tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
J Neuroimmunol
. 2026 Jun 13:419:579002.
doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2026.579002. Online ahead of print.
Chronic neuroinflammation after acute SARS-Cov-2 infection induces retinal damage in the hACE2 transgenic mouse model
Hyemin Seong[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Seon-Hee Kim[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Bina Lee[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Ha Nyeoung Choi[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Chieun Song[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Meeyoung Choi[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Réka Dorottya Varga[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Min Gi Jo[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Minkyoung Kim[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Mingyo Kim[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Kwang-Soo Lyoo[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Min Young Lee[SUP] 9 [/SUP], Yong Jun Kim[SUP] 10 [/SUP], Youngsub Eom[SUP] 11 [/SUP], Woong-Sun Yoo[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jinsung Yang[SUP] 12 [/SUP], Seung Pil Yun[SUP] 13 [/SUP], Seong Jae Kim[SUP] 14 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Background: A number of patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) show a wide range of systemic complications. Previous studies have shown that acute SARS-CoV-2 infection can be accompanied by conjunctivitis, various forms of ocular inflammation and retinal vasculitis. However, long-term changes of the retina after SARS-CoV-2 infection have not been examined. In this study, we investigated neuroinflammation in the retina and optic nerve.
Methods: hACE2 Tg mice, serologically negative for SARS-CoV-2, were infected via intranasal installation with SARS-CoV-2. Protein expression was confirmed by immunofluorescence and western blotting. The activation of microglia and astrocytes was confirmed using quantitative real-time PCR.
Results: SARS-CoV-2 infection induced a decrease in inner retinal thickness and an increase in RGC death after 60 days. Activation of microglia and astrocytes was observed in the retina. Expression of the inflammatory cytokines Il-1β and TNF-α increased in the optic nerve, whereas microglial and astrocyte expression decreased.
Conclusion: Our findings suggest that chronic neuroinflammation in the retina post SARS-CoV-2 infection contributes to retinal degeneration, potentially resulting in long-term visual disturbance.
Keywords: Astrocyte; Microglia; Optic nerve; Retina; Severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2).
. 2026 Jun 13:419:579002.
doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2026.579002. Online ahead of print.
Chronic neuroinflammation after acute SARS-Cov-2 infection induces retinal damage in the hACE2 transgenic mouse model
Hyemin Seong[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Seon-Hee Kim[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Bina Lee[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Ha Nyeoung Choi[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Chieun Song[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Meeyoung Choi[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Réka Dorottya Varga[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Min Gi Jo[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Minkyoung Kim[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Mingyo Kim[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Kwang-Soo Lyoo[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Min Young Lee[SUP] 9 [/SUP], Yong Jun Kim[SUP] 10 [/SUP], Youngsub Eom[SUP] 11 [/SUP], Woong-Sun Yoo[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jinsung Yang[SUP] 12 [/SUP], Seung Pil Yun[SUP] 13 [/SUP], Seong Jae Kim[SUP] 14 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 42335857
- DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2026.579002
Background: A number of patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) show a wide range of systemic complications. Previous studies have shown that acute SARS-CoV-2 infection can be accompanied by conjunctivitis, various forms of ocular inflammation and retinal vasculitis. However, long-term changes of the retina after SARS-CoV-2 infection have not been examined. In this study, we investigated neuroinflammation in the retina and optic nerve.
Methods: hACE2 Tg mice, serologically negative for SARS-CoV-2, were infected via intranasal installation with SARS-CoV-2. Protein expression was confirmed by immunofluorescence and western blotting. The activation of microglia and astrocytes was confirmed using quantitative real-time PCR.
Results: SARS-CoV-2 infection induced a decrease in inner retinal thickness and an increase in RGC death after 60 days. Activation of microglia and astrocytes was observed in the retina. Expression of the inflammatory cytokines Il-1β and TNF-α increased in the optic nerve, whereas microglial and astrocyte expression decreased.
Conclusion: Our findings suggest that chronic neuroinflammation in the retina post SARS-CoV-2 infection contributes to retinal degeneration, potentially resulting in long-term visual disturbance.
Keywords: Astrocyte; Microglia; Optic nerve; Retina; Severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2).