Evidence of SARS-CoV-2 Transcriptional Activity in Cardiomyocytes of COVID-19 Patients without Clinical Signs of Cardiac Involvement.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

A considerable proportion of patients affected by coronavirus respiratory disease (COVID-19) develop cardiac injury. The viral impact in cardiomyocytes deserves, however, further investigations, especially in asymptomatic patients.

Methods

We investigated for SARS-CoV-2 presence and activity in heart tissues of six consecutive COVID-19 patients deceased from respiratory failure showing no signs of cardiac involvement and with no history of heart disease. Cardiac autopsy samples were collected within 2 h after death, and then analysed by digital PCR, Western blot, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, RNAScope, and transmission electron microscopy assays.

Results

The presence of SARS-CoV-2 into cardiomyocytes was invariably detected in all assays. A variable p

SUBMITTER: Bulfamante GP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7767122 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature