SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, has been found to potentially lead to heart impairment, according to a new experimental study conducted by Japanese scientists. The study raises concerns about the impact of COVID-19 on heart health, especially for patients with cardiomyopathy, a condition that affects the heart’s ability to pump blood.
The research, carried out by the Riken Institute, involved the recreation of human cardiac microtissues using human-induced pluripotent stem cells. These microtissues consisted of various types of heart cells, including cardiomyocytes, vascular endothelial cells, and mural cells. Upon infecting the cardiac microtissues with SARS-CoV-2, the researchers observed a reduction in tissue contractility during the acute phase of the viral infection.
Notably, the study found that even mild infections sustained viral presence for up to a month, indicating persistent infection. This discovery has significant implications for understanding the long-term effects of COVID-19 on heart function.
Furthermore, the researchers noted that patients who had mild to moderate levels of antibodies showed recovery and restoration of the heart’s ability to contract after 28 days. In contrast, those with high levels of antibodies experienced a sustained decrease in contractility without recovery, suggesting a potential link between antibody levels and cardiac function.
The study also highlighted the potential risk of heart failure in patients with a history of mild SARS-CoV-2 infection. According to the senior scientist Hidetoshi Masumoto, this could lead to a clinical deterioration of cardiac function, possibly necessitating heart transplantation.
In addition, the research demonstrated that experimental models with persistent infection, when subjected to hypoxic stress, exhibited cardiac dysfunction. The higher expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) in the heart, compared to other organs, was identified as a potential factor contributing to the heart’s susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection, especially under conditions such as heart failure.
These findings shed light on the intricate relationship between COVID-19 and heart health, emphasizing the need for further research to better understand the potential long-term implications of the virus on cardiac function.
