Tissue-Specific Immunopathology in Fatal COVID-19

In life-threatening coronavirus disease (COVID-19), corticosteroids reduce mortality, suggesting that immune responses have a causal role in death. Whether this deleterious inflammation is primarily a direct reaction to the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) or...

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Published in:	American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine 2021-01, Vol.203 (2), p.192-201
Main Authors:	Dorward, David A, Russell, Clark D, Um, In Hwa, Elshani, Mustafa, Armstrong, Stuart D, Penrice-Randal, Rebekah, Millar, Tracey, Lerpiniere, Chris E B, Tagliavini, Giulia, Hartley, Catherine S, Randle, Nadine P, Gachanja, Naomi N, Potey, Philippe M D, Dong, Xiaofeng, Anderson, Alison M, Campbell, Victoria L, Duguid, Alasdair J, Al Qsous, Wael, BouHaidar, Ralph, Baillie, J Kenneth, Dhaliwal, Kevin, Wallace, William A, Bellamy, Christopher O C, Prost, Sandrine, Smith, Colin, Hiscox, Julian A, Harrison, David J, Lucas, Christopher D
Format:	Article
Language:	eng
Subjects:	Aged Aged, 80 and over Autopsy Biopsy COVID-19 COVID-19 - immunology COVID-19 - pathology COVID-19 - virology COVID-19 Nucleic Acid Testing Female Fluorescent Antibody Technique Humans Immunology Inflammation Inflammation - immunology Inflammation - pathology Inflammation - virology Lung - immunology Lung - pathology Lung - virology Male Multiple Organ Failure - immunology Multiple Organ Failure - pathology Multiple Organ Failure - virology Original Pathology SARS-CoV-2 - immunology SARS-CoV-2 - pathogenicity Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 Severity of Illness Index Virology
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Summary:	In life-threatening coronavirus disease (COVID-19), corticosteroids reduce mortality, suggesting that immune responses have a causal role in death. Whether this deleterious inflammation is primarily a direct reaction to the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) or an independent immunopathologic process is unknown. To determine SARS-CoV-2 organotropism and organ-specific inflammatory responses and the relationships among viral presence, inflammation, and organ injury. Tissue was acquired from 11 detailed postmortem examinations. SARS-CoV-2 organotropism was mapped by using multiplex PCR and sequencing, with cellular resolution achieved by viral S (spike) protein detection. Histologic evidence of inflammation was quantified from 37 anatomic sites, and the pulmonary immune response was characterized by using multiplex immunofluorescence. Multiple aberrant immune responses in fatal COVID-19 were found, principally involving the lung and reticuloendothelial system, and these were not clearly topologically associated with the virus. Inflammation and organ dysfunction did not map to the tissue and cellular distribution of SARS-CoV-2 RNA and protein between or within tissues. An arteritis was identified in the lung, which was further characterized as a monocyte/myeloid-rich vasculitis, and occurred together with an influx of macrophage/monocyte-lineage cells into the pulmonary parenchyma. In addition, stereotyped abnormal reticuloendothelial responses, including excessive reactive plasmacytosis and iron-laden macrophages, were present and dissociated from viral presence in lymphoid tissues. Tissue-specific immunopathology occurs in COVID-19, implicating a significant component of the immune-mediated, virus-independent immunopathologic process as a primary mechanism in severe disease. Our data highlight novel immunopathologic mechanisms and validate ongoing and future efforts to therapeutically target aberrant macrophage and plasma-cell responses as well as promote pathogen tolerance in COVID-19.
ISSN:	1073-449X 1535-4970