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Pavlou A, Mulenge F, Gern OL, Busker LM, Greimel E, Waltl I, Kalinke U. Orchestration of antiviral responses within the infected central nervous system. Cell Mol Immunol 2024; 21:943-958. [PMID: 38997413 PMCID: PMC11364666 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-024-01181-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Many newly emerging and re-emerging viruses have neuroinvasive potential, underscoring viral encephalitis as a global research priority. Upon entry of the virus into the CNS, severe neurological life-threatening conditions may manifest that are associated with high morbidity and mortality. The currently available therapeutic arsenal against viral encephalitis is rather limited, emphasizing the need to better understand the conditions of local antiviral immunity within the infected CNS. In this review, we discuss new insights into the pathophysiology of viral encephalitis, with a focus on myeloid cells and CD8+ T cells, which critically contribute to protection against viral CNS infection. By illuminating the prerequisites of myeloid and T cell activation, discussing new discoveries regarding their transcriptional signatures, and dissecting the mechanisms of their recruitment to sites of viral replication within the CNS, we aim to further delineate the complexity of antiviral responses within the infected CNS. Moreover, we summarize the current knowledge in the field of virus infection and neurodegeneration and discuss the potential links of some neurotropic viruses with certain pathological hallmarks observed in neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Pavlou
- Institute for Experimental Infection Research, TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a joint venture between the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research and the Hannover Medical School, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Felix Mulenge
- Institute for Experimental Infection Research, TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a joint venture between the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research and the Hannover Medical School, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Olivia Luise Gern
- Institute for Experimental Infection Research, TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a joint venture between the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research and the Hannover Medical School, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Lena Mareike Busker
- Institute for Experimental Infection Research, TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a joint venture between the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research and the Hannover Medical School, 30625, Hannover, Germany
- Department of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, 30559, Hannover, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Greimel
- Institute for Experimental Infection Research, TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a joint venture between the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research and the Hannover Medical School, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Inken Waltl
- Institute for Experimental Infection Research, TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a joint venture between the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research and the Hannover Medical School, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Ulrich Kalinke
- Institute for Experimental Infection Research, TWINCORE, Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, a joint venture between the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research and the Hannover Medical School, 30625, Hannover, Germany.
- Cluster of Excellence RESIST (EXC 2155), Hannover Medical School, 30625, Hannover, Germany.
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2
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Nagy B, Protzner AB, Czigler B, Gaál ZA. Resting-state neural dynamics changes in older adults with post-COVID syndrome and the modulatory effect of cognitive training and sex. GeroScience 2024:10.1007/s11357-024-01324-8. [PMID: 39210163 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-024-01324-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 08/22/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Post-COVID syndrome manifests with numerous neurological and cognitive symptoms, the precise origins of which are still not fully understood. As females and older adults are more susceptible to developing this condition, our study aimed to investigate how post-COVID syndrome alters intrinsic brain dynamics in older adults and whether biological sex and cognitive training might modulate these effects, with a specific focus on older females. The participants, aged between 60 and 75 years, were divided into three experimental groups: healthy old female, post-COVID old female and post-COVID old male. They underwent an adaptive task-switching training protocol. We analysed multiscale entropy and spectral power density of resting-state EEG data collected before and after the training to assess neural signal complexity and oscillatory power, respectively. We found no difference between post-COVID females and males before training, indicating that post-COVID similarly affected both sexes. However, cognitive training was effective only in post-COVID females and not in males, by modulating local neural processing capacity. This improvement was further evidenced by comparing healthy and post-COVID females, wherein the latter group showed increased finer timescale entropy (1-30 ms) and higher frequency band power (11-40 Hz) before training, but these differences disappeared following cognitive training. Our results suggest that in older adults with post-COVID syndrome, there is a pronounced shift from more global to local neural processing, potentially contributing to accelerated neural aging in this condition. However, cognitive training seems to offer a promising intervention method for modulating these changes in brain dynamics, especially among females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boglárka Nagy
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Andrea B Protzner
- Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research and Education, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | | | - Zsófia Anna Gaál
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
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3
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Vinnakota JM, Biavasco F, Schwabenland M, Chhatbar C, Adams RC, Erny D, Duquesne S, El Khawanky N, Schmidt D, Fetsch V, Zähringer A, Salié H, Athanassopoulos D, Braun LM, Javorniczky NR, Ho JNHG, Kierdorf K, Marks R, Wäsch R, Simonetta F, Andrieux G, Pfeifer D, Monaco G, Capitini C, Fry TJ, Blank T, Blazar BR, Wagner E, Theobald M, Sommer C, Stelljes M, Reicherts C, Jeibmann A, Schittenhelm J, Monoranu CM, Rosenwald A, Kortüm M, Rasche L, Einsele H, Meyer PT, Brumberg J, Völkl S, Mackensen A, Coras R, von Bergwelt-Baildon M, Albert NL, Bartos LM, Brendel M, Holzgreve A, Mack M, Boerries M, Mackall CL, Duyster J, Henneke P, Priller J, Köhler N, Strübing F, Bengsch B, Ruella M, Subklewe M, von Baumgarten L, Gill S, Prinz M, Zeiser R. Targeting TGFβ-activated kinase-1 activation in microglia reduces CAR T immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome. NATURE CANCER 2024; 5:1227-1249. [PMID: 38741011 DOI: 10.1038/s43018-024-00764-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells can cause immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS). However, the molecular mechanisms leading to ICANS are not well understood. Here we examined the role of microglia using mouse models and cohorts of individuals with ICANS. CD19-directed CAR (CAR19) T cell transfer in B cell lymphoma-bearing mice caused microglia activation and neurocognitive deficits. The TGFβ-activated kinase-1 (TAK1)-NF-κB-p38 MAPK pathway was activated in microglia after CAR19 T cell transfer. Pharmacological TAK1 inhibition or genetic Tak1 deletion in microglia using Cx3cr1CreER:Tak1fl/fl mice resulted in reduced microglia activation and improved neurocognitive activity. TAK1 inhibition allowed for potent CAR19-induced antilymphoma effects. Individuals with ICANS exhibited microglia activation in vivo when studied by translocator protein positron emission tomography, and imaging mass cytometry revealed a shift from resting to activated microglia. In summary, we prove a role for microglia in ICANS pathophysiology, identify the TAK1-NF-κB-p38 MAPK axis as a pathogenic signaling pathway and provide a rationale to test TAK1 inhibition in a clinical trial for ICANS prevention after CAR19 T cell-based cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janaki Manoja Vinnakota
- Department of Medicine I, Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, Albert-Ludwigs-University, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Francesca Biavasco
- Department of Medicine I, Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Marius Schwabenland
- Institute for Neuropathology, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Chintan Chhatbar
- Institute for Neuropathology, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Rachael C Adams
- Department of Medicine I, Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Daniel Erny
- Institute for Neuropathology, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Sandra Duquesne
- Department of Medicine I, Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Nadia El Khawanky
- Department of Medicine I, Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Department of Medicine III, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Center for Translational Cancer Research (TranslaTUM), School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Dominik Schmidt
- Department of Medicine I, Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, Albert-Ludwigs-University, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Viktor Fetsch
- Department of Medicine I, Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, Albert-Ludwigs-University, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Alexander Zähringer
- Department of Medicine I, Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Henrike Salié
- Department of Medicine II, Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Dimitrios Athanassopoulos
- Department of Medicine I, Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Lukas M Braun
- Department of Medicine I, Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, Albert-Ludwigs-University, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Nora R Javorniczky
- Department of Medicine I, Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jenny N H G Ho
- Department of Medicine I, Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Katrin Kierdorf
- Institute for Neuropathology, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Reinhard Marks
- Department of Medicine I, Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ralph Wäsch
- Department of Medicine I, Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Federico Simonetta
- Division of Hematology, Geneva University Hospitals Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Geoffroy Andrieux
- Institute of Medical Bioinformatics and Systems Medicine, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Dietmar Pfeifer
- Department of Medicine I, Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Gianni Monaco
- Institute for Neuropathology, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Single-Cell Omics Platform Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Gene Therapy, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Christian Capitini
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Terry J Fry
- Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Children's Hospital Colorado and Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Thomas Blank
- Institute for Neuropathology, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Bruce R Blazar
- Masonic Cancer Center and Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood & Marrow Transplant & Cellular Therapy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Eva Wagner
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Johannes Gutenberg-University Medical Center, Mainz, Germany
| | - Matthias Theobald
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Johannes Gutenberg-University Medical Center, Mainz, Germany
| | - Clemens Sommer
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Matthias Stelljes
- Department of Medicine/Hematology and Oncology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Christian Reicherts
- Department of Medicine/Hematology and Oncology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Astrid Jeibmann
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Jens Schittenhelm
- Department of Neuropathology, Institute of Pathology and Neuropathology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | | | | | - Martin Kortüm
- Department of Internal Medicine 2, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Leo Rasche
- Department of Internal Medicine 2, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Hermann Einsele
- Department of Internal Medicine 2, University Hospital of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Philipp T Meyer
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Joachim Brumberg
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Simon Völkl
- Department of Internal Medicine 5, Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Andreas Mackensen
- Department of Internal Medicine 5, Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Roland Coras
- Department of Neuropathology, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Michael von Bergwelt-Baildon
- Department of Medicine III, Hematology/Oncology, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität (LMU) Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Nathalie L Albert
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Laura M Bartos
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Matthias Brendel
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Germany
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany
| | - Adrien Holzgreve
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Matthias Mack
- Department of Nephrology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Melanie Boerries
- Institute of Medical Bioinformatics and Systems Medicine, Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Freiburg, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Crystal L Mackall
- Center for Cancer Cell Therapy, Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Justus Duyster
- Department of Medicine I, Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Philipp Henneke
- Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Josef Priller
- Department of Psychiatry, Technischen Universität München (TUM), Munich, Germany
| | - Natalie Köhler
- Department of Medicine I, Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies (CIBSS), University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Felix Strübing
- Center for Neuropathology and Prion Research, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Bertram Bengsch
- Department of Medicine II, Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Freiburg, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marco Ruella
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Marion Subklewe
- Department of Medicine III, Hematology/Oncology, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität (LMU) Munich, Munich, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Louisa von Baumgarten
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Munich, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Neuro-Oncology, Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Saar Gill
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Marco Prinz
- Institute for Neuropathology, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies (CIBSS), University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Robert Zeiser
- Department of Medicine I, Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Freiburg, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
- Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and Centre for Integrative Biological Signalling Studies (CIBSS), University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
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Schwabenland M, Hasavci D, Frase S, Wolf K, Deigendesch N, Buescher JM, Mertz KD, Ondruschka B, Altmeppen H, Matschke J, Glatzel M, Frank S, Thimme R, Beck J, Hosp JA, Blank T, Bengsch B, Prinz M. High throughput spatial immune mapping reveals an innate immune scar in post-COVID-19 brains. Acta Neuropathol 2024; 148:11. [PMID: 39060438 PMCID: PMC11281987 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-024-02770-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2024] [Revised: 07/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
The underlying pathogenesis of neurological sequelae in post-COVID-19 patients remains unclear. Here, we used multidimensional spatial immune phenotyping and machine learning methods on brains from initial COVID-19 survivors to identify the biological correlate associated with previous SARS-CoV-2 challenge. Compared to healthy controls, individuals with post-COVID-19 revealed a high percentage of TMEM119+P2RY12+CD68+Iba1+HLA-DR+CD11c+SCAMP2+ microglia assembled in prototypical cellular nodules. In contrast to acute SARS-CoV-2 cases, the frequency of CD8+ parenchymal T cells was reduced, suggesting an immune shift toward innate immune activation that may contribute to neurological alterations in post-COVID-19 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marius Schwabenland
- Institute of Neuropathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Breisacher Str. 64, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Dilara Hasavci
- Institute of Neuropathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Breisacher Str. 64, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Sibylle Frase
- Department of Neurology and Neuroscience, University Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Katharina Wolf
- Department of Neurology and Neuroscience, University Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Nikolaus Deigendesch
- Institute of Medical Genetics and Pathology, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Joerg M Buescher
- Max Planck Institute for Immunobiology and Epigenetics, 79108, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Kirsten D Mertz
- Institute of Pathology, Cantonal Hospital Baselland, Liestal, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Benjamin Ondruschka
- Institute of Legal Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hermann Altmeppen
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jakob Matschke
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Markus Glatzel
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Stephan Frank
- Division of Neuropathology, Institute of Medical Genetics and Pathology, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Robert Thimme
- Clinic for Internal Medicine II, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology, and Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Juergen Beck
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jonas A Hosp
- Department of Neurology and Neuroscience, University Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Blank
- Institute of Neuropathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Breisacher Str. 64, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Bertram Bengsch
- Clinic for Internal Medicine II, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology, and Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, University Medical Center Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Marco Prinz
- Institute of Neuropathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Breisacher Str. 64, 79106, Freiburg, Germany.
- Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSS, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
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Krishna VD, Chang A, Korthas H, Var SR, Seelig DM, Low WC, Li L, Cheeran MCJ. Impact of age and sex on neuroinflammation following SARS-CoV-2 infection in a murine model. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1404312. [PMID: 39077737 PMCID: PMC11284165 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1404312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the etiological agent of COVID-19, is known to infect people of all ages and both sexes. Senior populations have the greatest risk of severe COVID-19, and sexual dimorphism in clinical outcomes has been reported. Neurological symptoms are widely observed in COVID-19 patients, with many survivors exhibiting persistent neurological and cognitive impairment. The present study aims to investigate the impact of age and sex on the neuroinflammatory response to SARS-CoV-2 infection using a mouse model. Wild-type C57BL/6J mice were intranasally inoculated with SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.351, a variant known to infect mice. Older male mice exhibited a significantly greater weight loss and higher viral loads in the lung at 3 days post infection. Notably, no viral RNA was detected in the brains of infected mice. Nevertheless, expression of IL-6, TNF-α, and CCL-2 in the lung and brain increased with viral infection. RNA-seq transcriptomic analysis of brains showed that SARS-CoV-2 infection caused significant changes in gene expression profiles, implicating innate immunity, defense response to virus, and cerebrovascular and neuronal functions. These findings demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 infection triggers a neuroinflammatory response, despite the lack of detectable virus in the brain. Aberrant activation of innate immune response, disruption of blood-brain barrier and endothelial cell integrity, and suppression of neuronal activity and axonogenesis underlie the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the brain. Understanding the role of these affected pathways in SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis helps identify appropriate points of therapeutic interventions to alleviate neurological dysfunction observed during COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venkatramana D. Krishna
- Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, United States
| | - Allison Chang
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Holly Korthas
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Susanna R. Var
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Davis M. Seelig
- Comparative Pathology Shared Resource, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Walter C. Low
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Ling Li
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
| | - Maxim C. -J. Cheeran
- Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, MN, United States
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6
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Li D, Wu M. Potential value and research frontiers of virus in neuroinflammation: a bibliometric and visualized analysis. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1390149. [PMID: 39021576 PMCID: PMC11251911 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1390149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Neuroinflammation represents the immune response of the central nervous system to nerve injury, infection, toxin stimulation, or autoimmunity and is implicated in a wide range of neurological disorders. Viruses play a pivotal role as extrinsic biological drivers in neuroinflammation; however, numerous aspects remain unexplored. In this study, we employed bibliometric analysis to assess the current status of viral research in neuroinflammation and anticipate future research directions and emerging trends. Methods Conduct a comprehensive search for scholarly publications within the Web of Science Core Collection database, with search terms on neuroinflammation and virus. Apply Microsoft Excel Office, Hiplot, R (version 4.3.1), VOSviewer (version 1.6.20) and CiteSpace (6.2.R6, advanced) software for the bibliometric analysis and visualization. Results A total of 4230 articles and reviews on virus and neuroinflammation were identified, demonstrating a consistent upward trend over time. The United States was the country that contributed the most publications. Approximately 22274 authors from 4474 institutions contributed to the research. Johns Hopkins University leads with the highest number of publications and citations. The top three authors with the most published articles on this field are Power, C., Lane, T. E., and Buch, S. The Journal of Neuroinflammation is the most authoritative choice for researchers. The main research focuses in this field include multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, blood-brain barrier, COVID-19, Alzheimer's disease, gene therapy. In recent years, stress have emerged as hot keywords, particularly depression, human immunodeficiency virus-associated neurocognitive disorders, blood-brain barrier, gut microbiota related directions, indicating a potential shift in research focus. Conclusion Research on the virus and neuroinflammation has attracted increasing attention in the past decade. European and American countries have been pivotal in conducting research on virus and neuroinflammation, while China has produced a significant number of publications, its impact is still limited. Stress is likely to emerge as the next area of focus in this field. The association and regulation between viral infection and psychiatric disorders are not fully understood, and further research is needed to explore the role of neuroinflammation caused by different types of viral infection and psychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danyang Li
- Hunan Cancer Hospital/the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis of the Chinese Ministry of Health, The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Minghua Wu
- Hunan Cancer Hospital/the Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
- The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis of the Chinese Ministry of Health, The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, School of Basic Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
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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; 281:3671-3678. [PMID: 38492007 PMCID: PMC11211159 DOI: 10.1007/s00405-024-08548-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 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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Cavaillon JM, Chousterman BG, Skirecki T. Compartmentalization of the inflammatory response during bacterial sepsis and severe COVID-19. JOURNAL OF INTENSIVE MEDICINE 2024; 4:326-340. [PMID: 39035623 PMCID: PMC11258514 DOI: 10.1016/j.jointm.2024.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
Acute infections cause local and systemic disorders which can lead in the most severe forms to multi-organ failure and eventually to death. The host response to infection encompasses a large spectrum of reactions with a concomitant activation of the so-called inflammatory response aimed at fighting the infectious agent and removing damaged tissues or cells, and the anti-inflammatory response aimed at controlling inflammation and initiating the healing process. Fine-tuning at the local and systemic levels is key to preventing local and remote injury due to immune system activation. Thus, during bacterial sepsis and Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), concomitant systemic and compartmentalized pro-inflammatory and compensatory anti-inflammatory responses are occurring. Immune cells (e.g., macrophages, neutrophils, natural killer cells, and T-lymphocytes), as well as endothelial cells, differ from one compartment to another and contribute to specific organ responses to sterile and microbial insult. Furthermore, tissue-specific microbiota influences the local and systemic response. A better understanding of the tissue-specific immune status, the organ immunity crosstalk, and the role of specific mediators during sepsis and COVID-19 can foster the development of more accurate biomarkers for better diagnosis and prognosis and help to define appropriate host-targeted treatments and vaccines in the context of precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Benjamin G. Chousterman
- Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, Lariboisière University Hospital, DMU Parabol, APHP Nord, Paris, France
- Inserm U942, University of Paris, Paris, France
| | - Tomasz Skirecki
- Department of Translational Immunology and Experimental Intensive Care, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, Warsaw, Poland
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9
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Haverty R, McCormack J, Evans C, Purves K, O'Reilly S, Gautier V, Rochfort K, Fabre A, Fletcher NF. SARS-CoV-2 infects neurons, astrocytes, choroid plexus epithelial cells and pericytes of the human central nervous system in vitro. J Gen Virol 2024; 105:002009. [PMID: 38995681 PMCID: PMC11317966 DOI: 10.1099/jgv.0.002009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is associated with neurological sequelae including haemorrhage, thrombosis and ischaemic necrosis and encephalitis. However, the mechanism by which this occurs is unclear. Neurological disease associated with COVID-19 has been proposed to occur following direct infection of the central nervous system and/or indirectly by local or systemic immune activation. We evaluated the expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 and transmembrane protease, serine 2 (TMPRSS2) in brain tissue from five healthy human donors and observed low-level expression of these proteins in cells morphologically consistent with astrocytes, neurons and choroidal ependymal cells within the frontal cortex and medulla oblongata. Primary human astrocytes, neurons, choroid plexus epithelial cells and pericytes supported productive SARS-CoV-2 infection with ancestral, Alpha, Delta and Omicron variants. Infected cells supported the full viral life cycle, releasing infectious virus particles. In contrast, primary brain microvascular endothelial cells and microglia were refractory to SARS-CoV-2 infection. These data support a model whereby SARS-CoV-2 can infect human brain cells, and the mechanism of viral entry warrants further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Haverty
- Veterinary Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Janet McCormack
- Research Pathology Core Facility, Conway Institute of Biomedical and Biomolecular Research, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Christopher Evans
- Veterinary Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Kevin Purves
- Veterinary Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Sophie O'Reilly
- Centre for Experimental Pathogen Host Research, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Virginie Gautier
- Centre for Experimental Pathogen Host Research, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
- Conway Institute of Biomedical and Biomolecular Research, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Keith Rochfort
- School of Biotechnology, Dublin City University, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland
| | - Aurelie Fabre
- Research Pathology Core Facility, Conway Institute of Biomedical and Biomolecular Research, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
- Department of Histopathology, St. Vincent’s University Hospital, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Nicola F. Fletcher
- Veterinary Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
- Conway Institute of Biomedical and Biomolecular Research, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
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10
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Vanderheiden A, Hill JD, Jiang X, Deppen B, Bamunuarachchi G, Soudani N, Joshi A, Cain MD, Boon ACM, Klein RS. Vaccination reduces central nervous system IL-1β and memory deficits after COVID-19 in mice. Nat Immunol 2024; 25:1158-1171. [PMID: 38902519 DOI: 10.1038/s41590-024-01868-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
Up to 25% of individuals infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) exhibit postacute cognitive sequelae. Although millions of cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-mediated memory dysfunction are accumulating worldwide, the underlying mechanisms and how vaccination lowers risk are unknown. Interleukin-1 (IL-1), a key component of innate immune defense against SARS-CoV-2 infection, is elevated in the hippocampi of individuals with COVID-19. Here we show that intranasal infection of C57BL/6J mice with SARS-CoV-2 Beta variant leads to central nervous system 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 postacute cognitive deficits. 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 mouse 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 D 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 Molecular Microbiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Robyn S Klein
- Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
- Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western Institute of Neuroscience, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada.
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11
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Rau A, Gonzalez-Escamilla G, Schroeter N, Othmann A, Dressing A, Weiller C, Urbach H, Reisert M, Groppa S, Hosp JA. Inflammation-Triggered Enlargement of Choroid Plexus in Subacute COVID-19 Patients with Neurological Symptoms. Ann Neurol 2024. [PMID: 38934493 DOI: 10.1002/ana.27016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate whether choroid plexus volumes in subacute coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients with neurological symptoms could indicate inflammatory activation or barrier dysfunction and assess their association with clinical data. METHODS Choroid plexus volumes were measured in 28 subacute COVID-19 patients via cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), compared with those in infection-triggered non-COVID-19 encephalopathy patients (n = 25), asymptomatic individuals after COVID-19 (n = 21), and healthy controls (n = 21). Associations with inflammatory serum markers (peak counts of leukocytes, C-reactive protein [CRP], interleukin 6), an MRI-based marker of barrier dysfunction (CSF volume fraction [V-CSF]), and clinical parameters like olfactory performance and cognitive scores (Montreal Cognitive Assessment) were investigated. RESULTS COVID-19 patients showed significantly larger choroid plexus volumes than control groups (p < 0.001, η2 = 0.172). These volumes correlated significantly with peak leukocyte levels (p = 0.001, Pearson's r = 0.621) and V-CSF (p = 0.009, Spearman's rho = 0.534), but neither with CRP nor interleukin 6. No significant correlations were found with clinical parameters. INTERPRETATION In patients with subacute COVID-19, choroid plexus volume is a marker of central nervous system inflammation and barrier dysfunction in the presence of neurologic symptoms. The absence of plexus enlargement in infection-triggered non-COVID-19 encephalopathy suggests a specific severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 effect. This study also documents an increase in choroid plexus volume for the first time as a parainfectious event. ANN NEUROL 2024.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Rau
- Department of Neuroradiology, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Gabriel Gonzalez-Escamilla
- Department of Neurology, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN), Rhine-Main Neuroscience Network (rmn2), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Nils Schroeter
- Department of Neurology and Clinical Neuroscience, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ahmed Othmann
- Department of Neuroradiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Andrea Dressing
- Department of Neurology and Clinical Neuroscience, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Cornelius Weiller
- Department of Neurology and Clinical Neuroscience, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Horst Urbach
- Department of Neuroradiology, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Marco Reisert
- Department of Medical Physics, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Department of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Sergiu Groppa
- Department of Neurology, Focus Program Translational Neuroscience (FTN), Rhine-Main Neuroscience Network (rmn2), University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Jonas A Hosp
- Department of Neurology and Clinical Neuroscience, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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12
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Chausse B, Malorny N, Lewen A, Poschet G, Berndt N, Kann O. Metabolic flexibility ensures proper neuronal network function in moderate neuroinflammation. Sci Rep 2024; 14:14405. [PMID: 38909138 PMCID: PMC11193723 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-64872-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Microglia, brain-resident macrophages, can acquire distinct functional phenotypes, which are supported by differential reprogramming of cell metabolism. These adaptations include remodeling in glycolytic and mitochondrial metabolic fluxes, potentially altering energy substrate availability at the tissue level. This phenomenon may be highly relevant in the brain, where metabolism must be precisely regulated to maintain appropriate neuronal excitability and synaptic transmission. Direct evidence that microglia can impact on neuronal energy metabolism has been widely lacking, however. Combining molecular profiling, electrophysiology, oxygen microsensor recordings and mathematical modeling, we investigated microglia-mediated disturbances in brain energetics during neuroinflammation. Our results suggest that proinflammatory microglia showing enhanced nitric oxide release and decreased CX3CR1 expression transiently increase the tissue lactate/glucose ratio that depends on transcriptional reprogramming in microglia, not in neurons. In this condition, neuronal network activity such as gamma oscillations (30-70 Hz) can be fueled by increased ATP production in mitochondria, which is reflected by elevated oxygen consumption. During dysregulated inflammation, high energy demand and low glucose availability can be boundary conditions for neuronal metabolic fitness as revealed by kinetic modeling of single neuron energetics. Collectively, these findings indicate that metabolic flexibility protects neuronal network function against alterations in local substrate availability during moderate neuroinflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Chausse
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 326, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
- MEDISS Doctoral Program, INF 110, Heidelberg University, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Nikolai Malorny
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 326, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Andrea Lewen
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 326, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Gernot Poschet
- Metabolomics Core Technology Platform, Centre for Organismal Studies, Heidelberg University, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nikolaus Berndt
- Department of Molecular Toxicology, German Institute of Human Nutrition Potsdam-Rehbruecke (DIfE), 14558, Nuthetal, Germany
- Institute of Computer-Assisted Cardiovascular Medicine, Deutsches Herzzentrum der Charité (DHZC), 13353, Berlin, Germany
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Oliver Kann
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 326, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
- Interdisciplinary Center for Neurosciences (IZN), Heidelberg University, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
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13
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Vinnakota JM, Adams RC, Athanassopoulos D, Schmidt D, Biavasco F, Zähringer A, Erny D, Schwabenland M, Langenbach M, Wenger V, Salié H, Cook J, Mossad O, Andrieux G, Dersch R, Rauer S, Duquesne S, Monaco G, Wolf P, Blank T, Häne P, Greter M, Becher B, Henneke P, Pfeifer D, Blazar BR, Duyster J, Boerries M, Köhler N, Chhatbar CM, Bengsch B, Prinz M, Zeiser R. Anti-PD-1 cancer immunotherapy induces central nervous system immune-related adverse events by microglia activation. Sci Transl Med 2024; 16:eadj9672. [PMID: 38865481 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adj9672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
Cancer treatment with anti-PD-1 immunotherapy can cause central nervous system immune-related adverse events (CNS-irAEs). The role of microglia in anti-PD-1 immunotherapy-induced CNS-irAEs is unclear. We found that anti-PD-1 treatment of mice caused morphological signs of activation and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II up-regulation on microglia. Functionally, anti-PD-1 treatment induced neurocognitive deficits in mice, independent of T cells, B cells, and natural killer cells. Instead, we found that microglia mediated these CNS-irAEs. Single-cell RNA sequencing revealed major transcriptional changes in microglia upon anti-PD-1 treatment. The anti-PD-1 effects were mediated by anti-PD-1 antibodies interacting directly with microglia and were not secondary to peripheral T cell activation. Using a proteomics approach, we identified spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) as a potential target in activated microglia upon anti-PD-1 treatment. Syk inhibition reduced microglia activation and improved neurocognitive function without impairing anti-melanoma effects. Moreover, we analyzed CNS tissue from a patient cohort that had received anti-PD-1 treatment. Imaging mass cytometry revealed that anti-PD-1 treatment of patients was associated with increased surface marker expression indicative of microglia activation. In summary, we identified a disease-promoting role for microglia in CNS-irAEs driven by Syk and provide an inhibitor-based approach to interfere with this complication after anti-PD-1 immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janaki Manoja Vinnakota
- Department of Medicine I-Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, Albert-Ludwigs-University, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Rachael C Adams
- Department of Medicine I-Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, 4006 Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, 4072 Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Dimitrios Athanassopoulos
- Department of Medicine I-Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Dominik Schmidt
- Department of Medicine I-Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, Albert-Ludwigs-University, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Francesca Biavasco
- Department of Medicine I-Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Alexander Zähringer
- Department of Medicine I-Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Daniel Erny
- Institute of Neuropathology, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Marius Schwabenland
- Institute of Neuropathology, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Marlene Langenbach
- Department of Medicine I-Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, Albert-Ludwigs-University, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Valentin Wenger
- Department of Medicine I-Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Henrike Salié
- Department of Medicine II-Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - James Cook
- Institute of Neuropathology, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Omar Mossad
- Faculty of Biology, Albert-Ludwigs-University, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Institute of Neuropathology, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Geoffroy Andrieux
- Institute of Medical Bioinformatics and Systems Medicine, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Rick Dersch
- Clinic of Neurology and Neurophysiology, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Sebastian Rauer
- Clinic of Neurology and Neurophysiology, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Sandra Duquesne
- Department of Medicine I-Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Gianni Monaco
- Institute of Neuropathology, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
- Single-Cell Omics Platform Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Gene Therapy, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Phillipp Wolf
- Department of Medicine I-Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
- Department of Urology, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Blank
- Institute of Neuropathology, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Philipp Häne
- Institute of Experimental Immunology at the University of Zürich, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Melanie Greter
- Institute of Experimental Immunology at the University of Zürich, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Burkhard Becher
- Institute of Experimental Immunology at the University of Zürich, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Philipp Henneke
- Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency and Center for Pediatrics, University Medical Center Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
- CIBSS-Center for Integrative Biological Signaling Studies, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Dietmar Pfeifer
- Department of Medicine I-Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Bruce R Blazar
- Masonic Cancer Center and Department of Pediatrics, Division of Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA
| | - Justus Duyster
- Department of Medicine I-Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Melanie Boerries
- Institute of Medical Bioinformatics and Systems Medicine, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79110 Freiburg, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Freiburg, a partnership between DKFZ and Medical Center - University of Freiburg and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Natalie Köhler
- Department of Medicine I-Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
- CIBSS-Center for Integrative Biological Signaling Studies, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Chintan M Chhatbar
- Institute of Neuropathology, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Bertram Bengsch
- Department of Medicine II-Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
- CIBSS-Center for Integrative Biological Signaling Studies, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Marco Prinz
- Institute of Neuropathology, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
- CIBSS-Center for Integrative Biological Signaling Studies, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- Center for Neuro Modulation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Robert Zeiser
- Department of Medicine I-Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
- CIBSS-Center for Integrative Biological Signaling Studies, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Freiburg, a partnership between DKFZ and Medical Center - University of Freiburg and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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14
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Kettunen P, Koistinaho J, Rolova T. Contribution of CNS and extra-CNS infections to neurodegeneration: a narrative review. J Neuroinflammation 2024; 21:152. [PMID: 38845026 PMCID: PMC11157808 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-024-03139-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Central nervous system infections have been suggested as a possible cause for neurodegenerative diseases, particularly sporadic cases. They trigger neuroinflammation which is considered integrally involved in neurodegenerative processes. In this review, we will look at data linking a variety of viral, bacterial, fungal, and protozoan infections to Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis and unspecified dementia. This narrative review aims to bring together a broad range of data currently supporting the involvement of central nervous system infections in the development of neurodegenerative diseases. The idea that no single pathogen or pathogen group is responsible for neurodegenerative diseases will be discussed. Instead, we suggest that a wide range of susceptibility factors may make individuals differentially vulnerable to different infectious pathogens and subsequent pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pinja Kettunen
- Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Jari Koistinaho
- Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Taisia Rolova
- Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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15
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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] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [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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16
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Hosp JA, Reisert M, Dressing A, Götz V, Kellner E, Mast H, Arndt S, Waller CF, Wagner D, Rieg S, Urbach H, Weiller C, Schröter N, Rau A. Cerebral microstructural alterations in Post-COVID-condition are related to cognitive impairment, olfactory dysfunction and fatigue. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4256. [PMID: 38762609 PMCID: PMC11102465 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48651-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024] Open
Abstract
After contracting COVID-19, a substantial number of individuals develop a Post-COVID-Condition, marked by neurologic symptoms such as cognitive deficits, olfactory dysfunction, and fatigue. Despite this, biomarkers and pathophysiological understandings of this condition remain limited. Employing magnetic resonance imaging, we conduct a comparative analysis of cerebral microstructure among patients with Post-COVID-Condition, healthy controls, and individuals that contracted COVID-19 without long-term symptoms. We reveal widespread alterations in cerebral microstructure, attributed to a shift in volume from neuronal compartments to free fluid, associated with the severity of the initial infection. Correlating these alterations with cognition, olfaction, and fatigue unveils distinct affected networks, which are in close anatomical-functional relationship with the respective symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas A Hosp
- Department of Neurology and Clinical Neuroscience, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
| | - Marco Reisert
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Department of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Andrea Dressing
- Department of Neurology and Clinical Neuroscience, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Freiburg Brain Imaging Center, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Veronika Götz
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Elias Kellner
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Hansjörg Mast
- Department of Neuroradiology, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Susan Arndt
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Cornelius F Waller
- Department of Internal Medicine I, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Dirk Wagner
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Siegbert Rieg
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Horst Urbach
- Department of Neuroradiology, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Cornelius Weiller
- Department of Neurology and Clinical Neuroscience, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Nils Schröter
- Department of Neurology and Clinical Neuroscience, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Alexander Rau
- Department of Neuroradiology, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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17
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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] [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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18
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Lengacher NA, Tomlinson JJ, Jochum AK, Franz J, Hasan Ali O, Flatz L, Jochum W, Penninger J, Stadelmann C, Woulfe JM, Schlossmacher MG. Neuropathological assessment of the olfactory bulb and tract in individuals with COVID-19. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2024; 12:70. [PMID: 38698465 PMCID: PMC11067107 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-024-01761-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
The majority of patients with Parkinson disease (PD) experience a loss in their sense of smell and accumulate insoluble α-synuclein aggregates in their olfactory bulbs (OB). Subjects affected by a SARS-CoV-2-linked illness (COVID-19) also frequently experience hyposmia. We previously postulated that microglial activation as well as α-synuclein and tau misprocessing can occur during host responses following microbial encounters. Using semiquantitative measurements of immunohistochemical signals, we examined OB and olfactory tract specimens collected serially at autopsies between 2020 and 2023. Deceased subjects comprised 50 adults, which included COVID19 + patients (n = 22), individuals with Lewy body disease (e.g., PD; dementia with Lewy bodies (n = 6)), Alzheimer disease (AD; n = 3), and other neurodegenerative disorders (e.g., progressive supranuclear palsy (n = 2); multisystem atrophy (n = 1)). Further, we included neurologically healthy controls (n = 9), and added subjects with an inflammation-rich brain disorder as neurological controls (NCO; n = 7). When probing for microglial and histiocytic reactivity in the anterior olfactory nuclei (AON) by anti-CD68 immunostaining, scores were consistently elevated in NCO and AD cases. In contrast, microglial signals on average were not significantly altered in COVID19 + patients relative to healthy controls, although anti-CD68 reactivity in their OB and tracts declined with progression in age. Mild-to-moderate increases in phospho-α-synuclein and phospho-tau signals were detected in the AON of tauopathy- and synucleinopathy-afflicted brains, respectively, consistent with mixed pathology, as described by others. Lastly, when both sides were available for comparison in our case series, we saw no asymmetry in the degree of pathology of the left versus right OB and tracts. We concluded from our autopsy series that after a fatal course of COVID-19, microscopic changes in the rostral, intracranial portion of the olfactory circuitry -when present- reflected neurodegenerative processes seen elsewhere in the brain. In general, microglial reactivity correlated best with the degree of Alzheimer's-linked tauopathy and declined with progression of age in COVID19 + patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie A Lengacher
- Neuroscience Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815, USA
| | - Julianna J Tomlinson
- Neuroscience Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815, USA
| | - Ann-Kristin Jochum
- Institute of Pathology, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland
- Institute of Immunobiology, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815, USA
| | - Jonas Franz
- Neuropathology Institute, University of Goettingen Medical Centre, Goettingen, Germany
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815, USA
| | - Omar Hasan Ali
- Department of Life Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815, USA
| | - Lukas Flatz
- Institute of Immunobiology, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815, USA
| | - Wolfram Jochum
- Institute of Pathology, Kantonsspital St. Gallen, St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Josef Penninger
- Department of Life Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815, USA
| | - Christine Stadelmann
- Neuropathology Institute, University of Goettingen Medical Centre, Goettingen, Germany
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815, USA
| | - John M Woulfe
- Neuroscience Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815, USA.
| | - Michael G Schlossmacher
- Neuroscience Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815, USA.
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19
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Qiao H, Deng X, Qiu L, Qu Y, Chiu Y, Chen F, Xia S, Muenzel C, Ge T, Zhang Z, Song P, Bonnin A, Zhao Z, Yuan W. SARS-CoV-2 induces blood-brain barrier and choroid plexus barrier impairments and vascular inflammation in mice. J Med Virol 2024; 96:e29671. [PMID: 38747003 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.29671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2024] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to more than 700 million confirmed cases and nearly 7 million deaths. Although severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus mainly infects the respiratory system, neurological complications are widely reported in both acute infection and long-COVID cases. Despite the success of vaccines and antiviral treatments, neuroinvasiveness of SARS-CoV-2 remains an important question, which is also centered on the mystery of whether the virus is capable of breaching the barriers into the central nervous system. By studying the K18-hACE2 infection model, we observed clear evidence of microvascular damage and breakdown of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Mechanistically, SARS-CoV-2 infection caused pericyte damage, tight junction loss, endothelial activation and vascular inflammation, which together drive microvascular injury and BBB impairment. In addition, the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier at the choroid plexus was also impaired after infection. Therefore, cerebrovascular and choroid plexus dysfunctions are important aspects of COVID-19 and may contribute to neurological complications both acutely and in long COVID.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haowen Qiao
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Regeneration, Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Xiangxue Deng
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Lingxi Qiu
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Yafei Qu
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Regeneration, Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Yuanpu Chiu
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Regeneration, Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Feixiang Chen
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Regeneration, Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Shangzhou Xia
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Regeneration, Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Cheyene Muenzel
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Regeneration, Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Tenghuan Ge
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Regeneration, Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Zixin Zhang
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Regeneration, Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Pengfei Song
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, the Department of Bioengineering, Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - Alexandre Bonnin
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Regeneration, Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Zhen Zhao
- Center for Neurodegeneration and Regeneration, Zilkha Neurogenetic Institute, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Weiming Yuan
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
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20
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Sun Z, Shi C, Jin L. Mechanisms by Which SARS-CoV-2 Invades and Damages the Central Nervous System: Apart from the Immune Response and Inflammatory Storm, What Else Do We Know? Viruses 2024; 16:663. [PMID: 38793545 PMCID: PMC11125732 DOI: 10.3390/v16050663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Initially reported as pneumonia of unknown origin, COVID-19 is increasingly being recognized for its impact on the nervous system, despite nervous system invasions being extremely rare. As a result, numerous studies have been conducted to elucidate the mechanisms of nervous system damage and propose appropriate coping strategies. This review summarizes the mechanisms by which SARS-CoV-2 invades and damages the central nervous system, with a specific focus on aspects apart from the immune response and inflammatory storm. The latest research findings on these mechanisms are presented, providing new insights for further in-depth research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zihan Sun
- Qingdao Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Chunying Shi
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Lixin Jin
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
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21
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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] [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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22
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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. SCIENCE CHINA. LIFE SCIENCES 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] [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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23
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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] [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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24
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Chen J, Lai X, Song Y, Su X. Neuroimmune recognition and regulation in the respiratory system. Eur Respir Rev 2024; 33:240008. [PMID: 38925790 PMCID: PMC11216688 DOI: 10.1183/16000617.0008-2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Neuroimmune recognition and regulation in the respiratory system is a complex and highly coordinated process involving interactions between the nervous and immune systems to detect and respond to pathogens, pollutants and other potential hazards in the respiratory tract. This interaction helps maintain the health and integrity of the respiratory system. Therefore, understanding the complex interactions between the respiratory nervous system and immune system is critical to maintaining lung health and developing treatments for respiratory diseases. In this review, we summarise the projection distribution of different types of neurons (trigeminal nerve, glossopharyngeal nerve, vagus nerve, spinal dorsal root nerve, sympathetic nerve) in the respiratory tract. We also introduce several types of cells in the respiratory epithelium that closely interact with nerves (pulmonary neuroendocrine cells, brush cells, solitary chemosensory cells and tastebuds). These cells are primarily located at key positions in the respiratory tract, where nerves project to them, forming neuroepithelial recognition units, thus enhancing the ability of neural recognition. Furthermore, we summarise the roles played by these different neurons in sensing or responding to specific pathogens (influenza, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, respiratory syncytial virus, human metapneumovirus, herpes viruses, Sendai parainfluenza virus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, amoebae), allergens, atmospheric pollutants (smoking, exhaust pollution), and their potential roles in regulating interactions among different pathogens. We also summarise the prospects of bioelectronic medicine as a third therapeutic approach following drugs and surgery, as well as the potential mechanisms of meditation breathing as an adjunct therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Chen
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Lung Inflammation and Injury, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Unit of Respiratory Infection and Immunity, Shanghai Institute of Immunity and Infection, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Xiaoyun Lai
- Unit of Respiratory Infection and Immunity, Shanghai Institute of Immunity and Infection, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Yuanlin Song
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Lung Inflammation and Injury, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao Su
- Unit of Respiratory Infection and Immunity, Shanghai Institute of Immunity and Infection, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
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25
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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 PMCID: PMC11212674 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2024.578309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 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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26
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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] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [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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27
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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] [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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28
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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] [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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29
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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. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 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] [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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30
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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] [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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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] [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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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] [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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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] [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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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] [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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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] [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: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [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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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] [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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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 : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 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] [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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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] [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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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] [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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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] [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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Li H, Terrando N, Gelbard HA. Infectious Diseases. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2024; 37:423-444. [PMID: 39207706 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-55529-9_24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Microglia, brain-resident innate immune cells, have been extensively studied in neurodegenerative contexts like Alzheimer's disease. The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic highlighted how peripheral infection and inflammation can be detrimental to the neuroimmune milieu and initiate microgliosis driven by peripheral inflammation. Microglia can remain deleterious to brain health by sustaining inflammation in the central nervous system even after the clearance of the original immunogenic agents. In this chapter, we discuss how pulmonary infection with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoronaVirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can lead to neurovascular and neuroimmune inflammation causing the neurological syndrome of post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC). Further, we incorporate lessons from the Human Immunodeficiency Virus' (HIV's) effects on microglial functioning in the era of combined antiretroviral therapies (cART) that contribute to HIV-1 associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). Finally, we describe roles for mixed lineage kinase 3 (MLK3) and leucine-rich repeat kinase (LRRK2) as key regulators of multiple inflammatory and apoptotic pathways important to the pathogenesis of PASC and HAND. Inhibition of these pathways provides a therapeutically synergistic method of treating both PASC and HAND.
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Affiliation(s)
- Herman Li
- Center for Neurotherapeutics Discovery, Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Niccolò Terrando
- Center for Translational Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Immunology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Harris A Gelbard
- Center for Neurotherapeutics Discovery, Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA.
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA.
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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 : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 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] [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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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] [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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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] [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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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] [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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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] [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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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. NATURE AGING 2023; 3:1561-1575. [PMID: 37957361 PMCID: PMC10724067 DOI: 10.1038/s43587-023-00519-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [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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49
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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] [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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50
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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] [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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