RESUMO
Up to 25% of individuals infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) exhibit postacute cognitive sequelae. Although millions of cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-mediated memory dysfunction are accumulating worldwide, the underlying mechanisms and how vaccination lowers risk are unknown. Interleukin-1 (IL-1), a key component of innate immune defense against SARS-CoV-2 infection, is elevated in the hippocampi of individuals with COVID-19. Here we show that intranasal infection of C57BL/6J mice with SARS-CoV-2 Beta variant leads to central nervous system infiltration of Ly6Chi monocytes and microglial activation. Accordingly, SARS-CoV-2, but not H1N1 influenza virus, increases levels of brain IL-1ß and induces persistent IL-1R1-mediated loss of hippocampal neurogenesis, which promotes postacute cognitive deficits. Vaccination with a low dose of adenoviral-vectored spike protein prevents hippocampal production of IL-1ß during breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection, loss of neurogenesis and subsequent memory deficits. Our study identifies IL-1ß as one potential mechanism driving SARS-CoV-2-induced cognitive impairment in a new mouse model that is prevented by vaccination.
Assuntos
COVID-19 , Hipocampo , Interleucina-1beta , Transtornos da Memória , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Neurogênese , SARS-CoV-2 , Animais , Interleucina-1beta/metabolismo , Interleucina-1beta/imunologia , Camundongos , COVID-19/imunologia , COVID-19/prevenção & controle , SARS-CoV-2/imunologia , Hipocampo/imunologia , Hipocampo/metabolismo , Transtornos da Memória/imunologia , Neurogênese/imunologia , Vacinação , Glicoproteína da Espícula de Coronavírus/imunologia , Vacinas contra COVID-19/imunologia , Masculino , Humanos , Microglia/imunologia , Microglia/metabolismo , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Receptores Tipo I de Interleucina-1/metabolismo , Receptores Tipo I de Interleucina-1/genética , Monócitos/imunologia , Monócitos/metabolismo , FemininoRESUMO
Up to 25% of SARS-CoV-2 patients exhibit post-acute cognitive sequelae. Although millions of cases of COVID-19-mediated memory dysfunction are accumulating worldwide, the underlying mechanisms and how vaccination lowers risk are unknown. Interleukin-1, a key component of innate immune defense against SARS-CoV-2 infection, is elevated in the hippocampi of COVID-19 patients. Here we show that intranasal infection of C57BL/6J mice with SARS-CoV-2 beta variant, leads to CNS infiltration of Ly6Chi monocytes and microglial activation. Accordingly, SARS-CoV-2, but not H1N1 influenza virus, increases levels of brain IL-1ß and induces persistent IL-1R1-mediated loss of hippocampal neurogenesis, which promotes post-acute cognitive deficits. Breakthrough infection after vaccination with a low dose of adenoviral vectored Spike protein prevents hippocampal production of IL-1ß during breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection, loss of neurogenesis, and subsequent memory deficits. Our study identifies IL-1ß as one potential mechanism driving SARS-CoV-2-induced cognitive impairment in a new murine model that is prevented by vaccination.