COVID-19 and vertical transmission: assessing the expression of ACE2/TMPRSS2 in the human fetus and placenta to assess the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Pregnant women have been identified as a potentially at-risk group concerning COVID-19 infection, but little is known regarding the susceptibility of the fetus to infection. Co-expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 has been identified as a prerequisite for infection, and expression across different tissues is known to vary between children and adults. However, the expression of these proteins in the fetus is unknown.

Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis of a single cell data repository. The data were then validated at both gene and protein level by performing RT-qPCR and two-colour immunohistochemistry on a library of second-trimester human fetal tissues.

Findings

TMPRSS2 is present at both gene and protein level in the predominantly epithelial fetal tiss

SUBMITTER: Beesley MA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8652560 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature