tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
J Med Virol
. 2020 Sep 16.
doi: 10.1002/jmv.26521. Online ahead of print.
Neuroinvasion of SARS-CoV-2 may play a role in the breakdown of respiratory center of the brain
Jhilik Dey[SUP] 1 2 3 [/SUP], Md Tanjim Alam[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Sreyashi Chandra[SUP] 1 2 3 [/SUP], Jalaj Gupta[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Upasana Ray[SUP] 1 2 3 [/SUP], Amit Kumar Srivastava[SUP] 1 2 3 [/SUP], Prem Prakash Tripathi[SUP] 1 2 3 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
The recent outbreak of the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 has emerged to be highly pathogenic in nature. Although lungs are considered as the primary infected organs by SARS-CoV-2, some of the other organs including the brain have also been found to be affected. Here, we have discussed how SARS-CoV-2 might infect the brain. The infection of the respiratory center in the brainstem could be hypothesized to be responsible for the respiratory failure in many COVID-19 patients. The virus might gain entry through the olfactory bulb and invade various parts of the brain including the brainstem. Alternatively, entry might also occur from peripheral circulation into the central nervous system (CNS) by compromising the blood-brain barrier. Finally, yet another possible entry route could be its dispersal from the lungs into the vagus nerve, via the pulmonary stretch receptors, eventually reaching the brainstem. Therefore, screening neurological symptoms in COVID-19 patients, especially towards the breakdown of the respiratory center in the brainstem might help us better understand this disease. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Brain; COVID‐19; Coronavirus; Neuroinvasion; Respiratory center; SARS‐CoV‐2.
. 2020 Sep 16.
doi: 10.1002/jmv.26521. Online ahead of print.
Neuroinvasion of SARS-CoV-2 may play a role in the breakdown of respiratory center of the brain
Jhilik Dey[SUP] 1 2 3 [/SUP], Md Tanjim Alam[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Sreyashi Chandra[SUP] 1 2 3 [/SUP], Jalaj Gupta[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Upasana Ray[SUP] 1 2 3 [/SUP], Amit Kumar Srivastava[SUP] 1 2 3 [/SUP], Prem Prakash Tripathi[SUP] 1 2 3 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 32964419
- DOI: 10.1002/jmv.26521
Abstract
The recent outbreak of the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 has emerged to be highly pathogenic in nature. Although lungs are considered as the primary infected organs by SARS-CoV-2, some of the other organs including the brain have also been found to be affected. Here, we have discussed how SARS-CoV-2 might infect the brain. The infection of the respiratory center in the brainstem could be hypothesized to be responsible for the respiratory failure in many COVID-19 patients. The virus might gain entry through the olfactory bulb and invade various parts of the brain including the brainstem. Alternatively, entry might also occur from peripheral circulation into the central nervous system (CNS) by compromising the blood-brain barrier. Finally, yet another possible entry route could be its dispersal from the lungs into the vagus nerve, via the pulmonary stretch receptors, eventually reaching the brainstem. Therefore, screening neurological symptoms in COVID-19 patients, especially towards the breakdown of the respiratory center in the brainstem might help us better understand this disease. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Brain; COVID‐19; Coronavirus; Neuroinvasion; Respiratory center; SARS‐CoV‐2.