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Trevino TN, Fogel AB, Otkiran G, Niladhuri SB, Sanborn MA, Class J, Almousawi AA, Vanhollebeke B, Tai LM, Rehman J, Richner JM, Lutz SE. Engineered Wnt7a ligands rescue blood-brain barrier and cognitive deficits in a COVID-19 mouse model. Brain 2024; 147:1636-1643. [PMID: 38306655 PMCID: PMC11068107 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awae031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Respiratory infection with SARS-CoV-2 causes systemic vascular inflammation and cognitive impairment. We sought to identify the underlying mechanisms mediating cerebrovascular dysfunction and inflammation following mild respiratory SARS-CoV-2 infection. To this end, we performed unbiased transcriptional analysis to identify brain endothelial cell signalling pathways dysregulated by mouse adapted SARS-CoV-2 MA10 in aged immunocompetent C57Bl/6 mice in vivo. This analysis revealed significant suppression of Wnt/β-catenin signalling, a critical regulator of blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity. We therefore hypothesized that enhancing cerebrovascular Wnt/β-catenin activity would offer protection against BBB permeability, neuroinflammation, and neurological signs in acute infection. Indeed, we found that delivery of cerebrovascular-targeted, engineered Wnt7a ligands protected BBB integrity, reduced T-cell infiltration of the brain, and reduced microglial activation in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Importantly, this strategy also mitigated SARS-CoV-2 induced deficits in the novel object recognition assay for learning and memory and the pole descent task for bradykinesia. These observations suggest that enhancement of Wnt/β-catenin signalling or its downstream effectors could be potential interventional strategies for restoring cognitive health following viral infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Troy N Trevino
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Avital B Fogel
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Guliz Otkiran
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Seshadri B Niladhuri
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Mark A Sanborn
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Jacob Class
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Ali A Almousawi
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Benoit Vanhollebeke
- Laboratory of Neurovascular Signaling, Department of Molecular Biology, ULB Neuroscience Institute, Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Gosselies B-6041, Belgium
| | - Leon M Tai
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Jalees Rehman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Justin M Richner
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Sarah E Lutz
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
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2
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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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3
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Power Guerra N, Bierkämper M, Pablik J, Hummel T, Witt M. Histochemical Evidence for Reduced Immune Response in Nasal Mucosa of Patients with COVID-19. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4427. [PMID: 38674011 PMCID: PMC11050322 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Revised: 04/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The primary entry point of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the nasal mucosa, where viral-induced inflammation occurs. When the immune response fails against SARS-CoV-2, understanding the altered response becomes crucial. This study aimed to compare SARS-CoV-2 immunological responses in the olfactory and respiratory mucosa by focusing on epithelia and nerves. Between 2020 and 2022, we obtained post mortem tissues from the olfactory cleft from 10 patients with histologically intact olfactory epithelia (OE) who died with or from COVID-19, along with four age-matched controls. These tissues were subjected to immunohistochemical reactions using antibodies against T cell antigens CD3, CD8, CD68, and SARS spike protein for viral evidence. Deceased patients with COVID-19 exhibited peripheral lymphopenia accompanied by a local decrease in CD3+ cells in the OE. However, SARS-CoV-2 spike protein was sparsely detectable in the OE. With regard to the involvement of nerve fibers, the present analysis suggested that SARS-CoV-2 did not significantly alter the immune response in olfactory or trigeminal fibers. On the other hand, SARS spike protein was detectable in both nerves. In summary, the post mortem investigation demonstrated a decreased T cell response in patients with COVID-19 and signs of SARS-CoV-2 presence in olfactory and trigeminal fibers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Power Guerra
- Smell & Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01309 Dresden, Germany; (N.P.G.); (M.B.); (T.H.)
| | - Martin Bierkämper
- Smell & Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01309 Dresden, Germany; (N.P.G.); (M.B.); (T.H.)
| | - Jessica Pablik
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01309 Dresden, Germany;
| | - Thomas Hummel
- Smell & Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01309 Dresden, Germany; (N.P.G.); (M.B.); (T.H.)
| | - Martin Witt
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biostructural Foundations of Medical Sciences, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, 61-781 Poznań, Poland
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01309 Dresden, Germany
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4
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Li H, Qian J, Wang Y, Wang J, Mi X, Qu L, Song N, Xie J. Potential convergence of olfactory dysfunction in Parkinson's disease and COVID-19: The role of neuroinflammation. Ageing Res Rev 2024; 97:102288. [PMID: 38580172 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2024.102288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder that affects 7-10 million individuals worldwide. A common early symptom of PD is olfactory dysfunction (OD), and more than 90% of PD patients suffer from OD. Recent studies have highlighted a high incidence of OD in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. This review investigates the potential convergence of OD in PD and COVID-19, particularly focusing on the mechanisms by which neuroinflammation contributes to OD and neurological events. Starting from our fundamental understanding of the olfactory bulb, we summarize the clinical features of OD and pathological features of the olfactory bulb from clinical cases and autopsy reports in PD patients. We then examine SARS-CoV-2-induced olfactory bulb neuropathology and OD and emphasize the SARS-CoV-2-induced neuroinflammatory cascades potentially leading to PD manifestations. By activating microglia and astrocytes, as well as facilitating the aggregation of α-synuclein, SARS-CoV-2 could contribute to the onset or exacerbation of PD. We also discuss the possible contributions of NF-κB, the NLRP3 inflammasome, and the JAK/STAT, p38 MAPK, TLR4, IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 and cGAS-STING signaling pathways. Although olfactory dysfunction in patients with COVID-19 may be reversible, it is challenging to restore OD in patients with PD. With the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 variants and the recurrence of infections, we call for continued attention to the intersection between PD and SARS-CoV-2 infection, especially from the perspective of OD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Li
- Institute of Brain Science and Disease, Shandong Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Neurological Disorders, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Junliang Qian
- Institute of Brain Science and Disease, Shandong Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Neurological Disorders, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Youcui Wang
- Institute of Brain Science and Disease, Shandong Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Neurological Disorders, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Juan Wang
- Institute of Brain Science and Disease, Shandong Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Neurological Disorders, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Xiaoqing Mi
- Institute of Brain Science and Disease, Shandong Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Neurological Disorders, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Le Qu
- Institute of Brain Science and Disease, Shandong Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Neurological Disorders, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Ning Song
- Institute of Brain Science and Disease, Shandong Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Neurological Disorders, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.
| | - Junxia Xie
- Institute of Brain Science and Disease, Shandong Provincial Collaborative Innovation Center for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis and Prevention of Neurological Disorders, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.
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5
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Wang Q, Liu Y, Zhang M, Yang M, Liang J, Zuo X, Wang S, Jia X, Zhao H, Jiang H, Lin Q, Qin Q. Slc43a2 + T cell metastasis from spleen to brain in RGNNV infected teleost. Sci China Life Sci 2024; 67:733-744. [PMID: 38388846 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-023-2473-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
The origin of T cells in the teleost's brain is unclear. While viewing the central nervous system (CNS) as immune privileged has been widely accepted, previous studies suggest that T cells residing in the thymus but not in the spleen of the teleost play an essential role in communicating with the peripheral organs. Here, we identified nine T cell subpopulations in the thymus and spleen of orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioices) through single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis. After viral CNS infection with red-spotted grouper nervous necrosis virus (RGNNV), the number of slc43a2+ T cells synchronously increased in the spleen and brain. During the infection tests in asplenic zebrafish (tlx1▲ zebrafish model), no increase in the number of slc43a2+ T cells was observed in the brain. Single-cell transcriptomic analysis indicated that slc43a2+ T cells mature and functionally differentiate within the spleen and then migrate into the brain to trigger an immune response. This study suggests a novel route for T cell migration from the spleen to the brain during viral infection in fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Wang
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
- Nansha-South China Agricultural University Fishery Research Institute, Guangzhou, 511457, China
- Joint University Laboratory of Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Marco Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Yali Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510301, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Minlin Zhang
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Min Yang
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Jiantao Liang
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Xiaoling Zuo
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Shaowen Wang
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Xianze Jia
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Huihong Zhao
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
- Nansha-South China Agricultural University Fishery Research Institute, Guangzhou, 511457, China
| | - Han Jiang
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Qiang Lin
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-Resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510301, China.
| | - Qiwei Qin
- College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
- Nansha-South China Agricultural University Fishery Research Institute, Guangzhou, 511457, China.
- Joint University Laboratory of Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Marco Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
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6
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Chang K, Zaikos T, Kilner-Pontone N, Ho CY. Mechanisms of COVID-19-associated olfactory dysfunction. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2024; 50:e12960. [PMID: 38419211 PMCID: PMC10906737 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Olfactory dysfunction is one of the most common symptoms of COVID-19. In the first 2 years of the pandemic, it was frequently reported, although its incidence has significantly decreased with the emergence of the Omicron variant, which has since become the dominant viral strain. Nevertheless, many patients continue to suffer from persistent dysosmia and dysgeusia, making COVID-19-associated olfactory dysfunction an ongoing health concern. The proposed pathogenic mechanisms of COVID-19-associated olfactory dysfunction are complex and likely multifactorial. While evidence suggests that infection of sustentacular cells and associated mucosal inflammation may be the culprit of acute, transient smell loss, alterations in other components of the olfactory system (e.g., olfactory receptor neuron dysfunction, olfactory bulb injury and alterations in the olfactory cortex) may lead to persistent, long-term olfactory dysfunction. This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the epidemiology, clinical manifestations and current understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms of COVID-19-associated olfactory dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koping Chang
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department and Graduate Institute of Pathology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Thomas Zaikos
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Cheng-Ying Ho
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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7
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Cantone E, D'Ascanio L, De Luca P, Roccamatisi D, La La Mantia I, Brenner MJ, Di Stadio A. Persistent COVID-19 parosmia and olfactory loss post olfactory training: randomized clinical trial comparing central and peripheral-acting therapeutics. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2024:10.1007/s00405-024-08548-6. [PMID: 38492007 DOI: 10.1007/s00405-024-08548-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Although COVID-19 anosmia is often transient, patients with persistent olfactory dysfunction (pOD) can experience refractory parosmia and diminished smell. This study evaluated four putative therapies for parosmia in patients with chronic COVID-19 olfactory impairment. METHODS After screening nasal endoscopy, 85 patients (49 female, 58%) with pOD and treatment-refractory parosmia were randomized to: (1) ultramicronized palmitoylethanolamide and luteolin + olfactory training (OT) (umPEALUT group, n = 17), (2) alpha-lipoic acid + OT (ALA group, n = 21), (3) umPEALUT + ALA + OT (combination group, n = 28), or 4) olfactory training (OT) alone (control group, n = 23). Olfactory function was assessed at baseline (T0) and 6 months (T1) using a parosmia questionnaire and Sniffin' Sticks test of odor threshold, detection, and identification (TDI). Analyses included one-way ANOVA for numeric data and Chi-Square analyses for nominal data on parosmia. RESULTS The umPEALUT group had the largest improvement in TDI scores (21.8 ± 9.4 to 29.7 ± 7.5) followed by the combination group (19.6 ± 6.29 to 27.5 ± 2.7), both p < 0.01. The control and ALA groups had no significant change. Patients in the combination and umPEALUT groups had significantly improved TDI scores compared to ALA and control groups (p < 0.001). Rates of parosmia resolution after 6 months were reported at 96% for combination, 65% for control, 53% for umPEALUT and 29% for ALA (p < 0.001). All treatment regimens were well-tolerated. CONCLUSIONS umPEALUT and OT, with or without ALA, was associated with improvement in TDI scores and parosmia, whereas OT alone or OT with ALA were associated with little benefit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Cantone
- Department of Otolaryngology, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Luca D'Ascanio
- Department of Otolaryngology, Ospedali Riuniti Marche Nord, Fano, Italy
| | - Pietro De Luca
- Department of Otolaryngology, Fatebenefratelli Isola Tiberina-Gemelli Isola, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Michael J Brenner
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Arianna Di Stadio
- GF Ingrassia Department, University of Catania, Catania, Italy.
- IRCCS Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy.
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8
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Trevino TN, Almousawi AA, Robinson KF, Fogel AB, Class J, Minshall RD, Tai LM, Richner JM, Lutz SE. Caveolin-1 mediates blood-brain barrier permeability, neuroinflammation, and cognitive impairment in SARS-CoV-2 infection. J Neuroimmunol 2024; 388:578309. [PMID: 38335781 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2024.578309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability can cause neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment. Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) critically regulates BBB permeability, but its influence on the BBB and consequent neurological outcomes in respiratory viral infections is unknown. We used Cav-1-deficient mice with genetically encoded fluorescent endothelial tight junctions to determine how Cav-1 influences BBB permeability, neuroinflammation, and cognitive impairment following respiratory infection with mouse adapted (MA10) SARS-CoV-2 as a model for COVID-19. We found that SARS-CoV-2 infection increased brain endothelial Cav-1 and increased transcellular BBB permeability to albumin, decreased paracellular BBB Claudin-5 tight junctions, and caused T lymphocyte infiltration in the hippocampus, a region important for learning and memory. Concordantly, we observed learning and memory deficits in SARS-CoV-2 infected mice. Importantly, genetic deficiency in Cav-1 attenuated transcellular BBB permeability and paracellular BBB tight junction losses, T lymphocyte infiltration, and gliosis induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection. Moreover, Cav-1 KO mice were protected from the learning and memory deficits caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection. These results establish the contribution of Cav-1 to BBB permeability and behavioral dysfunction induced by SARS-CoV-2 neuroinflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Troy N Trevino
- Departments of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, USA
| | - Ali A Almousawi
- Departments of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, USA
| | - KaReisha F Robinson
- Departments of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, USA
| | - Avital B Fogel
- Departments of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, USA
| | - Jake Class
- Departments of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, USA
| | - Richard D Minshall
- Departments of Anesthesiology, and Pharmacology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, USA
| | - Leon M Tai
- Departments of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, USA
| | - Justin M Richner
- Departments of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, USA
| | - Sarah E Lutz
- Departments of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, USA.
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9
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van der Knaap N, Ariës MJH, van der Horst ICC, Jansen JFA. On the merits and potential of advanced neuroimaging techniques in COVID-19: A scoping review. Neuroimage Clin 2024; 42:103589. [PMID: 38461701 PMCID: PMC10938171 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2024.103589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Many Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients are suffering from long-term neuropsychological sequelae. These patients may benefit from a better understanding of the underlying neuropathophysiological mechanisms and identification of potential biomarkers and treatment targets. Structural clinical neuroimaging techniques have limited ability to visualize subtle cerebral abnormalities and to investigate brain function. This scoping review assesses the merits and potential of advanced neuroimaging techniques in COVID-19 using literature including advanced neuroimaging or postmortem analyses in adult COVID-19 patients published from the start of the pandemic until December 2023. Findings were summarized according to distinct categories of reported cerebral abnormalities revealed by different imaging techniques. Although no unified COVID-19-specific pattern could be subtracted, a broad range of cerebral abnormalities were revealed by advanced neuroimaging (likely attributable to hypoxic, vascular, and inflammatory pathology), even in absence of structural clinical imaging findings. These abnormalities are validated by postmortem examinations. This scoping review emphasizes the added value of advanced neuroimaging compared to structural clinical imaging and highlights implications for brain functioning and long-term consequences in COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noa van der Knaap
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Research Institute of Mental Health & Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Marcel J H Ariës
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Research Institute of Mental Health & Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Iwan C C van der Horst
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Jacobus F A Jansen
- Department of Radiology & Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Center, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Research Institute of Mental Health & Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands; Department of Electrical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, the Netherlands.
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10
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Xu Z, Wang H, Jiang S, Teng J, Zhou D, Chen Z, Wen C, Xu Z. Brain Pathology in COVID-19: Clinical Manifestations and Potential Mechanisms. Neurosci Bull 2024; 40:383-400. [PMID: 37715924 PMCID: PMC10912108 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-023-01110-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurological manifestations of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are less noticeable than the respiratory symptoms, but they may be associated with disability and mortality in COVID-19. Even though Omicron caused less severe disease than Delta, the incidence of neurological manifestations is similar. More than 30% of patients experienced "brain fog", delirium, stroke, and cognitive impairment, and over half of these patients presented abnormal neuroimaging outcomes. In this review, we summarize current advances in the clinical findings of neurological manifestations in COVID-19 patients and compare them with those in patients with influenza infection. We also illustrate the structure and cellular invasion mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 and describe the pathway for central SARS-CoV-2 invasion. In addition, we discuss direct damage and other pathological conditions caused by SARS-CoV-2, such as an aberrant interferon response, cytokine storm, lymphopenia, and hypercoagulation, to provide treatment ideas. This review may offer new insights into preventing or treating brain damage in COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhixing Xu
- First School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
| | - Hui Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
| | - Siya Jiang
- Second School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
| | - Jiao Teng
- Affiliated Lin'an People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, First People's Hospital of Hangzhou Lin'an District, Lin'an, Hangzhou, 311300, China
| | - Dongxu Zhou
- School of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
| | - Zhong Chen
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
- Key Laboratory of Neuropharmacology and Translational Medicine of Zhejiang Province, College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
| | - Chengping Wen
- Laboratory of Rheumatology and Institute of TCM Clinical Basic Medicine, College of Basic Medical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China.
| | - Zhenghao Xu
- Key Laboratory of Neuropharmacology and Translational Medicine of Zhejiang Province, College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China.
- Laboratory of Rheumatology and Institute of TCM Clinical Basic Medicine, College of Basic Medical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, 310053, China.
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11
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Greene C, Connolly R, Brennan D, Laffan A, O'Keeffe E, Zaporojan L, O'Callaghan J, Thomson B, Connolly E, Argue R, Meaney JFM, Martin-Loeches I, Long A, Cheallaigh CN, Conlon N, Doherty CP, Campbell M. Blood-brain barrier disruption and sustained systemic inflammation in individuals with long COVID-associated cognitive impairment. Nat Neurosci 2024; 27:421-432. [PMID: 38388736 PMCID: PMC10917679 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-024-01576-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Vascular disruption has been implicated in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pathogenesis and may predispose to the neurological sequelae associated with long COVID, yet it is unclear how blood-brain barrier (BBB) function is affected in these conditions. Here we show that BBB disruption is evident during acute infection and in patients with long COVID with cognitive impairment, commonly referred to as brain fog. Using dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, we show BBB disruption in patients with long COVID-associated brain fog. Transcriptomic analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells revealed dysregulation of the coagulation system and a dampened adaptive immune response in individuals with brain fog. Accordingly, peripheral blood mononuclear cells showed increased adhesion to human brain endothelial cells in vitro, while exposure of brain endothelial cells to serum from patients with long COVID induced expression of inflammatory markers. Together, our data suggest that sustained systemic inflammation and persistent localized BBB dysfunction is a key feature of long COVID-associated brain fog.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris Greene
- Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Ruairi Connolly
- Department of Neurology, Health Care Centre, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Declan Brennan
- Department of Neurology, Health Care Centre, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Aoife Laffan
- Department of Neurology, Health Care Centre, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Eoin O'Keeffe
- Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Lilia Zaporojan
- Department of Neurology, Health Care Centre, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Bennett Thomson
- Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Emma Connolly
- The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Ruth Argue
- Clinical Research Facility, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - James F M Meaney
- Thomas Mitchell Centre for Advanced Medical Imaging (CAMI), St. James's Hospital & Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Ignacio Martin-Loeches
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Multidisciplinary Intensive Care Research Organization, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, St James's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Aideen Long
- Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, Trinity College Dublin, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Cliona Ni Cheallaigh
- Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, Trinity College Dublin, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
- Department of Immunology, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Niall Conlon
- Department of Immunology, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
- St James's Hospital, Tallaght University Hospital, Trinity College Dublin Allied Researchers (STTAR) Bioresource, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Colin P Doherty
- Department of Neurology, Health Care Centre, St James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
- Academic Unit of Neurology, Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
- FutureNeuro, Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Chronic and Rare Neurological Diseases, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Matthew Campbell
- Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
- FutureNeuro, Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for Chronic and Rare Neurological Diseases, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dublin, Ireland.
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12
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Chang H, Chen E, Hu Y, Wu L, Deng L, Ye‐Lehmann S, Mao X, Zhu T, Liu J, Chen C. Extracellular Vesicles: The Invisible Heroes and Villains of COVID-19 Central Neuropathology. Adv Sci (Weinh) 2024; 11:e2305554. [PMID: 38143270 PMCID: PMC10933635 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202305554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
Acknowledging the neurological symptoms of COVID-19 and the long-lasting neurological damage even after the epidemic ends are common, necessitating ongoing vigilance. Initial investigations suggest that extracellular vesicles (EVs), which assist in the evasion of the host's immune response and achieve immune evasion in SARS-CoV-2 systemic spreading, contribute to the virus's attack on the central nervous system (CNS). The pro-inflammatory, pro-coagulant, and immunomodulatory properties of EVs contents may directly drive neuroinflammation and cerebral thrombosis in COVID-19. Additionally, EVs have attracted attention as potential candidates for targeted therapy in COVID-19 due to their innate homing properties, low immunogenicity, and ability to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) freely. Mesenchymal stromal/stem cell (MSCs) secreted EVs are widely applied and evaluated in patients with COVID-19 for their therapeutic effect, considering the limited antiviral treatment. This review summarizes the involvement of EVs in COVID-19 neuropathology as carriers of SARS-CoV-2 or other pathogenic contents, as predictors of COVID-19 neuropathology by transporting brain-derived substances, and as therapeutic agents by delivering biotherapeutic substances or drugs. Understanding the diverse roles of EVs in the neuropathological aspects of COVID-19 provides a comprehensive framework for developing, treating, and preventing central neuropathology and the severe consequences associated with the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiqing Chang
- Department of AnesthesiologyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityLaboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care MedicineNational‐Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine of AnesthesiologyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuan610041China
| | - Erya Chen
- Department of AnesthesiologyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityLaboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care MedicineNational‐Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine of AnesthesiologyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuan610041China
| | - Yi Hu
- Department of Cardiology, Honghui hospitalXi'an Jiaotong UniversityXi'an710049China
| | - Lining Wu
- Department of AnesthesiologyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityLaboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care MedicineNational‐Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine of AnesthesiologyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuan610041China
| | - Liyun Deng
- Department of AnesthesiologyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityLaboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care MedicineNational‐Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine of AnesthesiologyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuan610041China
| | - Shixin Ye‐Lehmann
- Diseases and Hormones of the Nervous System University of Paris‐Scalay Bicêtre Hosptial BâtGrégory Pincus 80 Rue du Gal Leclerc, CedexLe Kremlin Bicêtre94276France
| | - Xiaobo Mao
- Department of NeurologyInstitute of Cell EngineeringSchool of MedicineJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMD21218USA
| | - Tao Zhu
- Department of AnesthesiologyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityLaboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care MedicineNational‐Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine of AnesthesiologyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuan610041China
| | - Jin Liu
- Department of AnesthesiologyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityLaboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care MedicineNational‐Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine of AnesthesiologyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuan610041China
| | - Chan Chen
- Department of AnesthesiologyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityLaboratory of Anesthesia and Critical Care MedicineNational‐Local Joint Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine of AnesthesiologyWest China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduSichuan610041China
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13
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Radke J, Meinhardt J, Aschman T, Chua RL, Farztdinov V, Lukassen S, Ten FW, Friebel E, Ishaque N, Franz J, Huhle VH, Mothes R, Peters K, Thomas C, Schneeberger S, Schumann E, Kawelke L, Jünger J, Horst V, Streit S, von Manitius R, Körtvélyessy P, Vielhaber S, Reinhold D, Hauser AE, Osterloh A, Enghard P, Ihlow J, Elezkurtaj S, Horst D, Kurth F, Müller MA, Gassen NC, Melchert J, Jechow K, Timmermann B, Fernandez-Zapata C, Böttcher C, Stenzel W, Krüger E, Landthaler M, Wyler E, Corman V, Stadelmann C, Ralser M, Eils R, Heppner FL, Mülleder M, Conrad C, Radbruch H. Proteomic and transcriptomic profiling of brainstem, cerebellum and olfactory tissues in early- and late-phase COVID-19. Nat Neurosci 2024; 27:409-420. [PMID: 38366144 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-024-01573-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Neurological symptoms, including cognitive impairment and fatigue, can occur in both the acute infection phase of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and at later stages, yet the mechanisms that contribute to this remain unclear. Here we profiled single-nucleus transcriptomes and proteomes of brainstem tissue from deceased individuals at various stages of COVID-19. We detected an inflammatory type I interferon response in acute COVID-19 cases, which resolves in the late disease phase. Integrating single-nucleus RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics, we could localize two patterns of reaction to severe systemic inflammation, one neuronal with a direct focus on cranial nerve nuclei and a separate diffuse pattern affecting the whole brainstem. The latter reflects a bystander effect of the respiratory infection that spreads throughout the vascular unit and alters the transcriptional state of mainly oligodendrocytes, microglia and astrocytes, while alterations of the brainstem nuclei could reflect the connection of the immune system and the central nervous system via, for example, the vagus nerve. Our results indicate that even without persistence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in the central nervous system, local immune reactions are prevailing, potentially causing functional disturbances that contribute to neurological complications of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josefine Radke
- Institute of Pathology, Universitätsmedizin Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Jenny Meinhardt
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tom Aschman
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Robert Lorenz Chua
- Center of Digital Health, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Vadim Farztdinov
- Core Facility High Throughput Mass Spectrometry, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sören Lukassen
- Center of Digital Health, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Foo Wei Ten
- Center of Digital Health, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ekaterina Friebel
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Naveed Ishaque
- Center of Digital Health, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jonas Franz
- Department of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Valerie Helena Huhle
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ronja Mothes
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kristin Peters
- Institute of Pathology, Universitätsmedizin Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Carolina Thomas
- Department of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Shirin Schneeberger
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Elisa Schumann
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Leona Kawelke
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Julia Jünger
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Viktor Horst
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Simon Streit
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Regina von Manitius
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Péter Körtvélyessy
- Department of Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Stefan Vielhaber
- Department of Neurology, Otto von Guerike University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Dirk Reinhold
- Institute of Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Otto von Guerike University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Anja E Hauser
- Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Immune Dynamics, Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum, a Leibniz Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anja Osterloh
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Philipp Enghard
- Department of Nephrology and Medical Intensive Care, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jana Ihlow
- Department of Pathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sefer Elezkurtaj
- Department of Pathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - David Horst
- Department of Pathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Florian Kurth
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Respiratory Medicine, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marcel A Müller
- Institute of Virology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nils C Gassen
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Julia Melchert
- Institute of Virology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Katharina Jechow
- Center of Digital Health, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Camila Fernandez-Zapata
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, a cooperation between the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association and Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Chotima Böttcher
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, a cooperation between the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association and Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Werner Stenzel
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Elke Krüger
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universitätsmedizin Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Markus Landthaler
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
- Institut für Biologie, Humboldt Universität, Berlin, Germany
| | - Emanuel Wyler
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
| | - Victor Corman
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Respiratory Medicine, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), associated partner, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christine Stadelmann
- Department of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Markus Ralser
- Core Facility High Throughput Mass Spectrometry, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Roland Eils
- Center of Digital Health, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Frank L Heppner
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence NeuroCure, Berlin, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Mülleder
- Core Facility High Throughput Mass Spectrometry, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian Conrad
- Center of Digital Health, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Helena Radbruch
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
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14
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Zhang W, Gorelik AJ, Wang Q, Norton SA, Hershey T, Agrawal A, Bijsterbosch JD, Bogdan R. Associations between COVID-19 and putative markers of neuroinflammation: A diffusion basis spectrum imaging study. Brain Behav Immun Health 2024; 36:100722. [PMID: 38298902 PMCID: PMC10825665 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2023.100722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 remains a significant international public health concern. Yet, the mechanisms through which symptomatology emerges remain poorly understood. While SARS-CoV-2 infection may induce prolonged inflammation within the central nervous system, the evidence primarily stems from limited small-scale case investigations. To address this gap, our study capitalized on longitudinal UK Biobank neuroimaging data acquired prior to and following COVID-19 testing (N = 416 including n = 224 COVID-19 cases; Mage = 58.6). Putative neuroinflammation was assessed in gray matter structures and white matter tracts using non-invasive Diffusion Basis Spectrum Imaging (DBSI), which estimates inflammation-related cellularity (DBSI-restricted fraction; DBSI-RF) and vasogenic edema (DBSI-hindered fraction; DBSI-HF). We hypothesized that COVID-19 case status would be associated with increases in DBSI markers after accounting for potential confound (age, sex, race, body mass index, smoking frequency, and data acquisition interval) and multiple testing. COVID-19 case status was not significantly associated with DBSI-RF (|β|'s < 0.28, pFDR >0.05), but with greater DBSI-HF in left pre- and post-central gyri and right middle frontal gyrus (β's > 0.3, all pFDR = 0.03). Intriguingly, the brain areas exhibiting increased putative vasogenic edema had previously been linked to COVID-19-related functional and structural alterations, whereas brain regions displaying subtle differences in cellularity between COVID-19 cases and controls included regions within or functionally connected to the olfactory network, which has been implicated in COVID-19 psychopathology. Nevertheless, our study might not have captured acute and transitory neuroinflammatory effects linked to SARS-CoV-2 infection, possibly due to symptom resolution before the imaging scan. Future research is warranted to explore the potential time- and symptom-dependent neuroinflammatory relationship with COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zhang
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Aaron J. Gorelik
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Qing Wang
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Sara A. Norton
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Tamara Hershey
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Arpana Agrawal
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Janine D. Bijsterbosch
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Ryan Bogdan
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, United States
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15
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Rhodes RH, Love GL, Da Silva Lameira F, Sadough Shahmirzadi M, Fox SE, Vander Heide RS. Acute neutrophilic vasculitis (leukocytoclasia) in 36 COVID-19 autopsy brains. Diagn Pathol 2024; 19:33. [PMID: 38360666 PMCID: PMC10870569 DOI: 10.1186/s13000-024-01445-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hypercytokinemia, the renin-angiotensin system, hypoxia, immune dysregulation, and vasculopathy with evidence of immune-related damage are implicated in brain morbidity in COVID-19 along with a wide variety of genomic and environmental influences. There is relatively little evidence of direct SARS-CoV-2 brain infection in COVID-19 patients. METHODS Brain histopathology of 36 consecutive autopsies of patients who were RT-PCR positive for SARS-CoV-2 was studied along with findings from contemporary and pre-pandemic historical control groups. Immunostaining for serum and blood cell proteins and for complement components was employed. Microcirculatory wall complement deposition in the COVID-19 cohort was compared to historical control cases. Comparisons also included other relevant clinicopathological and microcirculatory findings in the COVID-19 cohort and control groups. RESULTS The COVID-19 cohort and both the contemporary and historical control groups had the same rate of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and obesity. The COVID-19 cohort had varying amounts of acute neutrophilic vasculitis with leukocytoclasia in the microcirculation of the brain in all cases. Prominent vascular neutrophilic transmural migration was found in several cases and 25 cases had acute perivasculitis. Paravascular microhemorrhages and petechial hemorrhages (small brain parenchymal hemorrhages) had a slight tendency to be more numerous in cohort cases that displayed less acute neutrophilic vasculitis. Tissue burden of acute neutrophilic vasculitis with leukocytoclasia was the same in control cases as a group, while it was significantly higher in COVID-19 cases. Both the tissue burden of acute neutrophilic vasculitis and the activation of complement components, including membrane attack complex, were significantly higher in microcirculatory channels in COVID-19 cohort brains than in historical controls. CONCLUSIONS Acute neutrophilic vasculitis with leukocytoclasia, acute perivasculitis, and associated paravascular blood extravasation into brain parenchyma constitute the first phase of an immune-related, acute small-vessel inflammatory condition often termed type 3 hypersensitivity vasculitis or leukocytoclastic vasculitis. There is a higher tissue burden of acute neutrophilic vasculitis and an increased level of activated complement components in microcirculatory walls in COVID-19 cases than in pre-pandemic control cases. These findings are consistent with a more extensive small-vessel immune-related vasculitis in COVID-19 cases than in control cases. The pathway(s) and mechanism for these findings are speculative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roy H Rhodes
- Department of Pathology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, 7th Floor, 2021 Perdido Street, New Orleans, Louisiana, 70112, USA.
| | - Gordon L Love
- Department of Pathology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, 7th Floor, 2021 Perdido Street, New Orleans, Louisiana, 70112, USA
| | - Fernanda Da Silva Lameira
- Department of Pathology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, 7th Floor, 2021 Perdido Street, New Orleans, Louisiana, 70112, USA
- Department of Pathology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Norfolk, Virginia, 23510, USA
| | - Maryam Sadough Shahmirzadi
- Department of Pathology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, 7th Floor, 2021 Perdido Street, New Orleans, Louisiana, 70112, USA
| | - Sharon E Fox
- Department of Pathology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, 7th Floor, 2021 Perdido Street, New Orleans, Louisiana, 70112, USA
- Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Services, Southeast Louisiana Veterans Healthcare System, New Orleans, Louisiana, 70112, USA
| | - Richard S Vander Heide
- Department of Pathology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, 7th Floor, 2021 Perdido Street, New Orleans, Louisiana, 70112, USA
- Marshfield Clinic Health System, Marshfield, Wisconsin, 54449, USA
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16
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Simonini L, Frijia F, Ait Ali L, Foffa I, Vecoli C, De Gori C, De Cori S, Baroni M, Aquaro GD, Maremmani C, Lombardo F. A Comprehensive Review of COVID-19-Related Olfactory Deficiency: Unraveling Associations with Neurocognitive Disorders and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings. Diagnostics (Basel) 2024; 14:359. [PMID: 38396398 PMCID: PMC10888385 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14040359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Olfactory dysfunction (OD) is one of the most common symptoms in COVID-19 patients and can impact patients' lives significantly. The aim of this review was to investigate the multifaceted impact of COVID-19 on the olfactory system and to provide an overview of magnetic resonance (MRI) findings and neurocognitive disorders in patients with COVID-19-related OD. Extensive searches were conducted across PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar until 5 December 2023. The included articles were 12 observational studies and 1 case report that assess structural changes in olfactory structures, highlighted through MRI, and 10 studies correlating the loss of smell with neurocognitive disorders or mood disorders in COVID-19 patients. MRI findings consistently indicate volumetric abnormalities, altered signal intensity of olfactory bulbs (OBs), and anomalies in the olfactory cortex among COVID-19 patients with persistent OD. The correlation between OD and neurocognitive deficits reveals associations with cognitive impairment, memory deficits, and persistent depressive symptoms. Treatment approaches, including olfactory training and pharmacological interventions, are discussed, emphasizing the need for sustained therapeutic interventions. This review points out several limitations in the current literature while exploring the intricate effects of COVID-19 on OD and its connection to cognitive deficits and mood disorders. The lack of objective olfactory measurements in some studies and potential validity issues in self-reports emphasize the need for cautious interpretation. Our research highlights the critical need for extensive studies with larger samples, proper controls, and objective measurements to deepen our understanding of COVID-19's long-term effects on neurological and olfactory dysfunctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludovica Simonini
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council (CNR), 54100 Massa, Italy; (I.F.); (C.V.)
| | - Francesca Frijia
- Bioengineering Unit, Fondazione Toscana G. Monasterio, 56124 Pisa, Italy;
| | - Lamia Ait Ali
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council (CNR), 54100 Massa, Italy; (I.F.); (C.V.)
- Pediatric Cardiology and GUCH Unit, Fondazione “G. Monasterio” CNR-Regione Toscana, 54100 Massa, Italy
| | - Ilenia Foffa
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council (CNR), 54100 Massa, Italy; (I.F.); (C.V.)
| | - Cecilia Vecoli
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council (CNR), 54100 Massa, Italy; (I.F.); (C.V.)
| | - Carmelo De Gori
- Department of Radiology, Fondazione Monasterio/CNR, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (C.D.G.); (S.D.C.); (F.L.)
| | - Sara De Cori
- Department of Radiology, Fondazione Monasterio/CNR, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (C.D.G.); (S.D.C.); (F.L.)
| | - Monica Baroni
- Fondazione “G. Monasterio” CNR-Regione Toscana, 54100 Massa, Italy;
| | - Giovanni Donato Aquaro
- Academic Radiology Unit, Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, University of Pisa, 56124 Pisa, Italy;
| | - Carlo Maremmani
- Unit of Neurology, Ospedale Apuane, Azienda USL Toscana Nord Ovest, 54100 Massa, Italy;
| | - Francesco Lombardo
- Department of Radiology, Fondazione Monasterio/CNR, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (C.D.G.); (S.D.C.); (F.L.)
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17
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Balint E, Feng E, Giles EC, Ritchie TM, Qian AS, Vahedi F, Montemarano A, Portillo AL, Monteiro JK, Trigatti BL, Ashkar AA. Bystander activated CD8 + T cells mediate neuropathology during viral infection via antigen-independent cytotoxicity. Nat Commun 2024; 15:896. [PMID: 38316762 PMCID: PMC10844499 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44667-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Although many viral infections are linked to the development of neurological disorders, the mechanism governing virus-induced neuropathology remains poorly understood, particularly when the virus is not directly neuropathic. Using a mouse model of Zika virus (ZIKV) infection, we found that the severity of neurological disease did not correlate with brain ZIKV titers, but rather with infiltration of bystander activated NKG2D+CD8+ T cells. Antibody depletion of CD8 or blockade of NKG2D prevented ZIKV-associated paralysis, suggesting that CD8+ T cells induce neurological disease independent of TCR signaling. Furthermore, spleen and brain CD8+ T cells exhibited antigen-independent cytotoxicity that correlated with NKG2D expression. Finally, viral infection and inflammation in the brain was necessary but not sufficient to induce neurological damage. We demonstrate that CD8+ T cells mediate virus-induced neuropathology via antigen-independent, NKG2D-mediated cytotoxicity, which may serve as a therapeutic target for treatment of virus-induced neurological disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Balint
- McMaster Immunology Research Centre, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Emily Feng
- McMaster Immunology Research Centre, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Elizabeth C Giles
- McMaster Immunology Research Centre, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Tyrah M Ritchie
- McMaster Immunology Research Centre, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Alexander S Qian
- Thrombosis and Atherosclerosis Research Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Fatemeh Vahedi
- McMaster Immunology Research Centre, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Amelia Montemarano
- McMaster Immunology Research Centre, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Ana L Portillo
- McMaster Immunology Research Centre, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Jonathan K Monteiro
- McMaster Immunology Research Centre, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Bernardo L Trigatti
- Thrombosis and Atherosclerosis Research Institute, Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton Health Sciences, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Ali A Ashkar
- McMaster Immunology Research Centre, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
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18
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Zhao F, Zhang K, Chen H, Zhang T, Zhao J, Lv Q, Yu Q, Ruan M, Cui R, Li B. Therapeutic potential and possible mechanisms of ginseng for depression associated with COVID-19. Inflammopharmacology 2024; 32:229-247. [PMID: 38012459 PMCID: PMC10907431 DOI: 10.1007/s10787-023-01380-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Recently, a global outbreak of COVID-19 has rapidly spread to various national regions. As the number of COVID-19 patients has increased, some of those infected with SARS-CoV-2 have developed a variety of psychiatric symptoms, including depression, cognitive impairment, and fatigue. A distinct storm of inflammatory factors that contribute to the initial disease but also a persistent post-acute phase syndrome has been reported in patients with COVID-19. Neuropsychological symptoms including depression, cognitive impairment, and fatigue are closely related to circulating and local (brain) inflammatory factors. Natural products are currently being examined for their ability to treat numerous complications caused by COVID-19. Among them, ginseng has anti-inflammatory, immune system stimulating, neuroendocrine modulating, and other effects, which may help improve psychiatric symptoms. This review summarizes the basic mechanisms of COVID-19 pneumonia, psychiatric symptoms following coronavirus infections, effects of ginseng on depression, restlessness, and other psychiatric symptoms associated with post-COVID syn-dromes, as well as possible mechanisms underlying these effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangyi Zhao
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Molecular and Chemical Genetics, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, People's Republic of China
- Engineering Laboratory for Screening of Antidepressant Drugs, Jilin Province Development and Reform Commission, Changchun, People's Republic of China
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Target of Traditional Chinese Medicine with Anti-Depressive Effect, Changchun, People's Republic of China
| | - Kai Zhang
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Molecular and Chemical Genetics, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, People's Republic of China
- Engineering Laboratory for Screening of Antidepressant Drugs, Jilin Province Development and Reform Commission, Changchun, People's Republic of China
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Target of Traditional Chinese Medicine with Anti-Depressive Effect, Changchun, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongyu Chen
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Molecular and Chemical Genetics, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, People's Republic of China
- Engineering Laboratory for Screening of Antidepressant Drugs, Jilin Province Development and Reform Commission, Changchun, People's Republic of China
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Target of Traditional Chinese Medicine with Anti-Depressive Effect, Changchun, People's Republic of China
| | - Tianqi Zhang
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Molecular and Chemical Genetics, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, People's Republic of China
- Engineering Laboratory for Screening of Antidepressant Drugs, Jilin Province Development and Reform Commission, Changchun, People's Republic of China
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Target of Traditional Chinese Medicine with Anti-Depressive Effect, Changchun, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiayu Zhao
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Molecular and Chemical Genetics, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, People's Republic of China
- Engineering Laboratory for Screening of Antidepressant Drugs, Jilin Province Development and Reform Commission, Changchun, People's Republic of China
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Target of Traditional Chinese Medicine with Anti-Depressive Effect, Changchun, People's Republic of China
| | - Qianyu Lv
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Molecular and Chemical Genetics, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, People's Republic of China
- Engineering Laboratory for Screening of Antidepressant Drugs, Jilin Province Development and Reform Commission, Changchun, People's Republic of China
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Target of Traditional Chinese Medicine with Anti-Depressive Effect, Changchun, People's Republic of China
| | - Qin Yu
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Molecular and Chemical Genetics, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, People's Republic of China
- Engineering Laboratory for Screening of Antidepressant Drugs, Jilin Province Development and Reform Commission, Changchun, People's Republic of China
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Target of Traditional Chinese Medicine with Anti-Depressive Effect, Changchun, People's Republic of China
| | - Mengyu Ruan
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Molecular and Chemical Genetics, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, People's Republic of China
- Engineering Laboratory for Screening of Antidepressant Drugs, Jilin Province Development and Reform Commission, Changchun, People's Republic of China
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Target of Traditional Chinese Medicine with Anti-Depressive Effect, Changchun, People's Republic of China
| | - Ranji Cui
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Molecular and Chemical Genetics, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, People's Republic of China
- Engineering Laboratory for Screening of Antidepressant Drugs, Jilin Province Development and Reform Commission, Changchun, People's Republic of China
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Target of Traditional Chinese Medicine with Anti-Depressive Effect, Changchun, People's Republic of China
| | - Bingjin Li
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Molecular and Chemical Genetics, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, People's Republic of China.
- Engineering Laboratory for Screening of Antidepressant Drugs, Jilin Province Development and Reform Commission, Changchun, People's Republic of China.
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Target of Traditional Chinese Medicine with Anti-Depressive Effect, Changchun, People's Republic of China.
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Wu X, Xiang M, Jing H, Wang C, Novakovic VA, Shi J. Damage to endothelial barriers and its contribution to long COVID. Angiogenesis 2024; 27:5-22. [PMID: 37103631 PMCID: PMC10134732 DOI: 10.1007/s10456-023-09878-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Abstract
The world continues to contend with COVID-19, fueled by the emergence of viral variants. At the same time, a subset of convalescent individuals continues to experience persistent and prolonged sequelae, known as long COVID. Clinical, autopsy, animal and in vitro studies all reveal endothelial injury in acute COVID-19 and convalescent patients. Endothelial dysfunction is now recognized as a central factor in COVID-19 progression and long COVID development. Different organs contain different types of endothelia, each with specific features, forming different endothelial barriers and executing different physiological functions. Endothelial injury results in contraction of cell margins (increased permeability), shedding of glycocalyx, extension of phosphatidylserine-rich filopods, and barrier damage. During acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, damaged endothelial cells promote diffuse microthrombi and destroy the endothelial (including blood-air, blood-brain, glomerular filtration and intestinal-blood) barriers, leading to multiple organ dysfunction. During the convalescence period, a subset of patients is unable to fully recover due to persistent endothelial dysfunction, contributing to long COVID. There is still an important knowledge gap between endothelial barrier damage in different organs and COVID-19 sequelae. In this article, we mainly focus on these endothelial barriers and their contribution to long COVID.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoming Wu
- Department of Hematology, The First Hospital, Harbin Medical University, 150001, Harbin, China
| | - Mengqi Xiang
- Department of Hematology, The First Hospital, Harbin Medical University, 150001, Harbin, China
| | - Haijiao Jing
- Department of Hematology, The First Hospital, Harbin Medical University, 150001, Harbin, China
| | - Chengyue Wang
- Department of Hematology, The First Hospital, Harbin Medical University, 150001, Harbin, China
| | - Valerie A Novakovic
- Department of Research, VA Boston Healthcare System, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jialan Shi
- Department of Hematology, The First Hospital, Harbin Medical University, 150001, Harbin, China.
- Department of Research, VA Boston Healthcare System, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, MA, Boston, USA.
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20
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Mohme M, Schultheiß C, Piffko A, Fitzek A, Paschold L, Thiele B, Püschel K, Glatzel M, Westphal M, Lamszus K, Matschke J, Binder M. SARS-CoV-2-associated T-cell infiltration in the central nervous system. Clin Transl Immunology 2024; 13:e1487. [PMID: 38304555 PMCID: PMC10831126 DOI: 10.1002/cti2.1487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives Infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Although an acute SARS-CoV-2 infection mainly presents with respiratory illness, neurologic symptoms and sequelae are increasingly recognised in the long-term treatment of COVID-19 patients. The pathophysiology and the neuropathogenesis behind neurologic complications of COVID-19 remain poorly understood, but mounting evidence points to endothelial dysfunction either directly caused by viral infection or indirectly by inflammatory cytokines, followed by a local immune response that may include virus-specific T cells. However, the type and role of central nervous system-infiltrating T cells in COVID-19 are complex and not fully understood. Methods We analysed distinct anatomical brain regions of patients who had deceased as a result of COVID-19-associated pneumonia or complications thereof and performed T cell receptor Vβ repertoire sequencing. Clonotypes were analysed for SARS-CoV-2 association using public TCR repertoire data. Results Our descriptive study demonstrates that SARS-CoV-2-associated T cells are found in almost all brain areas of patients with fatal COVID-19 courses. The olfactory bulb, medulla and cerebellum were brain regions showing the most SARS-CoV-2 specific sequence patterns. Neuropathological workup demonstrated primary CD8+ T-cell infiltration with a perivascular infiltration pattern. Conclusion Future research is needed to better define the relationship between T-cell infiltration and neurological symptoms and its long-term impact on patients' cognitive and mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malte Mohme
- Department of NeurosurgeryUniversity Medical Centre Hamburg‐EppendorfHamburgGermany
| | - Christoph Schultheiß
- Medical OncologyUniversity Hospital BaselBaselSwitzerland
- Laboratory of Translational Immuno‐Oncology, Department of BiomedicineUniversity of Basel and University Hospital of BaselBaselSwitzerland
| | - Andras Piffko
- Department of NeurosurgeryUniversity Medical Centre Hamburg‐EppendorfHamburgGermany
| | - Antonia Fitzek
- Department of Legal MedicineUniversity Medical Centre Hamburg‐EppendorfHamburgGermany
| | - Lisa Paschold
- Internal Medicine IV, Oncology/HematologyMartin‐Luther‐University Halle‐WittenbergHalle (Saale)Germany
| | - Benjamin Thiele
- Medical OncologyUniversity Hospital BaselBaselSwitzerland
- Laboratory of Translational Immuno‐Oncology, Department of BiomedicineUniversity of Basel and University Hospital of BaselBaselSwitzerland
- Hematology and OncologyUniversity Medical Centre Hamburg‐EppendorfHamburgGermany
| | - Klaus Püschel
- Department of Legal MedicineUniversity Medical Centre Hamburg‐EppendorfHamburgGermany
| | - Markus Glatzel
- Institute of NeuropathologyUniversity Medical Centre Hamburg‐EppendorfHamburgGermany
| | - Manfred Westphal
- Department of NeurosurgeryUniversity Medical Centre Hamburg‐EppendorfHamburgGermany
| | - Katrin Lamszus
- Department of NeurosurgeryUniversity Medical Centre Hamburg‐EppendorfHamburgGermany
| | - Jakob Matschke
- Institute of NeuropathologyUniversity Medical Centre Hamburg‐EppendorfHamburgGermany
| | - Mascha Binder
- Medical OncologyUniversity Hospital BaselBaselSwitzerland
- Laboratory of Translational Immuno‐Oncology, Department of BiomedicineUniversity of Basel and University Hospital of BaselBaselSwitzerland
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21
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Reagin KL, Lee RL, Cocciolone L, Funk KE. Antigen non-specific CD8 + T cells accelerate cognitive decline in aged mice following respiratory coronavirus infection. bioRxiv 2024:2024.01.02.573675. [PMID: 38260669 PMCID: PMC10802364 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.02.573675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Primarily a respiratory infection, numerous patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 present with neurologic symptoms, some continuing long after viral clearance as a persistent symptomatic phase termed "long COVID". Advanced age increases the risk of severe disease, as well as incidence of long COVID. We hypothesized that perturbations in the aged immune response predispose elderly individuals to severe coronavirus infection and post-infectious sequelae. Using a murine model of respiratory coronavirus, mouse hepatitis virus strain A59 (MHV-A59), we found that aging increased clinical illness and lethality to MHV infection, with aged animals harboring increased virus in the brain during acute infection. This was coupled with an unexpected increase in activated CD8+ T cells within the brains of aged animals but reduced antigen specificity of those CD8+ T cells. Aged animals demonstrated spatial learning impairment following MHV infection, which correlated with increased neuronal cell death and reduced neuronal regeneration in aged hippocampus. Using primary cell culture, we demonstrated that activated CD8+ T cells induce neuronal death, independent of antigen-specificity. Specifically, higher levels of CD8+ T cell-derived IFN-γ correlated with neuronal death. These results support the evidence that CD8+ T cells in the brain directly contribute to cognitive dysfunction following coronavirus infection in aged individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie L. Reagin
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
| | - Rae-Ling Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
| | - Loren Cocciolone
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
| | - Kristen E. Funk
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
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22
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Weissert R. Nervous system-related tropism of SARS-CoV-2 and autoimmunity in COVID-19 infection. Eur J Immunol 2024; 54:e2250230. [PMID: 37733584 DOI: 10.1002/eji.202250230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2023] [Revised: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
The effects of SARS-CoV-2 in COVID-19 on the nervous system are incompletely understood. SARS-CoV-2 can infect endothelial cells, neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes with consequences for the host. There are indications that infection of these CNS-resident cells may result in long-term effects, including emergence of neurodegenerative diseases. Indirect effects of infection with SARS-CoV-2 relate to the induction of autoimmune disease involving molecular mimicry or/and bystander activation of T- and B cells and emergence of autoantibodies against various self-antigens. Data obtained in preclinical models of coronavirus-induced disease gives important clues for the understanding of nervous system-related assault of SARS-CoV-2. The pathophysiology of long-COVID syndrome and post-COVID syndrome in which autoimmunity and immune dysregulation might be the driving forces are still incompletely understood. A better understanding of nervous-system-related immunity in COVID-19 might support the development of therapeutic approaches. In this review, the current understanding of SARS-CoV-2 tropism for the nervous system, the associated immune responses, and diseases are summarized. The data indicates that there is viral tropism of SARS-CoV-2 in the nervous system resulting in various disease conditions. Prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection by means of vaccination is currently the best strategy for the prevention of subsequent tissue damage involving the nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Weissert
- Department of Neurology, University of Regensburg Hospital, Regensburg, Germany
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23
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Meinhardt J, Streit S, Dittmayer C, Manitius RV, Radbruch H, Heppner FL. The neurobiology of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Nat Rev Neurosci 2024; 25:30-42. [PMID: 38049610 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-023-00769-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
Worldwide, over 694 million people have been infected with SARS-CoV-2, with an estimated 55-60% of those infected developing COVID-19. Since the beginning of the pandemic in December 2019, different variants of concern have appeared and continue to occur. With the emergence of different variants, an increasing rate of vaccination and previous infections, the acute neurological symptomatology of COVID-19 changed. Moreover, 10-45% of individuals with a history of SARS-CoV-2 infection experience symptoms even 3 months after disease onset, a condition that has been defined as 'post-COVID-19' by the World Health Organization and that occurs independently of the virus variant. The pathomechanisms of COVID-19-related neurological complaints have become clearer during the past 3 years. To date, there is no overt - that is, truly convincing - evidence for SARS-CoV-2 particles in the brain. In this Review, we put special emphasis on discussing the methodological difficulties of viral detection in CNS tissue and discuss immune-based (systemic and central) effects contributing to COVID-19-related CNS affection. We sequentially review the reported changes to CNS cells in COVID-19, starting with the blood-brain barrier and blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier - as systemic factors from the periphery appear to primarily influence barriers and conduits - before we describe changes in brain parenchymal cells, including microglia, astrocytes, neurons and oligodendrocytes as well as cerebral lymphocytes. These findings are critical to understanding CNS affection in acute COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 in order to translate these findings into treatment options, which are still very limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Meinhardt
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Simon Streit
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Carsten Dittmayer
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Regina V Manitius
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Helena Radbruch
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Frank L Heppner
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.
- Cluster of Excellence, NeuroCure, Berlin, Germany.
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
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24
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Milross L, Hunter B, McDonald D, Merces G, Thomson A, Hilkens CMU, Wills J, Rees P, Jiwa K, Cooper N, Majo J, Ashwin H, Duncan CJA, Kaye PM, Bayraktar OA, Filby A, Fisher AJ. Distinct lung cell signatures define the temporal evolution of diffuse alveolar damage in fatal COVID-19. EBioMedicine 2024; 99:104945. [PMID: 38142637 PMCID: PMC10788437 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2023.104945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lung damage in severe COVID-19 is highly heterogeneous however studies with dedicated spatial distinction of discrete temporal phases of diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) and alternate lung injury patterns are lacking. Existing studies have also not accounted for progressive airspace obliteration in cellularity estimates. We used an imaging mass cytometry (IMC) analysis with an airspace correction step to more accurately identify the cellular immune response that underpins the heterogeneity of severe COVID-19 lung disease. METHODS Lung tissue was obtained at post-mortem from severe COVID-19 deaths. Pathologist-selected regions of interest (ROIs) were chosen by light microscopy representing the patho-evolutionary spectrum of DAD and alternate disease phenotypes were selected for comparison. Architecturally normal SARS-CoV-2-positive lung tissue and tissue from SARS-CoV-2-negative donors served as controls. ROIs were stained for 40 cellular protein markers and ablated using IMC before segmented cells were classified. Cell populations corrected by ROI airspace and their spatial relationships were compared across lung injury patterns. FINDINGS Forty patients (32M:8F, age: 22-98), 345 ROIs and >900k single cells were analysed. DAD progression was marked by airspace obliteration and significant increases in mononuclear phagocytes (MnPs), T and B lymphocytes and significant decreases in alveolar epithelial and endothelial cells. Neutrophil populations proved stable overall although several interferon-responding subsets demonstrated expansion. Spatial analysis revealed immune cell interactions occur prior to microscopically appreciable tissue injury. INTERPRETATION The immunopathogenesis of severe DAD in COVID-19 lung disease is characterised by sustained increases in MnPs and lymphocytes with key interactions occurring even prior to lung injury is established. FUNDING UK Research and Innovation/Medical Research Council through the UK Coronavirus Immunology Consortium, Barbour Foundation, General Sir John Monash Foundation, Newcastle University, JGW Patterson Foundation, Wellcome Trust.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke Milross
- Newcastle University Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Bethany Hunter
- Newcastle University Biosciences Institute, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Innovation Methodology and Application Research Theme, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - David McDonald
- Newcastle University Biosciences Institute, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Innovation Methodology and Application Research Theme, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - George Merces
- Newcastle University Biosciences Institute, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Innovation Methodology and Application Research Theme, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Amanda Thomson
- Newcastle University Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Newcastle University Biosciences Institute, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Innovation Methodology and Application Research Theme, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Catharien M U Hilkens
- Newcastle University Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - John Wills
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Paul Rees
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Swansea University, Wales, UK; Imaging Platform, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, 415 Main Street, Boston, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Kasim Jiwa
- Department of Cellular Pathology, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Nigel Cooper
- Department of Cellular Pathology, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Joaquim Majo
- Department of Cellular Pathology, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Helen Ashwin
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, UK
| | - Christopher J A Duncan
- Newcastle University Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Department of Infection and Tropical Medicine, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Paul M Kaye
- York Biomedical Research Institute, Hull York Medical School, University of York, York, UK
| | | | - Andrew Filby
- Newcastle University Biosciences Institute, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Innovation Methodology and Application Research Theme, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
| | - Andrew J Fisher
- Newcastle University Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Institute of Transplantation, Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
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25
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Zhang W, Gorelik AJ, Wang Q, Norton SA, Hershey T, Agrawal A, Bijsterbosch JD, Bogdan R. Associations between COVID-19 and putative markers of neuroinflammation: A diffusion basis spectrum imaging study. bioRxiv 2023:2023.07.20.549891. [PMID: 37502886 PMCID: PMC10370178 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.20.549891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
COVID-19 remains a significant international public health concern. Yet, the mechanisms through which symptomatology emerges remain poorly understood. While SARS-CoV-2 infection may induce prolonged inflammation within the central nervous system, the evidence primarily stems from limited small-scale case investigations. To address this gap, our study capitalized on longitudinal UK Biobank neuroimaging data acquired prior to and following COVID-19 testing (N=416 including n=224 COVID-19 cases; Mage=58.6). Putative neuroinflammation was assessed in gray matter structures and white matter tracts using non-invasive Diffusion Basis Spectrum Imaging (DBSI), which estimates inflammation-related cellularity (DBSI-restricted fraction; DBSI-RF) and vasogenic edema (DBSI-hindered fraction; DBSI-HF).We hypothesized that COVID-19 case status would be associated with increases in DBSI markers after accounting for potential confound (age, sex, race, body mass index, smoking frequency, and data acquisition interval) and multiple testing. COVID-19 case status was not significantly associated with DBSI-RF (|β|'s<0.28, pFDR >0.05), but with greater DBSI-HF in left pre- and post-central gyri and right middle frontal gyrus (β's>0.3, all pFDR=0.03). Intriguingly, the brain areas exhibiting increased putative vasogenic edema had previously been linked to COVID-19-related functional and structural alterations, whereas brain regions displaying subtle differences in cellularity between COVID-19 cases and controls included regions within or functionally connected to the olfactory network, which has been implicated in COVID-19 psychopathology. Nevertheless, our study might not have captured acute and transitory neuroinflammatory effects linked to SARS-CoV-2 infection, possibly due to symptom resolution before the imaging scan. Future research is warranted to explore the potential time- and symptom-dependent neuroinflammatory relationship with COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zhang
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Aaron J Gorelik
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Qing Wang
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Sara A Norton
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Tamara Hershey
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Arpana Agrawal
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Janine D Bijsterbosch
- Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Ryan Bogdan
- Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Washington University, St. Louis, MO, United States
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26
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Dey R, Bishayi B. Microglial Inflammatory Responses to SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Comprehensive Review. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2023; 44:2. [PMID: 38099973 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-023-01444-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is primarily a respiratory disease causing a worldwide pandemic in the year of 2019. SARS-CoV-2 is an enveloped, positive-stranded RNA virus that could invade the host through spike protein and exhibits multi-organ effects. The Brain was considered to be a potential target for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Although neuropsychiatric symptoms and cognitive impairments were observed in COVID-19 patients even after recovery the mechanism of action is not well documented. In this review, the contribution of microglia in response to SARS-CoV-2 infection was discussed aiming to design a therapeutic regimen for the management of neuroinflammation and psycho-behavioral alterations. Priming of microglia facilitates the hyper-activation state when it interacts with SARS-CoV-2 known as the 'second hit'. Moreover, the microgliosis produces reactive free radicals and pro-inflammatory cytokines like IL-1β, IFN-γ, and IL-6 which ultimately contribute to a 'cytokine storm', thereby increasing the occurrence of cognitive and neurological dysfunction. It was reported that elevated CCL11 may be responsible for psychiatric disorders and ROS/RNS-induced oxidative stress could promote major depressive disorder (MDD) and phenotypic switching. Additionally, during SARS-CoV-2 infection microglia-CD8+ T cell interaction may have a significant role in neuronal cell death. This cytokine-mediated cellular cross-talking plays a crucial role in pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory balance within the COVID-19 patient's brain. Therefore, all these aspects will be taken into consideration for developing novel therapeutic strategies to combat SARS-CoV-2-induced neuroinflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajen Dey
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, School of Allied Health Sciences, Swami Vivekananda University, Telinipara, Barasat-Barrackpore Rd, Bara Kanthalia, West Bengal, 700121, India.
| | - Biswadev Bishayi
- Immunology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, University of Calcutta, University Colleges of Science and Technology, 92 APC Road, Calcutta, West Bengal, 700009, India
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27
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Wang S, Wang L, Wang J, Zhu M. Causal relationships between susceptibility and severity of COVID-19 and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) in European population: a bidirectional Mendelian randomized study. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1305650. [PMID: 38111568 PMCID: PMC10726038 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1305650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Neurological disorders can be caused by viral infections. The association between viral infections and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) has been well-documented for a long time, and this connection has recently come to attention with the occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, the precise nature of the causal connection between NMOSD and COVID-19 infection remains uncertain. Methods To investigate the causal relationship between COVID-19 and NMOSD, we utilized a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach. This analysis was based on the most extensive and recent genome-wide association study (GWAS) that included SARS-CoV-2 infection data (122616 cases and 2475240 controls), hospitalized COVID-19 data (32519 cases and 2062805 controls), and data on severe respiratory confirmed COVID-19 cases (13769 cases and 1072442 controls). Additionally, we incorporated a GWAS meta-analysis comprising 132 cases of AQP4-IgG-seropositive NMOSD (NMO-IgG+), 83 cases of AQP4-IgG-seronegative NMOSD (NMO-IgG-), and 1244 controls. Results The findings of our study indicate that the risk of developing NMO-IgG+ is elevated when there is a genetic predisposition to SARS-CoV-2 infection (OR = 5.512, 95% CI = 1.403-21.657, P = 0.014). Furthermore, patients with genetically predicted NMOSD did not exhibit any heightened susceptibility to SARS-CoV2 infection, COVID-19 hospitalization, or severity. Conclusion our study using Mendelian randomization (MR) revealed, for the first time, that the presence of genetically predicted SARS-CoV2 infection was identified as a contributing factor for NMO-IgG+ relapses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengnan Wang
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Lijuan Wang
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Jianglong Wang
- First Operating Room, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Mingqin Zhu
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Center, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
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28
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Herrera P, Cauchi RJ. Functional characterisation of the ACE2 orthologues in Drosophila provides insights into the neuromuscular complications of COVID-19. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2023; 1869:166818. [PMID: 37495086 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2023.166818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19), gains cellular entry via interaction with the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor of host cells. Although SARS-CoV-2 mainly targets the respiratory system, the neuromuscular system also appears to be affected in a large percentage of patients with acute or chronic COVID-19. The cause of the well-described neuromuscular manifestations resulting from SARS-CoV-2 infection remains unresolved. These may result from the neuromuscular-invasive capacity of the virus leading to direct injury. Alternatively, they may be the consequence of ACE2 inactivation either due to viral infection, ACE2 autoantibodies or both. Here, we made use of the Drosophila model to investigate whether ACE2 downregulation is sufficient to induce neuromuscular phenotypes. We show that moderate gene silencing of ACE2 orthologues Ance or Ance3 diminished survival on exposure to thermal stress only upon induction of neuromuscular fatigue driven by increased physical activity. A strong knockdown of Ance or Ance3 directed to muscle reduced or abolished adult viability and caused obvious motoric deficits including reduced locomotion and impaired flight capacity. Selective knockdown of Ance and Ance3 in neurons caused wing defects and an age-dependent decline in motor behaviour, respectively, in adult flies. Interestingly, RNA sequencing allowed us to discover several differentially spliced genes that are required for synaptic function downstream of Ance or Ance3 depletion. Our findings are therefore supportive of the notion that loss of a RAS-independent function for ACE2 contributes to the neuromuscular manifestations associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Herrera
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Biobanking, Biomedical Sciences Building, University of Malta, Msida, Malta; Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
| | - Ruben J Cauchi
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Biobanking, Biomedical Sciences Building, University of Malta, Msida, Malta; Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta.
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29
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Ludhiadch A, Paul SR, Khan R, Munshi A. COVID-19 induced ischemic stroke and mechanisms of viral entry in brain and clot formation: a systematic review and current update. Int J Neurosci 2023; 133:1153-1166. [PMID: 35412938 DOI: 10.1080/00207454.2022.2056460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Background: Coronavirus disease 2019, caused by SARS-CoV-2 (SCV-2) was stated as a pandemic on March 11 2020 by World Health Organization (WHO), and since then, it has become a major health issue worldwide. It mainly attacks the respiratory system with various accompanying complications, including cardiac injury, renal failure, encephalitis and Stroke.Materials and Methods: The current systematic review has been compiled to summarize the available literature on SCV-2 induced ischemic Stroke and its subtypes. Further, the mechanisms by which the virus crosses the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to enter the brain have also been explored. The role of CRP and D-dimer as potent prognostic markers was also explored. The literature search was carried out comprehensively on Google scholar, PubMed, SCOP US, Embase and Cochrane databases by following guidelines.Results: All the studies were reviewed thoroughly by authors and disagreements were resolved by consensus and help of the senior authors. The most common subtype of the IS was found to be large artery atherosclerosis in SCV-2 induced IS. Hypertension emerged as the most significant risk factor. The mechanism resulting in elevated levels of CRP and D-dimer have also been discussed. However, there is a scarcity of definitive evidence on how SCV-2 enters the human brain. The available literature based on various studies demonstrated that SCV-2 enters through the nasopharyngeal tract via olfactory cells to olfactory neurons, astrocytes and via choroid plexus through endothelial cells. Further, disruption of gut-brain axis has been also discussed.Conclusion: Data available in the literature is not adequate to come to a conclusion. Therefore, there is a need to carry out further studies to delineate the possible association between SCV-2 induced IS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhilash Ludhiadch
- Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Medicine Central, University of Punjab Bathinda, Bathinda, Punjab, India
| | - Swaraj Ranjan Paul
- Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Medicine Central, University of Punjab Bathinda, Bathinda, Punjab, India
| | - Rahul Khan
- Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Medicine Central, University of Punjab Bathinda, Bathinda, Punjab, India
| | - Anjana Munshi
- Department of Human Genetics and Molecular Medicine Central, University of Punjab Bathinda, Bathinda, Punjab, India
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30
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Aguado J, Amarilla AA, Taherian Fard A, Albornoz EA, Tyshkovskiy A, Schwabenland M, Chaggar HK, Modhiran N, Gómez-Inclán C, Javed I, Baradar AA, Liang B, Peng L, Dharmaratne M, Pietrogrande G, Padmanabhan P, Freney ME, Parry R, Sng JDJ, Isaacs A, Khromykh AA, Valenzuela Nieto G, Rojas-Fernandez A, Davis TP, Prinz M, Bengsch B, Gladyshev VN, Woodruff TM, Mar JC, Watterson D, Wolvetang EJ. Senolytic therapy alleviates physiological human brain aging and COVID-19 neuropathology. Nat Aging 2023; 3:1561-1575. [PMID: 37957361 PMCID: PMC10724067 DOI: 10.1038/s43587-023-00519-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Aging is a major risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases, and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is linked to severe neurological manifestations. Senescent cells contribute to brain aging, but the impact of virus-induced senescence on neuropathologies is unknown. Here we show that senescent cells accumulate in aged human brain organoids and that senolytics reduce age-related inflammation and rejuvenate transcriptomic aging clocks. In postmortem brains of patients with severe COVID-19 we observed increased senescent cell accumulation compared with age-matched controls. Exposure of human brain organoids to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) induced cellular senescence, and transcriptomic analysis revealed a unique SARS-CoV-2 inflammatory signature. Senolytic treatment of infected brain organoids blocked viral replication and prevented senescence in distinct neuronal populations. In human-ACE2-overexpressing mice, senolytics improved COVID-19 clinical outcomes, promoted dopaminergic neuron survival and alleviated viral and proinflammatory gene expression. Collectively our results demonstrate an important role for cellular senescence in driving brain aging and SARS-CoV-2-induced neuropathology, and a therapeutic benefit of senolytic treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julio Aguado
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Alberto A Amarilla
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Atefeh Taherian Fard
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Eduardo A Albornoz
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Alexander Tyshkovskiy
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Marius Schwabenland
- Institute of Neuropathology and Center for Basics in NeuroModulation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Harman K Chaggar
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Naphak Modhiran
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Cecilia Gómez-Inclán
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Ibrahim Javed
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
- Centre for Pharmaceutical Innovation, School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences, The University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Alireza A Baradar
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Benjamin Liang
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Lianli Peng
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Malindrie Dharmaratne
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Giovanni Pietrogrande
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Pranesh Padmanabhan
- Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research, Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Morgan E Freney
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Rhys Parry
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Julian D J Sng
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Ariel Isaacs
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Alexander A Khromykh
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
- Australian Infectious Disease Research Centre, Global Virus Network Centre of Excellence, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Guillermo Valenzuela Nieto
- Institute of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Center for Interdisciplinary Studies on the Nervous System, CISNE, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Alejandro Rojas-Fernandez
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Berking Biotechnology, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Thomas P Davis
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Marco Prinz
- Institute of Neuropathology and Center for Basics in NeuroModulation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Signalling Research Centers BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Bertram Bengsch
- Signalling Research Centers BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, Clinic for Internal Medicine II, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology, and Infectious Disease, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Vadim N Gladyshev
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Trent M Woodruff
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jessica C Mar
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Daniel Watterson
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
| | - Ernst J Wolvetang
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
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31
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Syage A, Pachow C, Cheng Y, Mangale V, Green KN, Lane TE. Microglia influence immune responses and restrict neurologic disease in response to central nervous system infection by a neurotropic murine coronavirus. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1291255. [PMID: 38099152 PMCID: PMC10719854 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1291255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Intracranial (i.c.) inoculation of susceptible mice with a glial-tropic strain of mouse hepatitis virus (JHMV), a murine coronavirus, results in an acute encephalomyelitis followed by viral persistence in white matter tracts accompanied by chronic neuroinflammation and demyelination. Microglia serve numerous functions including maintenance of the healthy central nervous system (CNS) and are among the first responders to injury or infection. More recently, studies have demonstrated that microglia aid in tailoring innate and adaptive immune responses following infection by neurotropic viruses including flaviviruses, herpesviruses, and picornaviruses. These findings have emphasized an important role for microglia in host defense against these viral pathogens. In addition, microglia are also critical in optimizing immune-mediated control of JHMV replication within the CNS while restricting the severity of demyelination and enhancing remyelination. This review will highlight our current understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which microglia aid in host defense, limit neurologic disease, and promote repair following CNS infection by a neurotropic murine coronavirus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amber Syage
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Collin Pachow
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Yuting Cheng
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Vrushali Mangale
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Kim N. Green
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
| | - Thomas E. Lane
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
- Center for Virus Research, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, United States
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32
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Amadoro G, Latina V, Stigliano E, Micera A. COVID-19 and Alzheimer's Disease Share Common Neurological and Ophthalmological Manifestations: A Bidirectional Risk in the Post-Pandemic Future. Cells 2023; 12:2601. [PMID: 37998336 PMCID: PMC10670749 DOI: 10.3390/cells12222601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
A growing body of evidence indicates that a neuropathological cross-talk takes place between the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) -the pandemic severe pneumonia that has had a tremendous impact on the global economy and health since three years after its outbreak in December 2019- and Alzheimer's Disease (AD), the leading cause of dementia among human beings, reaching 139 million by the year 2050. Even though COVID-19 is a primary respiratory disease, its causative agent, the so-called Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is also endowed with high neuro-invasive potential (Neurocovid). The neurological complications of COVID-19, resulting from the direct viral entry into the Central Nervous System (CNS) and/or indirect systemic inflammation and dysregulated activation of immune response, encompass memory decline and anosmia which are typically associated with AD symptomatology. In addition, patients diagnosed with AD are more vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection and are inclined to more severe clinical outcomes. In the present review, we better elucidate the intimate connection between COVID-19 and AD by summarizing the involved risk factors/targets and the underlying biological mechanisms shared by these two disorders with a particular focus on the Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor, APOlipoprotein E (APOE), aging, neuroinflammation and cellular pathways associated with the Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP)/Amyloid beta (Aβ) and tau neuropathologies. Finally, the involvement of ophthalmological manifestations, including vitreo-retinal abnormalities and visual deficits, in both COVID-19 and AD are also discussed. Understanding the common physiopathological aspects linking COVID-19 and AD will pave the way to novel management and diagnostic/therapeutic approaches to cope with them in the post-pandemic future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppina Amadoro
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology (IFT), National Research Council (CNR), Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Rome, Italy;
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Valentina Latina
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology (IFT), National Research Council (CNR), Via Fosso del Cavaliere 100, 00133 Rome, Italy;
- European Brain Research Institute (EBRI), Viale Regina Elena 295, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Egidio Stigliano
- Area of Pathology, Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Istituto di Anatomia Patologica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy;
| | - Alessandra Micera
- Research and Development Laboratory for Biochemical, Molecular and Cellular Applications in Ophthalmological Sciences, IRCCS-Fondazione Bietti, Via Santo Stefano Rotondo, 6, 00184 Rome, Italy
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33
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Weeratunga P, Denney L, Bull JA, Repapi E, Sergeant M, Etherington R, Vuppussetty C, Turner GDH, Clelland C, Woo J, Cross A, Issa F, de Andrea CE, Melero Bermejo I, Sims D, McGowan S, Zurke YX, Ahern DJ, Gamez EC, Whalley J, Richards D, Klenerman P, Monaco C, Udalova IA, Dong T, Antanaviciute A, Ogg G, Knight JC, Byrne HM, Taylor S, Ho LP. Single cell spatial analysis reveals inflammatory foci of immature neutrophil and CD8 T cells in COVID-19 lungs. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7216. [PMID: 37940670 PMCID: PMC10632491 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42421-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Single cell spatial interrogation of the immune-structural interactions in COVID -19 lungs is challenging, mainly because of the marked cellular infiltrate and architecturally distorted microstructure. To address this, we develop a suite of mathematical tools to search for statistically significant co-locations amongst immune and structural cells identified using 37-plex imaging mass cytometry. This unbiased method reveals a cellular map interleaved with an inflammatory network of immature neutrophils, cytotoxic CD8 T cells, megakaryocytes and monocytes co-located with regenerating alveolar progenitors and endothelium. Of note, a highly active cluster of immature neutrophils and CD8 T cells, is found spatially linked with alveolar progenitor cells, and temporally with the diffuse alveolar damage stage. These findings offer further insights into how immune cells interact in the lungs of severe COVID-19 disease. We provide our pipeline [Spatial Omics Oxford Pipeline (SpOOx)] and visual-analytical tool, Multi-Dimensional Viewer (MDV) software, as a resource for spatial analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Praveen Weeratunga
- MRC Translational Immunology Discovery Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Laura Denney
- MRC Translational Immunology Discovery Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Joshua A Bull
- Wolfson Centre for Mathematical Biology, Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Emmanouela Repapi
- MRC WIMM Computational Biology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Martin Sergeant
- MRC WIMM Computational Biology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Rachel Etherington
- MRC Translational Immunology Discovery Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Chaitanya Vuppussetty
- MRC Translational Immunology Discovery Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Gareth D H Turner
- Department of Cellular Pathology and Radcliffe Department of Medicine, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Colin Clelland
- Anatomic Pathology, Weill Cornell Medical College, Doha, Qatar
| | - Jeongmin Woo
- MRC Translational Immunology Discovery Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Amy Cross
- Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Fadi Issa
- Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | | | - David Sims
- MRC WIMM Computational Biology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Simon McGowan
- MRC WIMM Computational Biology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - David J Ahern
- Kennedy Institute for Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Eddie C Gamez
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Justin Whalley
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Duncan Richards
- Nuffield Department of Orthopedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Diseases, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Paul Klenerman
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Claudia Monaco
- Kennedy Institute for Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Irina A Udalova
- Kennedy Institute for Rheumatology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Tao Dong
- MRC Translational Immunology Discovery Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Chinese Academy of Medical Science (CAMS) Oxford Institute (COI), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Agne Antanaviciute
- MRC Translational Immunology Discovery Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Graham Ogg
- MRC Translational Immunology Discovery Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Chinese Academy of Medical Science (CAMS) Oxford Institute (COI), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Julian C Knight
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Chinese Academy of Medical Science (CAMS) Oxford Institute (COI), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Helen M Byrne
- Wolfson Centre for Mathematical Biology, Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Stephen Taylor
- MRC WIMM Computational Biology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | - Ling-Pei Ho
- MRC Translational Immunology Discovery Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- Chinese Academy of Medical Science (CAMS) Oxford Institute (COI), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
- Respiratory Medicine Unit, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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Heinrich F, Mertz KD, Glatzel M, Beer M, Krasemann S. Using autopsies to dissect COVID-19 pathogenesis. Nat Microbiol 2023; 8:1986-1994. [PMID: 37798476 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-023-01488-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 has resulted in millions of deaths as a result of COVID-19. Suitable models were missing at the beginning of the pandemic, and studies investigating disease pathogenesis relied on patients who had succumbed to COVID-19. Since then, autopsies of patients have substantially contributed to our understanding of the pathogenesis of COVID-19 and associated major organ complications. Here we summarize how autopsies have complemented experimental studies, mainly in animal models, and how they have facilitated critical knowledge of COVID-19 to improve daily clinical practice and develop therapeutic interventions. Employing advanced histopathologic and molecular genetic methods in post-mortem tissues, the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of autopsies for virology research and clinical practice in current and emerging infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Heinrich
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Kirsten D Mertz
- Institute of Pathology, Kantonsspital Baselland, Liestal, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Markus Glatzel
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Martin Beer
- Institute of Diagnostic Virology, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Greifswald-Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Susanne Krasemann
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
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Stüdle C, Nishihara H, Wischnewski S, Kulsvehagen L, Perriot S, Ishikawa H, Schroten H, Frank S, Deigendesch N, Du Pasquier R, Schirmer L, Pröbstel AK, Engelhardt B. SARS-CoV-2 infects epithelial cells of the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier rather than endothelial cells or pericytes of the blood-brain barrier. Fluids Barriers CNS 2023; 20:76. [PMID: 37875964 PMCID: PMC10598911 DOI: 10.1186/s12987-023-00479-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND As a consequence of SARS-CoV-2 infection various neurocognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms can appear, which may persist for several months post infection. However, cell type-specific routes of brain infection and underlying mechanisms resulting in neuroglial dysfunction are not well understood. METHODS Here, we investigated the susceptibility of cells constituting the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier (BCSFB) of the choroid plexus (ChP) to SARS-CoV-2 infection using human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived cellular models and a ChP papilloma-derived epithelial cell line as well as ChP tissue from COVID-19 patients, respectively. RESULTS We noted a differential infectibility of hiPSC-derived brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) depending on the differentiation method. Extended endothelial culture method (EECM)-BMECs characterized by a complete set of endothelial markers, good barrier properties and a mature immune phenotype were refractory to SARS-CoV-2 infection and did not exhibit an activated phenotype after prolonged SARS-CoV-2 inoculation. In contrast, defined medium method (DMM)-BMECs, characterized by a mixed endothelial and epithelial phenotype and excellent barrier properties were productively infected by SARS-CoV-2 in an ACE2-dependent manner. hiPSC-derived brain pericyte-like cells (BPLCs) lacking ACE2 expression were not susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Furthermore, the human choroid plexus papilloma-derived epithelial cell line HIBCPP, modeling the BCSFB was productively infected by SARS-CoV-2 preferentially from the basolateral side, facing the blood compartment. Assessment of ChP tissue from COVID-19 patients by RNA in situ hybridization revealed SARS-CoV-2 transcripts in ChP epithelial and ChP stromal cells. CONCLUSIONS Our study shows that the BCSFB of the ChP rather than the BBB is susceptible to direct SARS-CoV-2 infection. Thus, neuropsychiatric symptoms because of COVID-19 may rather be associated with dysfunction of the BCSFB than the BBB. Future studies should consider a role of the ChP in underlying neuropsychiatric symptoms following SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Stüdle
- Theodor Kocher Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Hideaki Nishihara
- Theodor Kocher Institute, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Neurotherapeutics, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Sven Wischnewski
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Laila Kulsvehagen
- Departments of Neurology, Biomedicine and Clinical Research, Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience Basel (RC2NB), University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sylvain Perriot
- Laboratory of Neuroimmunology, Neuroscience Research Centre, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Hiroshi Ishikawa
- Laboratory of Clinical Regenerative Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, 305-8575, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Horst Schroten
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Stephan Frank
- Pathology, Institute of Medical Genetics and Pathology, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Nikolaus Deigendesch
- Pathology, Institute of Medical Genetics and Pathology, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Renaud Du Pasquier
- Laboratory of Neuroimmunology, Neuroscience Research Centre, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Service of Neurology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Lucas Schirmer
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
- Center for Translational Neuroscience and Institute for Innate Immunoscience, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
- Interdisciplinary Center for Neurosciences, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anne-Katrin Pröbstel
- Departments of Neurology, Biomedicine and Clinical Research, Research Center for Clinical Neuroimmunology and Neuroscience Basel (RC2NB), University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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Trevino TN, Fogel AB, Minshall R, Richner JM, Lutz SE. Caveolin-1 mediates neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment in SARS-CoV-2 infection. bioRxiv 2023:2023.10.18.563024. [PMID: 37905019 PMCID: PMC10614946 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.18.563024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Leukocyte infiltration of the CNS can contribute to neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment. Brain endothelial cells regulate adhesion, activation, and diapedesis of T cells across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in inflammatory diseases. The integral membrane protein Caveolin-1 (Cav-1) critically regulates BBB permeability, but its influence on T cell CNS infiltration in respiratory viral infections is unknown. In this study, we sought to determine the role of Cav-1 at the BBB in neuroinflammation in a COVID-19 mouse model. We used mice genetically deficient in Cav-1 to test the role of this protein in T cell infiltration and cognitive impairment. We found that SARS-CoV-2 infection upregulated brain endothelial Cav-1. Moreover, SARS-CoV-2 infection increased brain endothelial cell vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and CD3+ T cell infiltration of the hippocampus, a region important for short term learning and memory. Concordantly, we observed learning and memory deficits. Importantly, genetic deficiency in Cav-1 attenuated brain endothelial VCAM-1 expression and T cell infiltration in the hippocampus of mice with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Moreover, Cav-1 KO mice were protected from the learning and memory deficits caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection. These results indicate the importance of BBB permeability in COVID-19 neuroinflammation and suggest potential therapeutic value of targeting Cav-1 to improve disease outcomes.
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Zorzo C, Solares L, Mendez M, Mendez-Lopez M. Hippocampal alterations after SARS-CoV-2 infection: A systematic review. Behav Brain Res 2023; 455:114662. [PMID: 37703951 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2023.114662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 infection produces a wide range of symptoms. Some of the structural changes caused by the virus in the nervous system are found in the medial temporal lobe, and several neuropsychological sequelae of COVID-19 are related to the function of the hippocampus. The main objective of the systematic review is to update and further analyze the existing evidence of hippocampal and related cortices' structural and functional alterations due to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Both clinical and preclinical studies that used different methodologies to explore the effects of this disease at different stages and grades of severity were considered, besides exploring related cognitive and emotional symptomatology. A total of 24 studies were identified by searching in SCOPUS, Web Of Science (WOS), PubMed, and PsycInfo databases up to October 3rd, 2022. Thirteen studies were performed in clinical human samples, 9 included preclinical animal models, 3 were performed post-mortem, and 1 included both post-mortem and preclinical samples. Alterations in the hippocampus were detected in the acute stage and after several months of infection. Clinical studies revealed alterations in hippocampal connectivity and metabolism. Memory alterations correlated with altered metabolic profiles or changes in grey matter volumes. Hippocampal human postmortem and animal studies observed alterations in neurogenesis, dendrites, and immune response, besides high apoptosis and neuroinflammation. Preclinical studies reported the viral load in the hippocampus. Olfactory dysfunction was associated with alterations in brain functionality. Several clinical studies revealed cognitive complaints, neuropsychological alterations, and depressive and anxious symptomatology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candela Zorzo
- Neuroscience Institute of Principado de Asturias (INEUROPA), Faculty of Psychology, Plaza Feijoo s/n, 33003 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), Av. del Hospital Universitario, s/n, 33011 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain; Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Faculty of Psychology, Plaza Feijoo s/n, 33003 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain.
| | - Lucía Solares
- Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Faculty of Psychology, Plaza Feijoo s/n, 33003 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain.
| | - Marta Mendez
- Neuroscience Institute of Principado de Asturias (INEUROPA), Faculty of Psychology, Plaza Feijoo s/n, 33003 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Principado de Asturias (ISPA), Av. del Hospital Universitario, s/n, 33011 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain; Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, Faculty of Psychology, Plaza Feijoo s/n, 33003 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain.
| | - Magdalena Mendez-Lopez
- Department of Psychology and Sociology, University of Zaragoza, Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009 Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain; IIS Aragón, San Juan Bosco, 13, 50009 Zaragoza, Aragón, Spain.
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38
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Furman S, Green K, Lane TE. COVID-19 and the impact on Alzheimer's disease pathology. J Neurochem 2023:10.1111/jnc.15985. [PMID: 37850241 PMCID: PMC11024062 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has rapidly escalated into a global pandemic that primarily affects older and immunocompromised individuals due to underlying clinical conditions and suppressed immune responses. Furthermore, COVID-19 patients exhibit a spectrum of neurological symptoms, indicating that COVID-19 can affect the brain in a variety of manners. Many studies, past and recent, suggest a connection between viral infections and an increased risk of neurodegeneration, raising concerns about the neurological effects of COVID-19 and the possibility that it may contribute to Alzheimer's disease (AD) onset or worsen already existing AD pathology through inflammatory processes given that both COVID-19 and AD share pathological features and risk factors. This leads us to question whether COVID-19 is a risk factor for AD and how these two conditions might influence each other. Considering the extensive reach of the COVID-19 pandemic and the devastating impact of the ongoing AD pandemic, their combined effects could have significant public health consequences worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susana Furman
- Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine 92697
| | - Kim Green
- Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine 92697
| | - Thomas E. Lane
- Department of Neurobiology & Behavior, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine 92697
- Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine 92697, USA
- Center for Virus Research, University of California, Irvine 92697, USA
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39
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Kulasinghe A, Wood F, Belz G. The seductive allure of spatial biology: accelerating new discoveries in the life sciences. Immunol Cell Biol 2023; 101:798-804. [PMID: 37572002 DOI: 10.1111/imcb.12669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023]
Abstract
Spatial biology is a rapidly developing field which enables the visualization of protein and transcriptomic data while preserving tissue context and architecture. Initially used in discovery, there is growing promise for translational and diagnostic assay developments. Immediate applications are in precision medicine, such as being able to match patients to optimal therapies through better understanding the tumor microenvironment. However, it also has ramifications for many other disciplines (e.g. immunology, cancer, infectious disease and digital pathology). With increasingly massive data sets being generated, data storage, curation, analysis and sharing require more computational approaches and artificial intelligence-powered tools to fully utilize spatial tools. Here, we discuss spatial biology as an important convergent science approach to tackling complex global challenges in areas such as health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arutha Kulasinghe
- Frazer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Fiona Wood
- Independent Innovation Strategy Analyst, NSW, Australia
| | - Gabrielle Belz
- Frazer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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40
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Wu C, Liu TCY, Duan R, Yang L. Photobiomodulation: A Potential Non-invasive Method to Alleviate Neurological Events Following COVID-19 Infection. Neurosci Bull 2023; 39:1595-1597. [PMID: 37191785 PMCID: PMC10186286 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-023-01064-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Chongyun Wu
- College of Physical Education and Sport Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Timon Cheng-Yi Liu
- College of Physical Education and Sport Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Rui Duan
- College of Physical Education and Sport Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Luodan Yang
- College of Physical Education and Sport Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
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41
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Vanderheiden A, Hill J, Jiang X, Deppen B, Bamunuarachchi G, Soudani N, Joshi A, Cain MD, Boon ACM, Klein RS. Vaccination prevents IL-1β-mediated cognitive deficits after COVID-19. Res Sq 2023:rs.3.rs-3353171. [PMID: 37790551 PMCID: PMC10543322 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3353171/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Up to 25% of SARS-CoV-2 patients exhibit post-acute cognitive sequelae. Although millions of cases of COVID-19-mediated memory dysfunction are accumulating worldwide, the underlying mechanisms and how vaccination lowers risk are unknown. Interleukin-1, a key component of innate immune defense against SARS-CoV-2 infection, is elevated in the hippocampi of COVID-19 patients. Here we show that intranasal infection of C57BL/6J mice with SARS-CoV-2 beta variant, leads to CNS infiltration of Ly6Chi monocytes and microglial activation. Accordingly, SARS-CoV-2, but not H1N1 influenza virus, increases levels of brain IL-1β and induces persistent IL-1R1-mediated loss of hippocampal neurogenesis, which promotes post-acute cognitive deficits. Breakthrough infection after vaccination with a low dose of adenoviral vectored Spike protein prevents hippocampal production of IL-1β during breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection, loss of neurogenesis, and subsequent memory deficits. Our study identifies IL-1β as one potential mechanism driving SARS-CoV-2-induced cognitive impairment in a new murine model that is prevented by vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abigail Vanderheiden
- Center for Neuroimmunology and Neuroinfectious Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Jeremy Hill
- Center for Neuroimmunology and Neuroinfectious Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Xiaoping Jiang
- Center for Neuroimmunology and Neuroinfectious Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Ben Deppen
- Center for Neuroimmunology and Neuroinfectious Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Gayan Bamunuarachchi
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Nadia Soudani
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Astha Joshi
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Matthew D Cain
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Adrianus C M Boon
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Robyn S Klein
- Center for Neuroimmunology and Neuroinfectious Diseases, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Neurosciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
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42
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Ni J, Liu X, Zhang R, Wang H, Liang J, Hou Y, Dou H. Systemic administration of Shikonin ameliorates cognitive impairment and neuron damage in NPSLE mice. J Neuroimmunol 2023; 382:578166. [PMID: 37536051 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2023.578166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 07/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
Shikonin is an anti-inflammatory natural herbal drug extracted from Lithospermum erythrorhizon and its therapeutic effect on neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) is yet unknown. In our study, Shikonin significantly reversed the cognitive impairment and alleviated the brain tissue damage in NPSLE mice. The permeability of blood-brain barrier was also verified to be repaired in Shikonin-treated NPSLE mice. In particular, we found that Shikonin alleviated neuroinflammation through inhibiting β-catenin signaling pathway, thereby depressing the activation of microglia and the loss of neuronal synapses. Overall, Shikonin may be a promising candidate drug for NPSLE through diminishing neuroinflammation and repairing neuron damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiali Ni
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Division of Immunology, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, PR China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing 210093, PR China
| | - Xuan Liu
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Division of Immunology, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, PR China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing 210093, PR China
| | - Ruowen Zhang
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Division of Immunology, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, PR China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing 210093, PR China
| | - Hailin Wang
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Division of Immunology, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, PR China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing 210093, PR China
| | - Jun Liang
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Yayi Hou
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Division of Immunology, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, PR China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing 210093, PR China.
| | - Huan Dou
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Division of Immunology, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, PR China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing 210093, PR China.
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43
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Schweizer L, Schaller T, Zwiebel M, Karayel Ö, Müller‐Reif JB, Zeng W, Dintner S, Nordmann TM, Hirschbühl K, Märkl B, Claus R, Mann M. Quantitative multiorgan proteomics of fatal COVID-19 uncovers tissue-specific effects beyond inflammation. EMBO Mol Med 2023; 15:e17459. [PMID: 37519267 PMCID: PMC10493576 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.202317459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 may directly and indirectly damage lung tissue and other host organs, but there are few system-wide, untargeted studies of these effects on the human body. Here, we developed a parallelized mass spectrometry (MS) proteomics workflow enabling the rapid, quantitative analysis of hundreds of virus-infected FFPE tissues. The first layer of response to SARS-CoV-2 in all tissues was dominated by circulating inflammatory molecules. Beyond systemic inflammation, we differentiated between systemic and true tissue-specific effects to reflect distinct COVID-19-associated damage patterns. Proteomic changes in the lungs resembled those of diffuse alveolar damage (DAD) in non-COVID-19 patients. Extensive organ-specific changes were also evident in the kidneys, liver, and lymphatic and vascular systems. Secondary inflammatory effects in the brain were related to rearrangements in neurotransmitter receptors and myelin degradation. These MS-proteomics-derived results contribute substantially to our understanding of COVID-19 pathomechanisms and suggest strategies for organ-specific therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Schweizer
- Department of Proteomics and Signal TransductionMax Planck Institute of BiochemistryMartinsriedGermany
| | - Tina Schaller
- Pathology, Medical FacultyUniversity of AugsburgAugsburgGermany
| | - Maximilian Zwiebel
- Department of Proteomics and Signal TransductionMax Planck Institute of BiochemistryMartinsriedGermany
| | - Özge Karayel
- Department of Proteomics and Signal TransductionMax Planck Institute of BiochemistryMartinsriedGermany
- Present address:
Department of Physiological ChemistryGenentechSouth San FranciscoUSA
| | | | - Wen‐Feng Zeng
- Department of Proteomics and Signal TransductionMax Planck Institute of BiochemistryMartinsriedGermany
| | | | - Thierry M Nordmann
- Department of Proteomics and Signal TransductionMax Planck Institute of BiochemistryMartinsriedGermany
| | - Klaus Hirschbühl
- Hematology and Oncology, Medical FacultyUniversity of AugsburgAugsburgGermany
| | - Bruno Märkl
- Pathology, Medical FacultyUniversity of AugsburgAugsburgGermany
| | - Rainer Claus
- Pathology, Medical FacultyUniversity of AugsburgAugsburgGermany
- Hematology and Oncology, Medical FacultyUniversity of AugsburgAugsburgGermany
| | - Matthias Mann
- Department of Proteomics and Signal TransductionMax Planck Institute of BiochemistryMartinsriedGermany
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Marques KC, Quaresma JAS, Falcão LFM. Cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction in "Long COVID": pathophysiology, heart rate variability, and inflammatory markers. Front Cardiovasc Med 2023; 10:1256512. [PMID: 37719983 PMCID: PMC10502909 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2023.1256512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Long COVID is characterized by persistent signs and symptoms that continue or develop for more than 4 weeks after acute COVID-19 infection. Patients with Long COVID experience a cardiovascular autonomic imbalance known as dysautonomia. However, the underlying autonomic pathophysiological mechanisms behind this remain unclear. Current hypotheses include neurotropism, cytokine storms, and inflammatory persistence. Certain immunological factors indicate autoimmune dysfunction, which can be used to identify patients at a higher risk of Long COVID. Heart rate variability can indicate autonomic imbalances in individuals suffering from Long COVID, and measurement is a non-invasive and low-cost method for assessing cardiovascular autonomic modulation. Additionally, biochemical inflammatory markers are used for diagnosing and monitoring Long COVID. These inflammatory markers can be used to improve the understanding of the mechanisms driving the inflammatory response and its effects on the sympathetic and parasympathetic pathways of the autonomic nervous system. Autonomic imbalances in patients with Long COVID may result in lower heart rate variability, impaired vagal activity, and substantial sympathovagal imbalance. New research on this subject must be encouraged to enhance the understanding of the long-term risks that cardiovascular autonomic imbalances can cause in individuals with Long COVID.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Juarez Antônio Simões Quaresma
- Center for Biological Health Sciences, State University of Pará (UEPA), Belém, Brazil
- School of Medicine, São Paulo University (USP), São Paulo, Brazil
- Tropical Medicine Center, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Belém, Brazil
| | - Luiz Fábio Magno Falcão
- Center for Biological Health Sciences, State University of Pará (UEPA), Belém, Brazil
- School of Medicine, São Paulo University (USP), São Paulo, Brazil
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Chaves-Filho AM, Braniff O, Angelova A, Deng Y, Tremblay MÈ. Chronic inflammation, neuroglial dysfunction, and plasmalogen deficiency as a new pathobiological hypothesis addressing the overlap between post-COVID-19 symptoms and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. Brain Res Bull 2023; 201:110702. [PMID: 37423295 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2023.110702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
After five waves of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreaks, it has been recognized that a significant portion of the affected individuals developed long-term debilitating symptoms marked by chronic fatigue, cognitive difficulties ("brain fog"), post-exertional malaise, and autonomic dysfunction. The onset, progression, and clinical presentation of this condition, generically named post-COVID-19 syndrome, overlap significantly with another enigmatic condition, referred to as myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Several pathobiological mechanisms have been proposed for ME/CFS, including redox imbalance, systemic and central nervous system inflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Chronic inflammation and glial pathological reactivity are common hallmarks of several neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders and have been consistently associated with reduced central and peripheral levels of plasmalogens, one of the major phospholipid components of cell membranes with several homeostatic functions. Of great interest, recent evidence revealed a significant reduction of plasmalogen contents, biosynthesis, and metabolism in ME/CFS and acute COVID-19, with a strong association to symptom severity and other relevant clinical outcomes. These bioactive lipids have increasingly attracted attention due to their reduced levels representing a common pathophysiological manifestation between several disorders associated with aging and chronic inflammation. However, alterations in plasmalogen levels or their lipidic metabolism have not yet been examined in individuals suffering from post-COVID-19 symptoms. Here, we proposed a pathobiological model for post-COVID-19 and ME/CFS based on their common inflammation and dysfunctional glial reactivity, and highlighted the emerging implications of plasmalogen deficiency in the underlying mechanisms. Along with the promising outcomes of plasmalogen replacement therapy (PRT) for various neurodegenerative/neuropsychiatric disorders, we sought to propose PRT as a simple, effective, and safe strategy for the potential relief of the debilitating symptoms associated with ME/CFS and post-COVID-19 syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Olivia Braniff
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Angelina Angelova
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Institut Galien Paris-Saclay, F-91400 Orsay, France
| | - Yuru Deng
- Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou, China.
| | - Marie-Ève Tremblay
- Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada; Department of Molecular Medicine, Université Laval, Québec City, Québec, Canada; Neurology and Neurosurgery Department, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Centre for Advanced Materials and Related Technology (CAMTEC) and Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health (IALH), University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
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Gulen MF, Samson N, Keller A, Schwabenland M, Liu C, Glück S, Thacker VV, Favre L, Mangeat B, Kroese LJ, Krimpenfort P, Prinz M, Ablasser A. cGAS-STING drives ageing-related inflammation and neurodegeneration. Nature 2023; 620:374-380. [PMID: 37532932 PMCID: PMC10412454 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06373-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 72.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
Low-grade inflammation is a hallmark of old age and a central driver of ageing-associated impairment and disease1. Multiple factors can contribute to ageing-associated inflammation2; however, the molecular pathways that transduce aberrant inflammatory signalling and their impact in natural ageing remain unclear. Here we show that the cGAS-STING signalling pathway, which mediates immune sensing of DNA3, is a critical driver of chronic inflammation and functional decline during ageing. Blockade of STING suppresses the inflammatory phenotypes of senescent human cells and tissues, attenuates ageing-related inflammation in multiple peripheral organs and the brain in mice, and leads to an improvement in tissue function. Focusing on the ageing brain, we reveal that activation of STING triggers reactive microglial transcriptional states, neurodegeneration and cognitive decline. Cytosolic DNA released from perturbed mitochondria elicits cGAS activity in old microglia, defining a mechanism by which cGAS-STING signalling is engaged in the ageing brain. Single-nucleus RNA-sequencing analysis of microglia and hippocampi of a cGAS gain-of-function mouse model demonstrates that engagement of cGAS in microglia is sufficient to direct ageing-associated transcriptional microglial states leading to bystander cell inflammation, neurotoxicity and impaired memory capacity. Our findings establish the cGAS-STING pathway as a driver of ageing-related inflammation in peripheral organs and the brain, and reveal blockade of cGAS-STING signalling as a potential strategy to halt neurodegenerative processes during old age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammet F Gulen
- Global Health Institute, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Natasha Samson
- Global Health Institute, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Alexander Keller
- Global Health Institute, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Marius Schwabenland
- Institute of Neuropathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Chong Liu
- Global Health Institute, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Selene Glück
- Global Health Institute, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Vivek V Thacker
- Global Health Institute, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Lucie Favre
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetology and Metabolism, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Bastien Mangeat
- Gene Expression Core Facility, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Lona J Kroese
- Animal Modeling Facility, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Paul Krimpenfort
- Animal Modeling Facility, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marco Prinz
- Institute of Neuropathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Center for Basics in NeuroModulation (NeuroModulBasics), Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Andrea Ablasser
- Global Health Institute, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Institute for Cancer Research (ISREC), Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland.
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Peron JPS. Direct and indirect impact of SARS-CoV-2 on the brain. Hum Genet 2023; 142:1317-1326. [PMID: 37004544 PMCID: PMC10066989 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-023-02549-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2023]
Abstract
Although COVID-19 is mostly a pulmonary disease, it is now well accepted that it can cause a much broader spectrum of signs and symptoms and affect many other organs and tissue. From mild anosmia to severe ischemic stroke, the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on the central nervous system is still a great challenge to scientists and health care practitioners. Besides the acute and severe neurological problems described, as encephalopathies, leptomeningitis, and stroke, after 2 years of pandemic, the chronic impact observed during long-COVID or the post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) greatly intrigues scientists worldwide. Strikingly, even asymptomatic, and mild diseased patients may evolve with important neurological and psychiatric symptoms, as confusion, memory loss, cognitive decline, chronic fatigue, associated or not with anxiety and depression. Thus, the knowledge on the correlation between COVID-19 and the central nervous system is of great relevance. In this sense, here we discuss some important mechanisms obtained from in vitro and in vivo investigation regarding how SARS-CoV-2 impacts the brain and its cells and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- J P S Peron
- Neuroimmune Interactions Laboratory, Department of Immunology, University of Sao Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 1730 Lab 232. Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, CEP 05508-000, Brazil.
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Wu J, Li Y, Huang Y, Liu L, Zhang H, Nagy C, Tan X, Cheng K, Liu Y, Pu J, Wang H, Wu Q, Perry SW, Turecki G, Wong ML, Licinio J, Zheng P, Xie P. Integrating spatial and single-nucleus transcriptomic data elucidates microglial-specific responses in female cynomolgus macaques with depressive-like behaviors. Nat Neurosci 2023; 26:1352-1364. [PMID: 37443281 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-023-01379-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Major depressive disorder represents a serious public health challenge worldwide; however, the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms are mostly unknown. Here, we profile the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of female cynomolgus macaques with social stress-associated depressive-like behaviors using single-nucleus RNA-sequencing and spatial transcriptomics. We find gene expression changes associated with depressive-like behaviors mostly in microglia, and we report a pro-inflammatory microglia subpopulation enriched in the depressive-like condition. Single-nucleus RNA-sequencing data result in the identification of six enriched gene modules associated with depressive-like behaviors, and these modules are further resolved by spatial transcriptomics. Gene modules associated with huddle and sit alone behaviors are expressed in neurons and oligodendrocytes of the superficial cortical layer, while gene modules associated with locomotion and amicable behaviors are enriched in microglia and astrocytes in mid-to-deep cortical layers. The depressive-like behavior associated microglia subpopulation is enriched in deep cortical layers. In summary, our findings show cell-type and cortical layer-specific gene expression changes and identify one microglia subpopulation associated with depressive-like behaviors in female non-human primates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment on Brain Functional Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, China
| | - Yifan Li
- NHC Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment on Brain Functional Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, China
| | - Yu Huang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment on Brain Functional Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, China
| | - Lanxiang Liu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment on Brain Functional Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, China
- Department of Neurology, Yongchuan Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hanping Zhang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment on Brain Functional Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, China
| | - Corina Nagy
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Xunmin Tan
- NHC Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment on Brain Functional Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, China
| | - Ke Cheng
- NHC Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment on Brain Functional Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yiyun Liu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment on Brain Functional Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, China
| | - Juncai Pu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment on Brain Functional Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Haiyang Wang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment on Brain Functional Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, China
| | - Qingyuan Wu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment on Brain Functional Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Department of Neurology, Chongqing University Three Gorges Hospital, Chongqing, China
| | - Seth W Perry
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Gustavo Turecki
- McGill Group for Suicide Studies, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ma-Li Wong
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Julio Licinio
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY, USA
| | - Peng Zheng
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, China.
| | - Peng Xie
- NHC Key Laboratory of Diagnosis and Treatment on Brain Functional Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
- Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, China.
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Nieuwland JM, Nutma E, Philippens IHCHM, Böszörményi KP, Remarque EJ, Bakker J, Meijer L, Woerdman N, Fagrouch ZC, Verstrepen BE, Langermans JAM, Verschoor EJ, Windhorst AD, Bontrop RE, de Vries HE, Stammes MA, Middeldorp J. Longitudinal positron emission tomography and postmortem analysis reveals widespread neuroinflammation in SARS-CoV-2 infected rhesus macaques. J Neuroinflammation 2023; 20:179. [PMID: 37516868 PMCID: PMC10387202 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-023-02857-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients initially develop respiratory symptoms, but they may also suffer from neurological symptoms. People with long-lasting effects after acute infections with severe respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), i.e., post-COVID syndrome or long COVID, may experience a variety of neurological manifestations. Although we do not fully understand how SARS-CoV-2 affects the brain, neuroinflammation likely plays a role. METHODS To investigate neuroinflammatory processes longitudinally after SARS-CoV-2 infection, four experimentally SARS-CoV-2 infected rhesus macaques were monitored for 7 weeks with 18-kDa translocator protein (TSPO) positron emission tomography (PET) using [18F]DPA714, together with computed tomography (CT). The baseline scan was compared to weekly PET-CTs obtained post-infection (pi). Brain tissue was collected following euthanasia (50 days pi) to correlate the PET signal with TSPO expression, and glial and endothelial cell markers. Expression of these markers was compared to brain tissue from uninfected animals of comparable age, allowing the examination of the contribution of these cells to the neuroinflammatory response following SARS-CoV-2 infection. RESULTS TSPO PET revealed an increased tracer uptake throughout the brain of all infected animals already from the first scan obtained post-infection (day 2), which increased to approximately twofold until day 30 pi. Postmortem immunohistochemical analysis of the hippocampus and pons showed TSPO expression in cells expressing ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1 (IBA1), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and collagen IV. In the hippocampus of SARS-CoV-2 infected animals the TSPO+ area and number of TSPO+ cells were significantly increased compared to control animals. This increase was not cell type specific, since both the number of IBA1+TSPO+ and GFAP+TSPO+ cells was increased, as well as the TSPO+ area within collagen IV+ blood vessels. CONCLUSIONS This study manifests [18F]DPA714 as a powerful radiotracer to visualize SARS-CoV-2 induced neuroinflammation. The increased uptake of [18F]DPA714 over time implies an active neuroinflammatory response following SARS-CoV-2 infection. This inflammatory signal coincides with an increased number of TSPO expressing cells, including glial and endothelial cells, suggesting neuroinflammation and vascular dysregulation. These results demonstrate the long-term neuroinflammatory response following a mild SARS-CoV-2 infection, which potentially precedes long-lasting neurological symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana M Nieuwland
- Department of Neurobiology and Aging, Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Lange Kleiweg 161, 2288GJ, Rijswijk, The Netherlands
| | - Erik Nutma
- Department of Neurobiology and Aging, Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Lange Kleiweg 161, 2288GJ, Rijswijk, The Netherlands
| | - Ingrid H C H M Philippens
- Department of Neurobiology and Aging, Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Lange Kleiweg 161, 2288GJ, Rijswijk, The Netherlands
| | - Kinga P Böszörményi
- Department of Virology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Rijswijk, The Netherlands
| | - Edmond J Remarque
- Department of Virology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Rijswijk, The Netherlands
| | - Jaco Bakker
- Department of Radiology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Rijswijk, The Netherlands
| | - Lisette Meijer
- Department of Radiology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Rijswijk, The Netherlands
| | - Noor Woerdman
- Department of Radiology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Rijswijk, The Netherlands
| | - Zahra C Fagrouch
- Department of Virology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Rijswijk, The Netherlands
| | - Babs E Verstrepen
- Department of Virology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Rijswijk, The Netherlands
| | - Jan A M Langermans
- Department of Animal Sciences, Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Rijswijk, The Netherlands
- Department Population Health Sciences, Unit Animals in Science and Society, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Ernst J Verschoor
- Department of Virology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Rijswijk, The Netherlands
| | - Albert D Windhorst
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Tracer Center Amsterdam (TCA), Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ronald E Bontrop
- Department of Comparative Genetics and Refinement, Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Rijswijk, The Netherlands
- Department of Biology, Theoretical Biology and Bioinformatics, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Helga E de Vries
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1117, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marieke A Stammes
- Department of Radiology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Rijswijk, The Netherlands
| | - Jinte Middeldorp
- Department of Neurobiology and Aging, Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Lange Kleiweg 161, 2288GJ, Rijswijk, The Netherlands.
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Vlaicu SI, Tatomir A, Cuevas J, Rus V, Rus H. COVID, complement, and the brain. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1216457. [PMID: 37533859 PMCID: PMC10391634 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1216457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The brains of COVID-19 patients are affected by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and these effects may contribute to several COVID-19 sequelae, including cognitive dysfunction (termed "long COVID" by some researchers). Recent advances concerning the role of neuroinflammation and the consequences for brain function are reviewed in this manuscript. Studies have shown that respiratory SARS-CoV-2 infection in mice and humans is associated with selective microglial reactivity in the white matter, persistently impaired hippocampal neurogenesis, a decrease in the number of oligodendrocytes, and myelin loss. Brain MRI studies have revealed a greater reduction in grey matter thickness in the orbitofrontal cortex and parahippocampal gyrus, associated with a greater reduction in global brain size, in those with SARS-CoV-2 and a greater cognitive decline. COVID-19 can directly infect endothelial cells of the brain, potentially promoting clot formation and stroke; complement C3 seems to play a major role in this process. As compared to controls, the brain tissue of patients who died from COVID-19 have shown a significant increase in the extravasation of fibrinogen, indicating leakage in the blood-brain barrier; furthermore, recent studies have documented the presence of IgG, IgM, C1q, C4d, and C5b-9 deposits in the brain tissue of COVID-19 patients. These data suggest an activation of the classical complement pathway and an immune-mediated injury to the endothelial cells. These findings implicate both the classical and alternative complement pathways, and they indicate that C3b and the C5b-9 terminal complement complex (membrane attack complex, MAC) are acting in concert with neuroinflammatory and immune factors to contribute to the neurological sequelae seen in patients with COVID.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia I. Vlaicu
- Department of Neurology, University of Maryland, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Department of Medicine, Medical Clinic Nr. 1, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Alexandru Tatomir
- Department of Neurology, University of Maryland, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Jacob Cuevas
- Department of Neurology, University of Maryland, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Violeta Rus
- Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University of Maryland, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Horea Rus
- Department of Neurology, University of Maryland, School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
- Neurology Service, Baltimore Veterans Administration Medical Center, Baltimore, MD, United States
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