Search for SARS-CoV-2 RNA in platelets from COVID-19 patients

Abstract

The frequent finding of thrombocytopenia in patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19) and previous evidence that several viruses enter platelets suggest that SARS-CoV-2 might be internalized by platelets of COVID-19. Aim of our study was to assess the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in platelets from hospitalized patients with aconfirmed diagnosis of COVID-19. RNA was extracted from platelets, leukocytes and serum from 24 COVID-19 patients and 3 healthy controls, real-time PCR and ddPCR for viral genes were carried out. SARS-CoV-2 RNA was not detected in any of the samples analyzed nor in healthy controls, by either RT-PCR or ddPCR, while RNA samples from nasopharyngeal swabs of COVID-19 patients were correctly identified. Viral RNA was not detected independently of viral load, of positive nasopharyngeal swabs, or viremia, the last detected in only one patient (4.1%). SARS-CoV-2 entry in platelets is not acommon phenomenon in COVID-19 patients, differently from other viral infections.

Keywords:

• COVID-19
• platelet RNA
• SARS-CoV-2
• viral infection

Authorship Contributions

L. Bury, B. Camilloni, R. Castronaro, E. Piselli, M. Malvestiti, M. Borghi, H. Kuchi Bhotla, E. Falcinelli, E. Petito, F. Amato, G. Castaldo performed experiments; L. Bury and B. Camilloni analyzed and interpreted data, U. Paliani, G. Vaudo, V. Cerotto, F. Gori, C. Becattini, E. De Robertis, T. Lazzarini contributed the patients for the study; P. Gresele and A. Mencacci designed and supervised the study; L. Bury wrote the manuscript; P. Gresele critically revised the manuscript.

Disclosure Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by a fellowship by Fondazione Umberto Veronesi to L. Bury and E. Falcinelli and from a grant to Giuseppe Castaldo [Regione Campania POR FESR 2014/2020, Task Force Covid-19 DGR 140 – 17 March 2020].