The blood-brain barrier is dysregulated in COVID-19 and serves as a CNS entry route for SARS-CoV-2
Universität Hamburg · University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf · +12 more institutions
Abstract
Neurological complications are common in COVID-19. Although SARS-CoV-2 has been detected in patients' brain tissues, its entry routes and resulting consequences are not well understood. Here, we show a pronounced upregulation of interferon signaling pathways of the neurovascular unit in fatal COVID-19. By investigating the susceptibility of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived brain capillary endothelial-like cells (BCECs) to SARS-CoV-2 infection, we found that BCECs were infected and recapitulated transcriptional changes detected in vivo. While BCECs were not compromised in their paracellular tightness, we found SARS-CoV-2 in the basolateral compartment in transwell assays after apical…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 28.61
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 60
Authors
41- SKSusanne KrasemannCorresponding
Universität Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf
- UHUndine Haferkamp
Merck (Germany), Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology
- SPSusanne Pfefferle
Universität Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, German Center for Infection Research, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine
- MSMarcel S. Woo
Universität Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf
- FHFabian Heinrich
Universität Hamburg, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf
Topics & keywords
- Biology
- Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
- 2019-20 coronavirus outbreak
- Blood–brain barrier
- Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)
- Virology
- Betacoronavirus
- Pandemic
- Good health and well-being