Molecular Pathology Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 in Syncytiotrophoblast and Hofbauer Cells in Placenta from a Pregnant Woman and Fetus with COVID-19
A small number of neonates delivered to women with SARS-CoV-2 infection have been found to become infected through intrauterine transplacental transmission. These cases are associated with a group of unusual placental pathology abnormalities that include chronic histiocytic intervillositis, syncytio...
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MDPI AG
2021-04-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/10/4/479 |
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| author | Denise Morotti Massimiliano Cadamuro Elena Rigoli Aurelio Sonzogni Andrea Gianatti Cristina Parolin Luisa Patanè David A. Schwartz |
| author_facet | Denise Morotti Massimiliano Cadamuro Elena Rigoli Aurelio Sonzogni Andrea Gianatti Cristina Parolin Luisa Patanè David A. Schwartz |
| author_sort | Denise Morotti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A small number of neonates delivered to women with SARS-CoV-2 infection have been found to become infected through intrauterine transplacental transmission. These cases are associated with a group of unusual placental pathology abnormalities that include chronic histiocytic intervillositis, syncytiotrophoblast necrosis, and positivity of the syncytiotrophoblast for SARS-CoV-2 antigen or RNA. Hofbauer cells constitute a heterogeneous group of immunologically active macrophages that have been involved in transplacental infections that include such viral agents as Zika virus and human immunodeficiency virus. The role of Hofbauer cells in placental infection with SARS-CoV-2 and maternal-fetal transmission is unknown. This study uses molecular pathology techniques to evaluate the placenta from a neonate infected with SARS-CoV-2 via the transplacental route to determine whether Hofbauer cells have evidence of infection. We found that the placenta had chronic histiocytic intervillositis and syncytiotrophoblast necrosis, with the syncytiotrophoblast demonstrating intense positive staining for SARS-CoV-2. Immunohistochemistry using the macrophage marker CD163, SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein, and double staining for SARS-CoV-2 with RNAscope and anti-CD163 antibody, revealed that no demonstrable virus could be identified within Hofbauer cells, despite these cells closely approaching the basement membrane zone of the infected trophoblast. Unlike some other viruses, there was no evidence from this transmitting placenta for infection of Hofbauer cells with SARS-CoV-2. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:19:03Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-0817 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:19:03Z |
| publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pathogens |
| spelling | doaj.art-b00fc98fedfd427d8e79d5d21c9b8aa22023-11-21T15:38:53ZengMDPI AGPathogens2076-08172021-04-0110447910.3390/pathogens10040479Molecular Pathology Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 in Syncytiotrophoblast and Hofbauer Cells in Placenta from a Pregnant Woman and Fetus with COVID-19Denise Morotti0Massimiliano Cadamuro1Elena Rigoli2Aurelio Sonzogni3Andrea Gianatti4Cristina Parolin5Luisa Patanè6David A. Schwartz7Department of Pathology, Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital, 24127 Bergamo, ItalyDepartment of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, ItalyDepartment of Pathology, Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital, 24127 Bergamo, ItalyDepartment of Pathology, Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital, 24127 Bergamo, ItalyDepartment of Pathology, Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital, 24127 Bergamo, ItalyDepartment of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, ItalyObstetrics and Gynecology Department, Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital, 24127 Bergamo, ItalyDepartment of Pathology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USAA small number of neonates delivered to women with SARS-CoV-2 infection have been found to become infected through intrauterine transplacental transmission. These cases are associated with a group of unusual placental pathology abnormalities that include chronic histiocytic intervillositis, syncytiotrophoblast necrosis, and positivity of the syncytiotrophoblast for SARS-CoV-2 antigen or RNA. Hofbauer cells constitute a heterogeneous group of immunologically active macrophages that have been involved in transplacental infections that include such viral agents as Zika virus and human immunodeficiency virus. The role of Hofbauer cells in placental infection with SARS-CoV-2 and maternal-fetal transmission is unknown. This study uses molecular pathology techniques to evaluate the placenta from a neonate infected with SARS-CoV-2 via the transplacental route to determine whether Hofbauer cells have evidence of infection. We found that the placenta had chronic histiocytic intervillositis and syncytiotrophoblast necrosis, with the syncytiotrophoblast demonstrating intense positive staining for SARS-CoV-2. Immunohistochemistry using the macrophage marker CD163, SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein, and double staining for SARS-CoV-2 with RNAscope and anti-CD163 antibody, revealed that no demonstrable virus could be identified within Hofbauer cells, despite these cells closely approaching the basement membrane zone of the infected trophoblast. Unlike some other viruses, there was no evidence from this transmitting placenta for infection of Hofbauer cells with SARS-CoV-2.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/10/4/479Hofbauer cellSARS-CoV-2placentaCOVID-19fetal infectioncoronavirus |
| spellingShingle | Denise Morotti Massimiliano Cadamuro Elena Rigoli Aurelio Sonzogni Andrea Gianatti Cristina Parolin Luisa Patanè David A. Schwartz Molecular Pathology Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 in Syncytiotrophoblast and Hofbauer Cells in Placenta from a Pregnant Woman and Fetus with COVID-19 Pathogens Hofbauer cell SARS-CoV-2 placenta COVID-19 fetal infection coronavirus |
| title | Molecular Pathology Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 in Syncytiotrophoblast and Hofbauer Cells in Placenta from a Pregnant Woman and Fetus with COVID-19 |
| title_full | Molecular Pathology Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 in Syncytiotrophoblast and Hofbauer Cells in Placenta from a Pregnant Woman and Fetus with COVID-19 |
| title_fullStr | Molecular Pathology Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 in Syncytiotrophoblast and Hofbauer Cells in Placenta from a Pregnant Woman and Fetus with COVID-19 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Molecular Pathology Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 in Syncytiotrophoblast and Hofbauer Cells in Placenta from a Pregnant Woman and Fetus with COVID-19 |
| title_short | Molecular Pathology Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 in Syncytiotrophoblast and Hofbauer Cells in Placenta from a Pregnant Woman and Fetus with COVID-19 |
| title_sort | molecular pathology analysis of sars cov 2 in syncytiotrophoblast and hofbauer cells in placenta from a pregnant woman and fetus with covid 19 |
| topic | Hofbauer cell SARS-CoV-2 placenta COVID-19 fetal infection coronavirus |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-0817/10/4/479 |
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