Viruses (Apr 2022)

Brain Inflammation and Intracellular α-Synuclein Aggregates in Macaques after SARS-CoV-2 Infection

  • Ingrid H. C. H. M. Philippens,
  • Kinga P. Böszörményi,
  • Jacqueline A. M. Wubben,
  • Zahra C. Fagrouch,
  • Nikki van Driel,
  • Amber Q. Mayenburg,
  • Diana Lozovagia,
  • Eva Roos,
  • Bernadette Schurink,
  • Marianna Bugiani,
  • Ronald E. Bontrop,
  • Jinte Middeldorp,
  • Willy M. Bogers,
  • Lioe-Fee de Geus-Oei,
  • Jan A. M. Langermans,
  • Ernst J. Verschoor,
  • Marieke A. Stammes,
  • Babs E. Verstrepen

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/v14040776
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14, no. 4
p. 776

Abstract

Read online

SARS-CoV-2 causes acute respiratory disease, but many patients also experience neurological complications. Neuropathological changes with pronounced neuroinflammation have been described in individuals after lethal COVID-19, as well as in the CSF of hospitalized patients with neurological complications. To assess whether neuropathological changes can occur after a SARS-CoV-2 infection, leading to mild-to-moderate disease, we investigated the brains of four rhesus and four cynomolgus macaques after pulmonary disease and without overt clinical symptoms. Postmortem analysis demonstrated the infiltration of T-cells and activated microglia in the parenchyma of all infected animals, even in the absence of viral antigen or RNA. Moreover, intracellular α-synuclein aggregates were found in the brains of both macaque species. The heterogeneity of these manifestations in the brains indicates the virus’ neuropathological potential and should be considered a warning for long-term health risks, following SARS-CoV-2 infection.

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