Research
[Cell Research] SARS-CoV-2 infects human neural progenitor cells and brain organoids
Cell Research, 4 August 2020
Bao-Zhong Zhang, Hin Chu, Shuo Han, Huiping Shuai, Jian Deng, Ye-fan Hu, Hua-rui Gong, Andrew Chak-Yiu Lee, Zijiao Zou, Thomas Yau, Wutian Wu, Ivan Fan-Ngai Hung, Jasper Fuk-Woo Chan, Kwok-Yung Yuen & Jian-Dong Huang
Highlights:
- The research team assessed SARS-CoV-2 infection in induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs)-derived human neural progenitor cells (hNPCs), neurospheres and brain organoids.
- iPSC-derived hNPCs were permissive to SARS-CoV-2 infection, but not SARS-CoV infection.
- Extensive protein expression and infectious viral particles were detected in neurospheres and brain organoids infected with SARS-CoV-2, which suggest SARS-CoV-2 can productively infect the human brain.
- SARS-CoV-2 infection in 3D human brain organoids was localised to TUJ1 (neuronal marker)- and NESTIN (NPC marker)-positive cells, suggesting SARS-CoV-2 could directly target cortical neurons and NPCs.
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