333-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Prolonged lung pathology has been associated with COVID-19, yet the cellular and molecular mechanisms behind this chronic inflammatory disease are poorly understood. In this study, we combine advanced imaging and spatial transcriptomics to shed light on the local immune response in severe COVID-19. We show that activated adventitial niches are crucial microenvironments contributing to the orchestration of prolonged lung immunopathology. Up-regulation of the chemokines CCL21 and CCL18 associates to endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition and tissue fibrosis within these niches. CCL21 over-expression additionally links to the local accumulation of T cells expressing the cognate receptor CCR7. These T cells are imprinted with an exhausted phenotype and form lymphoid aggregates that can organize in ectopic lymphoid structures. Our work proposes immune-stromal interaction mechanisms promoting a self-sustained and non-resolving local immune response that extends beyond active viral infection and perpetuates tissue remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronja Mothes
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany.,Immune Dynamics, Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum (DRFZ), a Leibniz Institute, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anna Pascual-Reguant
- Immune Dynamics, Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum (DRFZ), a Leibniz Institute, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany.,Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ralf Koehler
- Immune Dynamics, Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum (DRFZ), a Leibniz Institute, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Juliane Liebeskind
- Immune Dynamics, Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum (DRFZ), a Leibniz Institute, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany.,Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alina Liebheit
- Immune Dynamics, Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum (DRFZ), a Leibniz Institute, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany.,Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sandy Bauherr
- Immune Dynamics, Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum (DRFZ), a Leibniz Institute, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lars Philipsen
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Medical Center, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany.,Multi-Parametric Bioimaging and Cytometry (MPBIC) platform, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Carsten Dittmayer
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Laue
- Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens (ZBS), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Regina von Manitius
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sefer Elezkurtaj
- Institute of Pathology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Pawel Durek
- Therapeutic Gene Regulation, Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum (DRFZ), a Leibniz Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Frederik Heinrich
- Therapeutic Gene Regulation, Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum (DRFZ), a Leibniz Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gitta A Heinz
- Therapeutic Gene Regulation, Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum (DRFZ), a Leibniz Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gabriela M Guerra
- Therapeutic Gene Regulation, Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum (DRFZ), a Leibniz Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Benedikt Obermayer
- Core Unit Bioinformatics (CUBI), Berlin Institute of Health at Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jenny Meinhardt
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jana Ihlow
- Institute of Pathology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Josefine Radke
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany.,Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Berlin, CCCC (Campus Mitte), Berlin, Germany.,Institut für Pathologie, Universitätsmedizin Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Frank L Heppner
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany.,Cluster of Excellence, NeuroCure, Berlin, Germany.,German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Philipp Enghard
- Department of Nephrology and Medical Intensive Care, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 12203, Berlin, Germany
| | - Helena Stockmann
- Department of Nephrology and Medical Intensive Care, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 12203, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tom Aschman
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Julia Schneider
- Institute of Virology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and German Centre for Infection Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Victor M Corman
- Institute of Virology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and German Centre for Infection Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Leif E Sander
- Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Berlin, Germany.,Department of Infectious Diseases, Respiratory Medicine and Critical Care, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin and German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Berlin, Germany
| | - Mir-Farzin Mashreghi
- Therapeutic Gene Regulation, Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum (DRFZ), a Leibniz Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Thomas Conrad
- Genomics Technology Platform, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas C Hocke
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Respiratory Medicine and Critical Care, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin and German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Berlin, Germany
| | - Raluca A Niesner
- Dynamic and Functional in vivo Imaging, Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Biophysical Analysis, Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum (DRFZ), a Leibniz Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Helena Radbruch
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anja E Hauser
- Immune Dynamics, Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum (DRFZ), a Leibniz Institute, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany. .,Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany.
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14
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Scendoni R, Cingolani M. What do we know about pathological mechanism and pattern of lung injury related to SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant? Diagn Pathol 2023; 18:18. [PMID: 36765347 PMCID: PMC9911937 DOI: 10.1186/s13000-023-01306-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Pulmonary damage in SARS-CoV-2 is characterized pathologically by diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) and thrombosis. In addition, nosocomial bacterial superinfections and ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) are likely to occur. The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant have manifested itself as a more diffusive virus which mainly affects the upper airways, such as the nose and pharynx. The mechanism leading to a lung injury with a complex clinical course for the Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variant remains unclear. A key question is whether the organ damage is due to direct organ targeting of the virus or downstream effects such as an altered immune response. An immune escape process of Omicron variant is being studied, which could lead to prolonged viral shedding and increase hospitalization times in patients with comorbidities, with an increased risk of pulmonary co-infections/superinfections and organ damage. This brief commentary reports the current knowledge on the Omicron variant and provides some useful suggestions to the scientific community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Scendoni
- Department of Law, Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Macerata, Piaggia Dell'Università, 2, 62100, Macerata, Italy.
| | - Mariano Cingolani
- grid.8042.e0000 0001 2188 0260Department of Law, Institute of Legal Medicine, University of Macerata, Piaggia Dell’Università, 2, 62100 Macerata, Italy
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15
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Laue M, Hoffmann T, Michel J, Nitsche A. Visualization of SARS-CoV-2 particles in naso/oropharyngeal swabs by thin section electron microscopy. Virol J 2023; 20:21. [PMID: 36747188 PMCID: PMC9901382 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-023-01981-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND SARS-CoV-2 replicates efficiently in the upper airways of humans and produces high loads of virus RNA and, at least in the initial phase after infection, many infectious virus particles. Studying virus ultrastructure, such as particle integrity or presence of spike proteins, and effects on their host cells in patient samples is important to understand the pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2. METHODS Suspensions from swab samples with a high load of virus RNA (Ct < 20) were sedimented by desktop ultracentrifugation and prepared for thin section electron microscopy using a novel method which is described in detail. Embedding was performed in Epon or in LR White resin using standard or rapid protocols. Thin sections were examined using transmission electron microscopy. RESULTS Virus particles could be regularly detected in the extracellular space, embedded in a background of heterogenous material (e.g. vesicles and needle-like crystals), and within ciliated cells. Morphology (i.e. shape, size, spike density) of virus particles in the swab samples was very similar to particle morphology in cell culture. However, in some of the samples the virus particles hardly revealed spikes. Infected ciliated cells occasionally showed replication organelles, such as double-membrane vesicles. The most common cells in all samples were keratinocytes from the mucosa and bacteria. CONCLUSIONS The new method allows the ultrastructural visualization and analysis of coronavirus particles and of infected host cells from easy to collect naso/oropharyngeal patient swab samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Laue
- Advanced Light and Electron Microscopy, Center for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens (ZBS 4), Robert Koch Institute, Seestr. 10, 13353, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Tobias Hoffmann
- grid.13652.330000 0001 0940 3744Advanced Light and Electron Microscopy, Center for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens (ZBS 4), Robert Koch Institute, Seestr. 10, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Janine Michel
- grid.13652.330000 0001 0940 3744Highly Pathogenic Viruses, Center for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens (ZBS 1), Robert Koch Institute, Seestr. 10, 13353 Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas Nitsche
- grid.13652.330000 0001 0940 3744Highly Pathogenic Viruses, Center for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens (ZBS 1), Robert Koch Institute, Seestr. 10, 13353 Berlin, Germany
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16
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COVID-19-associated monocytic encephalitis (CAME): histological and proteomic evidence from autopsy. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:24. [PMID: 36609561 PMCID: PMC9816522 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-022-01291-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Severe neurological symptoms are associated with Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the morphologic features, pathological nature and their potential mechanisms in patient brains have not been revealed despite evidence of neurotropic infection. In this study, neuropathological damages and infiltrating inflammatory cells were quantitatively evaluated by immunohistochemical staining, ultrastructural examination under electron microscopy, and an image threshold method, in postmortem brains from nine critically ill COVID-19 patients and nine age-matched cadavers of healthy individuals. Differentially expressed proteins were identified by quantitative proteomic assays. Histopathological findings included neurophagocytosis, microglia nodules, satellite phenomena, extensive edema, focal hemorrhage, and infarction, as well as infiltrating mononuclear cells. Immunostaining of COVID-19 brains revealed extensive activation of both microglia and astrocytes, severe damage of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and various degrees of perivascular infiltration by predominantly CD14+/CD16+/CD141+/CCR7+/CD11c+ monocytes and occasionally CD4+/CD8+ T lymphocytes. Quantitative proteomic assays combined with bioinformatics analysis identified upregulated proteins predominantly involved in immune responses, autophagy and cellular metabolism in COVID-19 patient brains compared with control brains. Proteins involved in brain development, neuroprotection, and extracellular matrix proteins of the basement membrane were downregulated, potentially caused by the activation of transforming growth factor β receptor and vascular endothelial growth factor signaling pathways. Thus, our results define histopathological and molecular profiles of COVID-19-associated monocytic encephalitis (CAME) and suggest potential therapeutic targets.
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17
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Khan M, Clijsters M, Choi S, Backaert W, Claerhout M, Couvreur F, Van Breda L, Bourgeois F, Speleman K, Klein S, Van Laethem J, Verstappen G, Dereli AS, Yoo SJ, Zhou H, Dan Do TN, Jochmans D, Laenen L, Debaveye Y, De Munter P, Gunst J, Jorissen M, Lagrou K, Meersseman P, Neyts J, Thal DR, Topsakal V, Vandenbriele C, Wauters J, Mombaerts P, Van Gerven L. Anatomical barriers against SARS-CoV-2 neuroinvasion at vulnerable interfaces visualized in deceased COVID-19 patients. Neuron 2022; 110:3919-3935.e6. [PMID: 36446381 PMCID: PMC9647025 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2022.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Can SARS-CoV-2 hitchhike on the olfactory projection and take a direct and short route from the nose into the brain? We reasoned that the neurotropic or neuroinvasive capacity of the virus, if it exists, should be most easily detectable in individuals who died in an acute phase of the infection. Here, we applied a postmortem bedside surgical procedure for the rapid procurement of tissue, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid samples from deceased COVID-19 patients infected with the Delta, Omicron BA.1, or Omicron BA.2 variants. Confocal imaging of sections stained with fluorescence RNAscope and immunohistochemistry afforded the light-microscopic visualization of extracellular SARS-CoV-2 virions in tissues. We failed to find evidence for viral invasion of the parenchyma of the olfactory bulb and the frontal lobe of the brain. Instead, we identified anatomical barriers at vulnerable interfaces, exemplified by perineurial olfactory nerve fibroblasts enwrapping olfactory axon fascicles in the lamina propria of the olfactory mucosa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mona Khan
- Max Planck Research Unit for Neurogenetics, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Marnick Clijsters
- Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Otorhinolaryngology, Rhinology Research, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sumin Choi
- Max Planck Research Unit for Neurogenetics, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Wout Backaert
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Allergy and Clinical Immunology Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Michiel Claerhout
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Floor Couvreur
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Laure Van Breda
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Florence Bourgeois
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, AZ Sint-Jan Brugge-Oostende AV, Bruges, Belgium
| | - Kato Speleman
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, AZ Sint-Jan Brugge-Oostende AV, Bruges, Belgium
| | - Sam Klein
- Department of Neurosurgery, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Johan Van Laethem
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Gill Verstappen
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - Seung-Jun Yoo
- Max Planck Research Unit for Neurogenetics, Frankfurt, Germany; Department of Life Science, College of Natural Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hai Zhou
- Max Planck Research Unit for Neurogenetics, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Thuc Nguyen Dan Do
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dirk Jochmans
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lies Laenen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine & National Reference Center for Respiratory Pathogens, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Yves Debaveye
- Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Laboratory of Intensive Care Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Paul De Munter
- Department of General Internal Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Laboratory for Clinical Infectious and Inflammatory Disorders, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jan Gunst
- Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Laboratory of Intensive Care Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Mark Jorissen
- Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Otorhinolaryngology, Rhinology Research, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Katrien Lagrou
- Department of Laboratory Medicine & National Reference Center for Respiratory Pathogens, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Laboratory of Clinical Bacteriology and Mycology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Philippe Meersseman
- Department of General Internal Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Laboratory for Clinical Infectious and Inflammatory Disorders, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Johan Neyts
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute for Medical Research, Laboratory of Virology and Chemotherapy, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dietmar Rudolf Thal
- Department of Pathology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Laboratory of Neuropathology, Department of Imaging & Pathology and Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Vedat Topsakal
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Christophe Vandenbriele
- Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Joost Wauters
- Department of General Internal Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Laboratory for Clinical Infectious and Inflammatory Disorders, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Peter Mombaerts
- Max Planck Research Unit for Neurogenetics, Frankfurt, Germany.
| | - Laura Van Gerven
- Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Otorhinolaryngology, Rhinology Research, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Allergy and Clinical Immunology Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
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18
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The global spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 resulted in many cases of acute and postacute muscular symptoms. In this review, we try to decipher the potential underlying pathomechanisms and summarize the potential links between viral infection and muscle affection. RECENT FINDINGS Disregarding single case studies that do not allow safe conclusions due to the high number of infections, histopathological evidence of myositis has only been reported in deceased individuals with severe COVID-19. Postacute myalgia and weakness seem to occur in a subset of patients up to one year after initial infection, reminiscent of postinfectious syndromes (PIS) described in prior epidemics and pandemics of the past. SUMMARY COVID-19 associated myopathy likely comprises different entities with heterogeneous pathomechanisms. Individual factors such as disease severity and duration, age, sex, constitutional susceptibilities, and preexisting conditions are important to consider when formulating a diagnosis. Persisting symptoms show overlapping features with PIS or postintensive care syndrome. In lack of strong evidence for a direct infection of myocytes, inflammatory myopathies associated with COVID-19 are presumably immune-mediated. Differential diagnosis of rheumatological and nonmuscular neurological origin coinciding with the infection need to be considered, due to the extremely high numbers of newly occurring infections the last 2 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Aschman
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany
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19
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SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Pregnancy: Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes and Placental Pathology Correlations. Viruses 2022; 14:v14092043. [PMID: 36146849 PMCID: PMC9503119 DOI: 10.3390/v14092043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
There is accumulating evidence on the perinatal aspects of COVID-19, but available data are still insufficient. The reports on perinatal aspects of COVID-19 have been published on a small group of patients. Vertical transmission has been noted. The SARS-CoV-2 genome can be detected in umbilical cord blood and at-term placenta, and the infants demonstrate elevated SARS-CoV-2-specific IgG and IgM antibody levels. In this work, the analysis of clinical characteristics of RT-PCR SARS-CoV-2-positive pregnant women and their infants, along with the placental pathology correlation results, including villous trophoblast immunoexpression status for SARS-CoV-2 antibody, is presented. RT-PCR SARS-CoV-2 amniotic fluid testing was performed. Neonatal surveillance of infection status comprised RT-PCR testing of a nasopharyngeal swab and the measuring of levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 in blood serum. In the initial study group were 161 pregnant women with positive test results. From that group, women who delivered during the hospital stay were selected for further analysis. Clinical data, laboratory results, placental histomorphology results, and neonatal outcomes were compared in women with immunohistochemistry (IHC)-con SARS-CoV-2-positive and IHC SARS-CoV-2-negative placentas (26 cases). A positive placental immunoprofile was noted in 8% of cases (n = 2), whereas 92% of cases were negative (n = 24). Women with placental infection proven by IHC had significantly different pathological findings from those without. One infected neonate was noted (n = 1; 4%). Infection was confirmed in perinatal autopsy, as there was the intrauterine fetal demise. The potential course of the infection with the risk of vertical transmission and implications for fetal–neonatal condition is critical for proper clinical management, which will involve comprehensive, multidisciplinary perinatal care for SARS-CoV-2-positive patients.
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20
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von Stillfried S, Freeborn B, Windeck S, Boor P, Böcker J, Schmidt J, Tholen P, Röhrig R, Majeed R, Wienströer J, Bremer J, Weis J, Knüchel R, Breitbach A, Bülow RD, Cacchi C, Wucherpfennig S, Märkl B, Claus R, Dhillon C, Schaller T, Sipos E, Spring O, Braun G, Römmele C, Kling E, Kröncke T, Wittmann M, Hirschbühl K, Heppner FL, Meinhardt J, Radbruch H, Streit S, Horst D, Elezkurtaj S, Quaas A, Göbel H, Friemann J, Hansen T, Titze U, Lorenzen J, Reuter T, Woloszyn J, Baretton G, Hilsenbeck J, Meinhardt M, Pablik J, Sommer L, Holotiuk O, Meinel M, Esposito I, Crudele G, Seidl M, Mahlke N, Hartmann A, Haller F, Eichhorn P, Lange F, Amann KU, Coras R, Ingenwerth M, Rawitzer J, Schmid KW, Theegarten D, Gradhand E, Smith K, Wild P, Birngruber CG, Schilling O, Werner M, Acker T, Gattenlöhner S, Franz J, Metz I, Stadelmann C, Stork L, Thomas C, Zechel S, Ströbel P, Fathke C, Harder A, Wickenhauser C, Glatzel M, Matschke J, Krasemann S, Dietz E, Edler C, Fitzek A, Fröb D, Heinemann A, Heinrich F, Klein A, Kniep I, Lohner L, Möbius D, Ondruschka B, Püschel K, Schädler J, Schröder AS, Sperhake JP, Aepfelbacher M, Fischer N, Lütgehetmann M, Pfefferle S, Jonigk D, Werlein C, Domke LM, Hartmann L, Klein I, Schirmacher P, Schwab C, Röcken C, Langer D, Roth W, Strobl S, Rudelius M, Delbridge C, Kasajima A, Kuhn PH, Slotta-Huspenina J, Weichert W, Weirich G, Stock K, Barth P, Schnepper A, Wardelmann E, Evert K, Evert M, Büttner A, Manhart J, Nigbur S, Bösmüller H, Fend F, Granai M, Klingel K, Warm V, Steinestel K, Umathum VG, Rosenwald A, Vogt N, Kurz F. [Update on collaborative autopsy-based research in German pathology, neuropathology, and forensic medicine]. PATHOLOGIE (HEIDELBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 43:101-105. [PMID: 36114379 PMCID: PMC9483541 DOI: 10.1007/s00292-022-01117-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autopsies are a valuable tool for understanding disease, including COVID-19. MATERIALS AND METHODS The German Registry of COVID-19 Autopsies (DeRegCOVID), established in April 2020, serves as the electronic backbone of the National Autopsy Network (NATON), launched in early 2022 following DEFEAT PANDEMIcs. RESULTS The NATON consortium's interconnected, collaborative autopsy research is enabled by an unprecedented collaboration of 138 individuals at more than 35 German university and non-university autopsy centers through which pathology, neuropathology, and forensic medicine autopsy data including data on biomaterials are collected in DeRegCOVID and tissue-based research and methods development are conducted. More than 145 publications have now emerged from participating autopsy centers, highlighting various basic science and clinical aspects of COVID-19, such as thromboembolic events, organ tropism, SARS-CoV‑2 detection methods, and infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 at autopsy. CONCLUSIONS Participating centers have demonstrated the high value of autopsy and autopsy-derived data and biomaterials to modern medicine. The planned long-term continuation and further development of the registry and network, as well as the open and participatory design, will allow the involvement of all interested partners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saskia von Stillfried
- Institut für Pathologie, Universitätsklinik RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Deutschland
| | - Benita Freeborn
- Institut für Pathologie, Universitätsklinik RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Deutschland
| | - Svenja Windeck
- Institut für Pathologie, Universitätsklinik RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Deutschland
| | - Peter Boor
- Institut für Pathologie, Universitätsklinik RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Deutschland ,Medizinische Klinik II (Nephrologie und Immunologie), Universitätsklinik RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Deutschland ,Elektronenmikroskopische Einrichtung, Universitätsklinik RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstr. 30, 52074 Aachen, Deutschland
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