AUTOPSY STUDY OF TESTICLES IN COVID-19: UPREGULATION OF IMMUNE-RELATED GENES AND DOWNREGULATION OF TESTIS-SPECIFIC GENES.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab
; 2022 Oct 19.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2251417
ABSTRACT
CONTEXT Infection by SARS-CoV-2 may be associated with testicular dysfunction that could affect male fertility. OBJECTIVE:
Testicles of fatal COVID-19 cases were investigated to detect virus in tissue and to evaluate histopathological and transcriptomic changes.METHODS:
Three groups were compared a. uninfected controls (subjects dying of trauma or sudden cardiac death; n = 10); b. subjects dying of COVID-19 (virus-negative in testes; n = 15); c. subjects dying of COVID-19 (virus-positive in testes; n = 9). SARS-CoV-2 genome and nucleocapsid antigen were probed using RT-PCR, in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry (IHC). Infiltrating leukocytes were typed by IHC. mRNA transcripts of immune-related and testis-specific genes were quantified using the nCounter method.RESULTS:
SARS-CoV-2 was detected in testis tissue of 9/24 (37%) COVID-19 cases accompanied by scattered T-cell and macrophage infiltrates. Size of testicles and counts of spermatogenic cells were not significantly different among groups. Analysis of mRNA transcripts showed that in virus-positive testes immune processes were activated (interferon-alpha and -gamma pathways). By contrast, transcription of 12 testis-specific genes was downregulated, independently of virus positivity in tissue. By IHC, expression of the luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin receptor was enhanced in virus-positive compared to virus-negative testicles, while expression of receptors for androgens and the follicle-stimulating hormone were not significantly different among groups.CONCLUSION:
In lethal COVID-19 cases, infection of testicular cells is not uncommon. Viral infection associates with activation of interferon pathways and downregulation of testis-specific genes involved in spermatogenesis. Due to the exceedingly high numbers of infected people in the pandemic, the impact of virus on fertility should be further investigated.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Randomized controlled trials
Language:
English
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Clinem
Similar
MEDLINE
...
LILACS
LIS