SARS-CoV-2 infects and replicates in photoreceptor and retinal ganglion cells of human retinal organoids
Year: 2022
Type: article
Abstract: Several studies have pointed to retinal involvement in COVID-19, yet many questions remain regarding the ability of SARS-CoV-2 to infect and replicate in retinal cells and its effects on the retina. Here, we have used human pluripotent stem cell-derived retinal organoids to study retinal infection by SARS-CoV-2. Indeed, SARS-CoV-2 can infect and replicate in retinal organoids, as it is shown to infect different retinal lineages, such as retinal ganglion cells and photoreceptors. SARS-CoV-2 infection of retinal organoids also induces the expression of several inflammatory genes, such as interleukin 33, a gene associated with acute COVID-19 and retinal degeneration. Finally, we show that the use of antibodies to block ACE2 significantly reduces SARS-CoV-2 infection of retinal organoids, indicating that SARS-CoV-2 infects retinal cells in an ACE2-dependent manner. These results suggest a retinal involvement in COVID-19 and emphasize the need to monitor retinal pathologies as potential sequelae of "long COVID."
Source: Stem Cell Reports
Language: English
Topic: Retinal and Optic Conditions
Subfield: Ophthalmology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,800
Funders: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung, Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Bundesministerium für Forschung und Technologie, Interdisziplinäres Zentrum für Klinische Forschung, Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Universität Osnabrück, Medizinische Fakultät, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster
OpenAlex ID: W4226117275