Manggala Pasca Wardhana, Kuntaman Kuntaman, Budi Utomo, Rozi Aditya Aryananda, Salsabila Nabilah Rifdah, Ifan Ali Wafa, Almira Aulia Shahnaz, Dahlia Ningrum, Nareswari Imanadha Cininta, Grace Ariani, Jan Mm Van Lith, Erry Gumilar Dachlan
PURPOSE: In view of conflicting reports on the ability of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) to infect placental tissue, this study aimed to further evaluate the impact of inflammation and placental damage from symptomatic third-trimester maternal COVID-19 infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This case-control study included 32 placenta samples each from symptomatic COVID-19 pregnancy and normal non-COVID-19 pregnancy. The villous placental area's inflammatory expression [angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2), transmembrane protease serine-2 (TMPRSS2), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and SARS-CoV-2 spike protein] and apoptotic rate were examined using immunohistochemistry and Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP Nick-End Labeling (TUNEL) assay...
April 2024: Yonsei Medical Journal