Haemorrhage of human foetal cortex associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection

Marco Massimo; Carlotta Barelli; Catalina Moreno; Chiara Collesi; Rebecca K Holloway; Berta Crespo; Lorena Zentilin; Anna Williams; Veronique E Miron; Mauro Giacca; Katherine R Long

doi:10.1093/brain/awac372

Haemorrhage of human foetal cortex associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection

Brain. 2023 Mar 1;146(3):1175-1185. doi: 10.1093/brain/awac372.

Authors

Marco Massimo^{1

2}, Carlotta Barelli^{1

2}, Catalina Moreno^{1

2}, Chiara Collesi^{3

4}, Rebecca K Holloway^{5

6

7

8

9}, Berta Crespo¹⁰, Lorena Zentilin³, Anna Williams¹¹, Veronique E Miron^{5

6

7

8

9}, Mauro Giacca^{3

4

12}, Katherine R Long^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
² MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK.
³ Molecular Medicine Laboratory, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), 34139 Trieste, Italy.
⁴ Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy.
⁵ Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Chancellor's Building, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
⁶ Dementia Research Institute at The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
⁷ Medical Research Council Centre for Reproductive Health, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
⁸ Barlo Multiple Sclerosis Centre and Keenan Research Institute for Biomedical Science, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
⁹ Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
¹⁰ Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK.
¹¹ Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh BioQuarter, Edinburgh, UK.
¹² British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, School of Cardiovascular Medicine & Sciences, King's College London, London, UK.

Abstract

Maternal viral infection and immune response are known to increase the risk of altered development of the foetal brain. Given the ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), investigating the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on foetal brain health is of critical importance. Here, we report the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in first and second trimester foetal brain tissue in association with cortical haemorrhages. SARS-CoV-2 spike protein was sparsely detected within progenitors and neurons of the cortex itself, but was abundant in the choroid plexus of haemorrhagic samples. SARS-CoV-2 was also sparsely detected in placenta, amnion and umbilical cord tissues. Cortical haemorrhages were linked to a reduction in blood vessel integrity and an increase in immune cell infiltration into the foetal brain. Our findings indicate that SARS-CoV-2 infection may affect the foetal brain during early gestation and highlight the need for further study of its impact on subsequent neurological development.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; brain; development; haemorrhage; human foetal cortex.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

COVID-19*
Female
Hemorrhage
Humans
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Complications, Infectious*
SARS-CoV-2 / physiology
Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus

Substances

spike protein, SARS-CoV-2
Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Substances

Grants and funding