Fahmi, AmalAmalFahmiBrügger, MelanieMelanieBrügger0000-0003-3810-7682Démoulins, Thomas Paul RémiThomas Paul RémiDémoulinsZumkehr, BeatriceBeatriceZumkehrOliveira Esteves Criblez, Blandina IsabelBlandina IsabelOliveira Esteves CriblezBracher, LisamariaLisamariaBracherWotzkow Alvarez, CarlosCarlosWotzkow AlvarezBlank, FabianFabianBlankThiel, Volker EarlVolker EarlThielBaud, DavidDavidBaudAlves, MarcoMarcoAlves2024-10-072024-10-072021-12-21https://boris-portal.unibe.ch/handle/20.500.12422/59215The ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic continues to lead to high morbidity and mortality. During pregnancy, severe maternal and neonatal outcomes and placental pathological changes have been described. We evaluate SARS-CoV-2 infection at the maternal-fetal interface using precision-cut slices (PCSs) of human placenta. Remarkably, exposure of placenta PCSs to SARS-CoV-2 leads to a full replication cycle with infectious virus release. Moreover, the susceptibility of placental tissue to SARS-CoV-2 replication relates to the expression levels of ACE2. Viral proteins and/or viral RNA are detected in syncytiotrophoblasts, cytotrophoblasts, villous stroma, and possibly Hofbauer cells. While SARS-CoV-2 infection of placenta PCSs does not cause a detectable cytotoxicity or a pro-inflammatory cytokine response, an upregulation of one order of magnitude of interferon type III transcripts is measured. In conclusion, our data demonstrate the capacity of SARS-CoV-2 to infect and propagate in human placenta and constitute a basis for further investigation of SARS-CoV-2 biology at the maternal-fetal interface.enCOVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus pandemic placenta pregnancy vertical transmission600 - Technology::630 - Agriculture600 - Technology::610 - Medicine & healtharticle10.48350/1634343475125810.1016/j.xcrm.2021.100456