Neurological pathophysiology of SARS-CoV-2 and pandemic potential RNA viruses: a comparative analysis

FEBS Letters

article

Nikhil Chakravarty¹  Thrisha Senthilnathan²  Sophia Paiola²  Priya Gyani²  Sebastian Castillo Cario²  Estrella Urena²  Akash Jeysankar²  Prakash Jeysankar²  Joseph Ignatius Irudayam²  Sumathi Natesan Subramanian²  Helen Lavretsky³  Shantanu Joshi⁴  Gustavo Garcia Jr.²  Arunachalam Ramaiah⁵  Vaithilingaraja Arumugaswami² 

[1] Department of Epidemiology, University of California;Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, University of California;Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California;Department of Neurology, University of California;Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California;Tata Institute for Genetics and Society, Center at inStem;Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California;California NanoSystems Institute, University of California

关键词: blood–brain barrier;    brain;    central nervous system;    COVID-19;    magnetic resonance imaging;    neuropathophysiology;    RNA viruses;    SARS-CoV-2;   

DOI  :  10.1002/1873-3468.14227

来源: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

【 摘 要 】

SARS-CoV-2 has infected hundreds of millions of people with over four million dead, resulting in one of the worst global pandemics in recent history. Neurological symptoms associated with COVID-19 include anosmia, ageusia, headaches, confusion, delirium, and strokes. These may manifest due to viral entry into the central nervous system (CNS) through the blood–brain barrier (BBB) by means of ill-defined mechanisms. Here, we summarize the abilities of SARS-CoV-2 and other neurotropic RNA viruses, including Zika virus and Nipah virus, to cross the BBB into the CNS, highlighting the role of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in assessing presence and severity of brain structural changes in COVID-19 patients. We present new insight into key mutations in SARS-CoV-2 variants B.1.1.7 (P681H) and B.1.617.2 (P681R), which may impact on neuropilin 1 (NRP1) binding and CNS invasion. We postulate that SARS-CoV-2 may infect both peripheral cells capable of crossing the BBB and brain endothelial cells to traverse the BBB and spread into the brain. COVID-19 patients can be followed up with MRI modalities to better understand the long-term effects of COVID-19 on the brain.

【 授权许可】

Unknown