[Expression of the monoclonal antibody against nucleocapsid antigen of SARS-associated coronavirus in autopsy tissues from SARS patients].

Objective: To investigate the presence and distribution of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) in autopsy tissues obtained from patients died of SARS.

Methods: Immunohistochemical technique was applied in 4 fatal SARS cases to examine the autopsy tissues including the lungs, spleen, lymph nodes, brain, pituitary, heart, liver, kidney, pancreas, trachea, esophagus, gastrointestinal tract, adrenal glands, parathyroids, skin and bone marrow.

Results: Immunohistochemistry identified positive monoclonal antibody against SARS-CoV nuceeocapsid (N) protein in the alveolar epithelium and the infiltrating monocytes or macrophages in the lung, spleen and lymph nodes; the presence of the antibody was also detected in the serous gland epithelium of the trachea/bronchus, squamous epithelium of the esophagus, the gastric parietal cells, the epithelium of the intestinal tract, acidophilic cells in the parathyroids and pituitary, acinus cells in the pancreas, adrenal cortical cells, sweat gland cells, small vessel endothelium, bone marrow promyelocytes, epithelial cells of the distal convoluted tubule of the kidney, brain neurons, and the hepatocytes near the central vein.

[Detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-associated coronavirus RNA in autopsy tissues with in situ hybridization].

Objective: To explore the distribution of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) in SARS autopsy tissues at the molecular level.

Methods: In situ hybridization was used to detect the expression and location of SARS-CoV RNA polymerase gene in autopsy tissues from SARS-Cov-infected subjects, including the lung, spleen, lymph nodes, pituitary, pancreas, parathyroid, adrenal glands, gastrointestinal tract, skin, brain, liver, kidney, blood vessels, striated muscles of the limbs, bone marrow, heart, ovary, uterus and testicles.

Result: SARS-CoV RNA was detected in the cytoplasm of the alveolar epithelia, infiltrating mononuclear phagocytes in the lungs, serous gland epithelium of the trachea/bronchus, monocytes in the spleen and lymph nodes, acinar cells in the pancreas, acidophilic cells in the parathyroid and pituitary, adrenal cortical cells, epithelia of the alimentary tracts, gastric parietal cells, sweat gland cells, brain neurons, hepatocytes near the central vein, epithelia of the distal renal tubules, bone marrow promyelocytes, and endothelia of the small veins.

[Detection of cell apoptosis in the pathological tissues of patients with SARS and its significance].

Objective: To explore the role and mechanism of apoptosis in severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

Methods: Klenow-FragELTM DNA Fragmentation Detection Kit and immunohistochemical alkaline phosphatase detection reagent kit were used to detect cell apoptosis and expressions of CD68, CD20, CD4, CD8 and CD45RA in the pathological tissues of SARS patients.

Results: Apoptotic cells increased significantly in the spleen, lung and lymph nodes of SARS patients as compared with normal tissues.

[Study on etiology and pathology of severe acute respiratory syndrome].

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathologic characteristics of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

Methods: Three autopsy cases were studied retrospectively. Routine HE stain was used to study all the cases.