Human cardiosphere-derived stromal cells exposed to SARS-CoV-2 evolve into hyper-inflammatory/ <i>pro</i> -fibrotic phenotype and produce infective viral particles depending on the levels of ACE2 receptor expression

Abstract

Our findings indicate that cardiac stromal cells are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection and produce variable viral yields depending on the extent of cellular ACE2 receptor expression. Interestingly, these cells also evolved towards hyper-inflammatory/pro-fibrotic phenotypes independently of ACE2 levels. Thus, SARS-CoV-2 infection of myocardial stromal cells could be involved in cardiac injury and explain the high number of complications observed in severe cases of COVID-19.