Beesley, M;
Davidson, J;
Panariello, F;
Shibuya, S;
Scaglioni, D;
Jones, B;
Maksym, K;
... Gerli, M; + view all
(2021)
COVID-19 and vertical transmission: assessing the expression of ACE2 / TMPRSS2 in the human fetus and placenta to assess the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Abstract
Background: While pregnant women have been identified as a potentially at-risk group concerning COVID-19 infection, little is known regarding the susceptibility of the fetus to infection. Co-expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 has been identified as a pre-requisite for infection, and expression across different tissues is known to vary between children and adults. However, the expression of these proteins in the fetus is unknown. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of single cell data repositories. This data was then validated at both gene and protein level by performing qRT-PCR and two-colour immunohistochemistry on a library of second-trimester human fetal tissues. Findings: TMPRSS2 is present at both gene and protein level in the predominantly epithelial fetal tissues analysed. ACE2 is present at significant levels, only in the fetal intestine and kidney and is not expressed in the fetal lung. The placenta is also negative for the two proteins both during development and at term. Interpretation: This dataset indicates that the lungs are unlikely to be a viable route of SARS-CoV2 fetal infection. The fetal kidney, despite presenting both the proteins required for the infection, is anatomically protected from the exposure to the virus. However, the GI tract is likely to be susceptible to infection due to its high co-expression of both proteins, as well as its exposure to potentially infected amniotic fluid.
| Type: | Working / discussion paper |
|---|---|
| Title: | COVID-19 and vertical transmission: assessing the expression of ACE2 / TMPRSS2 in the human fetus and placenta to assess the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.22541/au.162605830.04721325/v1 |
| Publisher version: | https://www.authorea.com/users/425086/articles/529... |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This version is the version of record. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher's terms and conditions. |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > UCL GOS Institute of Child Health |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10138547 |
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