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Oka N, Shimada K, Ishii A, Kobayashi N, Kondo K. SARS-CoV-2 S1 protein causes brain inflammation by reducing intracerebral acetylcholine production. iScience 2023; 26:106954. [PMID: 37275532 PMCID: PMC10208654 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurological complications that occur in SARS-CoV-2 infection, such as olfactory dysfunction, brain inflammation, malaise, and depressive symptoms, are thought to contribute to long COVID. However, in autopsies of patients who have died from COVID-19, there is normally no direct evidence that central nervous system damage is due to proliferation of SARS-CoV-2. For this reason, many aspects of the pathogenesis mechanisms of such symptoms remain unknown. Expressing SARS-CoV-2 S1 protein in the nasal cavity of mice was associated with increased apoptosis of the olfactory system and decreased intracerebral acetylcholine production. The decrease in acetylcholine production was associated with brain inflammation, malaise, depressive clinical signs, and decreased expression of the cytokine degrading factor ZFP36. Administering the cholinesterase inhibitor donepezil to the mice improved brain inflammation, malaise and depressive clinical signs. These findings could contribute to the elucidation of the pathogenesis mechanisms of neurological complications associated with COVID-19 and long COVID.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naomi Oka
- Department of Virology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, 3-25-8 Nishi-Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8461, Japan
| | - Kazuya Shimada
- Department of Virology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, 3-25-8 Nishi-Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8461, Japan
| | - Azusa Ishii
- Department of Virology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, 3-25-8 Nishi-Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8461, Japan
| | - Nobuyuki Kobayashi
- Department of Virology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, 3-25-8 Nishi-Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8461, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Kondo
- Department of Virology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, 3-25-8 Nishi-Shimbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-8461, Japan
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Nadwa EH, Al-Kuraishy HM, Al-Gareeb AI, Elekhnawy E, Albogami SM, Alorabi M, Batiha GES, De Waard M. Cholinergic dysfunction in COVID-19: frantic search and hoping for the best. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2023; 396:453-468. [PMID: 36460816 PMCID: PMC9735034 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-022-02346-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
A novel coronavirus known as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a potential cause of acute respiratory infection called coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The binding of SARS-CoV-2 with angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) induces a series of inflammatory cellular events with cytopathic effects leading to cell injury and hyperinflammation. Severe SARS-CoV-2 infection may lead to dysautonomia and sympathetic storm due to dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Therefore, this review aimed to elucidate the critical role of the cholinergic system (CS) in SARS-CoV-2 infection. The CS forms a multi-faceted network performing diverse functions in the body due to its distribution in the neuronal and non-neuronal cells. Acetylcholine (ACh) acts on two main types of receptors which are nicotinic receptors (NRs) and muscarinic receptors (MRs). NRs induce T cell anergy with impairment of antigen-mediated signal transduction. Nicotine through activation of T cell NRs inhibits the expression and release of the pro-inflammatory cytokines. NRs play important anti-inflammatory effects while MRs promote inflammation by inducing the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. SARS-CoV-2 infection can affect the morphological and functional stability of CS through the disruption of cholinergic receptors. SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is similar to neurotoxins, which can bind to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) in the ANS and brain. Therefore, cholinergic receptors mainly nAChR and related cholinergic agonists may affect the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Cholinergic dysfunction in COVID-19 is due to dysregulation of nAChR by SARS-CoV-2 promoting the central sympathetic drive with the development of the sympathetic storm. As well, nAChR activators through interaction with diverse signaling pathways can reduce the risk of inflammatory disorders in COVID-19. In addition, nAChR activators may mitigate endothelial dysfunction (ED), oxidative stress (OS), and associated coagulopathy in COVID-19. Similarly, nAChR activators may improve OS, inflammatory changes, and cytokine storm in COVID-19. Therefore, nAChR activators like varenicline in virtue of its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects with direct anti-SARS-CoV-2 effect could be effective in the management of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eman Hassan Nadwa
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, Jouf University, Sakakah, 72345 Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, 12613 Egypt
| | - Hayder M. Al-Kuraishy
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Medicine, College of Medicine, Al-Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, 14132 Iraq
| | - Ali I. Al-Gareeb
- Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Medicine, College of Medicine, Al-Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, 14132 Iraq
| | - Engy Elekhnawy
- Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tanta University, Tanta, 31527 Egypt
| | - Sarah M. Albogami
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Science, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif, 21944 Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed Alorabi
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Science, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif, 21944 Saudi Arabia
| | - Gaber El-Saber Batiha
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Damanhour University, Damanhour, 22511 Al Beheira Egypt
| | - Michel De Waard
- Smartox Biotechnology, 6 Rue Des Platanes, 38120 Saint-Egrève, France
- L’Institut du Thorax, INSERM, CNRS, UNIV NANTES, 44007 Nantes, France
- LabEx “Ion Channels, Science & Therapeutics”, Université de Nice Sophia-Antipolis, 06560 Valbonne, France
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