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Histopathological and immunological characteristics of placentas infected with chikungunya virus

Authors :
Natália Salomão
Kíssila Rabelo
Elyzabeth Avvad-Portari
Carlos Basílio-de-Oliveira
Rodrigo Basílio-de-Oliveira
Fátima Ferreira
Luiz Ferreira
Thiara Manuele de Souza
Priscila Nunes
Monique Lima
Anna Paula Sales
Regina Fernandes
Luiz José de Souza
Laura Dias
Patrícia Brasil
Flavia dos Santos
Marciano Paes
Source :
Frontiers in Microbiology, Vol 13 (2022)
Publication Year :
2022
Publisher :
Frontiers Media S.A., 2022.

Abstract

Although vertical transmission of CHIKV has been reported, little is known about the role of placenta in the transmission of this virus and the effects of infection on the maternal-fetal interface. In this work we investigated five placentas from pregnant women who became infected during the gestational period. Four formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples of placenta (cases 1–4) were positive for CHIKV by RT-PCR. One (case 5) had no positive test of placenta, but had positive RT-PCR for CHIKV in the serum of the mother and the baby, confirming vertical transmission. The placentas were analyzed regarding histopathological and immunological aspects. The main histopathological changes were: deciduitis, villous edema, deposits, villous necrosis, dystrophic calcification, thrombosis and stem vessel obliteration. In infected placentas we noted increase of cells (CD8+ and CD163+) and pro- (IFN-γ and TNF-α) and anti-inflammatory (TGF-β and IL-10) cytokines compared to control placentas. Moreover, CHIKV antigen was detected in decidual cell, trophoblastic cells, stroma villi, Hofbauer cells, and endothelial cells. In conclusion, CHIKV infection seems to disrupt placental homeostasis leading to histopathological alterations in addition to increase in cellularity and cytokines overproduction, evidencing an altered and harmful environment to the pregnant woman and fetus.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1664302X
Volume :
13
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Frontiers in Microbiology
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.0deae6e4cefb410cbb5f35ff5063f5d7
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2022.1055536