In:
Frontiers in Immunology, Frontiers Media SA, Vol. 14 ( 2023-4-11)
Abstract:
Despite long-term sequelae of COVID-19 are emerging as a substantial public health concern, the mechanism underlying these processes still unclear. Evidence demonstrates that SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein can reach different brain regions, irrespective of viral brain replication resulting in activation of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) and neuroinflammation. Considering that microglia dysfunction, which is regulated by a whole array of purinergic receptors, may be a central event in COVID-19 neuropathology, we investigated the impact of SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein on microglial purinergic signaling. Here, we demonstrate that cultured microglial cells (BV2 line) exposed to Spike protein induce ATP secretion and upregulation of P2Y 6 , P2Y 12 , NTPDase2 and NTPDase3 transcripts. Also, immunocytochemistry analysis shows that spike protein increases the expression of P2X7, P2Y 1 , P2Y 6 , and P2Y 12 in BV2 cells. Additional, hippocampal tissue of Spike infused animals (6,5ug/site, i.c.v.) presents increased mRNA levels of P2X7, P2Y 1 , P2Y 6 , P2Y 12 , NTPDase1, and NTPDase2. Immunohistochemistry experiments confirmed high expression of the P2X7 receptor in microglial cells in CA3/DG hippocampal regions after spike infusion. These findings suggest that SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein modulates microglial purinergic signaling and opens new avenues for investigating the potential of purinergic receptors to mitigate COVID-19 consequences.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1664-3224
DOI:
10.3389/fimmu.2023.1158460
Language:
Unknown
Publisher:
Frontiers Media SA
Publication Date:
2023
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2606827-8
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