Absence of detectable SARS-CoV-2 replication in ex vivo cultured cornea and cornea-derived epithelial cells.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

To study the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 to infect human corneal cells and tissues under standard corneal culture conditions using explants of COVID-19 donors and primary cornea-derived epithelial cells.

Methods

Cornea isolated from deceased COVID-19 donors was cultured for 4 weeks, and SARS-CoV-2 replication was monitored by qRT-PCR. Furthermore, primary corneal epithelial cells from healthy donors were cultured ex vivo and infected with SARS-CoV-2 and human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) as a control. Infection status was assessed by western blotting and reporter gene expression using green fluorescent protein-expressing viral strains. ACE2 and TMPRSS2 receptor expression levels in cornea and epithelial cells were assessed by qRT-PCR.

Results

We did not detect SARS-Co

SUBMITTER: Bayyoud T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9362677 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature