Does SARS-CoV-2 Affect the Prostate? A Molecular Analysis from a Case Series of COVID-19 Patients

Autor: Sara Stigliani, Claudia Massarotti, Simona Coco, Guglielmo Mantica, Nataniele Piol, Bruno Spina, Elena Maccarini, Monica Colombo, Paola Anserini, Paola Scaruffi
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2023
Předmět:
Zdroj: The World Journal of Men's Health, Vol 41, Iss 4, Pp 969-973 (2023)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 2287-4208
2287-4690
DOI: 10.5534/wjmh.220272
Popis: Severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes COVID-19 that has been spreading worldwide since December 2019. Viral entry into cells requires expression of both angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) on the surface of the host cell. The male reproductive system, including the prostate, was supposed to be a potential target for SARS-CoV-2 since the presence of ACE and TMPRS2 receptors. This paper investigated for the first time the presence of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA in the prostatic tissue of a patient with active infection. In addition, we searched for the virus in the prostate of five patients after their recovery from COVID-19. The SARS-CoV-2 RNA was not detected in any of the prostate tissues tested even during the acute phase of infection. As case series have limitations, causality cannot be excluded and sporadic evidence of prostatic tissue invasion by SARS-CoV-2 may be detectable.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals