COVID-19, a recently emerged disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection, can present with different degrees of severity and a large variety of signs and symptoms. The oral manifestations of COVID-19 often involve the tongue, with loss of taste being one of the most common symptoms of the disease. This study aimed to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA and assess possible morphological and immunopathological alterations in the lingual tissue of patients who died with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Sixteen cadavers from 8 SARS-CoV-2 positive (COVID-19+) and 8 negative (COVID-19−) subjects provided 16 tongues, that were biopsied. Samples underwent molecular analysis through Real-Time RT-PCR for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Lingual papillae were harvested and processed for histological analysis and for immunohistochemical evaluation for ACE2, IFN-γ and factor VIII. Real-Time RT-PCR revealed the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in filiform, foliate, and circumvallate papillae in 6 out of 8 COVID-19+ subjects while all COVID-19− samples resulted negative. Histology showed a severe inflammation of COVID-19+ papillae with destruction of the taste buds. ACE2 and IFN-γ resulted downregulated in COVID-19+ and no differences were evidenced for factor VIII between the two groups. The virus was detectable in most COVID-19+ tongues. An inflammatory damage to the lingual papillae, putatively mediated by ACE2 and IFN-γ in tongues from COVID-19+ cadavers, was observed. Further investigations are needed to confirm these findings and deepen the association between taste disorders and inflammation in SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Morphological and Immunopathological Aspects of Lingual Tissues in COVID-19 / D. Henin, G. Pellegrini, D. Carmagnola, G.C. Lanza Attisano, G. Lopez, S. Ferrero, A. Amendola, D. De Angelis, E. Tanzi, C. Dellavia. - In: CELLS. - ISSN 2073-4409. - 11:7(2022 Apr 06), pp. 1248.1-1248.13. [10.3390/cells11071248]

Morphological and Immunopathological Aspects of Lingual Tissues in COVID-19

D. Henin
Primo
;
G. Pellegrini
Secondo
;
D. Carmagnola
;
G.C. Lanza Attisano;G. Lopez;S. Ferrero;A. Amendola;D. De Angelis;E. Tanzi
Penultimo
;
C. Dellavia
Ultimo
2022

Abstract

COVID-19, a recently emerged disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection, can present with different degrees of severity and a large variety of signs and symptoms. The oral manifestations of COVID-19 often involve the tongue, with loss of taste being one of the most common symptoms of the disease. This study aimed to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA and assess possible morphological and immunopathological alterations in the lingual tissue of patients who died with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Sixteen cadavers from 8 SARS-CoV-2 positive (COVID-19+) and 8 negative (COVID-19−) subjects provided 16 tongues, that were biopsied. Samples underwent molecular analysis through Real-Time RT-PCR for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Lingual papillae were harvested and processed for histological analysis and for immunohistochemical evaluation for ACE2, IFN-γ and factor VIII. Real-Time RT-PCR revealed the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in filiform, foliate, and circumvallate papillae in 6 out of 8 COVID-19+ subjects while all COVID-19− samples resulted negative. Histology showed a severe inflammation of COVID-19+ papillae with destruction of the taste buds. ACE2 and IFN-γ resulted downregulated in COVID-19+ and no differences were evidenced for factor VIII between the two groups. The virus was detectable in most COVID-19+ tongues. An inflammatory damage to the lingual papillae, putatively mediated by ACE2 and IFN-γ in tongues from COVID-19+ cadavers, was observed. Further investigations are needed to confirm these findings and deepen the association between taste disorders and inflammation in SARS-CoV-2 infection.
lingual papillae; SARS-CoV-2; taste buds; tongue; Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2; Cadaver; Factor VIII; Humans; Inflammation; RNA, Viral; SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; Tongue
Settore MED/28 - Malattie Odontostomatologiche
Settore BIO/16 - Anatomia Umana
Settore BIO/17 - Istologia
6-apr-2022
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/924843
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