SARS-CoV-2 can also infect heart cells
Although the Coronavirus is SARS-CoV-2 to the beginning of the pandemic was commonly referred to as the respiratory virus, however, it soon turned out that the new pathogen cannot infect only the respiratory tract, but also various other organs – including the heart, such as Research reports from Germany now.
Since the Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is only spread relatively recently to the people, learning specialists only in the course of the current pandemic more about his behavior and the medical consequences of the infection. So far, COVID-19, especially the respiratory and pulmonary symptoms are due to the novel Virus-induced disease in the foreground, but the Virus attacks the heart.
Pathogens can alter gene activity
Advertisement
In the past few months, scientific studies have shown that the novel Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 affects not only the lungs but many other organs. Now scientists from the University medical center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) have gained surprising insights: The Coronavirus can also means heart cells to infect and reproduce it in a current message.
In addition, the organism is able to alter the gene activity of infected heart cells. The findings of a new study under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Dirk Westermann, from the clinic of cardiology in collaboration with the Institute for forensic medicine of the UKE. For the scientific work of the 39 deceased were patients examined who were infected with SARS-CoV-2.
Advertisement
The results were submitted under the title “Cardiac infection with SARS-CoV-2 in confirmed COVID-19 autopsy cases”, and accepted for publication in the journal “JAMA Cardiology”.
Coronavirus in the heart tissue detected
“In the past, did not know in how many cases of SARS-CoV-2 also affects the heart and if it does, whether it is on the increase in heart cells pathological changes can cause. With the present study results, we have much more clarity,“ says study leader Prof. Westermann from the University cardiovascular center Hamburg at the UKE.
Around two-thirds of the investigated patients (24 of 39) were the researchers in the heart tissue demonstrate the Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In 16 cases, the experts found the Virus in quantities that could have had a clinical impact (more than 1,000 virus copies per microgram of RNA).
In five patients with the highest quantities of Virus, the scientists identified scientists the Plus – and Minus-strand of the viral genome. “This is the sign that the Virus is multiplying in the cell,” says Prof. Westermann.
Long-term consequences for the health
By the infection of the heart’s cells are changing, but whether this has an impact on the course of the disease, cannot yet be conclusively clarified. The research team had taken the activity of six inflammatory genes in more detail. The information suggests that the activity of these genes was among the 16 patients with the highest viral load is significantly increased.
“This could have been the Presence of a inflammation of the heart muscle close. However, we have no characteristic signs of such inflammation – such as the Migration of inflammatory cells from the surrounding tissue in the heart muscle find. Our results support the previous observation that an inflammation of the heart muscle occurs in connection with COVID-19 very rarely,“ says Prof. Westermann.
However, by the infection-induced changes in gene activity in the heart cells, the long-time consequences for the health of Affected people. In order to clarify this, future series of investigations on living COVID-19-patients is necessary, explains the scientist.
Typical COVID-19-patients
In the framework of the study deceased patients (23 women, 16 men) were 85 years of age. All were tested during the lifetime of a throat swab positive for the Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and developed for COVID-19 typical pneumonia.
After her death, they were between the 8. and the 18. April a forensic medical examination. For the later genetic testing of the necessary tissue samples were taken.
“The patients represent with their age-appropriate pre-existing conditions such as hypertension and coronary heart disease the typical COVID-19-patients in Germany”, explains Prof. Dr. Stefan Blankenberg, Co-author of the study and Medical Director of University heart and vascular center.
He adds: “A Limitation of our study is, however, that we have been Late to investigate. It will be important to validate these findings in the future Survivors of the disease.“ (ad)