Human early syncytiotrophoblasts are highly susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Cell Rep Med
; 3(12): 100849, 2022 12 20.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2278940
ABSTRACT
Direct in vivo investigation of human placenta trophoblast's susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 is challenging. Here we report that human trophoblast stem cells (hTSCs) and their derivatives are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection, which reveals heterogeneity in hTSC cultures. Early syncytiotrophoblasts (eSTBs) generated from hTSCs have enriched transcriptomic features of peri-implantation trophoblasts, express high levels of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), and are productively infected by SARS-CoV-2 and its Delta and Omicron variants to produce virions. Antiviral drugs suppress SARS-CoV-2 replication in eSTBs and antagonize the virus-induced blockage of STB maturation. Although less susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection, trophoblast organoids originating from hTSCs show detectable viral replication reminiscent of the uncommon placental infection. These findings implicate possible risk of COVID-19 infection in peri-implantation embryos, which may go unnoticed. Stem cell-derived human trophoblasts such as eSTBs can potentially provide unlimited amounts of normal and genome-edited cells and facilitate coronavirus research and antiviral discovery.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Pregnancy Complications, Infectious
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Prognostic study
Topics:
Variants
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
/
Pregnancy
Language:
English
Journal:
Cell Rep Med
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
J.xcrm.2022.100849
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