The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted all aspects of life, worldwide. At nPOD, we essentially never ceased operations in terms of donor recoveries. With testing of nPOD donors for Sars-Cov-2, we received 304 offers and nPOD received tissues from 21 cases over the last year (including 3 AAb+ and 6 donors with T1D, of whom two donors had a recent onset diagnosis). Moreover, collaborative studies on pancreata from nPOD organ donors have helped us deepen our understanding of the potential impact of Sars-Cov-2 on the pancreas and perhaps in diabetes. This was a hot topic we discussed in a dedicated session at the nPOD meeting, whereas there is potential that this viral infection may directly or indirectly impact pancreatic islet function and diabetes. Links to related publications are reported below.
Expression of SARS-CoV-2 Entry Factors in the Pancreas of Normal Organ Donors and Individuals with COVID-19. Kusmartseva I, Wu W, Syed F, Van Der Heide V, Jorgensen M, Joseph P, Tang X, Candelario-Jalil E, Yang C, Nick H, Harbert JL, Posgai AL, Paulsen JD, Lloyd R, Cechin S, Pugliese A, Campbell-Thompson M, Vander Heide RS, Evans-Molina C, Homann D, Atkinson MA. Cell Metab. 2020 Dec 1;32(6):1041-1051.e6. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2020.11.005. Epub 2020 Nov 13.PMID: 33207244
Human pluripotent stem cell-based organoids and cell platforms for modelling SARS-CoV-2 infection and drug discovery. Giani AM, Chen S.Stem Cell Res. 2021 Feb 20;53:102207. doi: 10.1016/j.scr.2021.102207. Online ahead of print.PMID: 33677394
SARS-CoV-2 Receptor Angiotensin I-Converting Enzyme Type 2 (ACE2) Is Expressed in Human Pancreatic β-Cells and in the Human Pancreas Microvasculature. Fignani D, Licata G, Brusco N, Nigi L, Grieco GE, Marselli L, Overbergh L, Gysemans C, Colli ML, Marchetti P, Mathieu C, Eizirik DL, Sebastiani G, Dotta F.Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2020 Nov 13;11:596898. doi: 10.3389/fendo.2020.596898. eCollection 2020.PMID: 33281748
SARS-CoV-2 Cell Entry Factors ACE2 and TMPRSS2 Are Expressed in the Microvasculature and Ducts of Human Pancreas but Are Not Enriched in β Cells. Coate KC, Cha J, Shrestha S, Wang W, Gonçalves LM, Almaça J, Kapp ME, Fasolino M, Morgan A, Dai C, Saunders DC, Bottino R, Aramandla R, Jenkins R, Stein R, Kaestner KH, Vahedi G; HPAP Consortium, Brissova M, Powers AC.Cell Metab. 2020 Dec 1;32(6):1028-1040.e4. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2020.11.006. Epub 2020 Nov 13.PMID: 33207245
Diabetes, obesity, metabolism, and SARS-CoV-2 infection: the end of the beginning. Drucker DJ.Cell Metab. 2021 Mar 2;33(3):479-498. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2021.01.016. Epub 2021 Jan 21.PMID: 33529600 Free PMC article. Review.
Delayed Diagnosis of Diabetic Ketoacidosis and Associated Mortality During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Foster TP, Haller MJ, Atkinson MA, Schatz DA. Delayed Diagnosis of Diabetic Ketoacidosis and Associated Mortality During the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Diabetes. 2021 Jun 30. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34196115.