Dataset Information

Evaluation of Macular Retinal Vessels and Histological Changes in Two Cases of COVID-19.

ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to assess vascular and histological alterations in two COVID-19 and three control post-mortem retinas. The macular areas of flat-mounted samples were processed for immunofluorescence. Lectin and collagen IV positive vessels were captured under confocal microscopy, and endothelium loss and tortuosity were analyzed. Expression of ACE2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2) (the receptor for SARS-CoV-2), Iba1 (ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1) and GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein) were quantified in retinal sections. The number of lectin vessels in COVID-19 retinas decreased by 27% compared to the control (p < 0.01) and the tortuosity increased in COVID-19 retinas (7.3 ± 0.2) vs. control retinas (6.8 ± 0.07) (p < 0.05). Immunofluorescence analysis revealed an increase in ACE2 (2.3 ± 1.3 vs. 1.0 ± 0.1; p < 0.0001) and Iba1 expression (3.06 ± 0.6 vs. 1.0 ± 0.1; p < 0.01) in COVID-19 sections whereas no changes in GFAP were observed. Analysis of the COVID-19 macular retinal tissue suggested that endothelial cells are a preferential target of SARS-CoV-2 with subsequent changes through their ACE2 receptor expression and morphology. Thus, microglial activation was hyperactive when facing an ensuing immunological challenge after SARS-CoV-2 infection.

SUBMITTER: Hernandez M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8615149 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Evaluation of Macular Retinal Vessels and Histological Changes in Two Cases of COVID-19.

Hernandez Maria M González-Zamora Jorge J Recalde Sergio S Moreno-Orduña Maite M Bilbao-Malavé Valentina V Saenz de Viteri Manuel M Landecho Manuel F MF Fernandez-Robredo Patricia P García-Layana Alfredo A

Biomedicines 20211026 11

The purpose of this study was to assess vascular and histological alterations in two COVID-19 and three control post-mortem retinas. The macular areas of flat-mounted samples were processed for immunofluorescence. Lectin and collagen IV positive vessels were captured under confocal microscopy, and endothelium loss and tortuosity were analyzed. Expression of ACE2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2) (the receptor for SARS-CoV-2), Iba1 (ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1) and GFAP (glial fibr ...[more]

PMID: 34829775

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Project description:BackgroundThis study aimes to characterize the fundus structural changes in patients with nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) and the correlation between macular vessel density, retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) parameters and visual field sensitivity (VFS) in NAION patients.MethodsA retrospective case control study was performed using 37 eyes with NAION, 30 uninvolved contralateral eyes, and 27 eyes of healthy age-matched subjects. Data on the retinas and choroidal vessel densities and VFS were compared among the three groups.ResultsThe NAION group exhibited significantly lower RNFL thicknesses, lower ganglion cell complexes (GCC), larger global loss volume (GLV) values and focal loss volume (FLV) values when compared with both uninvolved eyes and healthy eyes (p?<?0.01 for all comparisons). The superficial vessel density (SVD) valus (whole, parafovea, superior-hemi and inferior-hemi) were significantly lower in NAION eyes, followed by uninvolved eyes and healthy eyes (p?<?0.01; LSD, p?<?0.05 for all comparisons). The deep vessel density (DVD) values (parafovea, superior-hemi and inferior-hemi) were the lowest by a significant value in NAION eyes, followed by uninvolved eyes and healthy eyes (p?<?0.01; LSD, p?<?0.05 for all comparisons). However, DVD value measurements (whole and fovea) of healthy and uninvolved eyes were not significantly different. The average threshold deviation (TD) was -?11.02?±?3.75?dB for the overall field region, -?6.01?±?2.21?dB for the affected superior field region and?-?9.98?±?3.34?dB for the affected inferior field region in NAION eyes. A statistically significant correlation was found between the RNFL thickness and visual field(VF) loss (r?=?-?0.788, p?<?0.001).ConclusionIn addition to peripapillary vascular changes occurring in NAION eyes, macular vessel density is also involved. Furthermore, NAION-uninvolved eyes exhibited abnormalities compared with healthy eyes. This indicates that vascular changes may occur before changes in retinal thickness at the early stages of NAION.

Dataset Information

Evaluation of Macular Retinal Vessels and Histological Changes in Two Cases of COVID-19.

Publications

Evaluation of Macular Retinal Vessels and Histological Changes in Two Cases of COVID-19.

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