Primary leptomeningeal histiocytic lymphoproliferative disorder associated with SARS-CoV-2 brain infection in k18-hACE2 mouse: a case report
Laboratory Animal Research publish this investigation article
October 22nd, 2025
Background: Histiocytic proliferative disorders in the central nervous system are rare, and their potential association with viral infections remains largely unexplored. This case is relevant because it suggests a potential interaction between SARS-CoV-2 neuroinvasion and tumor development, providing insights into how viral infections might influence oncogenesis.
Case presentation: A 4.5-month-old male k18-hACE-2 mouse, part of an experimental study of SARS-CoV-2, displayed a small mass in leptomeningeal area composed by neoplastic round cells. This process is associated with typical acute inflammatory and neurodegenerative lesions according to viral neuroinvasion. Histopathology revealed a well-demarcated tumor composed of lymphoblasts and intermixed with abundant histiocytic-like cells. Immunohistochemistry showed high expression of Iba-1 in histiocytes but negative PAX5, CD3 and IRF-4 labeling. Due to the critical role of PAX-5 in maintaining B-cell function, its reduction or inactivation may favor this loss of identity and differentiation to macrophages, which supports the possibility of a lymphoma undergoing transdifferentiation into a histiocytic/dendritic cells neoplasm. Additionally, SARS-CoV-2 was detected within the tumor histiocytes and adjacent neurons, raising questions about potential interactions between viral infection and tumor development.
Conclusions: While the underlying mechanisms remain uncertain, this finding highlights the need for further investigation into the interplay between SARS-CoV-2 infection and oncogenesis. This case represents the first report of a primary brain histiocytic lymphoproliferative disorder associated with SARS-CoV-2 in k18-hACE2 mouse
Porras N., Sánchez-Morales L., Perez-Sancho M., Dominguez L. and Rodriguez-Bertos A..
 | Servicio de Patología y Veterinaria Forense (SAP). Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET). Universidad Complutense (UCM). |
| Departamento de Sanidad Animal. Departamento de Medicina y Cirugía Animal. Facultad de Veterinaria. Universidad Complutense (UCM). |
