German scientists have found that SARS-CoV-2 can penetrate the eye and infect retinal photoreceptors and ganglion cells, a study published in the medical journal bioRxiv.org reveals.
This may be one of the reasons why patients recovering from coronavirus complain of eye problems.
Studies have shown that in some patients infected with coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid proteins were found in retinal organs, which proves that COVID-19 can indeed infect the retina.
Detailed analysis revealed that infection was present in the retinal photoreceptors and ganglion cells, which, according to the authors, indicates the sites of multiplication of the virus. In addition, SARS-CoV-2 was found to enhance the expression of several inflammatory genes, including cytokine interleukin 33 (IL33), which is associated with retinal inflammation and photoreceptor degradation.
The study authors also found that antibodies that block the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE2), the receptor through which the virus enters cells, reduce retinal cell infection. This means that no special tools are needed to prevent or treat this complication, but the same antiviral drugs or vaccines that are intended to block the ACE2 receptor are suitable.
Based on the results of the study, German scientists concluded that SARS-CoV-2 infection in the eyes and retinal cells virus replication is dependent on ACE2 receptors, and drugs focused on them may be effective for symptomatic covid patients.
