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.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, immunohistochemistry, coronavirus, qPCR, Middle ear, Nasal cavity, 【초록키워드】 ACE2, Biomarker, Infection, nasal, RT-PCR, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, viral infections, Spread, Viral, Viral load, pathophysiology, epithelial cells, Post-mortem, receptor, Middle ear, Nasal cavity, expression, epithelial, Quantitative, otitis media, hearing loss, Angiotensin-converting enzyme, Evidence, angiotensin, COVID-19 patient, epithelial cell, mucosa, sensorineural hearing loss, cell adhesion molecule, Adhesion Molecule, Quantitative RT-PCR, SARS-CoV-2 entry, control patients, Nasal Epithelial cells, disorder, otitis, EpCAM, epithelia, nasal tissue samples, nasal tissue, Cell, evaluate, required, implicated, histologic, colonize, nasal epithelial cell, 【제목키워드】 Human, detection, Middle ear, ear, middle, Sery,