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Gawaz A, Schindler M, Hagelauer E, Blanchard G, Riel S, Vollert A, Gilliet M, Unterluggauer L, Stary G, Pospischil I, Hoetzenecker W, Fehrenbacher B, Schaller M, Guenova E, Forchhammer S. SARS-CoV-2-Induced Vasculitic Skin Lesions Are Associated with Massive Spike Protein Depositions in Autophagosomes. J Invest Dermatol 2024; 144:369-377.e4. [PMID: 37580012 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2023.07.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
In patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, vasculopathic changes of the skin are associated with a severe prognosis. However, the pathogenesis of this vasculopathy is not conclusively clarified. In this study, 25 prospectively collected skin samples from patients with COVID-19-related skin lesions were examined for vasculopathic changes and, in case of vasculitis, were further analyzed with electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry. Vasculopathy was observed in 76% of all COVID-19-related inflammatory skin lesions. Visual endothelial changes without manifest leukocytoclastic vasculitis were found in 60% of the COVID-19-related skin lesions, whereas leukocytoclastic vasculitis was diagnosed in 16%. In the cases of vasculitis, there were extensive spike protein depositions in microvascular endothelial cells that colocalized with the autophagosome proteins LC3B and LC3C. The autophagy protein complex LC3-associated endocytosis in microvascular endothelial cells seems to be an important pathogenic factor for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2-related vasculitis in the skin. On ultrastructural morphology, the vasculitic process was dominated by intracellular vesicle formation and endothelial cell disruption. Direct presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 particles in the skin was not observed. Therefore, our results suggest that instead of direct viral infection, dermal vasculitic lesions in COVID-19 are caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 spike protein deposition followed by endothelial damage with activation of autophagy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Gawaz
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Michael Schindler
- Institute for Medical Virology and Epidemiology of Viral Diseases, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Elena Hagelauer
- Institute for Medical Virology and Epidemiology of Viral Diseases, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Gabriela Blanchard
- Department of Dermatology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Simon Riel
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Anneli Vollert
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Michel Gilliet
- Department of Dermatology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Georg Stary
- Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Isabella Pospischil
- Department of Dermatology, Kepler University Hospital, Johannes Kepler University, Linz, Austria
| | - Wolfram Hoetzenecker
- Department of Dermatology, Kepler University Hospital, Johannes Kepler University, Linz, Austria
| | | | - Martin Schaller
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Emmanuella Guenova
- Department of Dermatology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Department of Dermatology, Hospital 12 de Octubre, Medical school, University Complutense, Madrid, Spain.
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Muacevic A, Adler JR. Pemphigus Vulgaris Possibly Associated with COVID-19 Infection. Cureus 2023; 15:e33897. [PMID: 36819405 PMCID: PMC9935475 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.33897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) represents damage to epidermal keratinocytes, resulting in acantholysis due to the production of autoantibodies against desmoglein-1 and desmoglein-3. Autoimmune blistering disorders such as pemphigus vulgaris or bullous pemphigoid that develop following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been reported in several studies. Herein, we report a case of PV onset following COVID-19 infection in a 17-year-old female, demonstrating --the potential pathogenic capacity of SARS-CoV-2 to develop PV.
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Hobayan CG, Chung CG. Indolent cutaneous lymphoma with gamma/delta expression after COVID-19 vaccination. JAAD Case Rep 2022; 32:74-76. [PMID: 36530557 PMCID: PMC9746077 DOI: 10.1016/j.jdcr.2022.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Catherine G. Chung
- Department of Pathology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
- Department of Dermatology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
- Correspondence to: Catherine G. Chung, MD, Departments of Pathology and Dermatology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, 2050 Kenny Rd MMT930, Columbus, OH 43221
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Ciccarese G, Broccolo F, Parodi A, Drago F. Comment on 'Negative SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in patients with positive immunohistochemistry for spike protein in pityriasis rosea-like eruptions'. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2022; 37:e37-e38. [PMID: 35974703 PMCID: PMC9537982 DOI: 10.1111/jdv.18498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Francesco Broccolo
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, School of MedicineUniversity of Milano‐BicoccaMonzaItaly,Laboratory Cerba HealthcareMilanItaly
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