SARS-CoV-2 infects a variety of tissues, including the oral cavity. However, there are few reports examining the association of SARS-CoV-2 with tongue mucosal tissues with sticky tongue debris. This study investigated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 and its associated molecules by dissecting tongue tissue from autopsy specimens of 23 patients who died of COVID-19-related illness (pneumonia). Immunohistochemical staining, electron microscopy, and PCR analysis were performed on the tongue tissue specimens. The mucosal epithelium of the tongue formed a very thick keratinized with well-developed filiform papillae in all cases. ACE2 and TMPRSS2 were consistently co-expressed in all samples in the epithelium. The S-protein was strongly expressed in basal cells and the epithelial surface. S-protein-positive viral particles were detected in the tongue's stratified squamous epithelium via an immunoelectron microscope. Based on PCR amplification of the N1 and N2 regions, the SARS-CoV-2 gene was detected on the tongue epithelium, tongue submucosa, and in tongue debris. This suggests that tongue debris, including the squamous epithelial tissue, could be a source of SARS-CoV-2 in saliva. Furthermore, removing tongue debris may decrease the amount of SARS-CoV-2 in the oral cavity.
Keywords: SARS-CoV-2; autopsy case; spike protein; tongue debris.
2023 The Japan Society of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry.