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Gheban-Roșca IA, Gheban BA, Pop B, Mironescu DC, Siserman VC, Jianu EM, Drugan T, Bolboacă SD. Immunohistochemical and Morphometric Analysis of Lung Tissue in Fatal COVID-19. Diagnostics (Basel) 2024; 14:914. [PMID: 38732328 PMCID: PMC11082993 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14090914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The primary targets of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the lungs are type I pneumocytes, macrophages, and endothelial cells. We aimed to identify lung cells targeted by SARS-CoV-2 using viral nucleocapsid protein staining and morphometric features on patients with fatal COVID-19. We conducted a retrospective analysis of fifty-one autopsy cases of individuals who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Demographic and clinical information were collected from forensic reports, and lung tissue was examined for microscopic lesions and the presence of specific cell types. Half of the evaluated cohort were older than 71 years, and the majority were male (74.5%). In total, 24 patients presented diffuse alveolar damage (DAD), and 50.9% had comorbidities (56.9% obesity, 33.3% hypertension, 15.7% diabetes mellitus). Immunohistochemical analysis showed a similar pattern of infected macrophages, infected type I pneumocytes, and endothelial cells, regardless of the presence of DAD (p > 0.5). The immunohistochemical reactivity score (IRS) was predominantly moderate but without significant differences between patients with and without DAD (p = 0.633 IRS for type I pneumocytes, p = 0.773 IRS for macrophage, and p = 0.737 for IRS endothelium). The nucleus/cytoplasm ratio shows lower values in patients with DAD (median: 0.29 vs. 0.35), but the difference only reaches a tendency for statistical significance (p = 0.083). Our study confirms the presence of infected macrophages, type I pneumocytes, and endothelial cells with a similar pattern in patients with and without diffuse alveolar damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioana-Andreea Gheban-Roșca
- Department of Medical Informatics and Biostatistics, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (I.-A.G.-R.); (T.D.)
- Clinical Hospital for Infectious Diseases, 400348 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Bogdan-Alexandru Gheban
- County Emergency Clinical Hospital, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Department of Histology, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
| | - Bogdan Pop
- The Oncology Institute “Prof. Dr. Ion Chiricuță”, 400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400347 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Daniela-Cristina Mironescu
- Forensic Institute, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (D.-C.M.); (V.C.S.)
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Vasile Costel Siserman
- Forensic Institute, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (D.-C.M.); (V.C.S.)
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Elena Mihaela Jianu
- Department of Histology, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
| | - Tudor Drugan
- Department of Medical Informatics and Biostatistics, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (I.-A.G.-R.); (T.D.)
| | - Sorana D. Bolboacă
- Department of Medical Informatics and Biostatistics, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (I.-A.G.-R.); (T.D.)
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Gawaz A, Schindler M, Hagelauer E, Blanchard G, Riel S, Vollert A, Gilliet M, Unterluggauer L, Stary G, Pospischil I, Hoetzenecker W, Fehrenbacher B, Schaller M, Guenova E, Forchhammer S. SARS-CoV-2-Induced Vasculitic Skin Lesions Are Associated with Massive Spike Protein Depositions in Autophagosomes. J Invest Dermatol 2024; 144:369-377.e4. [PMID: 37580012 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2023.07.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
In patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, vasculopathic changes of the skin are associated with a severe prognosis. However, the pathogenesis of this vasculopathy is not conclusively clarified. In this study, 25 prospectively collected skin samples from patients with COVID-19-related skin lesions were examined for vasculopathic changes and, in case of vasculitis, were further analyzed with electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry. Vasculopathy was observed in 76% of all COVID-19-related inflammatory skin lesions. Visual endothelial changes without manifest leukocytoclastic vasculitis were found in 60% of the COVID-19-related skin lesions, whereas leukocytoclastic vasculitis was diagnosed in 16%. In the cases of vasculitis, there were extensive spike protein depositions in microvascular endothelial cells that colocalized with the autophagosome proteins LC3B and LC3C. The autophagy protein complex LC3-associated endocytosis in microvascular endothelial cells seems to be an important pathogenic factor for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2-related vasculitis in the skin. On ultrastructural morphology, the vasculitic process was dominated by intracellular vesicle formation and endothelial cell disruption. Direct presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 particles in the skin was not observed. Therefore, our results suggest that instead of direct viral infection, dermal vasculitic lesions in COVID-19 are caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 spike protein deposition followed by endothelial damage with activation of autophagy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Gawaz
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Michael Schindler
- Institute for Medical Virology and Epidemiology of Viral Diseases, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Elena Hagelauer
- Institute for Medical Virology and Epidemiology of Viral Diseases, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Gabriela Blanchard
- Department of Dermatology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Simon Riel
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Anneli Vollert
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Michel Gilliet
- Department of Dermatology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Georg Stary
- Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Isabella Pospischil
- Department of Dermatology, Kepler University Hospital, Johannes Kepler University, Linz, Austria
| | - Wolfram Hoetzenecker
- Department of Dermatology, Kepler University Hospital, Johannes Kepler University, Linz, Austria
| | | | - Martin Schaller
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Emmanuella Guenova
- Department of Dermatology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Department of Dermatology, Hospital 12 de Octubre, Medical school, University Complutense, Madrid, Spain.
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Righi FA, Vander Heide RS, Graham RP, Aubry MC, Trejo-Lopez JA, Bois MC, Roden AC, Reichard R, Maleszewski JJ, Alexander MP, Quinton RA, Jenkins SM, Hartley CP, Hagen CE. A case-control autopsy series of liver pathology associated with novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Ann Diagn Pathol 2024; 68:152240. [PMID: 37995413 DOI: 10.1016/j.anndiagpath.2023.152240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is most well-known for causing pulmonary injury, a significant proportion of patients experience hepatic dysfunction. The mechanism by which SARS-CoV2 causes liver injury is not fully understood. The goal of this study was to describe the hepatic pathology in a large cohort of deceased patients with COVID-19 as compared to a control group of deceased patients without COVID-19. METHODS Consented autopsy cases at two institutions were searched for documentation of COVID-19 as a contributing cause of death. A group of consecutive consented autopsy cases during the same period, negative for SARS-CoV-2 infection, was used as a control group. The autopsy report and electronic medical records were reviewed for relevant clinicopathologic information. H&E-stained liver sections from both groups were examined for pertinent histologic features. Select cases underwent immunohistochemical staining for CD 68 and ACE2 and droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) assay for evaluation of SARS-CoV2 RNA. RESULTS 48 COVID-19 positive patients (median age 73, M:F 3:1) and 40 COVID-19 negative control patients (median age 67.5, M:F 1.4:1) were included in the study. The COVID-19 positive group was significantly older and had a lower rate of alcoholism and malignancy, but there was no difference in other comorbidities. The COVID-19 positive group was more likely to have received steroids (75.6 % vs. 36.1 %, p < 0.001). Hepatic vascular changes were seen in a minority (10.6 %) of COVID-19 positive cases. When all patients were included, there were no significant histopathologic differences between groups, but when patients with chronic alcoholism were excluded, the COVID-19 positive group was significantly more likely to have steatosis (80.9 % vs. 50.0 %, p = 0.004) and lobular inflammation (45.7 % vs. 20.7 %, p = 0.03). Testing for viral RNA by ddPCR identified 2 of the 18 (11.1 %) COVID-19 positive cases to have SARS-CoV-2 RNA detected within the liver FFPE tissue. CONCLUSIONS The most significant findings in the liver of COVID-19 positive patients were mild lobular inflammation and steatosis. The high rate of steroid therapy in this population may be a possible source of steatosis. Hepatic vascular alterations were only identified in a minority of patients and did not appear to play a predominant role in COVID-19 mediated hepatic injury. Low incidence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA positivity in liver tissue in our cohort suggests hepatic injury in the setting of COVID-19 may be secondary in nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiola A Righi
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States of America
| | - Richard S Vander Heide
- Department of Pathology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, United States of America
| | - Rondell P Graham
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States of America
| | - Marie Christine Aubry
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States of America
| | - Jorge A Trejo-Lopez
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States of America
| | - Melanie C Bois
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States of America
| | - Anja C Roden
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States of America
| | - Ross Reichard
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States of America
| | - Joseph J Maleszewski
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States of America
| | - Mariam P Alexander
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States of America
| | - Reade A Quinton
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States of America
| | - Sarah M Jenkins
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Division of Clinical Trials and Biostatistics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States of America
| | - Christopher P Hartley
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States of America
| | - Catherine E Hagen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States of America.
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Hamamoto Y, Kawamura M, Mori H, Uchida H, Hiramatsu K, Katori C, Asai H, Kawasaki H, Minamino T, Hashimoto M, Nakatsuka SI, Yoshida K. Kikuchi Disease After SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination: A Case Report With Immunohistochemical Analyses. Int J Surg Pathol 2023:10668969231212428. [PMID: 37981745 DOI: 10.1177/10668969231212428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 vaccines have been administered in many countries after the COVID-19 pandemic. Lymphadenopathy is a side effect of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. We report a rare example of Kikuchi disease in the cervical lymph nodes after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. A 41-year-old man complained of a swollen neck and fever 9 days after the first dose of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA-1273 vaccine. Computed tomography revealed enlarged cervical lymph nodes. Fine needle aspiration and resection were performed, and the clinicopathological diagnosis was consistent with Kikuchi disease. Histologically, the resected lymph nodes lost their polarity, and many histiocytes were aggregated with karyorrhectic nuclear debris and apoptosis. SARS-CoV-2 positive cells were small lymphocytes detected by immunohistochemistry. This is the first report that demonstrated SARS-CoV-2 expression in Kikuchi disease post-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuichiro Hamamoto
- Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Kinki Central Hospital, Itami, Hyogo, Japan
- Department of Pathology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
| | - Michihiro Kawamura
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Kinki Central Hospital, Itami, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Hideo Mori
- Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Osaka Habikino Medical Center, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hiroki Uchida
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Kinki Central Hospital, Itami, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Hiramatsu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Kinki Central Hospital, Itami, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Chiaki Katori
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Kinki Central Hospital, Itami, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Hinako Asai
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Kinki Central Hospital, Itami, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Hiroko Kawasaki
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Kinki Central Hospital, Itami, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Taishi Minamino
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Osaka General Medical Center, Osaka, Japan
| | - Michiko Hashimoto
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Kinki Central Hospital, Itami, Hyogo, Japan
| | | | - Kyotaro Yoshida
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Kinki Central Hospital, Itami, Hyogo, Japan
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Mangalaparthi KK, Singh S, Garapati K, Garcia JJ, Kipp BR, Roden AC, Pandey A. Identification of SARS-CoV-2 from Human Lung Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded Tissue Sections Using Mass Spectrometry. OMICS 2023; 27:494-496. [PMID: 37815798 PMCID: PMC10615085 DOI: 10.1089/omi.2023.0157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Smrita Singh
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
- Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
- Institute of Bioinformatics, International Tech Park, Bangalore, India
| | - Kishore Garapati
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
- Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
| | - Joaquin J. Garcia
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Benjamin R. Kipp
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Anja C. Roden
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Akhilesh Pandey
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
- Center for Individualized Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
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Tedesco I, Zito Marino F, Ronchi A, Duarte Neto AN, Dolhnikoff M, Municinò M, Campobasso CP, Pannone G, Franco R. COVID-19: detection methods in post-mortem samples. Pathologica 2023; 115:263-274. [PMID: 38054901 DOI: 10.32074/1591-951x-933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 identification is routinely performed on fresh samples, such as nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs, even if, the detection of the virus in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) autopsy tissues could help to underlie mechanisms of the pathogenesis that are not well understood. The gold standard for COVID-19 detection in FFPE samples remains the qRT-PCR as in swab samples, contextually other methods have been developed, including immunohistochemistry (IHC), and in situ hybridization (ISH). In this manuscript, we summarize the main data regarding the methods of COVID-19 detection in pulmonary and extra-pulmonary post-mortem samples, and especially the sensitivity and specificity of these assays will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Tedesco
- Pathology Unit, Department of Mental and Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, Università degli Studi della Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Federica Zito Marino
- Pathology Unit, Department of Mental and Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, Università degli Studi della Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Andrea Ronchi
- Pathology Unit, Department of Mental and Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, Università degli Studi della Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Amaro Nunes Duarte Neto
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Patologia, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marisa Dolhnikoff
- Universidade de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina, Departamento de Patologia, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maurizio Municinò
- Forensic Medicine Unit, "S. Giuliano" Hospital, Giugliano in Campania, Italy
| | - Carlo Pietro Campobasso
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania, Luigi Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Pannone
- Anatomic Pathology Unit, Department of Clinic and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Renato Franco
- Pathology Unit, Department of Mental and Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, Università degli Studi della Campania "L. Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
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Gaide N, Crispo M, Jbenyeni A, Bleuart C, Delverdier M, Vergne T, Le Loc’h G, Guérin JL. Validation of an RNAscope assay for the detection of avian influenza A virus. J Vet Diagn Invest 2023; 35:500-506. [PMID: 37334770 PMCID: PMC10467460 DOI: 10.1177/10406387231182385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) is an acute viral disease associated with high mortality and great economic losses. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a common diagnostic and research tool for the demonstration of avian influenza A virus (AIAV) antigens within affected tissues, supporting etiologic diagnosis and assessing viral distribution in both naturally and experimentally infected birds. RNAscope in situ hybridization (ISH) has been used successfully for the identification of a variety of viral nucleic acids within histologic samples. We validated RNAscope ISH for the detection of AIAV in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues. RNAscope ISH targeting the AIAV matrix gene and anti-IAV nucleoprotein IHC were performed on 61 FFPE tissue sections obtained from 3 AIAV-negative, 16 H5 HPAIAV, and 1 low pathogenicity AIAV naturally infected birds, including 7 species sampled between 2009 and 2022. All AIAV-negative birds were confirmed negative by both techniques. All AIAVs were detected successfully by both techniques in all selected tissues and species. Subsequently, H-score comparison was assessed through computer-assisted quantitative analysis on a tissue microarray comprised of 132 tissue cores from 9 HPAIAV-infected domestic ducks. Pearson correlation of r = 0.95 (0.94-0.97), Lin concordance coefficient of ρc = 0.91 (0.88-0.93), and Bland-Altman analysis indicated high correlation and moderate concordance between the 2 techniques. H-score values were significantly higher with RNAscope ISH compared to IHC for brain, lung, and pancreatic tissues (p ≤ 0.05). Overall, our results indicate that RNAscope ISH is a suitable and sensitive tool for in situ detection of AIAV in FFPE tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Gaide
- IHAP, National Research Institute for Agriculture Food and Environment (INRAE), Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
- Laboratory of Anatomic Pathology, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Manuela Crispo
- IHAP, National Research Institute for Agriculture Food and Environment (INRAE), Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Adam Jbenyeni
- IHAP, National Research Institute for Agriculture Food and Environment (INRAE), Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Céline Bleuart
- Laboratory of Anatomic Pathology, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Maxence Delverdier
- IHAP, National Research Institute for Agriculture Food and Environment (INRAE), Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
- Laboratory of Anatomic Pathology, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Timothée Vergne
- IHAP, National Research Institute for Agriculture Food and Environment (INRAE), Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Guillaume Le Loc’h
- IHAP, National Research Institute for Agriculture Food and Environment (INRAE), Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Jean-Luc Guérin
- IHAP, National Research Institute for Agriculture Food and Environment (INRAE), Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
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Pedicillo MC, De Stefano IS, Zamparese R, Barile R, Meccariello M, Agostinone A, Villani G, Colangelo T, Serviddio G, Cassano T, Ronchi A, Franco R, Pannone P, Zito Marino F, Miele F, Municinò M, Pannone G. The Role of Toll-like Receptor-4 in Macrophage Imbalance in Lethal COVID-19 Lung Disease, and Its Correlation with Galectin-3. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13259. [PMID: 37686069 PMCID: PMC10487501 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
To the current data, there have been 6,955,141 COVID-19-related deaths worldwide, reported to WHO. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) implicated in bacterial and virus sensing could be a crosstalk between activation of persistent innate-immune inflammation, and macrophage's sub-population alterations, implicated in cytokine storm, macrophage over-activation syndrome, unresolved Acute Respiratory Disease Syndrome (ARDS), and death. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the association between Toll-like-receptor-4 (TLR-4)-induced inflammation and macrophage imbalance in the lung inflammatory infiltrate of lethal COVID-19 disease. Twenty-five cases of autopsy lung tissues were studied by digital pathology-based immunohistochemistry to evaluate expression levels of TLR-4 (CD 284), pan-macrophage marker CD68 (clone KP1), sub-population marker related to alveolar macrophage Galectin-3 (GAL-3) (clone 9C4), and myeloid derived CD163 (clone MRQ-26), respectively. SARS-CoV-2 viral persistence has been evaluated by in situ hybridation (ISH) method. This study showed TLR-4 up-regulation in a subgroup of patients, increased macrophage infiltration in both Spike-1(+) and Spike-1(-) lungs (p < 0.0001), and a macrophage shift with important down-regulation of GAL-3(+) alveolar macrophages associated with Spike-1 persistence (p < 0.05), in favor of CD163(+) myeloid derived monocyte-macrophages. Data show that TLR-4 expression induces a persistent activation of the inflammation, with inefficient resolution, and pathological macrophage shift, thus explaining one of the mechanisms of lethal COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Carmela Pedicillo
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Viale L.Pinto 1, 71122 Foggia, Italy; (M.C.P.); (I.S.D.S.); (A.A.)
| | - Ilenia Sara De Stefano
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Viale L.Pinto 1, 71122 Foggia, Italy; (M.C.P.); (I.S.D.S.); (A.A.)
| | - Rosanna Zamparese
- Legal Medicine Unit, Ascoli Piceno Hospital C-G. Mazzoni, Viale Degli Iris 13, 63100 Ascoli Piceno, Italy;
| | - Raffaele Barile
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Viale L.Pinto 1, 71122 Foggia, Italy; (R.B.); (M.M.); (T.C.); (G.S.); (T.C.)
| | - Mario Meccariello
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Viale L.Pinto 1, 71122 Foggia, Italy; (R.B.); (M.M.); (T.C.); (G.S.); (T.C.)
| | - Alessio Agostinone
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Viale L.Pinto 1, 71122 Foggia, Italy; (M.C.P.); (I.S.D.S.); (A.A.)
| | - Giuliana Villani
- Policlinico Riuniti, University-Hospital, Viale L.Pinto 1, 71122 Foggia, Italy;
| | - Tommaso Colangelo
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Viale L.Pinto 1, 71122 Foggia, Italy; (R.B.); (M.M.); (T.C.); (G.S.); (T.C.)
- Cancer Cell Signalling Unit, Institute for Stem-Cell Biology, Regenerative Medicine and Innovative Therapies (ISBReMIT), IRCCS Fondazione Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, Viale Cappuccini sc.c., San Giovanni Rotondo, 71013 Foggia, Italy
| | - Gaetano Serviddio
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Viale L.Pinto 1, 71122 Foggia, Italy; (R.B.); (M.M.); (T.C.); (G.S.); (T.C.)
| | - Tommaso Cassano
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Viale L.Pinto 1, 71122 Foggia, Italy; (R.B.); (M.M.); (T.C.); (G.S.); (T.C.)
| | - Andrea Ronchi
- Pathology Unit, Department of Mental and Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Campania “L Vanvitelli”, via Luciano Armanni, 80138 Naples, Italy; (A.R.); (R.F.); (F.Z.M.)
| | - Renato Franco
- Pathology Unit, Department of Mental and Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Campania “L Vanvitelli”, via Luciano Armanni, 80138 Naples, Italy; (A.R.); (R.F.); (F.Z.M.)
| | - Paola Pannone
- Federico II, Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, School of medicine and Surgery, University of Naples, via Sergio Pasini, 80131 Naples, Italy;
| | - Federica Zito Marino
- Pathology Unit, Department of Mental and Physical Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Campania “L Vanvitelli”, via Luciano Armanni, 80138 Naples, Italy; (A.R.); (R.F.); (F.Z.M.)
| | - Francesco Miele
- Department of Surgery, University of Campania “L Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy;
| | - Maurizio Municinò
- Forensic Medicine Unit, “S. Giuliano” Hospital, via Giambattista Basile, 80014 Giugliano in Campania, Italy;
| | - Giuseppe Pannone
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Foggia, Viale L.Pinto 1, 71122 Foggia, Italy; (M.C.P.); (I.S.D.S.); (A.A.)
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9
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Hoffmann D. The role of the oral cavity in SARS-CoV-2- and other viral infections. Clin Oral Investig 2023:10.1007/s00784-023-05078-z. [PMID: 37310513 DOI: 10.1007/s00784-023-05078-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aims to review the role of the oral cavity in SARS-CoV-2- and other viral upper respiratory tract infections. MATERIAL AND METHODS Data reviewed in the text have been researched online and also reflect personal expertise. RESULTS Numerous respiratory and other viruses replicate in the oral cavity and are transmitted via aerosols (< 5 µm) and droplets (> 5 µm). SARS-CoV-2 replication has been documented in the upper airways as well as in oral mucosa and salivary glands. These sites are also virus reservoirs that can infect other organs, e.g., the lungs and gastrointestinal tract, as well as other individuals. Laboratory diagnosis of viruses in the oral cavity and upper airways focuses on real-time PCR; antigen tests are less sensitive. For screening and monitoring infections, nasopharyngeal and oral swabs are tested; saliva is a good and more comfortable alternative. Physical means like social distancing or masks have been proven successful to reduce the risk of infection. Both wet-lab and clinical studies confirm that mouth rinses are effective against SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses. Antiviral mouth rinses can inactivate all viruses that replicate in the oral cavity. CONCLUSIONS The oral cavity plays an important role in viral infections of the upper respiratory tract: it serves as a portal of entry, a site of replication, and a source of infection by droplets and aerosols. Physical means but also antiviral mouth rinses can help reduce the spread of viruses and contribute to infection control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dieter Hoffmann
- Institute of Virology, Technische Universität/Helmholtz Zentrum München, Trogerstr. 30, 81675, Munich, Germany.
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10
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Falcón-Cama V, Montero-González T, Acosta-Medina EF, Guillen-Nieto G, Berlanga-Acosta J, Fernández-Ortega C, Alfonso-Falcón A, Gilva-Rodríguez N, López-Nocedo L, Cremata-García D, Matos-Terrero M, Pentón-Rol G, Valdés I, Oramas-Díaz L, Suarez-Batista A, Noa-Romero E, Cruz-Sui O, Sánchez D, Borrego-Díaz AI, Valdés-Carreras JE, Vizcaino A, Suárez-Alba J, Valdés-Véliz R, Bergado G, González MA, Hernandez T, Alvarez-Arzola R, Ramírez-Suárez AC, Casillas-Casanova D, Lemos-Pérez G, Blanco-Águila OR, Díaz A, González Y, Bequet-Romero M, Marín-Prida J, Hernández-Perera JC, Del Rosario-Cruz L, Marin-Díaz AP, González-Bravo M, Borrajero I, Acosta-Rivero N. Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in postmortem lung, kidney, and liver samples, revealing cellular targets involved in COVID-19 pathogenesis. Arch Virol 2023; 168:96. [PMID: 36842152 PMCID: PMC9968404 DOI: 10.1007/s00705-023-05711-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/27/2023]
Abstract
There is an urgent need to understand severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-host interactions involved in virus spread and pathogenesis, which might contribute to the identification of new therapeutic targets. In this study, we investigated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in postmortem lung, kidney, and liver samples of patients who died with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and its relationship with host factors involved in virus spread and pathogenesis, using microscopy-based methods. The cases analyzed showed advanced stages of diffuse acute alveolar damage and fibrosis. We identified the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (NC) in a variety of cells, colocalizing with mitochondrial proteins, lipid droplets (LDs), and key host proteins that have been implicated in inflammation, tissue repair, and the SARS-CoV-2 life cycle (vimentin, NLRP3, fibronectin, LC3B, DDX3X, and PPARγ), pointing to vimentin and LDs as platforms involved not only in the viral life cycle but also in inflammation and pathogenesis. SARS-CoV-2 isolated from a patient´s nasal swab was grown in cell culture and used to infect hamsters. Target cells identified in human tissue samples included lung epithelial and endothelial cells; lipogenic fibroblast-like cells (FLCs) showing features of lipofibroblasts such as activated PPARγ signaling and LDs; lung FLCs expressing fibronectin and vimentin and macrophages, both with evidence of NLRP3- and IL1β-induced responses; regulatory cells expressing immune-checkpoint proteins involved in lung repair responses and contributing to inflammatory responses in the lung; CD34+ liver endothelial cells and hepatocytes expressing vimentin; renal interstitial cells; and the juxtaglomerular apparatus. This suggests that SARS-CoV-2 may directly interfere with critical lung, renal, and liver functions involved in COVID-19-pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viviana Falcón-Cama
- Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Ave 31 be/ 158 and 190, Cubanacán, Playa, PO Box 6162, 10699, Havana, Cuba. .,Latin American School of Medicine, Calle Panamericana Km 3 1/2, Playa, 11600, Havana, Cuba.
| | | | - Emilio F Acosta-Medina
- Center for Advanced Studies of Cuba, Havana, Cuba. .,Latin American School of Medicine, Calle Panamericana Km 3 1/2, Playa, 11600, Havana, Cuba.
| | - Gerardo Guillen-Nieto
- Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Ave 31 be/ 158 and 190, Cubanacán, Playa, PO Box 6162, 10699, Havana, Cuba.,Latin American School of Medicine, Calle Panamericana Km 3 1/2, Playa, 11600, Havana, Cuba
| | - Jorge Berlanga-Acosta
- Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Ave 31 be/ 158 and 190, Cubanacán, Playa, PO Box 6162, 10699, Havana, Cuba.,Latin American School of Medicine, Calle Panamericana Km 3 1/2, Playa, 11600, Havana, Cuba
| | - Celia Fernández-Ortega
- Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Ave 31 be/ 158 and 190, Cubanacán, Playa, PO Box 6162, 10699, Havana, Cuba.,Latin American School of Medicine, Calle Panamericana Km 3 1/2, Playa, 11600, Havana, Cuba
| | | | - Nathalie Gilva-Rodríguez
- Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Ave 31 be/ 158 and 190, Cubanacán, Playa, PO Box 6162, 10699, Havana, Cuba
| | - Lilianne López-Nocedo
- Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Ave 31 be/ 158 and 190, Cubanacán, Playa, PO Box 6162, 10699, Havana, Cuba
| | - Daina Cremata-García
- Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Ave 31 be/ 158 and 190, Cubanacán, Playa, PO Box 6162, 10699, Havana, Cuba
| | - Mariuska Matos-Terrero
- Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Ave 31 be/ 158 and 190, Cubanacán, Playa, PO Box 6162, 10699, Havana, Cuba
| | - Giselle Pentón-Rol
- Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Ave 31 be/ 158 and 190, Cubanacán, Playa, PO Box 6162, 10699, Havana, Cuba.,Latin American School of Medicine, Calle Panamericana Km 3 1/2, Playa, 11600, Havana, Cuba
| | - Iris Valdés
- Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Ave 31 be/ 158 and 190, Cubanacán, Playa, PO Box 6162, 10699, Havana, Cuba
| | - Leonardo Oramas-Díaz
- Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Ave 31 be/ 158 and 190, Cubanacán, Playa, PO Box 6162, 10699, Havana, Cuba
| | - Anamarys Suarez-Batista
- Department of Virology, Civilian Defense Scientific Research Center (CICDC), Havana, Mayabeque, Cuba
| | - Enrique Noa-Romero
- Department of Virology, Civilian Defense Scientific Research Center (CICDC), Havana, Mayabeque, Cuba
| | - Otto Cruz-Sui
- Department of Virology, Civilian Defense Scientific Research Center (CICDC), Havana, Mayabeque, Cuba
| | | | | | | | | | - José Suárez-Alba
- Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Ave 31 be/ 158 and 190, Cubanacán, Playa, PO Box 6162, 10699, Havana, Cuba
| | - Rodolfo Valdés-Véliz
- Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Ave 31 be/ 158 and 190, Cubanacán, Playa, PO Box 6162, 10699, Havana, Cuba
| | - Gretchen Bergado
- Direction of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Center of Molecular Immunology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Miguel A González
- Direction of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Center of Molecular Immunology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Tays Hernandez
- Direction of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Center of Molecular Immunology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Rydell Alvarez-Arzola
- Direction of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Center of Molecular Immunology, Havana, Cuba
| | - Anna C Ramírez-Suárez
- Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Ave 31 be/ 158 and 190, Cubanacán, Playa, PO Box 6162, 10699, Havana, Cuba
| | - Dionne Casillas-Casanova
- Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Ave 31 be/ 158 and 190, Cubanacán, Playa, PO Box 6162, 10699, Havana, Cuba
| | - Gilda Lemos-Pérez
- Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Ave 31 be/ 158 and 190, Cubanacán, Playa, PO Box 6162, 10699, Havana, Cuba
| | | | | | | | - Mónica Bequet-Romero
- Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), Ave 31 be/ 158 and 190, Cubanacán, Playa, PO Box 6162, 10699, Havana, Cuba
| | - Javier Marín-Prida
- Center for Research and Biological Evaluations, Institute of Pharmacy and Food, University of Havana, Havana, Cuba
| | | | | | - Alina P Marin-Díaz
- International Orthopedic Scientific Complex 'Frank Pais Garcia', Havana, Cuba
| | - Maritza González-Bravo
- Latin American School of Medicine, Calle Panamericana Km 3 1/2, Playa, 11600, Havana, Cuba
| | | | - Nelson Acosta-Rivero
- Center for Protein Studies, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, University of Habana, Calle 25 entre J e I, #455, Plaza de la Revolucion, 10400, Havana, Cuba. .,Department of Infectious Diseases, Centre for Integrative Infectious Disease Research (CIID), Molecular Virology, University of Heidelberg, Medical Faculty Heidelberg, INF 344, GO.1, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
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11
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Muacevic A, Adler JR, Kumar D, Purohit A, Garg M, Kanchan DT, Dutt N, Kothari N, Bhaskar S, Elhence P, Bhatia P, Nag VL, Garg MK, Misra S, Pandey A, Dhawan A. Ultrastructural Changes in Autopsy Tissues of COVID-19 Patients. Cureus 2022; 14:e31932. [PMID: 36582579 PMCID: PMC9794915 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.31932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in substantial morbidity and mortality across the world. The prognosis was found to be poor in patients with co-morbidities such as diabetes, hypertension, interstitial lung disease, etc. Although biochemical studies were done in patient samples, no study has been reported from the Indian subcontinent about ultrastructural changes in the vital organs of COVID-19 patients. The present study was, therefore, conducted to understand the ultrastructural changes in the lung, liver, and brain of the deceased patients. METHODS The present study was conducted on samples obtained from reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-positive patients who were admitted to a tertiary care hospital in Western India. Core needle biopsies were done in eight fatal cases of COVID-19. The samples were taken from the lungs, liver, and brain and subjected to light microscopy, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Clinical details and biochemical findings were also collected. Results: The study participants included seven males and one female. The presenting complaints included fever, breathlessness, and cough. Light microscopy revealed diffuse alveolar damage in the lungs. Further, a positive expression of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein was observed in the pulmonary parenchyma of five patients. Also, the TEM microphotograph showed viral particles of size up to 80nm localized in alveolar epithelial cells. However, no viral particles were found in liver or brain samples. In the liver, macrovesicular steatosis and centrizonal congestion with loss of hepatocytes were observed in light microscopy. CONCLUSION This is the first study in the Indian population showing the in-situ presence of viral particles in core biopsies from fatal cases of COVID-19. As evident from the results, histology and ultrastructural changes in the lung correlated with the presence of viral particles. The study revealed a positive correlation between the damage in the lungs and the presence of viral particles.
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12
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Krasemann S, Dittmayer C, von Stillfried S, Meinhardt J, Heinrich F, Hartmann K, Pfefferle S, Thies E, von Manitius R, Aschman TAD, Radke J, Osterloh A, Schmid S, Buhl EM, Ihlow J, Dubois F, Arnhold V, Elezkurtaj S, Horst D, Hocke A, Timm S, Bachmann S, Corman V, Goebel HH, Matschke J, Stanelle-Bertram S, Gabriel G, Seilhean D, Adle-Biassette H, Ondruschka B, Ochs M, Stenzel W, Heppner FL, Boor P, Radbruch H, Laue M, Glatzel M. Assessing and improving the validity of COVID-19 autopsy studies - A multicentre approach to establish essential standards for immunohistochemical and ultrastructural analyses. EBioMedicine 2022; 83:104193. [PMID: 35930888 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2022.104193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Autopsy studies have provided valuable insights into the pathophysiology of COVID-19. Controversies remain about whether the clinical presentation is due to direct organ damage by SARS-CoV-2 or secondary effects, such as overshooting immune response. SARS-CoV-2 detection in tissues by RT-qPCR and immunohistochemistry (IHC) or electron microscopy (EM) can help answer these questions, but a comprehensive evaluation of these applications is missing. Methods We assessed publications using IHC and EM for SARS-CoV-2 detection in autopsy tissues. We systematically evaluated commercially available antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 proteins in cultured cell lines and COVID-19 autopsy tissues. In a multicentre study, we evaluated specificity, reproducibility, and inter-observer variability of SARS-CoV-2 IHC. We correlated RT-qPCR viral tissue loads with semiquantitative IHC scoring. We used qualitative and quantitative EM analyses to refine criteria for ultrastructural identification of SARS-CoV-2. Findings Publications show high variability in detection and interpretation of SARS-CoV-2 abundance in autopsy tissues by IHC or EM. We show that IHC using antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid yields the highest sensitivity and specificity. We found a positive correlation between presence of viral proteins by IHC and RT-qPCR-determined SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA load (N= 35; r=-0.83, p-value <0.0001). For EM, we refined criteria for virus identification and provide recommendations for optimized sampling and analysis. 135 of 144 publications misinterpret cellular structures as virus using EM or show only insufficient data. We provide publicly accessible digitized EM sections as a reference and for training purposes. Interpretation Since detection of SARS-CoV-2 in human autopsy tissues by IHC and EM is difficult and frequently incorrect, we propose criteria for a re-evaluation of available data and guidance for further investigations of direct organ effects by SARS-CoV-2. Funding German Federal Ministry of Health, German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Berlin University Alliance, German Research Foundation, German Center for Infectious Research.
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13
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Serrano GE, Walker JE, Tremblay C, Piras IS, Huentelman MJ, Belden CM, Goldfarb D, Shprecher D, Atri A, Adler CH, Shill HA, Driver-Dunckley E, Mehta SH, Caselli R, Woodruff BK, Haarer CF, Ruhlen T, Torres M, Nguyen S, Schmitt D, Rapscak SZ, Bime C, Peters JL, Alevritis E, Arce RA, Glass MJ, Vargas D, Sue LI, Intorcia AJ, Nelson CM, Oliver J, Russell A, Suszczewicz KE, Borja CI, Cline MP, Hemmingsen SJ, Qiji S, Hobgood HM, Mizgerd JP, Sahoo MK, Zhang H, Solis D, Montine TJ, Berry GJ, Reiman EM, Röltgen K, Boyd SD, Pinsky BA, Zehnder JL, Talbot P, Desforges M, DeTure M, Dickson DW, Beach TG. SARS-CoV-2 Brain Regional Detection, Histopathology, Gene Expression, and Immunomodulatory Changes in Decedents with COVID-19. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2022; 81:666-695. [PMID: 35818336 PMCID: PMC9278252 DOI: 10.1093/jnen/nlac056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Brains of 42 COVID-19 decedents and 107 non-COVID-19 controls were studied. RT-PCR screening of 16 regions from 20 COVID-19 autopsies found SARS-CoV-2 E gene viral sequences in 7 regions (2.5% of 320 samples), concentrated in 4/20 subjects (20%). Additional screening of olfactory bulb (OB), amygdala (AMY) and entorhinal area for E, N1, N2, RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, and S gene sequences detected one or more of these in OB in 8/21 subjects (38%). It is uncertain whether these RNA sequences represent viable virus. Significant histopathology was limited to 2/42 cases (4.8%), one with a large acute cerebral infarct and one with hemorrhagic encephalitis. Case-control RNAseq in OB and AMY found more than 5000 and 700 differentially expressed genes, respectively, unrelated to RT-PCR results; these involved immune response, neuronal constituents, and olfactory/taste receptor genes. Olfactory marker protein-1 reduction indicated COVID-19-related loss of OB olfactory mucosa afferents. Iba-1-immunoreactive microglia had reduced area fractions in cerebellar cortex and AMY, and cytokine arrays showed generalized downregulation in AMY and upregulation in blood serum in COVID-19 cases. Although OB is a major brain portal for SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 brain changes are more likely due to blood-borne immune mediators and trans-synaptic gene expression changes arising from OB deafferentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geidy E Serrano
- From the Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, Arizona, USA
| | - Jessica E Walker
- From the Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, Arizona, USA
| | - Cécilia Tremblay
- From the Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, Arizona, USA
| | - Ignazio S Piras
- Neurogenomics Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Matthew J Huentelman
- Neurogenomics Division, Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | | | - Danielle Goldfarb
- From the Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, Arizona, USA
| | - David Shprecher
- From the Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, Arizona, USA
| | - Alireza Atri
- From the Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, Arizona, USA.,Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Charles H Adler
- Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
| | - Holly A Shill
- Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | | | - Shyamal H Mehta
- Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
| | - Richard Caselli
- Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
| | - Bryan K Woodruff
- Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, Arizona, USA
| | | | - Thomas Ruhlen
- Banner Boswell Medical Center, Sun City, Arizona, USA
| | - Maria Torres
- Banner Boswell Medical Center, Sun City, Arizona, USA
| | - Steve Nguyen
- Banner Boswell Medical Center, Sun City, Arizona, USA
| | - Dasan Schmitt
- Banner Boswell Medical Center, Sun City, Arizona, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Richard A Arce
- From the Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, Arizona, USA
| | - Michael J Glass
- From the Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, Arizona, USA
| | - Daisy Vargas
- From the Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, Arizona, USA
| | - Lucia I Sue
- From the Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, Arizona, USA
| | | | - Courtney M Nelson
- From the Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, Arizona, USA
| | - Javon Oliver
- From the Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, Arizona, USA
| | - Aryck Russell
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Claryssa I Borja
- From the Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, Arizona, USA
| | - Madison P Cline
- From the Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, Arizona, USA
| | | | - Sanaria Qiji
- From the Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, Arizona, USA
| | - Holly M Hobgood
- From the Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, Arizona, USA
| | - Joseph P Mizgerd
- Pulmonary Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Malaya K Sahoo
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Haiyu Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Daniel Solis
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Thomas J Montine
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Gerald J Berry
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA.,From the Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, Arizona, USA
| | | | - Katharina Röltgen
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Scott D Boyd
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Benjamin A Pinsky
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA.,Division of Infectious Disease & Geographic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - James L Zehnder
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Pierre Talbot
- Laboratory of Neuroimmunology, Centre Armand-Frappier Santé Biotechnologie, Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Laval, Quebec, Canada
| | - Marc Desforges
- Laboratory of Virology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine, Montréal, Quebec, Canada.,Département de microbiologie, infectiologie et Immunologie, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Michael DeTure
- Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, Florida, USA
| | - Dennis W Dickson
- Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, Florida, USA
| | - Thomas G Beach
- From the Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, Arizona, USA
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14
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Majumdar R, Vrana JA, Koepplin JW, Milosevic D, Roden AC, Garcia JJ, Kipp BR, Moyer AM. SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection in Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) tissue by droplet digital PCR (ddPCR). Clin Chim Acta 2022; 532:181-187. [PMID: 35550815 PMCID: PMC9085371 DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2022.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND SARS-CoV-2 is an RNA virus that primarily causes respiratory disease; however, infection of other tissue has been reported. Evaluation of SARS-CoV-2 in tissue specimens may increase understanding of SARS-CoV-2 pathobiology. MATERIALS AND METHODS A qualitative test for detection of SARS-CoV-2 in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues was developed and validated using droplet digital PCR (ddPCR), which has a lower limit of detection than reverse transcription (RT)-qPCR. After extraction of total RNA from unstained FFPE tissue, SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid (N1, N2) target sequences were amplified and quantified, along with human RPP30 as a control using the Bio-Rad SARS-CoV-2 ddPCR kit. RESULTS SARS-CoV-2 was detected in all 21 known positive samples and none of the 16 negative samples. As few as approximately 5 viral copies were reliably detected. Since January 2021, many tissue types have been clinically tested. Of the 195 clinical specimens, the positivity rate was 35% with placenta and fetal tissue showing the highest percentage of positive cases. CONCLUSION This sensitive FFPE-based assay has broad clinical utility with applications as diverse as pregnancy loss and evaluation of liver transplant rejection. This assay will aid in understanding atypical presentations of COVID-19 as well as long-term sequelae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramanath Majumdar
- Advanced Diagnostics Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, United States
| | - Julie A. Vrana
- Division of Anatomic Pathology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, United States
| | - Justin W. Koepplin
- Division of Anatomic Pathology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, United States
| | - Dragana Milosevic
- Division of Laboratory Genetics and Genomics, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55902, United States
| | - Anja C. Roden
- Division of Anatomic Pathology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, United States
| | - Joaquin J. Garcia
- Division of Anatomic Pathology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, United States
| | - Benjamin R. Kipp
- Advanced Diagnostics Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, United States,Division of Laboratory Genetics and Genomics, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55902, United States
| | - Ann M. Moyer
- Division of Laboratory Genetics and Genomics, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55902, United States,Corresponding author at: Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55902, United States
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15
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Fears AC, Beddingfield BJ, Chirichella NR, Slisarenko N, Killeen SZ, Redmann RK, Goff K, Spencer S, Picou B, Golden N, Midkiff CC, Bush DJ, Branco LM, Boisen ML, Gao H, Montefiori DC, Blair RV, Doyle-Meyers LA, Russell-Lodrigue K, Maness NJ, Roy CJ. Exposure modality influences viral kinetics but not respiratory outcome of COVID-19 in multiple nonhuman primate species. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010618. [PMID: 35789343 PMCID: PMC9286241 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 emerged in late 2019, rapidly reached pandemic status, and has maintained global ubiquity through the emergence of variants of concern. Efforts to develop animal models have mostly fallen short of recapitulating severe disease, diminishing their utility for research focusing on severe disease pathogenesis and life-saving medical countermeasures. We tested whether route of experimental infection substantially changes COVID-19 disease characteristics in two species of nonhuman primates (Macaca mulatta; rhesus macaques; RM, Chlorocebus atheiops; African green monkeys; AGM). Species-specific cohorts were experimentally infected with SARS-CoV-2 by either direct mucosal (intratracheal + intranasal) instillation or small particle aerosol in route-discrete subcohorts. Both species demonstrated analogous viral loads in all compartments by either exposure route although the magnitude and duration of viral loading was marginally greater in AGMs than RMs. Clinical onset was nearly immediate (+1dpi) in the mucosal exposure cohort whereas clinical signs and cytokine responses in aerosol exposure animals began +7dpi. Pathologies conserved in both species and both exposure modalities include pulmonary myeloid cell influx, development of pleuritis, and extended lack of regenerative capacity in the pulmonary compartment. Demonstration of conserved pulmonary pathology regardless of species and exposure route expands our understanding of how SARS-CoV-2 infection may lead to ARDS and/or functional lung damage and demonstrates the near clinical response of the nonhuman primate model for anti-fibrotic therapeutic evaluation studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alyssa C. Fears
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, Louisiana, United States of America
- Biomedical Science Training Program, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | | | - Nicole R. Chirichella
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Nadia Slisarenko
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Stephanie Z. Killeen
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Rachel K. Redmann
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Kelly Goff
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Skye Spencer
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Breanna Picou
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Nadia Golden
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Cecily C. Midkiff
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Duane J. Bush
- Zalgen Labs, LLC, Germantown, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Luis M. Branco
- Zalgen Labs, LLC, Germantown, Maryland, United States of America
| | | | - Hongmei Gao
- Duke University Medical Center, Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - David C. Montefiori
- Duke University Medical Center, Duke Human Vaccine Institute, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Robert V. Blair
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Lara A. Doyle-Meyers
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, Louisiana, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Kasi Russell-Lodrigue
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Nicholas J. Maness
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, Louisiana, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Chad J. Roy
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, Louisiana, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
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16
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McHenry A, Iyer K, Wang J, Liu C, Harigopal M. Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in tissue: the comparative roles of RT-qPCR, in situ RNA hybridization, and immunohistochemistry. Expert Rev Mol Diagn 2022; 22:559-574. [PMID: 35658709 DOI: 10.1080/14737159.2022.2085508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The emergence of SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent the COVID-19 pandemic, has led to a rapidly expanding arsenal of molecular diagnostic assays for the detection of viral material in tissue specimens. AREAS COVERED We review the value and shortcomings of available tissue-based assays for SARS-CoV-2 detection in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue, including immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, and quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR). The validation, accuracy, and comparative utility of each method is discussed. Subsequently, we identify commercially available antibodies which render the greatest specificity and reproducibility of staining in FFPE specimens. EXPERT OPINION We offer expert opinion on the efficacy of such techniques and guidance for future implementation, both clinical and experimental.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin McHenry
- Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Pathology, New Haven, CT, 06520, United States
| | - Krishna Iyer
- Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Pathology, New Haven, CT, 06520, United States
| | - Jianhi Wang
- Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Pathology, New Haven, CT, 06520, United States
| | - Chen Liu
- Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Pathology, New Haven, CT, 06520, United States
| | - Malini Harigopal
- Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Pathology, New Haven, CT, 06520, United States
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17
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Roden AC, Boland JM, Johnson TF, Aubry MC, Lo YC, Butt YM, Maleszewski JJ, Larsen BT, Tazelaar HD, Khoor A, Smith ML, Moua T, Jenkins SM, Moyer AM, Yi ES, Bois MC. Late Complications of COVID-19: A Morphologic, Imaging, and Droplet Digital Polymerase Chain Reaction Study of Lung Tissue. Arch Pathol Lab Med 2022; 146:791-804. [PMID: 35319744 DOI: 10.5858/arpa.2021-0519-sa] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Studies of lungs in patients with COVID-19 have focused on early findings. OBJECTIVE To systematically study histopathologic, imaging features and presence of SARSCoV-2 RNA in lung tissue from patients in later stages of COVID-19. DESIGN Autopsies, explants, surgical lung biopsies; and transbronchial, cryo, and needle biopsies were studied from patients with COVID-19, whose onset of symptoms/confirmed diagnosis was more than 28 days before the procedure. Available images were reviewed. Reverse transcription droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (RT-ddPCR) for SARS-CoV-2 RNA was performed on lung tissue. RESULTS Forty-four specimens (43 patients, median age 59.3 years, 26 [60.5%] male) showed features of acute lung injury (ALI) in 39 (88.6%), predominantly organizing pneumonia (OP) and diffuse alveolar damage (DAD), up to 298 days after onset of COVID-19. Fibrotic changes were found in 33 specimens (75%), most commonly fibrotic DAD (N=22) and cicatricial OP (N=12). Time between acquiring COVID-19 and specimen was shorter in patients with diffuse ALI (median 61.5 days) compared to patients with focal (140 days) or no ALI (130 days) (P=.009). Sixteen (of 20, 80%) SARS-CoV-2 RT-ddPCR tests were positive, up to 174 days after COVID-19 onset. Time between COVID-19 onset and most recent CT in patients with consolidation on imaging was shorter (median 43.0 days) versus patients without consolidation (87.5 days; P=.02). Reticulations were associated with longer time after COVID-19 onset to CT (median 82 days vs 23.5 days, P=.006). CONCLUSIONS ALI and SARS-CoV-2 RNA can be detected in patients with COVID-19 for many months. ALI may evolve into fibrotic interstitial lung disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja C Roden
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (Roden, Boland, Aubry, Lo, Maleszewski, Moyer, Yi, Bois), at Mayo Clinic Rochester, Rochester, MN
| | - Jennifer M Boland
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (Roden, Boland, Aubry, Lo, Maleszewski, Moyer, Yi, Bois), at Mayo Clinic Rochester, Rochester, MN
| | - Tucker F Johnson
- Department of Radiology (Johnson), at Mayo Clinic Rochester, Rochester, MN
| | - Marie Christine Aubry
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (Roden, Boland, Aubry, Lo, Maleszewski, Moyer, Yi, Bois), at Mayo Clinic Rochester, Rochester, MN
| | - Ying-Chun Lo
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (Roden, Boland, Aubry, Lo, Maleszewski, Moyer, Yi, Bois), at Mayo Clinic Rochester, Rochester, MN
| | - Yasmeen M Butt
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ (Butt, Larsen, Tazelaar, Smith)
| | - Joseph J Maleszewski
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (Roden, Boland, Aubry, Lo, Maleszewski, Moyer, Yi, Bois), at Mayo Clinic Rochester, Rochester, MN
| | - Brandon T Larsen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ (Butt, Larsen, Tazelaar, Smith)
| | - Henry D Tazelaar
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ (Butt, Larsen, Tazelaar, Smith)
| | - Andras Khoor
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, FL (Khoor)
| | - Maxwell L Smith
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic Arizona, Scottsdale, AZ (Butt, Larsen, Tazelaar, Smith)
| | - Teng Moua
- Division of Critical Care and Pulmonary Medicine (Moua), at Mayo Clinic Rochester, Rochester, MN
| | - Sarah M Jenkins
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences (Jenkins), at Mayo Clinic Rochester, Rochester, MN
| | - Ann M Moyer
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (Roden, Boland, Aubry, Lo, Maleszewski, Moyer, Yi, Bois), at Mayo Clinic Rochester, Rochester, MN
| | - Eunhee S Yi
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (Roden, Boland, Aubry, Lo, Maleszewski, Moyer, Yi, Bois), at Mayo Clinic Rochester, Rochester, MN
| | - Melanie C Bois
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (Roden, Boland, Aubry, Lo, Maleszewski, Moyer, Yi, Bois), at Mayo Clinic Rochester, Rochester, MN
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18
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Rotstein DS, Peloquin S, Proia K, Hart E, Lee J, Vyhnal KK, Sasaki E, Balamayooran G, Asin J, Southard T, Rothfeldt L, Venkat H, Mundschenk P, McDermott D, Crossley B, Ferro P, Gomez G, Henderson EH, Narayan P, Paulsen DB, Rekant S, Schroeder ME, Tell RM, Torchetti MK, Uzal FA, Carpenter A, Ghai R. Investigation of SARS-CoV-2 infection and associated lesions in exotic and companion animals. Vet Pathol 2022; 59:707-711. [PMID: 35038930 PMCID: PMC9207983 DOI: 10.1177/03009858211067467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Documented natural infections with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in exotic and companion animals following human exposures are uncommon. Those documented in animals are typically mild and self-limiting, and infected animals have only infrequently died or been euthanized. Through a coordinated One Health initiative, necropsies were conducted on 5 animals from different premises that were exposed to humans with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. The combination of epidemiologic evidence of exposure and confirmatory real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction testing confirmed infection in 3 cats and a tiger. A dog was a suspect case based on epidemiologic evidence of exposure but tested negative for SARS-CoV-2. Four animals had respiratory clinical signs that developed 2 to 12 days after exposure. The dog had bronchointerstitial pneumonia and the tiger had bronchopneumonia; both had syncytial-like cells with no detection of SARS-CoV-2. Individual findings in the 3 cats included metastatic mammary carcinoma, congenital renal disease, and myocardial disease. Based on the necropsy findings and a standardized algorithm, SARS-CoV-2 infection was not considered the cause of death in any of the cases. Continued surveillance and necropsy examination of animals with fatal outcomes will further our understanding of natural SARS-CoV-2 infection in animals and the potential role of the virus in development of lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- David S Rotstein
- US Food and Drug Administration, Center for Veterinary Medicine, Office of Surveillance and Compliance, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Sarah Peloquin
- US Food and Drug Administration, Center for Veterinary Medicine, Office of Research, Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network, Laurel, MD, USA
| | - Kathleen Proia
- US Food and Drug Administration, Center for Veterinary Medicine, Office of Research, Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network, Laurel, MD, USA
| | - Ellen Hart
- US Food and Drug Administration, Center for Veterinary Medicine, Office of Surveillance and Compliance, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Jeongha Lee
- Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | | | - Emi Sasaki
- Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | | | - Javier Asin
- University of California-Davis, San Bernardino, CA, USA
| | | | - Laura Rothfeldt
- Arkansas Department of Health, Zoonotic Disease Section, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Heather Venkat
- Center for Preparedness and Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Arizona Department of Health Services, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| | | | - Darby McDermott
- New Jersey Department of Health, Communicable Disease Service, Trenton, NJ, USA
| | | | - Pamela Ferro
- Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Gabriel Gomez
- Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, College Station, TX, USA
| | | | - Paul Narayan
- Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, College Station, TX, USA
| | | | | | - Megan E Schroeder
- Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Rachel M Tell
- USDA National Veterinary Services Laboratories, Ames, IA, USA
| | | | | | - Ann Carpenter
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Ria Ghai
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
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19
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Piras IS, Huentelman MJ, Walker JE, Arce R, Glass MJ, Vargas D, Sue LI, Intorcia AJ, Nelson CM, Suszczewicz KE, Borja CL, Desforges M, Deture M, Dickson DW, Beach TG, Serrano GE. Olfactory Bulb and Amygdala Gene Expression Changes in Subjects Dying with COVID-19. medRxiv 2021:2021.09.12.21263291. [PMID: 34545375 PMCID: PMC8452114 DOI: 10.1101/2021.09.12.21263291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
In this study we conducted RNA sequencing on two brain regions (olfactory bulb and amygdala) from subjects who died from COVID-19 or who died of other causes. We found several-fold more transcriptional changes in the olfactory bulb than in the amygdala, consistent with our own work and that of others indicating that the olfactory bulb may be the initial and most common brain region infected. To some extent our results converge with pseudotime analysis towards common processes shared between the brain regions, possibly induced by the systemic immune reaction following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Changes in amygdala emphasized upregulation of interferon-related neuroinflammation genes, as well as downregulation of synaptic and other neuronal genes, and may represent the substrate of reported acute and subacute COVID-19 neurological effects. Additionally, and only in olfactory bulb, we observed an increase in angiogenesis and platelet activation genes, possibly associated with microvascular damages induced by neuroinflammation. Through coexpression analysis we identified two key genes (CAMK2B for the synaptic neuronal network and COL1A2 for the angiogenesis/platelet network) that might be interesting potential targets to reverse the effects induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection. Finally, in olfactory bulb we detected an upregulation of olfactory and taste genes, possibly as a compensatory response to functional deafferentation caused by viral entry into primary olfactory sensory neurons. In conclusion, we were able to identify transcriptional profiles and key genes involved in neuroinflammation, neuronal reaction and olfaction induced by direct CNS infection and/or the systemic immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ignazio S. Piras
- Translational Genomics Research Institute, Neurogenomics Division
| | | | | | - Richard Arce
- Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, AZ
| | | | - Daisy Vargas
- Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, AZ
| | - Lucia I. Sue
- Banner Sun Health Research Institute, Sun City, AZ
| | | | | | | | | | - Marc Desforges
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine, Laboratory of Virology, Montreal, Canada
| | - Michael Deture
- Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, FL
| | - Dennis W. Dickson
- Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, FL
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20
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Hirschbühl K, Dintner S, Beer M, Wylezich C, Schlegel J, Delbridge C, Borcherding L, Lippert J, Schiele S, Müller G, Moiraki D, Spring O, Wittmann M, Kling E, Braun G, Kröncke T, Claus R, Märkl B, Schaller T. Viral mapping in COVID-19 deceased in the Augsburg autopsy series of the first wave: A multiorgan and multimethodological approach. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0254872. [PMID: 34280238 PMCID: PMC8289110 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND COVID-19 is only partly understood, and the level of evidence available in terms of pathophysiology, epidemiology, therapy, and long-term outcome remains limited. During the early phase of the pandemic, it was necessary to effectively investigate all aspects of this new disease. Autopsy can be a valuable procedure to investigate the internal organs with special techniques to obtain information on the disease, especially the distribution and type of organ involvement. METHODS During the first wave of COVID-19 in Germany, autopsies of 19 deceased patients were performed. Besides gross examination, the organs were analyzed with standard histology and polymerase-chain-reaction for SARS-CoV-2. Polymerase chain reaction positive localizations were further analyzed with immunohistochemistry and RNA-in situ hybridization for SARS-CoV-2. RESULTS Eighteen of 19 patients were found to have died due to COVID-19. Clinically relevant histological changes were only observed in the lungs. Diffuse alveolar damage in considerably different degrees was noted in 18 cases. Other organs, including the central nervous system, did not show specific micromorphological alterations. In terms of SARS-CoV-2 detection, the focus remains on the upper airways and lungs. This is true for both the number of positive samples and the viral load. A highly significant inverse correlation between the stage of diffuse alveolar damage and viral load was found on a case and a sample basis. Mediastinal lymph nodes and fat were also affected by the virus at high frequencies. By contrast, other organs rarely exhibited a viral infection. Moderate to strong correlations between the methods for detecting SARS-CoV-2 were observed for the lungs and for other organs. CONCLUSIONS The lung is the most affected organ in gross examination, histology and polymerase chain reaction. SARS-CoV-2 detection in other organs did not reveal relevant or specific histological changes. Moreover, we did not find CNS involvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klaus Hirschbühl
- Hematology and Oncology, Medical Faculty, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Sebastian Dintner
- General Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics, Medical Faculty, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Martin Beer
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Claudia Wylezich
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Jürgen Schlegel
- Department of Neuropathology, School of Medicine, Institute of Pathology, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Claire Delbridge
- Department of Neuropathology, School of Medicine, Institute of Pathology, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Lukas Borcherding
- General Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics, Medical Faculty, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Jirina Lippert
- General Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics, Medical Faculty, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Schiele
- Computational Statistics and Data Analysis, Institute of Mathematics, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Gernot Müller
- Computational Statistics and Data Analysis, Institute of Mathematics, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Dimitra Moiraki
- General Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics, Medical Faculty, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Oliver Spring
- Anesthesiology and Operative Intensive Care Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Michael Wittmann
- Hematology and Oncology, Medical Faculty, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Kling
- Microbiology, Medical Faculty, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Georg Braun
- Department of Gastroenterology, University Hospital Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Kröncke
- Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Medical Faculty, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Rainer Claus
- Hematology and Oncology, Medical Faculty, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Bruno Märkl
- General Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics, Medical Faculty, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
| | - Tina Schaller
- General Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics, Medical Faculty, University of Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
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21
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Criado PR, Criado RFJ, Gianotti R, Abdalla BAZ, Pincelli TPH, Michalany AO, Michalany NS. Urticarial vasculitis revealing immunolabelled nucleocapsid protein of SARS-CoV-2 in two Brazilian asymptomatic patients: the tip of the COVID-19 hidden iceberg? J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2021; 35:e563-e566. [PMID: 34033181 PMCID: PMC8242908 DOI: 10.1111/jdv.17391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- P R Criado
- UCARE (Urticaria Center of Reference and Excellence), Centro Universitário Saúde ABC (Faculdade de Medicina do ABC), Santo André, Brazil.,Alergoskin Alergia e Dermatologia, Santo André, Brazil
| | - R F J Criado
- UCARE (Urticaria Center of Reference and Excellence), Centro Universitário Saúde ABC (Faculdade de Medicina do ABC), Santo André, Brazil.,Alergoskin Alergia e Dermatologia, Santo André, Brazil
| | - R Gianotti
- Clinica Dermatologica, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milano, Italy
| | - B A Z Abdalla
- UCARE (Urticaria Center of Reference and Excellence), Centro Universitário Saúde ABC (Faculdade de Medicina do ABC), Santo André, Brazil
| | - T P H Pincelli
- Department of Dermatology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - A O Michalany
- Laboratório Paulista de Dermatologia, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - N S Michalany
- Laboratório Paulista de Dermatologia, São Paulo, Brazil
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