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SARS-CoV-2 infects and replicates in cells of the human endocrine and exocrine pancreas

Janis A Müller1, Rüdiger Groß1, Carina Conzelmann1

  • 1Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany.

Nature Metabolism
|February 4, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infects human pancreatic cells, including insulin-producing beta cells. This infection impairs insulin secretion, potentially contributing to metabolic issues seen in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Virology
  • Pathology

Background:

  • Diabetes can result from virus-associated beta-cell destruction.
  • Clinical data suggest SARS-CoV-2 impairs glucose homeostasis, but direct evidence of pancreatic infection was lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if SARS-CoV-2 infects human pancreatic cells and affects beta-cell function.
  • To determine the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in pancreatic tissue from COVID-19 patients.

Main Methods:

  • Ex vivo and in vivo studies using human pancreatic cells and islets.
  • Analysis of viral entry proteins, viral replication, and beta-cell function (insulin secretion).
  • Postmortem examination of pancreatic tissue from COVID-19 patients for SARS-CoV-2 presence.

Main Results:

  • SARS-CoV-2 infects human exocrine and endocrine pancreatic cells, including beta-cells, which express viral entry proteins.
  • Infection leads to morphological and transcriptional changes, reduced insulin granules, and impaired glucose-stimulated insulin secretion.
  • SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein was detected in pancreatic cells of COVID-19 patients.

Conclusions:

  • The human pancreas is a target for SARS-CoV-2 infection.
  • SARS-CoV-2 infection of pancreatic beta-cells may contribute to metabolic dysregulation in COVID-19.

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