SARS-CoV-2 in the pancreas and the impaired islet function in COVID-19 patients.

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.

• Authors: Ningfei Ji, Mingshun Zhang, Liang Ren, Yunyun Wang, Bicheng Hu, Jie Xiang, Yingyun Gong, Chaojie Wu, Guoqiang Qu, Wenqiu Ding, Zhiqiang Yin, Shan Li, Zhengxia Wang, Lianzheng Zhou, Xueqin Chen, Yuan Ma, Jinhai Tang, Yun Liu, Liang Liu, Mao Huang
• Journal: Emerging microbes & infections (Emerg Microbes Infect) Vol. 11 Issue 1 Pg. 1115-1125 (Dec 2022) ISSN: 2222-1751 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 35343389 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• C-Peptide

Topics

• C-Peptide (metabolism)
• COVID-19
• Diabetes Mellitus (metabolism)
• Humans
• Pancreas
• SARS-CoV-2