Retinas of human donors with COVID-19 disease show morphological alterations and signs of inflammation including glial activation
Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science
; 63(7):975-F0372, 2022.
Article
in English
| EMBASE | ID: covidwho-2057457
ABSTRACT
Purpose:
Different signs of inflammation have been described in the brains of COVID-19 patients. In the retina, the fundus eye exam of these patients shows cotton wool spots, microhemorrhages, and a decrease in vascular density. However, morphological alterations of retinal cells in these patients are unknown. Thus, the aim was to analyze the morphological changes of the retinal cells from human donors with COVID-19 to establish several stages of response to damage in these cells and to define correlations with clinical parameters.Methods:
The retinas of human donors with COVID-19 (n = 16) and control subjects (n = 12) obtained from the General University Hospital Consortium of Valencia were analyzed. Immunohistochemical stainings were performed on transversal sections or flat-mount retinas to study photoreceptors, microglial cells, Müller cells, astrocytes, and the presence of ACE2. TUNEL assays and confocal microscopy imaging were carried out. Correlations were calculated between retinal and clinical parameters.Results:
Mean age of COVID-19 and control group were 80±10 and 70±8 years respectively. Müller cells, outer segment of cones and retinal pigment epithelium presented ACE2 staining. Larger staining of ACE2 and CRALBP was observed in cell bodies of Müller cells in COVID group. Disorganization of honeycomb-like pattern formed by Müller cells in the outer nuclear layer and disruption of external limiting membrane was found in the 81.3% of COVID patients. The 56.3% of COVID patients showed gliosis compared to controls (40%). COVID-19 retinas also presented epiretinal membranes and astrocytes protruding to vitreous humor. The 93.8% of COVID-19 patients had activated or ameboid-shape microglia. Microglial nodules around vessels and a reduction of the area occupied by microglia in these retinas were observed. COVID-19 group showed a more severe degeneration of cones. Cone degeneration correlated with Müller cell activation. Age of COVID patients correlated inversely with total retinal degeneration.Conclusions:
Morphological alterations in the cone photoreceptors as well as glial activation showing an inflammatory state of the retina were observed in COVID-19 patients.
angiotensin converting enzyme 2; endogenous compound; adult; astrocyte; cell activation; cell body; clinical article; conference abstract; confocal microscopy; controlled study; coronavirus disease 2019; disorientation; epiretinal membrane; external limiting membrane; female; gliosis; human; human cell; human tissue; immunohistochemistry; inflammation; male; microglia; photoreceptor cell; plant cone; retina; retina cell; retina cone; retina degeneration; retinal outer nuclear layer; retinal pigment epithelium; TUNEL assay; university hospital; vitreous body; young adult
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Collection:
Databases of international organizations
Database:
EMBASE
Language:
English
Journal:
Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
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