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Lengacher NA, Tomlinson JJ, Jochum AK, Franz J, Hasan Ali O, Flatz L, Jochum W, Penninger J, Stadelmann C, Woulfe JM, Schlossmacher MG. Neuropathological assessment of the olfactory bulb and tract in individuals with COVID-19. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2024; 12:70. [PMID: 38698465 PMCID: PMC11067107 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-024-01761-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The majority of patients with Parkinson disease (PD) experience a loss in their sense of smell and accumulate insoluble α-synuclein aggregates in their olfactory bulbs (OB). Subjects affected by a SARS-CoV-2-linked illness (COVID-19) also frequently experience hyposmia. We previously postulated that microglial activation as well as α-synuclein and tau misprocessing can occur during host responses following microbial encounters. Using semiquantitative measurements of immunohistochemical signals, we examined OB and olfactory tract specimens collected serially at autopsies between 2020 and 2023. Deceased subjects comprised 50 adults, which included COVID19 + patients (n = 22), individuals with Lewy body disease (e.g., PD; dementia with Lewy bodies (n = 6)), Alzheimer disease (AD; n = 3), and other neurodegenerative disorders (e.g., progressive supranuclear palsy (n = 2); multisystem atrophy (n = 1)). Further, we included neurologically healthy controls (n = 9), and added subjects with an inflammation-rich brain disorder as neurological controls (NCO; n = 7). When probing for microglial and histiocytic reactivity in the anterior olfactory nuclei (AON) by anti-CD68 immunostaining, scores were consistently elevated in NCO and AD cases. In contrast, microglial signals on average were not significantly altered in COVID19 + patients relative to healthy controls, although anti-CD68 reactivity in their OB and tracts declined with progression in age. Mild-to-moderate increases in phospho-α-synuclein and phospho-tau signals were detected in the AON of tauopathy- and synucleinopathy-afflicted brains, respectively, consistent with mixed pathology, as described by others. Lastly, when both sides were available for comparison in our case series, we saw no asymmetry in the degree of pathology of the left versus right OB and tracts. We concluded from our autopsy series that after a fatal course of COVID-19, microscopic changes in the rostral, intracranial portion of the olfactory circuitry -when present- reflected neurodegenerative processes seen elsewhere in the brain. In general, microglial reactivity correlated best with the degree of Alzheimer's-linked tauopathy and declined with progression of age in COVID19 + patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie A Lengacher
- Neuroscience Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815, USA
| | - Julianna J Tomlinson
- Neuroscience Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815, USA
| | - Ann-Kristin Jochum
- Institute of Pathology, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland
- Institute of Immunobiology, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815, USA
| | - Jonas Franz
- Neuropathology Institute, University of Goettingen Medical Centre, Goettingen, Germany
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815, USA
| | - Omar Hasan Ali
- Department of Life Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815, USA
| | - Lukas Flatz
- Institute of Immunobiology, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815, USA
| | - Wolfram Jochum
- Institute of Pathology, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Josef Penninger
- Department of Life Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815, USA
| | - Christine Stadelmann
- Neuropathology Institute, University of Goettingen Medical Centre, Goettingen, Germany
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815, USA
| | - John M Woulfe
- Neuroscience Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815, USA.
| | - Michael G Schlossmacher
- Neuroscience Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815, USA.
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Limanaqi F, Zecchini S, Saulle I, Strizzi S, Vanetti C, Garziano M, Cappelletti G, Parolin D, Caccia S, Trabattoni D, Fenizia C, Clerici M, Biasin M. Alpha-synuclein dynamics bridge Type-I Interferon response and SARS-CoV-2 replication in peripheral cells. Biol Res 2024; 57:2. [PMID: 38191441 PMCID: PMC10775536 DOI: 10.1186/s40659-023-00482-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Increasing evidence suggests a double-faceted role of alpha-synuclein (α-syn) following infection by a variety of viruses, including SARS-CoV-2. Although α-syn accumulation is known to contribute to cell toxicity and the development and/or exacerbation of neuropathological manifestations, it is also a key to sustaining anti-viral innate immunity. Consistently with α-syn aggregation as a hallmark of Parkinson's disease, most studies investigating the biological function of α-syn focused on neural cells, while reports on the role of α-syn in periphery are limited, especially in SARS-CoV-2 infection. RESULTS Results herein obtained by real time qPCR, immunofluorescence and western blot indicate that α-syn upregulation in peripheral cells occurs as a Type-I Interferon (IFN)-related response against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Noteworthy, this effect mostly involves α-syn multimers, and the dynamic α-syn multimer:monomer ratio. Administration of excess α-syn monomers promoted SARS-CoV-2 replication along with downregulation of IFN-Stimulated Genes (ISGs) in epithelial lung cells, which was associated with reduced α-syn multimers and α-syn multimer:monomer ratio. These effects were prevented by combined administration of IFN-β, which hindered virus replication and upregulated ISGs, meanwhile increasing both α-syn multimers and α-syn multimer:monomer ratio in the absence of cell toxicity. Finally, in endothelial cells displaying abortive SARS-CoV-2 replication, α-syn multimers, and multimer:monomer ratio were not reduced following exposure to the virus and exogenous α-syn, suggesting that only productive viral infection impairs α-syn multimerization and multimer:monomer equilibrium. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides novel insights into the biology of α-syn, showing that its dynamic conformations are implicated in the innate immune response against SARS-CoV-2 infection in peripheral cells. In particular, our results suggest that promotion of non-toxic α-syn multimers likely occurs as a Type-I IFN-related biological response which partakes in the suppression of viral replication. Further studies are needed to replicate our findings in neuronal cells as well as animal models, and to ascertain the nature of such α-syn conformations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fiona Limanaqi
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Via G.B. Grassi, Milan, Italy.
| | - Silvia Zecchini
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Via G.B. Grassi, Milan, Italy
| | - Irma Saulle
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Via G.B. Grassi, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Via Francesco Sforza, Milan, Italy
| | - Sergio Strizzi
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Via G.B. Grassi, Milan, Italy
| | - Claudia Vanetti
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Via G.B. Grassi, Milan, Italy
| | - Micaela Garziano
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Via G.B. Grassi, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Via Francesco Sforza, Milan, Italy
| | - Gioia Cappelletti
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Via G.B. Grassi, Milan, Italy
| | - Debora Parolin
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Via G.B. Grassi, Milan, Italy
| | - Sonia Caccia
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Via G.B. Grassi, Milan, Italy
| | - Daria Trabattoni
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Via G.B. Grassi, Milan, Italy
| | - Claudio Fenizia
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Via G.B. Grassi, Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Via Francesco Sforza, Milan, Italy
| | - Mario Clerici
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Via Francesco Sforza, Milan, Italy
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, 20148, Milan, Italy
| | - Mara Biasin
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University of Milan, Via G.B. Grassi, Milan, Italy.
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3
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Iravanpour F, Farrokhi MR, Jafarinia M, Oliaee RT. The effect of SARS-CoV-2 on the development of Parkinson's disease: the role of α-synuclein. Hum Cell 2024; 37:1-8. [PMID: 37735344 DOI: 10.1007/s13577-023-00988-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
The current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can lead to various neurological complications in infected people. These neurological effects include problems in both central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral nervous system (PNS). Hyposmia, a PNS symptom of COVID-19, frequently manifests in the early stages of Parkinson's disease (PD) and serves as an early warning sign of the condition. In addition, the olfactory system is recognized as an early site for the onset of α-synuclein pathology, the pathological hallmark of PD. PD is characterized by accumulation and aggregation of misfolded α-synuclein (α-Syn) into Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites, resulting in the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). Previous research has also shown the involvement of α-Syn in the innate immune response following viral infections. Consequently, the potential link between viral infections and development of PD has gained attention in recent years. However, it's still too early to definitively conclude whether COVID-19 can cause Parkinsonism. Nevertheless, we can explore the likelihood of this connection by examining past studies and possible mechanisms to better understand how COVID-19 might potentially lead to PD following the infection. Based on the various pieces of evidence discussed in this review, we can infer that SARS-CoV-2 promotes the aggregation of α-Syn and, ultimately, leads to PD through at least two mechanisms: the stable binding of the S1 protein to proteins prone to aggregation like α-Syn, and the upregulation of α-Syn as part of the immune response to the infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farideh Iravanpour
- Shiraz Neuroscience Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Majid Reza Farrokhi
- Shiraz Neuroscience Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Morteza Jafarinia
- Shiraz Neuroscience Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
| | - Razieh Tavakoli Oliaee
- Shiraz Neuroscience Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
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Jiménez-Jiménez FJ, Alonso-Navarro H, García-Martín E, Santos-García D, Martínez-Valbuena I, Agúndez JAG. Alpha-Synuclein in Peripheral Tissues as a Possible Marker for Neurological Diseases and Other Medical Conditions. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1263. [PMID: 37627328 PMCID: PMC10452242 DOI: 10.3390/biom13081263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The possible usefulness of alpha-synuclein (aSyn) determinations in peripheral tissues (blood cells, salivary gland biopsies, olfactory mucosa, digestive tract, skin) and in biological fluids, except for cerebrospinal fluid (serum, plasma, saliva, feces, urine), as a marker of several diseases, has been the subject of numerous publications. This narrative review summarizes data from studies trying to determine the role of total, oligomeric, and phosphorylated aSyn determinations as a marker of various diseases, especially PD and other alpha-synucleinopathies. In summary, the results of studies addressing the determinations of aSyn in its different forms in peripheral tissues (especially in platelets, skin, and digestive tract, but also salivary glands and olfactory mucosa), in combination with other potential biomarkers, could be a useful tool to discriminate PD from controls and from other causes of parkinsonisms, including synucleinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Elena García-Martín
- Institute of Molecular Pathology Biomarkers, Universidad de Extremadura, 10071 Cáceres, Spain; (E.G.-M.); (J.A.G.A.)
| | - Diego Santos-García
- Department of Neurology, CHUAC—Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de A Coruña, 15006 A Coruña, Spain;
| | - Iván Martínez-Valbuena
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 2S8, Canada;
| | - José A. G. Agúndez
- Institute of Molecular Pathology Biomarkers, Universidad de Extremadura, 10071 Cáceres, Spain; (E.G.-M.); (J.A.G.A.)
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5
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Albornoz EA, Amarilla AA, Modhiran N, Parker S, Li XX, Wijesundara DK, Aguado J, Zamora AP, McMillan CLD, Liang B, Peng NYG, Sng JDJ, Saima FT, Fung JN, Lee JD, Paramitha D, Parry R, Avumegah MS, Isaacs A, Lo MW, Miranda-Chacon Z, Bradshaw D, Salinas-Rebolledo C, Rajapakse NW, Wolvetang EJ, Munro TP, Rojas-Fernandez A, Young PR, Stacey KJ, Khromykh AA, Chappell KJ, Watterson D, Woodruff TM. SARS-CoV-2 drives NLRP3 inflammasome activation in human microglia through spike protein. Mol Psychiatry 2023; 28:2878-2893. [PMID: 36316366 PMCID: PMC10615762 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01831-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is primarily a respiratory disease, however, an increasing number of reports indicate that SARS-CoV-2 infection can also cause severe neurological manifestations, including precipitating cases of probable Parkinson's disease. As microglial NLRP3 inflammasome activation is a major driver of neurodegeneration, here we interrogated whether SARS-CoV-2 can promote microglial NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Using SARS-CoV-2 infection of transgenic mice expressing human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2) as a COVID-19 pre-clinical model, we established the presence of virus in the brain together with microglial activation and NLRP3 inflammasome upregulation in comparison to uninfected mice. Next, utilising a model of human monocyte-derived microglia, we identified that SARS-CoV-2 isolates can bind and enter human microglia in the absence of viral replication. This interaction of virus and microglia directly induced robust inflammasome activation, even in the absence of another priming signal. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that purified SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein activated the NLRP3 inflammasome in LPS-primed microglia, in a ACE2-dependent manner. Spike protein also could prime the inflammasome in microglia through NF-κB signalling, allowing for activation through either ATP, nigericin or α-synuclein. Notably, SARS-CoV-2 and spike protein-mediated microglial inflammasome activation was significantly enhanced in the presence of α-synuclein fibrils and was entirely ablated by NLRP3-inhibition. Finally, we demonstrate SARS-CoV-2 infected hACE2 mice treated orally post-infection with the NLRP3 inhibitory drug MCC950, have significantly reduced microglial inflammasome activation, and increased survival in comparison with untreated SARS-CoV-2 infected mice. These results support a possible mechanism of microglial innate immune activation by SARS-CoV-2, which could explain the increased vulnerability to developing neurological symptoms akin to Parkinson's disease in COVID-19 infected individuals, and a potential therapeutic avenue for intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo A Albornoz
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Alberto A Amarilla
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Naphak Modhiran
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Sandra Parker
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Xaria X Li
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Danushka K Wijesundara
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
- Vaxxas Pty. Ltd., Woolloongabba, QLD, 4102, Australia
| | - Julio Aguado
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Adriana Pliego Zamora
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Christopher L D McMillan
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Benjamin Liang
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Nias Y G Peng
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Julian D J Sng
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Fatema Tuj Saima
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Jenny N Fung
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - John D Lee
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Devina Paramitha
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Rhys Parry
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Michael S Avumegah
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Ariel Isaacs
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Martin W Lo
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Zaray Miranda-Chacon
- Institute of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
- Molecular Medicine Laboratory, Medical School, Universidad de Costa Rica, San Pedro, Costa Rica
| | - Daniella Bradshaw
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | | | - Niwanthi W Rajapakse
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Ernst J Wolvetang
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Trent P Munro
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | | | - Paul R Young
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
- Australian Infectious Disease Research Centre, Global Virus Network Centre of Excellence Brisbane, Brisbane, QLD, 4072 and 4029, Australia
| | - Katryn J Stacey
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Alexander A Khromykh
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
- Australian Infectious Disease Research Centre, Global Virus Network Centre of Excellence Brisbane, Brisbane, QLD, 4072 and 4029, Australia
| | - Keith J Chappell
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
- Australian Infectious Disease Research Centre, Global Virus Network Centre of Excellence Brisbane, Brisbane, QLD, 4072 and 4029, Australia
| | - Daniel Watterson
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia.
| | - Trent M Woodruff
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia.
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia.
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Iacono S, Schirò G, Davì C, Mastrilli S, Abbott M, Guajana F, Arnao V, Aridon P, Ragonese P, Gagliardo C, Colomba C, Scichilone N, D’Amelio M. COVID-19 and neurological disorders: what might connect Parkinson's disease to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Front Neurol 2023; 14:1172416. [PMID: 37273689 PMCID: PMC10232873 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2023.1172416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 infection leading to Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) rapidly became a worldwide health emergency due to its elevated infecting capacity, morbidity, and mortality. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder and, nowadays the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 outbreak and PD reached a great interest. Apparently independent one from the other, both diseases share some pathogenetic and clinical features. The relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection and PD is complex and it depends on the direction of the association that is which of the two diseases comes first. Some evidence suggests that SARS-CoV-2 infection might be a possible risk factor for PD wherein the exposure to SARS-CoV-2 increase the risk for PD. This perspective comes out from the increasing cases of parkinsonism following COVID-19 and also from the anatomical structures affected in both COVID-19 and early PD such as olfactory bulb and gastrointestinal tract resulting in the same symptoms such as hyposmia and constipation. Furthermore, there are many reported cases of patients who developed hypokinetic extrapyramidal syndrome following SARS-CoV-2 infection although these would resemble a post-encephalitic conditions and there are to date relevant data to support the hypothesis that SARS-CoV-2 infection is a risk factor for the development of PD. Future large, longitudinal and population-based studies are needed to better assess whether the risk of developing PD after COVID-19 exists given the short time span from the starting of pandemic. Indeed, this brief time-window does not allow the precise estimation of the incidence and prevalence of PD after pandemic when compared with pre-pandemic era. If the association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and PD pathogenesis is actually putative, on the other hand, vulnerable PD patients may have a greater risk to develop COVID-19 being also more prone to develop a more aggressive disease course. Furthermore, PD patients with PD showed a worsening of motor and non-motor symptoms during COVID-19 outbreak due to both infection and social restriction. As well, the worries related to the risk of being infected should not be neglected. Here we summarize the current knowledge emerging about the epidemiological, pathogenetic and clinical relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection and PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore Iacono
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience, and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Schirò
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience, and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Chiara Davì
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience, and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Sergio Mastrilli
- Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Policlinico Paolo Giaccone di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Michelle Abbott
- Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Guajana
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience, and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Valentina Arnao
- UO Neurologia e Stroke Unit, Azienda di Rilievo Nazionale ad Alta Specializzazione, Ospedali Civico Di Cristina Benfratelli, Palermo, Italy
| | - Paolo Aridon
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience, and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Paolo Ragonese
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience, and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Cesare Gagliardo
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience, and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Claudia Colomba
- Department of Health Promotion, Mother and Child Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Nicola Scichilone
- Division of Respiratory Diseases, Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (PROMISE), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Marco D’Amelio
- Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience, and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
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7
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Tonyali A, Karacetin G, Yesilkaya C, Arik FNT, Kayan Ocakoglu B. Appearance of extrapyramidal symptoms in adolescent psychiatry patients during COVID-19 infection. J Med Virol 2023; 95:e28556. [PMID: 36738231 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.28556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 01/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Since the start of the pandemic, there has been an increase in the incidence of psychiatric morbidity among those infected with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and those indirectly affected by COVID-19. There has been a considerable increase in the number of individuals with such psychiatric conditions as depression, acute stress disorders, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). About one-third of patients with COVID-19 are reported to have developed short and long-term neuropsychiatric conditions such as delirium, agitation, altered consciousness, hypoxic encephalopathy encephalitis, dysexecutive syndrome, cerebrovascular complications (e.g., stroke), hypoxic encephalopathy, convulsions, neuromuscular dysfunction, demyelinating processes, or parkinsonism through several pathophysiological mechanisms. Nevertheless, as the pandemic progressed, data on neuropsychiatric manifestations implied that the pathologic capacity of COVID-19 and its association with the onset and/or exacerbation of psychiatric morbidity indicate that COVID-19 is potentially related to neuropsychiatric involvement. Patients with existing mental disorders under psychotropic treatment exposed to the COVID-19 infection have been represented by an increased risk of worsened psychiatric symptoms and expanded drug side effects. The present study aimed to describe five pediatric patients with various psychiatric illness that experienced COVID-19 infection and had potentially associated neuropsychiatric involvement, such as exacerbation of underlying psychiatric symptoms and extrapyramidal side effects. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first to describe adolescents with COVID-19 infection that presented with a series of manifestations in the form of an increase in extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) during exacerbation of underlying psychiatric disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aysegul Tonyali
- Istanbul Bakırköy Prof. Dr. Mazhar Osman Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
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COVID-19 and Parkinsonism: A Critical Appraisal. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12070970. [PMID: 35883526 PMCID: PMC9313170 DOI: 10.3390/biom12070970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
A few cases of parkinsonism linked to COVID-19 infection have been reported so far, raising the possibility of a post-viral parkinsonian syndrome. The objective of this review is to summarize the clinical, biological, and neuroimaging features of published cases describing COVID-19-related parkinsonism and to discuss the possible pathophysiological mechanisms. A comprehensive literature search was performed using NCBI’s PubMed database and standardized search terms. Thirteen cases of COVID-19-related parkinsonism were included (7 males; mean age: 51 years ± 14.51, range 31–73). Patients were classified based on the possible mechanisms of post-COVID-19 parkinsonism: extensive inflammation or hypoxic brain injury within the context of encephalopathy (n = 5); unmasking of underlying still non-symptomatic Parkinson’s Disease (PD) (n = 5), and structural and functional basal ganglia damage (n = 3). The various clinical scenarios show different outcomes and responses to dopaminergic treatment. Different mechanisms may play a role, including vascular damage, neuroinflammation, SARS-CoV-2 neuroinvasive potential, and the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on α-synuclein. Our results confirm that the appearance of parkinsonism during or immediately after COVID-19 infection represents a very rare event. Future long-term observational studies are needed to evaluate the possible role of SARS-CoV-2 infection as a trigger for the development of PD in the long term.
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SARS-CoV-2 Proteins Interact with Alpha Synuclein and Induce Lewy Body-like Pathology In Vitro. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23063394. [PMID: 35328814 PMCID: PMC8949667 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23063394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Growing cases of patients reported have shown a potential relationship between (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) SARS-CoV-2 infection and Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, it is unclear whether there is a molecular link between these two diseases. Alpha-synuclein (α-Syn), an aggregation-prone protein, is considered a crucial factor in PD pathology. In this study, bioinformatics analysis confirmed favorable binding affinity between α-Syn and SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein and nucleocapsid (N) protein, and direct interactions were further verified in HEK293 cells. The expression of α-Syn was upregulated and its aggregation was accelerated by S protein and N protein. It was noticed that SARS-CoV-2 proteins caused Lewy-like pathology in the presence of α-Syn overexpression. By confirming that SARS-CoV-2 proteins directly interact with α-Syn, our study offered new insights into the mechanism underlying the development of PD on the background of COVID-19.
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Domingues RB, Leite FBVDM, Senne C. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis in patients with COVID-19-associated central nervous system manifestations: a systematic review. ARQUIVOS DE NEURO-PSIQUIATRIA 2022; 80:296-305. [DOI: 10.1590/0004-282x-anp-2021-0117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Background: Central nervous system (CNS) symptoms may occur in patients with acute COVID-19. The role of CSF examination in these patients remains to be established. Objective: A systematic review of CSF findings relating to COVID-19 was carried out. Methods: CSF parameters, including cytological and biochemical analyses, SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR and other CSF markers, were recorded and analyzed among patients with acute COVID-19 and one of the following CNS syndromes: stroke, encephalopathy, encephalitis, inflammatory syndromes, seizure, headache and meningitis. Results: Increased white blood cells and/or increased protein concentration were found in 52.7% of the patients with encephalitis, 29.4% of the patients with encephalopathy and 46.7% of the patients with inflammatory syndromes (P < 0.05). CSF RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 was positive in 17.35% of the patients with encephalitis and less than 3.5% of the patients with encephalopathy or inflammatory syndromes (P < 0.05). Intrathecal production of immunoglobulins was found in only 8% of the cases. More than 85% of the patients had increased CSF cytokines and chemokines. Increased CSF neurofilament light chain (NfL) and CSF Tau were found in 71% and 36% of the cases, respectively. Conclusion: Non-specific inflammatory CSF abnormalities were frequently found in patients with COVID-19 CNS syndromes. The increase in neurodegeneration biomarkers suggests that neuronal damage occurs, with long-term consequences that are still unknown.
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Groppa SA, Ciolac D, Duarte C, Garcia C, Gasnaș D, Leahu P, Efremova D, Gasnaș A, Bălănuță T, Mîrzac D, Movila A. Molecular Mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 Pathogenicity on the Central Nervous System: Bridging Experimental Probes to Clinical Evidence and Therapeutic Interventions. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2021; 1376:1-27. [PMID: 34735712 DOI: 10.1007/5584_2021_675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, induced by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has dramatically impacted the global healthcare systems, constantly challenging both research and clinical practice. Although it was initially believed that the SARS-CoV-2 infection is limited merely to the respiratory system, emerging evidence indicates that COVID-19 affects multiple other systems including the central nervous system (CNS). Furthermore, most of the published clinical studies indicate that the confirmed CNS inflammatory manifestations in COVID-19 patients are meningitis, encephalitis, acute necrotizing encephalopathy, acute transverse myelitis, and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis. In addition, the neuroinflammation along with accelerated neurosenescence and susceptible genetic signatures in COVID-19 patients might prime the CNS to neurodegeneration and precipitate the occurrence of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Thus, this review provides a critical evaluation and interpretive analysis of existing published preclinical as well as clinical studies on the key molecular mechanisms modulating neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration induced by the SARS-CoV-2. In addition, the essential age- and gender-dependent impacts of SARS-CoV-2 on the CNS of COVID-19 patients are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanislav A Groppa
- Department of Neurology, Nicolae Testemițanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova.,Laboratory of Neurobiology and Medical Genetics, Nicolae Testemițanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova.,Department of Neurology, Institute of Emergency Medicine, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
| | - Dumitru Ciolac
- Department of Neurology, Nicolae Testemițanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova.,Laboratory of Neurobiology and Medical Genetics, Nicolae Testemițanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova.,Department of Neurology, Institute of Emergency Medicine, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
| | - Carolina Duarte
- Department of Oral Science and Translational Research, College of Dental Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
| | - Christopher Garcia
- Department of Oral Science and Translational Research, College of Dental Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
| | - Daniela Gasnaș
- Department of Neurology, Nicolae Testemițanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova.,Laboratory of Neurobiology and Medical Genetics, Nicolae Testemițanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova.,Department of Neurology, Institute of Emergency Medicine, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
| | - Pavel Leahu
- Department of Neurology, Nicolae Testemițanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova.,Laboratory of Neurobiology and Medical Genetics, Nicolae Testemițanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova.,Department of Neurology, Institute of Emergency Medicine, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
| | - Daniela Efremova
- Department of Neurology, Nicolae Testemițanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova.,Department of Neurology, Institute of Emergency Medicine, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova.,Laboratory of Cerebrovascular Diseases and Epilepsy, Institute of Emergency Medicine, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
| | - Alexandru Gasnaș
- Department of Neurology, Nicolae Testemițanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova.,Department of Neurology, Institute of Emergency Medicine, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova.,Laboratory of Cerebrovascular Diseases and Epilepsy, Institute of Emergency Medicine, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
| | - Tatiana Bălănuță
- Department of Neurology, Nicolae Testemițanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova.,Department of Neurology, Institute of Emergency Medicine, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova.,Laboratory of Cerebrovascular Diseases and Epilepsy, Institute of Emergency Medicine, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
| | - Daniela Mîrzac
- Department of Neurology, Nicolae Testemițanu State University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova.,Department of Neurology, Institute of Emergency Medicine, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova
| | - Alexandru Movila
- Department of Oral Science and Translational Research, College of Dental Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA. .,Institute of Neuro Immune Medicine, Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA.
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12
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Shen S, Zhang C, Xu YM, Shi CH. The Role of Pathogens and Anti-Infective Agents in Parkinson's Disease, from Etiology to Therapeutic Implications. JOURNAL OF PARKINSONS DISEASE 2021; 12:27-44. [PMID: 34719435 PMCID: PMC8842782 DOI: 10.3233/jpd-212929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease is a debilitating neurodegenerative disorder whose etiology is still unclear, hampering the development of effective treatments. There is an urgent need to identify the etiology and provide further effective treatments. Recently, accumulating evidence has indicated that infection may play a role in the etiology of Parkinson's disease. The infective pathogens may act as a trigger for Parkinson's disease, the most common of which are hepatitis C virus, influenza virus, and Helicobacter pylori. In addition, gut microbiota is increasingly recognized to influence brain function through the gut-brain axis, showing an important role in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. Furthermore, a series of anti-infective agents exhibit surprising neuroprotective effects via various mechanisms, such as interfering with α-synuclein aggregation, inhibiting neuroinflammation, attenuating oxidative stress, and preventing from cell death, independent of their antimicrobial effects. The pleiotropic agents affect important events in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. Moreover, most of them are less toxic, clinically safe and have good blood-brain penetrability, making them hopeful candidates for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. However, the use of antibiotics and subsequent gut dysbiosis may also play a role in Parkinson's disease, making the long-term effects of anti-infective drugs worthy of further consideration and exploration. This review summarizes the current evidence for the association between infective pathogens and Parkinson's disease and subsequently explores the application prospects of anti-infective drugs in Parkinson's disease treatment, providing novel insights into the pathogenesis and treatment of Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si Shen
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Chan Zhang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.,Henan Key Laboratory of Cerebrovascular Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Yu-Ming Xu
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.,Henan Key Laboratory of Cerebrovascular Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.,Institute of Neuroscience, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Chang-He Shi
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.,Henan Key Laboratory of Cerebrovascular Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.,Institute of Neuroscience, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
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