Detection of SARS-CoV-2 genome and whole transcriptome sequencing in frontal cortex of COVID-19 patients

• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbi.2021.05.012
• Publication Date: 2021-05-19T16:12:32Z
• Authors: Stella Gagliardi; Emanuele Tino Poloni; Cecilia Pandini; Maria Garofalo; Francesca Dragoni; Valentina Medici; Annalisa Davin; Silvia Damiana Vi...; Matteo Moretti; Daisy Sproviero; Orietta Pansarasa; Antonio Guaita; Mauro Ceroni; Livio Tronconi; Cristina Cereda
• Keywords: Frontal cortex; Hypoxia

SARS-Cov-2 infection is frequently associated with Nervous System manifestations. However, it not clear how SARS-CoV-2 can cause neurological dysfunctions and which molecular processes are affected in the brain. In this work, we examined frontal cortex tissue of patients who died COVID-19 for presence SARS-CoV-2, comparing qRT-PCR ddPCR. We also investigated transcriptomic profile from matched controls by RNA-seq analysis to characterize transcriptional signature. Our data showed that could be detected ddPCR 8 (88%) 9 samples while one case only (11%). Transcriptomic revealed 11 genes (10 mRNAs 1 lncRNA) were differential expressed when compared controls. These fall into categories including hypoxia, hemoglobin-stabilizing protein, hydrogen peroxide processes. This work demonstrated quantity viral RNA minimal a very sensitive method (ddPCR). Thus, likely does actively infect replicate brain; its topography within encephalic structures remains uncertain. Moreover, may have role on brain gene expression, since observed an important downregulation hypoxia inducting factor system (HIF) inhibit capacity defense during oxigen deprivation, showing well known multi organ condition COVID-19, marked