SARS-CoV-2 in the pancreas and the impaired islet function in COVID-19 patients: SARS-CoV-2 infection impairs islet function. Issue 1 (31st December 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ji, Ningfei; Zhang, Mingshun; Ren, Liang; Wang, Yunyun; Hu, Bicheng; Xiang, Jie; Gong, Yingyun; Wu, Chaojie; Qu, Guoqiang; Ding, Wenqiu; Yin, Zhiqiang; Li, Shan; Wang, Zhengxia; Zhou, Lianzheng; Chen, Xueqin; Ma, Yuan; Tang, Jinhai; Liu, Yun; Liu, Liang; Huang, Mao
• Is Part Of: Emerging microbes & infections. Volume 11:Issue 1(2022)
• Page Start: 1115
• Page End: 1125
• Publication Date: 2022-12-31
• Subjects: Covid-19 -- sARS-CoV-2 -- pancreas -- islet -- diabetes; Medical microbiology -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Infection -- Periodicals; 616.9041
• DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2022.2059400
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2222-1751

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most common underlying diseases that may aggravates COVID-19. In the present study, we explored islet function, the presence of SARS-CoV-2 and pathological changes in the pancreas of patients with COVID-19. Oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs) and the C-peptide release test demonstrated a decrease in glucose-stimulated C-peptide secretory capacity and an increase in HbA1c levels in patients with COVID-19. The prediabetic conditions appeared to be more significant in the severe group than in the moderate group. SARS-CoV-2 receptors (ACE2, CD147, TMPRSS2 and neuropilin-1) were expressed in pancreatic tissue. In addition to SARS-CoV-2 virus spike protein and virus RNA, coronavirus-like particles were present in the autophagolysosomes of pancreatic acinar cells of a patient with COVID-19. Furthermore, the expression and distribution of various proteins in pancreatic islets of patients with COVID-19 were altered. These data suggest that SARS-CoV-2 in the pancreas may directly or indirectly impair islet function.