Immunohistochemical and qPCR Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in the Human Middle Ear Versus the Nasal Cavity: Case Series |
| |
| Authors: | Arwa Kurabi Kwang Pak Adam S. DeConde Allen F. Ryan Carol H. Yan |
| |
| Affiliation: | 1.Department of Surgery/ Division of Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery, University of California, San Diego, USA ;2.Department of Neuroscience, University of California, San Diego, USA ;3.San Diego VA Healthcare System, San Diego, CA USA ;4.University of California San Diego, School of Medicine, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0666 USA |
| |
| Abstract: | Viral infections have already been implicated with otitis media and sudden sensorineural hearing loss. However, the pathophysiology of COVID-19 as it relates to otologic disorders is not well-defined. With the spread of SARS-CoV-2, it is important to evaluate its colonization of middle ear mucosa. Middle ear and nasal tissue samples for quantitative RT-PCR and histologic evaluations were obtained from post-mortem COVID-19 patients and non-diseased control patients. Here we present evidence that SARS-CoV-2 colonizes the middle ear epithelium and co-localizes with the primary viral receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Both middle ear and nasal epithelial cells show relatively high expression of ACE2, required for SARS-CoV-2 entry. The epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) was use as a biomarker of epithelia. Furthermore, we found that the viral load in the middle ear is lower than that present in the nasal cavity. |
| |
| Keywords: | COVID-19 Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 Middle ear Nasal cavity qPCR Immunohistochemistry |
|
|
