COVID-19 virus infects human intestinal cells: Study
PTI, May 4, 2020, 12:10 PM IST
London: The novel coronavirus can infect and replicate in cells that line the inside of the human intestines, according to a study that could explain why some patients with COVID-19 experience gastrointestinal symptoms.
The finding, published in the journal Science, shows that the intestines are a target organ for the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Studies have shown that the virus enters epithelial cells in the lungs by exploiting an enzyme called ACE2, allowing it to replicate and spread further, according to the researchers, including those from Erasmus Medical Center in the Netherlands.
“The ensuing damage results in some of the respiratory symptoms that COVID-19 is known for, which can range from coughing and shortness of breath to pneumonia in more severe cases,” they said.
The researchers noted that preliminary observations suggest that the virus may also infect cells in the gut.
“Patients sometimes show gastrointestinal symptoms like diarrhea, and researchers know that gut epithelial cells also harbor ACE2,” they said.
The team generated three dimensional (3D) structures that display all cell types of the human small intestinal epithelium and grew them in four different culture conditions.
“The human small intestinal organoids grown in different conditions expressed varying amounts of ACE2, and could be infected with SARS-CoV-2,” the researchers said.
Using electron microscopy, they discovered that the virus-infected both mature and progenitor enterocytes, which are intestinal absorptive epithelial cells that line the inner surface of the intestines.
The researchers also found that the virus provoked the activity of genes involved with antiviral responses.
The rates of infection were similar across the organoid models, indicating that even low quantities of ACE2 may be enough for the virus to infect epithelial cells, they said.
Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.
Top News
Related Articles More
Risk of abnormal blood fat levels increased by about 30 pc during pandemic, finds study
Attention problems could be ‘middleman’ between genetic risk for, experiencing psychosis: Study
Meeting WHO’s sodium recommendations could avert deaths from heart, kidney disease: Study
Meeting WHO’s sodium recommendations could avert deaths from heart, kidney disease: Study
Study finds loss of smell linked with inflammation in 140 conditions, could be early sign of disease
MUST WATCH
Latest Additions
CBDT allows tax officials to waive or reduce interest due from assessee
Like UP, bring BJP to power in Jharkhand to ‘bulldoze’ mafia: Yogi at Koderma poll rally
Govt asks Wikipedia why it should not be treated as publisher instead of intermediary
Karnataka HC issues notice to CM, others on plea seeking transfer of MUDA case to CBI
SC upholds validity of UP madrassa law, says it does not violate principle of secularism
Thanks for visiting Udayavani
You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.