Exploring Mitochondrial Localization of SARS-CoV-2 RNA by Padlock Assay: A Pilot Study in Human Placenta

Francesca Gabanella; Christian Barbato; Nicoletta Corbi; Marco Fiore; Carla Petrella; Marco de Vincentiis; Antonio Greco; Giampiero Ferraguti; Alessandro Corsi; Massimo Ralli; Irene Pecorella; Cira Di Gioia; Francesco Pecorini; Roberto Brunelli; Claudio Passananti; Antonio Minni; Maria Grazia Di Certo

doi:10.3390/ijms23042100

International Journal of Molecular Sciences (Feb 2022)

Exploring Mitochondrial Localization of SARS-CoV-2 RNA by Padlock Assay: A Pilot Study in Human Placenta

Francesca Gabanella,
Christian Barbato,
Nicoletta Corbi,
Marco Fiore,
Carla Petrella,
Marco de Vincentiis,
Antonio Greco,
Giampiero Ferraguti,
Alessandro Corsi,
Massimo Ralli,
Irene Pecorella,
Cira Di Gioia,
Francesco Pecorini,
Roberto Brunelli,
Claudio Passananti,
Antonio Minni,
Maria Grazia Di Certo

Affiliations

Francesca Gabanella: CNR-Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy
Christian Barbato: CNR-Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy
Nicoletta Corbi: CNR-Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
Marco Fiore: CNR-Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy
Carla Petrella: CNR-Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy
Marco de Vincentiis: Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy
Antonio Greco: Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy
Giampiero Ferraguti: Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy
Alessandro Corsi: Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy
Massimo Ralli: Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy
Irene Pecorella: Department of Radiological, Oncological, and Pathological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy
Cira Di Gioia: Department of Radiological, Oncological, and Pathological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy
Francesco Pecorini: Department of Maternal and Child Health and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy
Roberto Brunelli: Department of Maternal and Child Health and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy
Claudio Passananti: CNR-Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
Antonio Minni: Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy
Maria Grazia Di Certo: CNR-Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome, Viale del Policlinico 155, 00161 Rome, Italy

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23042100
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 23, no. 4
p. 2100

Abstract

Read online

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic dictated new priorities in biomedicine research. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the causative agent of COVID-19, is a single-stranded positive-sense RNA virus. In this pilot study, we optimized our padlock assay to visualize genomic and subgenomic regions using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded placental samples obtained from a confirmed case of COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was localized in trophoblastic cells. We also checked the presence of the virion by immunolocalization of its glycoprotein spike. In addition, we imaged mitochondria of placental villi keeping in mind that the mitochondrion has been suggested as a potential residence of the SARS-CoV-2 genome. We observed a substantial overlapping of SARS-CoV-2 RNA and mitochondria in trophoblastic cells. This intriguing linkage correlated with an aberrant mitochondrial network. Overall, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that provides evidence of colocalization of the SARS-CoV-2 genome and mitochondria in SARS-CoV-2 infected tissue. These findings also support the notion that SARS-CoV-2 infection can reprogram mitochondrial activity in the highly specialized maternal–fetal interface.

Published in International Journal of Molecular Sciences

ISSN: 1661-6596 (Print); 1422-0067 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science: Biology (General); Science: Chemistry
Website: http://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijms

About the journal

Abstract

Keywords