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Verma S, Joshi CS, Silverstein RB, He M, Carter EB, Mysorekar IU. SARS-CoV-2 colonization of maternal and fetal cells of the human placenta promotes alteration of local renin-angiotensin system. MED 2021; 2:575-590.e5. [PMID: 33870242 PMCID: PMC8043616 DOI: 10.1016/j.medj.2021.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2020] [Revised: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection appears to increase the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as pre-eclampsia in pregnant women. The mechanism(s) by which this occurs remains unclear. Methods We investigated the pathophysiology of SARS-CoV-2 at maternal-fetal interface in pregnant women who tested positive for the virus using RNA in situ hybridization (viral RNA), immunohistochemistry, and hematoxylin and eosin staining. To investigate whether viral infection alters the renin angiotensin system (RAS) in placenta, which controls blood pressure, we treated human trophoblasts with recombinant spike protein or a live modified virus with a vesicular stomatitis viral backbone expressing spike protein (VSV-S). Findings Viral colonization was highest in maternal decidua, fetal trophoblasts, Hofbauer cells, and in placentas delivered prematurely. We localized SARS-CoV-2 to cells expressing angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and demonstrate that infected placentas had significantly reduced ACE2. In response to both spike protein and VSV-S, cellular ACE2 decreased although angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT1R) increased with concomitant increase in soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt1). Viral infection decreased pro-angiogenic factors, AT2R, and placental growth factor, which competitively binds to sFlt1. Sera from infected pregnant women had elevated levels of sFlt1 and angiotensin II type 1-receptor autoantibodies prior to delivery, both signatory markers of pre-eclampsia. Conclusions SARS-CoV-2 colonizes ACE2-expressing maternal and fetal cells in the placenta. Infection in pregnant women correlates with alteration of placental RAS. As RAS regulates blood pressure, SARS-CoV-2 infection may thus increase adverse hemodynamic outcomes, such as pre-eclampsia in pregnant women. Funding NIH/NICHD grants R01 HD091218 and 3R01HD091218-04S1 (RADx-UP Supplement).
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonam Verma
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Chetanchandra S Joshi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Rachel B Silverstein
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Mai He
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Ebony B Carter
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Indira U Mysorekar
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.,Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
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Williams TA, Jaquin D, Burrello J, Philippe A, Yang Y, Rank P, Nirschl N, Sturm L, Hübener C, Dragun D, Bidlingmaier M, Beuschlein F, Reincke M. Diverse Responses of Autoantibodies to the Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor in Primary Aldosteronism. Hypertension 2019; 74:784-792. [PMID: 31476909 DOI: 10.1161/hypertensionaha.119.13156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Primary aldosteronism is a common form of endocrine hypertension mainly caused by a unilateral aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) or bilateral adrenal hyperplasia (BAH). AT1R-Abs (autoantibodies to the angiotensin II type 1 receptor) have been reported in patients with disorders associated with hypertension. Our objective was to assess AT1R-Ab levels in patients with primary aldosteronism (APA, n=40 and BAH, n=40) relative to patients with primary hypertension (n=40), preeclampsia (n=23), and normotensive individuals (n=25). AT1R-Abs in whole sera were measured using 2 different ELISAs which gave contrasting results. A functional cell-based assay was used to quantify activation of the AT1R (angiotensin II type 1 receptor) using whole sera or affinity-purified antibodies in the absence or presence of losartan (a specific AT1R antagonist). Serum samples from all groups displayed different levels of AT1R activation with different responses to losartan. Patients with BAH displayed higher losartan-independent affinity-isolated agonistic AT1R-Ab levels compared with patients with APA (P<0.01) and with normotensive individuals (P<0.0001). In patients with APA, BAH, and primary hypertension combined, higher aldosterone-to-renin ratios and lower plasma renin concentrations were associated with higher compared with lower agonistic AT1R-Ab levels. In patients with primary aldosteronism, higher AT1R-Ab activity was associated with an increased likelihood of a diagnosis of BAH compared with APA and with the presence of adrenal hyperplasia detected by computed tomography. Taken together, these data suggest that agonistic AT1R-Abs may have a functional role in a subgroup of patients with primary aldosteronism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracy Ann Williams
- From the Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Klinikum der Universität München, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Germany (T.A.W., D.J., Y.Y., P.R., N.N., L.S., M.B., F.B., M.R.).,Division of Internal Medicine and Hypertension, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Italy (T.A.W., J.B.)
| | - Diana Jaquin
- From the Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Klinikum der Universität München, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Germany (T.A.W., D.J., Y.Y., P.R., N.N., L.S., M.B., F.B., M.R.)
| | - Jacopo Burrello
- Division of Internal Medicine and Hypertension, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Italy (T.A.W., J.B.)
| | - Aurélie Philippe
- Clinic for Nephrology and Critical Care Medicine, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Center for Cardiovascular Research, Medical Faculty of the Charité Berlin, Berlin, Germany (A.P., D.D.)
| | - Yuhong Yang
- From the Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Klinikum der Universität München, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Germany (T.A.W., D.J., Y.Y., P.R., N.N., L.S., M.B., F.B., M.R.)
| | - Petra Rank
- From the Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Klinikum der Universität München, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Germany (T.A.W., D.J., Y.Y., P.R., N.N., L.S., M.B., F.B., M.R.)
| | - Nina Nirschl
- From the Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Klinikum der Universität München, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Germany (T.A.W., D.J., Y.Y., P.R., N.N., L.S., M.B., F.B., M.R.)
| | - Lisa Sturm
- From the Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Klinikum der Universität München, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Germany (T.A.W., D.J., Y.Y., P.R., N.N., L.S., M.B., F.B., M.R.)
| | - Christoph Hübener
- Klinik und Poliklinik für Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe, Klinikum der Universität München, Germany (C.H.)
| | - Duska Dragun
- Clinic for Nephrology and Critical Care Medicine, Campus Virchow-Klinikum and Center for Cardiovascular Research, Medical Faculty of the Charité Berlin, Berlin, Germany (A.P., D.D.).,Berlin Institute of Health, Anna-Luisa-Karsch Str 2 10178 Berlin, Germany (D.D.)
| | - Martin Bidlingmaier
- From the Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Klinikum der Universität München, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Germany (T.A.W., D.J., Y.Y., P.R., N.N., L.S., M.B., F.B., M.R.)
| | - Felix Beuschlein
- From the Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Klinikum der Universität München, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Germany (T.A.W., D.J., Y.Y., P.R., N.N., L.S., M.B., F.B., M.R.).,Klinik für Endokrinologie, Diabetologie und Klinische Ernährung, Universitätsspital Zürich, Switzerland (F.B.)
| | - Martin Reincke
- From the Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik IV, Klinikum der Universität München, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Germany (T.A.W., D.J., Y.Y., P.R., N.N., L.S., M.B., F.B., M.R.)
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