Europe PMC

Human Erythroid Progenitors Are Directly Infected by SARS-CoV-2: Implications for Emerging Erythropoiesis in Severe COVID-19 Patients.

Author information

Affiliations

  • 1. Haematopoietic Stem Cell Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK.
      Authors
    • Huerga Encabo H 1
    • Grey W 1
    • Garcia-Albornoz M 1
    • Bonnet D 1
    (4 authors)
  • 2. Haematopoietic Stem Cell Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London NW1 1AT, UK; Department of Haematology, King's College Hospital, London SE5 9RS, UK.
      Authors
    • Wood H 2
    (1 author)
  • 3. Cell Biology of Infection Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK.
      Authors
    • Ulferts R 3
    • Beale R 3
    (2 authors)
  • 4. Antimicrobial Defense Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK.
      Authors
    • Aramburu IV 4
    • Papayannopoulos V 4
    (2 authors)
  • 5. Department of Haematology, King's College Hospital, London SE5 9RS, UK.
      Authors
    • Kulasekararaj AG 5
    • Mufti G 5
    (2 authors)

Stem Cell Reports, 05 Feb 2021, 16(3):428-436
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.stemcr.2021.02.001 PMID: 33581053 PMCID: PMC7862909

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Abstract 

We document here that intensive care COVID-19 patients suffer a profound decline in hemoglobin levels but show an increase of circulating nucleated red cells, suggesting that SARS-CoV-2 infection either directly or indirectly induces stress erythropoiesis. We show that ACE2 expression peaks during erythropoiesis and renders erythroid progenitors vulnerable to infection by SARS-CoV-2. Early erythroid progenitors, defined as CD34-CD117+CD71+CD235a-, show the highest levels of ACE2 and constitute the primary target cell to be infected during erythropoiesis. SARS-CoV-2 causes the expansion of colony formation by erythroid progenitors and can be detected in these cells after 2 weeks of the initial infection. Our findings constitute the first report of SARS-CoV-2 infectivity in erythroid progenitor cells and can contribute to understanding both the clinical symptoms of severe COVID-19 patients and how the virus can spread through the circulation to produce local inflammation in tissues, including the bone marrow.

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    Funding 

    Funders who supported this work.

    Cancer Research UK

      The Francis Crick Institute (3)

      • Grant ID: 10045

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      • Grant ID: 10827

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      • Grant ID: 10129

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      Wellcome Trust (1)

      • Grant ID: FC001045

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