RESUMEN
The inflammasome complex is a key part of chronic diseases and acute infections, being responsible for cytokine release and cell death mechanism regulation. The SARS-CoV-2 infection is characterized by a dysregulated cytokine release. In this context, the inflammasome complex analysis within SARS-CoV-2 infection may prove beneficial to understand the disease's mechanisms. Post-mortem minimally invasive autopsies were performed in patients who died from COVID-19 (n = 24), and lung samples were compared to a patient control group (n = 11) and an Influenza A virus H1N1 subtype group from the 2009 pandemics (n = 10). Histological analysis was performed using hematoxylin-eosin staining. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining was performed using monoclonal antibodies against targets: ACE2, TLR4, NF-κB, NLRP-3 (or NALP), IL-1ß, IL-18, ASC, CASP1, CASP9, GSDMD, NOX4, TNF-α. Data obtained from digital analysis underwent appropriate statistical tests. IHC analysis showed biomarkers that indicate inflammasome activation (ACE2; NF-κB; NOX4; ASC) were significantly increased in the COVID-19 group (p < 0.05 for all) and biomarkers that indicate cell pyroptosis and inflammasome derived cytokines such as IL-18 (p < 0.005) and CASP1 were greatly increased (p < 0.0001) even when compared to the H1N1 group. We propose that the SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis is connected to the inflammasome complex activation. Further studies are still warranted to elucidate the pathophysiology of the disease.
Asunto(s)
COVID-19 , Subtipo H1N1 del Virus de la Influenza A , Humanos , Inflamasomas/metabolismo , SARS-CoV-2 , Interleucina-18 , FN-kappa B/metabolismo , Enzima Convertidora de Angiotensina 2 , Autopsia , Subtipo H1N1 del Virus de la Influenza A/metabolismo , Caspasa 1/metabolismo , Pulmón/metabolismo , Citocinas/metabolismo , Biopsia , Proteína con Dominio Pirina 3 de la Familia NLR/metabolismoRESUMEN
COVID-19 is a dynamic disease and may affect different tissues and organs as it progresses. Therefore, the impact generated by the disease in all its stages and organs requires a functional and versatile imaging technique able to detect particularities or artifacts dynamically. Ultrasonography fulfills all these requirements and exhibit several advantages relative to other imaging modalities, including portability, lower cost and biosafety. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, ultrasonography displayed a crucial role in the triage, monitoring, indicating organ damages and enabling individualized therapeutical decisions in COVID-19 patients. This review is dedicated to highlight the main pathological effects correlated with ultrasound changes caused by COVID-19 in the lungs, heart and liver.