Molecular and cellular similarities in the brain of SARS-CoV-2 and Alzheimer's disease individuals

Griggs, E.; Trageser, K.; Naughton, S.; Yang, E.-J.; Mathew, B.; Van Hyfte, G.; Hellmers, L.; Jette, N.; Estill, M.; Shen, L.; Fischer, T.; Pasinetti, G.

doi:10.1101/2022.11.23.517706

bioRxiv · 10.1101/2022.11.23.517706

Molecular and cellular similarities in the brain of SARS-CoV-2 and Alzheimer's disease individuals

Griggs, E.·Trageser, K.·Naughton, S.·Yang, E.-J.·Mathew, B.·Van Hyfte, G.·Hellmers, L.·Jette, N.·Estill, M.·Shen, L.·Fischer, T.·Pasinetti, G.

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Abstract

Infection with the etiological agent of COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, appears capable of impacting cognition, which some patients with Post-acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC). To evaluate neuro-pathophysiological consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection, we examine transcriptional and cellular signatures in the Broadman area 9 (BA9) of the frontal cortex and the hippocampal formation (HF) in SARS-CoV-2, Alzheimers disease (AD) and SARS-CoV-2 infected AD individuals, compared to age- and gender-matched neurological cases. Here we show similar alterations of neuroinflammation and blood-brain barrier integrity in SARS-CoV-2, AD, and SARS-CoV-2 infected AD individuals. Distribution of microglial changes reflected by the increase of Iba-1 reveal nodular morphological alterations in SARS-CoV-2 infected AD individuals. Similarly, HIF-1 is significantly upregulated in the context of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the same brain regions regardless of AD status. The finding may help to inform decision-making regarding therapeutic treatments in patients with neuro-PASC, especially those at increased risk of developing AD. TeaserSARS-CoV-2 and Alzheimers disease share similar neuroinflammatory processes, which may help explain neuro-PASC.

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Griggs, E., Trageser, K., Naughton, S., Yang, E.-J., Mathew, B., Van Hyfte, G., Hellmers, L., Jette, N., Estill, M., Shen, L., Fischer, T., Pasinetti, G.. 2022-11-23. Molecular and cellular similarities in the brain of SARS-CoV-2 and Alzheimer's disease individuals. https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.11.23.517706

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