"Multi-organ Proteomic Landscape of COVID-19 Autopsies" A study of Nie et al

The molecular pathology of multi-organ injuries in COVID-19 patients remains unclear, preventing effective therapeutics development. Here, we report an in-depth multi-organ proteomic landscape of COVID-19 autopsy samples. By integrative analysis of seven-organ proteomes, namely lung, spleen, liver, heart, kidney, thyroid and testis, we quantified 11,394 proteins, in which 5336 were perturbed in theCOVID-19 patients compared to controls. Our data showed that CTSL, rather than ACE2, was significantly upregulated in the lung from the COVID-19 patients. Dysregulation of protein translation, glucose metabolism, fatty acid metabolism was detected in multiple organs. Our data suggested upon SARS-CoV-2 infection, hyperinflammation might be triggered, leading to hypoxia, angiogenesis, blood coagulation and fibrosis in the multiple organs. Evidence for testicular injuries includes reduced Leydig cells, suppressed cholesterol biosynthesis and sperm mobility. In summary, this study depicts the multi-organ proteomic landscape of COVID-19 autopsies, and uncovered dysregulated proteins and biological processes, offering potential therapeutic clues.