TY - JOUR
T1 - Hofbauer cells and COVID-19 in pregnancy
T2 - Molecular pathology analysis of villous macrophages, endothelial cells, and placental findings from 22 placentas infected by SARS-CoV-2 with and without fetal transmission
AU - Schwartz, David A
AU - Baldewijns, Marcella
AU - Benachi, Alexandra
AU - Bugatti, Mattia
AU - Bulfamante, Gaetano
AU - Cheng, Ke
AU - Collins, Rebecca R J
AU - Debelenko, Larisa
AU - De Luca, Danièle
AU - Facchetti, Fabio
AU - Fitzgerald, Brendan
AU - Levitan, Daniel
AU - Linn, Rebecca L
AU - Marcelis, Lukas
AU - Morotti, Denise
AU - Morotti, Raffaella
AU - Patanè, Luisa
AU - Prevot, Sophie
AU - Pulinx, Bianca
AU - Saad, Ali G
AU - Schoenmakers, Sam
AU - Strybol, David
AU - Thomas, Kristen
AU - Tosi, Delfina
AU - Toto, Valentina
AU - van der Meeren, Lotte E
AU - Verdijk, Robert M
AU - Vivanti, Alexandre J
AU - Zaigham, Mehreen
PY - 2021/11
Y1 - 2021/11
N2 - CONTEXT.—: SARS-CoV-2 can undergo maternal-fetal transmission, heightening interest in the placental pathology findings from this infection. Transplacental SARS-CoV-2 transmission is typically accompanied by chronic histiocytic intervillositis together with necrosis and positivity of syncytiotrophoblast for SARS-CoV-2. Hofbauer cells are placental macrophages that have been involved in viral diseases, including HIV and Zika virus, but their involvement in SARS-CoV-2 is unknown.OBJECTIVE.—: To determine whether SARS-CoV-2 can extend beyond the syncytiotrophoblast to enter Hofbauer cells, endothelium, and other villous stromal cells in infected placentas of liveborn and stillborn infants.DESIGN.—: Case-based retrospective analysis by 29 perinatal and molecular pathology specialists of placental findings from a preselected cohort of 22 SARS-CoV-2-infected placentas delivered to pregnant women testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 from 7 countries. Molecular pathology methods were used to investigate viral involvement of Hofbauer cells, villous capillary endothelium, syncytiotrophoblast, and other fetal-derived cells.RESULTS.—: Chronic histiocytic intervillositis and trophoblast necrosis were present in all 22 placentas (100%). SARS-CoV-2 was identified in Hofbauer cells from 4 of 22 placentas (18.2%). Villous capillary endothelial staining was positive in 2 of 22 cases (9.1%), both of which also had viral positivity in Hofbauer cells. Syncytiotrophoblast staining occurred in 21 of 22 placentas (95.5%). Hofbauer cell hyperplasia was present in 3 of 22 placentas (13.6%). In the 7 cases having documented transplacental infection of the fetus, 2 (28.6%) occurred in placentas with Hofbauer cell staining positive for SARS-CoV-2.CONCLUSIONS.—: SARS-CoV-2 can extend beyond the trophoblast into the villous stroma, involving Hofbauer cells and capillary endothelial cells, in a small number of infected placentas. Most cases of SARS-CoV-2 transplacental fetal infection occur without Hofbauer cell involvement.
AB - CONTEXT.—: SARS-CoV-2 can undergo maternal-fetal transmission, heightening interest in the placental pathology findings from this infection. Transplacental SARS-CoV-2 transmission is typically accompanied by chronic histiocytic intervillositis together with necrosis and positivity of syncytiotrophoblast for SARS-CoV-2. Hofbauer cells are placental macrophages that have been involved in viral diseases, including HIV and Zika virus, but their involvement in SARS-CoV-2 is unknown.OBJECTIVE.—: To determine whether SARS-CoV-2 can extend beyond the syncytiotrophoblast to enter Hofbauer cells, endothelium, and other villous stromal cells in infected placentas of liveborn and stillborn infants.DESIGN.—: Case-based retrospective analysis by 29 perinatal and molecular pathology specialists of placental findings from a preselected cohort of 22 SARS-CoV-2-infected placentas delivered to pregnant women testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 from 7 countries. Molecular pathology methods were used to investigate viral involvement of Hofbauer cells, villous capillary endothelium, syncytiotrophoblast, and other fetal-derived cells.RESULTS.—: Chronic histiocytic intervillositis and trophoblast necrosis were present in all 22 placentas (100%). SARS-CoV-2 was identified in Hofbauer cells from 4 of 22 placentas (18.2%). Villous capillary endothelial staining was positive in 2 of 22 cases (9.1%), both of which also had viral positivity in Hofbauer cells. Syncytiotrophoblast staining occurred in 21 of 22 placentas (95.5%). Hofbauer cell hyperplasia was present in 3 of 22 placentas (13.6%). In the 7 cases having documented transplacental infection of the fetus, 2 (28.6%) occurred in placentas with Hofbauer cell staining positive for SARS-CoV-2.CONCLUSIONS.—: SARS-CoV-2 can extend beyond the trophoblast into the villous stroma, involving Hofbauer cells and capillary endothelial cells, in a small number of infected placentas. Most cases of SARS-CoV-2 transplacental fetal infection occur without Hofbauer cell involvement.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85113770626&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.5858/arpa.2021-0296-SA
DO - 10.5858/arpa.2021-0296-SA
M3 - Article
C2 - 34297794
AN - SCOPUS:85113770626
SN - 0003-9985
VL - 145
SP - 1328
EP - 1340
JO - Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
JF - Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
IS - 11
ER -
