Acute acalculous cholecystitis following extended administration of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir for persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Immunocompromised patients with hematologic malignancies, particularly those treated with anti-CD20 antibodies such as rituximab and obinutuzumab, are known to be at risk of prolonged infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Prolonged administration or combination therapy with antiviral medications reportedly yields favorable outcomes in these patients. However, knowledge regarding the adverse events associated with such therapeutic approaches is limited. Herein, we report a case of acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) following extended administration of nirmatrelvir/ritonavir (NMV/r) in a 68-year-old Japanese man with persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection. The patient had received obinutuzumab and bendamustine for follicular lymphoma and was diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) approximately one year after treatment initiation with these drugs. Subsequently, he was admitted to a different hospital, where he received antiviral drugs, monoclonal antibodies, and steroids. Despite these interventions, the patient relapsed and was subsequently transferred to our hospital due to persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection. Remdesivir administration was ineffective, leading to the initiation of extended NMV/r therapy. One week later, he exhibited elevated gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) levels, and one month later, he developed AAC. Cholecystitis was successfully resolved via percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage and administration of antibiotics. We speculate that extended NMV/r administration, in addition to COVID-19, may have contributed to the elevated GGT and AAC. During treatment of persistent SARS-CoV-2 infection with extended NMV/r therapy, patients should be carefully monitored for the appearance of findings suggestive of biliary stasis and the development of AAC.

Clinical significance of dispersion imaging by shear wave elastography in the treatment and diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Recently, dispersion imaging by shear wave elastography has been developed to visualize a tissue viscosity-related factor by measuring the dispersion slope. However, clinical significance of dispersion imaging in the field of pancreatic cancer is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the clinical significance of dispersion imaging in the treatment and diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. METHODS: We measured shear wave dispersion slope (SWD) (m/s/kHz) and shear wave elasticity (SWE) (kPa) in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA). The primary endpoint was the relationship between the changes in SWD and SWE values before and after chemotherapy and the response to chemotherapy. Secondary endpoints included SWD and SWE values in relation to differences between PDA and non-PDA sites and histopathological scores of stroma, inflammation, fibrosis, and necrosis in endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration specimens. RESULTS: Fifty-six patients were included, 30 of whom underwent chemotherapy. There was no relationship between the changes of SWD and SWE values and chemotherapy responses. In 56 patients, the median SWD value was 12.20 m/s/kHz (interquartile range [IQR]: 10.88-13.61) at PDA sites and 13.57 m/s/kHz (IQR: 12.28-16.20) at non-PDA sites (P = 0.005). The median SWE value was 8.18 kPa (IQR: 7.00-9.74) at PDA sites and 6.14 kPa (IQR: 5.40-6.77) at non-PDA sites (P < 0.001). Histopathological evaluation revealed that inflammation scores were correlated with SWD values (rs  = 0.42, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Dispersion imaging in pancreatic cancer would be useful for diagnosis and assessing inflammation.

A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase with Thrombospondin Motifs 4 Regulates Pulmonary Vascular Hyperpermeability through Destruction of Glycocalyx in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has no specific and effective treatment, and there is an urgent need to understand its pathogenesis. Therefore, based on the hypothesis that molecules whose expression is upregulated in injured pulmonary vascular endothelial cells (VECs) are involved in the pathogenesis of ARDS, we conducted a study to elucidate the molecular mechanisms and identify target factors for treatment. Primary human lung microvascular endothelial cells (HMVEC-Ls) were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or poly (I:C) and analyzed via a microarray to identify target genes for ARDS. We found that a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 4 (ADAMTS4) was induced in murine lung VECs in an LPS-mediated ARDS model. Elevated ADAMTS4 was also observed by the immunostaining of lung samples from ARDS patients. The suppression of ADAMTS4 by siRNA in VECs ameliorated LPS-stimulated vascular permeability. The impairment of the cell surface expression of syndecan-1, a marker of the glycocalyx that is an extracellular matrix involved in vascular permeability, was dramatically inhibited by ADAMTS4 suppression. In addition, the suppression of ADAMTS4 protected against LPS-induced reductions in syndecan-1 and the adherens junction protein vascular endothelial cadherin. These results suggest that ADAMTS4 regulates VEC permeability in ARDS and may be a predictive marker and therapeutic target for ARDS.

Amino Acid Specificity of Ancestral Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetase Prior to the Last Universal Common Ancestor Commonote commonote.

Extant organisms commonly use 20 amino acids in protein synthesis. In the translation system, aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (ARS) selectively binds an amino acid and transfers it to the cognate tRNA. It is postulated that the amino acid repertoire of ARS expanded during the development of the translation system. In this study we generated composite phylogenetic trees for seven ARSs (SerRS, ProRS, ThrRS, GlyRS-1, HisRS, AspRS, and LysRS) which are thought to have diverged by gene duplication followed by mutation, before the evolution of the last universal common ancestor. The composite phylogenetic tree shows that the AspRS/LysRS branch diverged from the other five ARSs at the deepest node, with the GlyRS/HisRS branch and the other three ARSs (ThrRS, ProRS and SerRS) diverging at the second deepest node. ThrRS diverged next, and finally ProRS and SerRS diverged from each other. Based on the phylogenetic tree, sequences of the ancestral ARSs prior to the evolution of the last universal common ancestor were predicted. The amino acid specificity of each ancestral ARS was then postulated by comparison with amino acid recognition sites of ARSs of extant organisms. Our predictions demonstrate that ancestral ARSs had substantial specificity and that the number of amino acid types amino-acylated by proteinaceous ARSs was limited before the appearance of a fuller range of proteinaceous ARS species. From an assumption that 10 amino acid species are required for folding and function, proteinaceous ARS possibly evolved in a translation system composed of preexisting ribozyme ARSs, before the evolution of the last universal common ancestor.

Evolution of Superoxide Dismutases and Catalases in Cyanobacteria: Occurrence of the Antioxidant Enzyme Genes before the Rise of Atmospheric Oxygen.

Knowledge on the evolution of antioxidant systems in cyanobacteria is crucial for elucidating the cause and consequence of the rise of atmospheric oxygen in the Earth's history. In this study, to elucidate the origin and evolution of cyanobacterial antioxidant enzymes, we analyzed the occurrence of genes encoding four types of superoxide dismutases and three types of catalases in 85 complete cyanobacterial genomes, followed by phylogenetic analyses. We found that Fe superoxide dismutase (FeSOD), Mn superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), and Mn catalase (MnCat) are widely distributed among modern cyanobacteria, whereas CuZn superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD), bifunctional catalase (KatG), and monofunctional catalase (KatE) are less common. Ni superoxide dismutase (NiSOD) is distributed among marine Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus species. Phylogenetic analyses suggested that bacterial MnSOD evolved from cambialistic Fe/MnSOD before the diversification of major bacterial lineages. The analyses suggested that FeSOD evolved from MnSOD before the origin of cyanobacteria. MnCat also evolved in the early stages of bacterial evolution, predating the emergence of cyanobacteria. KatG, KatE, and NiSOD appeared 2.3-2.5 billion years ago. Thus, almost all cyanobacterial antioxidant enzymes emerged before or during the rise of atmospheric oxygen. The loss and appearance of these enzymes in marine cyanobacteria may be also related to the change in the metal concentration induced by the increased oxygen concentration in the ocean.

Efficacy of a novel ultra-sharp dilation device for dilating bare metal stent mesh in patients with hilar malignant biliary obstruction.

The placement of additional stents in patients with hilar malignant biliary obstruction can be challenging when a metal stent already exists because occasionally, the catheter and delivery system of the additional stent cannot pass through the mesh of the formerly placed stent. We studied ten consecutive patients with hilar malignant biliary obstruction who underwent mesh dilation using a novel ultra-sharp dilation device (ES dilator) to assess the efficacy and safety of the ES dilator for mesh dilation. Mesh dilation using the ES dilator was successful in eight patients (8/10; 80.0%), which was the same rate as that of patients with pre-dilation using a Soehendra biliary dilation catheter (4/5, 80.0%) and patients without pre-dilation (4/5, 80.0%). In the two patients with dilation failure, the angle of the hilar bile duct branch was too steep to permit the passage of a stiff dilation device. Nonetheless, stent placement was uncomplicated in all mesh-dilated patients (8/8, 100.0%), and no adverse events related to the ES dilator were observed. The efficacy of an ultra-sharp dilation device appears promising for metallic stent mesh dilation, especially in patients where conventional methods are unsuccessful. However, additional data are necessary to confirm our findings.

The clinical features of squamous cell lung carcinoma with sensitive EGFR mutations.

BACKGROUND: The process of selecting patients on the basis of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations would likely result in a patient population with greater sensitivity to EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs). However, EGFR mutation status is not routinely examined in patients with squamous cell lung cancer (Sq) because of the low incidence of EGFR mutations and the poor clinical response to EGFR-TKIs. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical features of patients at our hospital with Sq who carried EGFR-TKI-sensitive EGFR mutations and assessed their responses to EGFR-TKIs. RESULTS: EGFR mutation status was tested in 23 of 441 patients with Sq (5.2%) admitted to our hospital during the study period. An EGFR mutation (exon 19 deletion 3, L858R 2) was identified in five of the 23 patients (21.7%), all of whom were female never-smokers. Of these five patients, four (4/9; 44.4%) were in the normal lung group, one (1/12; 8.3%) was in the emphysematous lung group, and none (0/2; 0%) in the fibrotic lung group. Two of these five patients with the EGFR mutation received gefitinib and two received afatinib. Although the two patients who were treated with gefitinib did not respond well to treatment (stable disease, 1 patient; progressive disease, 1 patient), the two patients who were treated with afatinib showed a good response (partial response, 2 patients). CONCLUSION: The administration of afatinib to Sq patients after selecting patients using the EGFR mutation test based on their underlying pulmonary disease and smoking status would likely result in a population with a greater sensitivity to afatinib.

Quest for Ancestors of Eukaryal Cells Based on Phylogenetic Analyses of Aminoacyl-tRNA Synthetases.

The three-domain phylogenetic system of life has been challenged, particularly with regard to the position of Eukarya. The recent increase of known genome sequences has allowed phylogenetic analyses of all extant organisms using concatenated sequence alignment of universally conserved genes; these data supported the two-domain hypothesis, which place eukaryal species as ingroups of the Domain Archaea. However, the origin of Eukarya is complicated: the closest archaeal species to Eukarya differs in single-gene phylogenetic analyses depending on the genes. In this report, we performed molecular phylogenetic analyses of 23 aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (ARS). Cytoplasmic ARSs in 12 trees showed a monophyletic Eukaryotic branch. One ARS originated from TACK superphylum. One ARS originated from Euryarchaeota and three originated from DPANN superphylum. Four ARSs originated from different bacterial species. The other 8 cytoplasmic ARSs were split into two or three groups in respective trees, which suggested that the cytoplasmic ARSs were replaced by secondary ARSs, and the original ARSs have been lost during evolution of Eukarya. In these trees, one original cytoplasmic ARS was derived from Euryarchaeota and three were derived from DPANN superphylum. Our results strongly support the two-domain hypothesis. We discovered that rampant-independent lateral gene transfers from several archaeal species of DPANN superphylum have contributed to the formation of Eukaryal cells. Based on our phylogenetic analyses, we proposed a model for the establishment of Eukarya.

A case of gastric-type adenoma with chief cell and parietal cell differentiation surrounded by complete intestinal metaplasia.

A man in his 70s received Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) of the stomach. A small, yellowish, protuberant lesion was later observed on the anterior wall of the lower body of the stomach on surveillance esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Narrow band imaging-magnified endoscopy showed an irregular pit and net-like vascular pattern, with the background mucosa having a light blue crest pattern. A biopsy was performed, which led to a diagnosis of adenoma with a gastric phenotype, so repeat ESD was performed. The freshly resected specimen showed a small, protuberant, flat lesion with a clear margin, and hematoxylin and eosin staining showed mild architectural and nuclear atypia. The shape of the atypical gland was similar to that of a fundic gland. MUC5AC, MUC6, pepsinogen A, and H+/K+ ATPase expressions were positive, and CD10 expression was negative, indicating that this tumor could not only differentiate to mucous neck cells but also to chief cells, parietal cells and foveolar epithelium. Therefore, this 4-mm tumor was diagnosed as a type 0-IIa tubular adenoma with fundic gland differentiation. The background mucosa showed complete intestinal metaplasia. Traditionally, gastric-type adenoma has been defined as the pyloric gland-type, but our case had a fundic gland phenotype. Therefore, a new fundic-gland adenoma subtype should be considered in this case.

GGT1 is a SNP eQTL gene involved in STAT3 activation and associated with the development of Post-ERCP pancreatitis.

Post-ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) is an acute pancreatitis caused by endoscopic-retrograde-cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). About 10% of patients develop PEP after ERCP. Here we show that gamma-glutamyltransferase 1 (GGT1)-SNP rs5751901 is an eQTL in pancreatic cells associated with PEP and a positive regulator of the IL-6 amplifier. More PEP patients had the GGT1 SNP rs5751901 risk allele (C) than that of non-PEP patients at Hokkaido University Hospital. Additionally, GGT1 expression and IL-6 amplifier activation were increased in PEP pancreas samples with the risk allele. A mechanistic analysis showed that IL-6-mediated STAT3 nuclear translocation and STAT3 phosphorylation were suppressed in GGT1-deficient cells. Furthermore, GGT1 directly associated with gp130, the signal-transducer of IL-6. Importantly, GGT1-deficiency suppressed inflammation development in a STAT3/NF-κB-dependent disease model. Thus, the risk allele of GGT1-SNP rs5751901 is involved in the pathogenesis of PEP via IL-6 amplifier activation. Therefore, the GGT1-STAT3 axis in pancreas may be a prognosis marker and therapeutic target for PEP.

Antiviral Effect of Candies Containing Persimmon-Derived Tannin against SARS-CoV-2 Delta Strain.

Inactivation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in the mouth has the potential to reduce the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), due to the virus being readily transmitted by dispersed saliva. Persimmon-derived tannin has strong antioxidant and antimicrobial activity owing to its strong adhesion to proteins, and it also exhibited antiviral effects against non-variant and Alpha-variant SARS-CoV-2 in our previous study. In this study, we first demonstrated the antiviral effects of persimmon-derived tannin against the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 in vitro via the plaque assay method. We then examined the effects of candy containing persimmon-derived tannin. Remarkably, the saliva samples provided by healthy volunteers while they were eating tannin-containing candy showed that the virus titers of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant were suppressed. In addition, we found that the SARS-CoV-2 viral load in saliva from patients with COVID-19 collected immediately after they had eaten the tannin-containing candy was below the level of detection via PCR for SARS-CoV-2. These data suggest that adding persimmon-derived tannin to candy and holding such candy in the mouth is an effective method for inactivating SARS-CoV-2 in saliva, and the application of this approach shows potential for inhibiting the transmission of COVID-19.

Chorioamnionitis and early pregnancy loss caused by ampicillin-resistant non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae.

Haemophilus influenzae can cause intra-amniotic infection and early pregnancy loss. The mode of transmission and risk factors for H. influenzae uterine cavity infections are unknown. Here, we present the case of chorioamnionitis caused by ampicillin-resistant H. influenzae in a 32-year-old Japanese woman at 16 weeks of gestation. Despite empirical treatment, including ampicillin, as recommended by the current guidelines, she had fetal loss. The antimicrobial regimen was changed to ceftriaxone, and the treatment was completed without complications. Although the prevalence and risk factors for chorioamnionitis caused by ampicillin-resistant H. influenzae are unknown, clinicians need to recognize H. influenzae as a potentially drug-resistant and lethal bacterium for pregnant women.

Metabolomics of Duodenal Juice for Biliary Tract Cancer Diagnosis.

The poor prognosis of malignant biliary diseases is partially caused by their difficult early diagnosis. Therefore, many patients are only diagnosed at advanced stages. This study aimed to improve diagnosis by clarifying the differences in the duodenal juice metabolomes of benign and malignant biliary diseases. From October 2021 to January 2023, duodenal juice was obtained from 67 patients with suspected biliary diseases who required endoscopic ultrasonography and endoscopic retrograde cholangiography for diagnosis/treatment. The samples metabolomes were analyzed via nuclear magnet resonance spectroscopy using an 800-MHz spectrometer. Metabolomes of malignant and benign diseases were then compared, and multivariate analysis was performed to determine the relevant factors for malignancy/benignancy. For benignancy, no significant predictors were observed. For malignancy, acetone was a significant predictor, with higher concentrations in the malignant group than in the benign group. Regarding the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for biliary tract carcinoma diagnosis, the predictive value of acetone in duodenal juice was comparable with serum CA19-9 levels (area under the curve: 0.7330 vs. 0.691, p = 0.697). In conclusion, duodenal juice metabolomics is a feasible method that is available for differential diagnosis in the biliary disease field.

THE CRITICAL ROLE OF THE HISTONE MODIFICATION ENZYME SETDB2 IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF ACUTE RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SYNDROME.

ABSTRACT: Introduction: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a severe hypoxemic respiratory failure with a high in-hospital mortality. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying ARDS remain unclear. Recent findings have indicated that the onset of severe inflammatory diseases, such as sepsis, is regulated by epigenetic changes. We investigated the role of epigenetic changes in ARDS pathogenesis using mouse models and human samples. Methods: Acute respiratory distress syndrome was induced in a mouse model (C57BL/6 mice, myeloid cell or vascular endothelial cell [VEC]-specific SET domain bifurcated 2 [Setdb2]-deficient mice [Setdb2 ff Lyz2 Cre+ or Setdb2 ff Tie2 Cre+ ], and Cre - littermates) by intratracheal administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Analyses were performed at 6 and 72 h after LPS administration. Sera and lung autopsy specimens from ARDS patients were examined. Results: In the murine ARDS model, we observed high expression of the histone modification enzyme SET domain bifurcated 2 ( Setdb2 ) in the lungs. In situ hybridization examination of the lungs revealed Setdb2 expression in macrophages and VECs. The histological score and albumin level of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were significantly increased in Setdb2 ff Tie2 Cre+ mice following LPS administration compared with Setdb2 ff Tie2 Cre- mice, whereas there was no significant difference between the control and Setdb2 ff Lyz2 Cre+ mice. Apoptosis of VECs was enhanced in Setdb2 ff Tie2 Cre+ mice. Among the 84 apoptosis-related genes, the expression of TNF receptor superfamily member 10b ( Tnfrsf10b ) was significantly higher in Setdb2 ff Tie2 Cre+ mice than in control mice. Acute respiratory distress syndrome patients' serum showed higher SETDB2 levels than those of healthy volunteers. SETDB2 levels were negatively correlated with the partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood/fraction of inspiratory oxygen concentration ratio. Conclusion: Acute respiratory distress syndrome elevates Setdb2 , apoptosis of VECs, and vascular permeability. Elevation of histone methyltransferase Setdb2 suggests the possibility to histone change and epigenetic modification. Thus, Setdb2 may be a novel therapeutic target for controlling the pathogenesis of ARDS.

Transition of Antibody Titers after SARS-CoV-2 mRNA Vaccination in Japanese Healthcare Workers.

Since February 2021, healthcare workers in Japan have been preferentially vaccinated with a messenger RNA vaccine (BNT162b2; Pfizer/BioNTech) against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). While many studies have confirmed that this vaccine is highly effective in reducing hospitalization and deaths from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), antibody titers tend to decline at 3 months after vaccination, leading to a risk of breakthrough infections. Thus, information is needed to support the decision regarding the 3rd vaccination. In this study, we investigated the transition of anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor-binding domain (RBD) IgG and neutralizing antibody titers in 37 vaccinated Japanese healthcare workers. Samples were collected 6 times starting before vaccination until 6 months after the second vaccination. The levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 RBD IgG peaked 1 week after the 2nd vaccination, then declined over time and decreased to < 10% at 6 months after the 2nd vaccination. Additionally, approximately one-third of the healthcare workers were seronegative for the Omicron variant 6 months after the 2nd vaccination. Workers with low anti-SARS-CoV-2 RBD IgG levels also had low neutralizing antibody titers. These data support booster dose administration for healthcare workers, especially those with low anti-SARS-CoV-2 RBD IgG levels.

Identification and expression profile of novel STAND gene Nwd2 in the mouse central nervous system.

In the central nervous system (CNS), neurons need synaptic neurotransmitter release and cellular response for various cellular stress or environmental stimuli. To achieve these highly orchestrated cellular processes, neurons should drive the molecular mechanisms that govern and integrate complex signaling pathways. The signal transduction ATPases with numerous domains (STAND) family of proteins has been shown to play essential roles in diverse signal transduction mechanisms, including apoptosis and innate immunity. However, a comprehensive understanding of STAND genes remains lacking. Previously, we identified the NACHT and WD repeat domain-containing protein 1 (NWD1), a member of STAND family, in the regulation of the assembly of a giant multi-enzyme complex that enables efficient de novo purine biosynthesis during brain development. Here we identified the mouse Nwd2 gene, which is a paralog of Nwd1. A molecular phylogenetic analysis suggested that Nwd1 emerged during the early evolution of the animal kingdom, and that Nwd2 diverged in the process of Nwd1 duplication. RT-PCR and in situ hybridization analyses revealed the unique expression profile of Nwd2 in the developing and adult CNS. Unlike Nwd1, Nwd2 expression was primarily confined to neurons in the medial habenular nucleus, an essential modulating center for diverse psychological states, such as fear, anxiety, and drug addiction. In the adult brain, Nwd2 expression, albeit at a lower level, was also observed in some neuronal populations in the piriform cortex, hippocampus, and substantia nigra pars compacta. NWD2 might play a unique role in the signal transduction required for specific neuronal circuits, especially for cholinergic neurons in the habenula.

Oral SARS-CoV-2 Inoculation Causes Nasal Viral Infection Leading to Olfactory Bulb Infection: An Experimental Study.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections can cause long-lasting anosmia, but the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection, which can spread to the nasal cavity via the oral route, on the olfactory receptor neuron (ORN) lineage and olfactory bulb (OB) remains undetermined. Using Syrian hamsters, we explored whether oral SARS-CoV-2 inoculation can lead to nasal viral infection, examined how SARS-CoV-2 affects the ORN lineage by site, and investigated whether SARS-CoV-2 infection can spread to the OB and induce inflammation. On post-inoculation day 7, SARS-CoV-2 presence was confirmed in the lateral area (OCAM-positive) but not the nasal septum of NQO1-positive and OCAM-positive areas. The virus was observed partially infiltrating the olfactory epithelium, and ORN progenitor cells, immature ORNs, and mature ORNs were fewer than in controls. The virus was found in the olfactory nerve bundles to the OB, suggesting the nasal cavity as a route for SARS-CoV-2 brain infection. We demonstrated that transoral SARS-CoV-2 infection can spread from the nasal cavity to the central nervous system and the possibility of central olfactory dysfunction due to SARS-CoV-2 infection. The virus was localized at the infection site and could damage all ORN-lineage cells.

Evidence for the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and olfactory cell lineage impairment in close-contact infection Syrian hamster models.

Objectives: Close contact with patients with COVID-19 is speculated to be the most common cause of viral transmission, but the pathogenesis of COVID-19 by close contact remains to be elucidated. In addition, despite olfactory impairment being a unique complication of COVID-19, the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on the olfactory cell lineage has not been fully validated. This study aimed to elucidate close-contact viral transmission to the nose and lungs and to investigate the temporal damage in the olfactory receptor neuron (ORN) lineage caused by SARS-CoV-2. Methods: Syrian hamsters were orally administered SARS-CoV-2 nonvariant nCoV-19/JPN/TY/WK521/2020 as direct-infection models. On day 3 after inoculation, infected and uninfected hamsters were housed in the same cage for 30 minutes. These uninfected hamsters were subsequently assigned to a close-contact group. First, viral presence in the nose and lungs was verified in the infection and close-contact groups at several time points. Next, the impacts on the olfactory epithelium, including olfactory progenitors, immature ORNs, and mature ORNs were examined histologically. Then, the viral transmission status and chronological changes in tissue damage were compared between the direct-infection and close-contact groups. Results: In the close-contact group, viral presence could not be detected in both the nose and lungs on day 3, and the virus was identified in both tissues on day 7. In the direct-infection group, the viral load was highest in the nose and lungs on day 3, decreased on day 7, and was no longer detectable on day 14. Histologically, in the direct-infection group, mature ORNs were most depleted on day 3 (p <0.001) and showed a recovery trend on day 14, with similar trends for olfactory progenitors and immature ORNs. In the close-contact group, there was no obvious tissue damage on day 3, but on day 7, the number of all ORN lineage cells significantly decreased (p <0.001). Conclusion: SARS-CoV-2 was transmitted even after brief contact and subsequent olfactory epithelium and lung damage occurred more than 3 days after the trigger of infection. The present study also indicated that SARS-CoV-2 damages all ORN lineage cells, but this damage can begin to recover approximately 14 days post infection.