Study Reveals How Sars-cov-2 Hijacks Testicular Lipid Metabolism To Replicate

The COVID-19 microorganism hijacks nan machinery of testicular cells that nutrient nan hormone testosterone successful bid to replicate. It besides appropriates nan metabolic pathways of these cells and cholesterol, a precursor of testosterone, thereby altering lipid metabolism for its formation. This was verified successful a study conducted successful Brazil by researchers from nan Araraquara School of Dentistry astatine São Paulo State University (FOAr-UNESP), successful business pinch nan Ribeirão Preto School of Medicine astatine nan University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP), successful nan testicles of transgenic mice.

The study, which was supported by FAPESP, revealed nan beingness of SARS-CoV-2 particles successful lipid inclusions and organelles responsible for testosterone accumulation successful Leydig cells for nan first time. In addition, nan researchers described nan system by which nan microorganism interferes pinch nan functioning of these testicular cells. The find helps explicate why antheral patients pinch terrible COVID-19 person little levels of testosterone and, possibly, cholesterol.

"After infecting nan Leydig cells successful nan testicles, nan microorganism uses lipid metabolism pathways and nan compartment building to replicate, which impairs testosterone production. This happens because these cells, responsible for producing testosterone, definitive precocious concentrations of nan ACE2 receptor, facilitating nan introduction of nan virus," explains Estela Sasso-Cerri, a professor astatine FOAr-UNESP who coordinated nan study published in Frontiers successful Cellular and Infection Microbiology. "In addition, nan cells are responsible for storing cholesterin – basal for testosterone synthesis – and incorporate specialized cellular machinery for producing steroid hormones, making them a favorable target for infection."

The investigation was conducted utilizing transgenic mice that were developed successful a laboratory and definitive nan viral receptor ACE2. When infected, they create COVID-19 successful a akin measurement to humans, which allows for a amended knowing of nan system utilized by nan virus.

"We observed that some successful nan transgenic rodent testicle and successful nan quality testicle, location was an aggravated attraction of ACE2 successful nan aforesaid compartment types. The consequence truthful validates nan exemplary utilized successful nan study and confirms that nan testicle is simply a target organ for SARS-CoV-2," says nan researcher.

In nan experiment, nan researchers recovered that SARS-CoV-2 tin change nan lipid metabolism of Leydig cells. This occurs because nan microorganism uses nan cholesterin stored by nan compartment for testosterone accumulation to replicate itself. Thus, contempt nan debased testosterone levels successful infected Leydig cells, they were afloat of lipids because nan microorganism besides induced an summation successful cholesterin internalization for its ain replication and formation.

Immunological character

The study besides observed changes successful nan functional floor plan of Leydig cells. After being infected by nan virus, they ceased producing steroid hormones from cholesterin and took connected an immunological profile.

Infection pinch SARS-CoV-2 besides induced nan Leydig cells to nutrient ample amounts of pro-inflammatory cytokines, a process they don't usually perform. This summation successful cytokines whitethorn besides person interfered pinch testosterone production, impairing this main function."

Salmo Azambuja de Oliveira, student successful nan Structural and Functional Biology Program (BEF) astatine nan Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), a FAPESP danasiwa recipient, and first writer of nan study

These findings beforehand our knowing of nan cellular and molecular processes associated pinch testicular endocrine dysfunction caused by viral infection. "The results corroborate nan clinically observed debased cholesterin levels successful patients pinch terrible COVID-19 and whitethorn shed ray connected men's vulnerability to COVID-19 and their higher mortality complaint compared to women. The study besides paves nan measurement for processing markers that bespeak nan severity of COVID-19, arsenic good arsenic therapies for treating nan illness based connected [lipid-lowering] narcotics that interfere pinch lipid metabolism and inhibit viral action," says Sasso-Cerri.