Beta Amyloid Peptide: Research Paper : Neuroinvasion of SARS-CoV-2 in human and mouse brain

Neuroinvasion of SARS-CoV-2 in human and mouse brain

Abstract

Although COVID-19 is considered to be primarily a respiratory disease, SARS-CoV-2 affects multiple organ systems including the central nervous system (CNS). Yet, there is no consensus on the consequences of CNS infections. Here, we used three independent approaches to probe the capacity of SARS-CoV-2 to infect the brain. First, using human brain organoids, we observed clear evidence of infection with accompanying metabolic changes in infected and neighboring neurons. However, no evidence for type I interferon responses was detected. We demonstrate that neuronal infection can be prevented by blocking ACE2 with antibodies or by administering cerebrospinal fluid from a COVID-19 patient. Second, using mice overexpressing human ACE2, we demonstrate SARS-CoV-2 neuroinvasion in vivo. Finally, in autopsies from patients who died of COVID-19, we detect SARS-CoV-2 in cortical neurons and note pathological features associated with infection with minimal immune cell infiltrates. These results provide evidence for the neuroinvasive capacity of SARS-CoV-2 and an unexpected consequence of direct infection of neurons by SARS-CoV-2.

Conflict of interest statement

Disclosures: M. Gunel reported personal fees from AI Therapeutics outside the submitted work; and reported, "AI Therapeutics is currently sponsoring a clinical trial for a therapeutic, which has no relevance for this study, in COVID-19. I am the Chief Scientific Advisor to AI Therapeutics." C.B. Wilen reported personal fees from ZymoResearch outside the submitted work; in addition, C.B. Wilen had a patent for compounds and compositions for treating, ameliorating, and/or preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection and/or complications thereof pending. S. Haik reported a patent to Method for treating prion diseases (PCT/EP 2019/070457) pending. A. Iwasaki reported "other" from RIGImmune and grants from Spring Discovery during the conduct of the study; in addition, A. Iwasaki had a patent to 14/776,463 pending, a patent for a T cell-based immunotherapy for central nervous system viral infections and tumors pending, and a patent to manipulation of meningeal lymphatic vasculature for brain and CNS tumor therapy pending. No other disclosures were reported.

This article originally appeared in the "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33433624/" and has their copyrights. We do not claim copyright on the content. This information is for research purposes only. This Blog is made available by publishers for educational purposes only as well as to give you general information and a general understanding , not to provide specific advice. By using this blog site you understand that there is no client relationship between you and the Blog publisher. The Blog should not be used as a substitute for competent research advice.