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Cells
. 2022 Apr 23;11(9):1431.
doi: 10.3390/cells11091431.
SARS-CoV-2 Infection of Human Ovarian Cells: A Potential Negative Impact on Female Fertility
Francesca P Luongo 1 , Filippo Dragoni 2 , Adele Boccuto 2 , Eugenio Paccagnini 3 , Mariangela Gentile 3 , Tamara Canosi 1 , Giuseppe Morgante 1 , Alice Luddi 1 , Maurizio Zazzi 2 , Ilaria Vicenti 2 , Paola Piomboni 1
Affiliations
- PMID: 35563737
- DOI: 10.3390/cells11091431
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) may affect female reproductive health. Here, we investigated the potential of SARS-CoV-2 to infect the follicular microenvironment, in particular granulosa (GCs) and cumulus cells (CCs), thus providing evidence for a productive infection. GCs and CCs were recovered from women (n = 25) who underwent in vitro fertilization at the Assisted Reproductive Unit, Siena University Hospital. Follicular ovarian cells were co-cultured with SARS-CoV-2 and then analyzed by qPCR, immunofluorescence (IF), western blot (WB) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In addition, cell culture supernatant was used to infect VERO6 cells. We demonstrated the expression of cell host factors ACE2, TRPMSS2, BSG and CTSL, which are pivotal for the virus life cycle. Cultured GCs and CCs incubated with SARS-CoV-2 revealed productive SARS-CoV-2 infection at 24 h, 48 h and 72 h post-adsorption. Indeed, SARS-CoV-2 RNA, spike and nucleocapsid proteins were detected in GCs and CCs, and their cell culture supernatant successfully infected the standard VERO E6 cells. Finally, TEM showed full-size virions attached to the membrane and located inside the cytoplasm. This in vitro study reveals the susceptibility of human ovarian cells to SARS-CoV-2 infection, suggesting a potential detrimental effect of COVID-19 infection on female human fertility.
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; cumulus cells; female fertility; granulosa cells.
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