Recombinant SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein and Its Receptor Binding Domain Stimulate Release of Different Pro-Inflammatory Mediators via Activation of Distinct Receptors on Human Microglia Cells

© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature..

SARS-CoV-2 infects cells via its spike (S) protein binding to its surface receptor angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) on target cells and results in acute symptoms involving especially the lungs known as COVID-19. However, increasing evidence indicates that SARS-CoV-2 infection produces neuroinflammation associated with neurological, neuropsychiatric, and cognitive symptoms persists well past the resolution of the infection, known as post-COVID-19 sequalae or long-COVID. The neuroimmune mechanism(s) involved in long-COVID have not been adequately characterized. In this study, we show that recombinant SARS-CoV-2 full-length S protein stimulates release of pro-inflammatory IL-1b, CXCL8, IL-6, and MMP-9 from cultured human microglia via TLR4 receptor activation. Instead, recombinant receptor-binding domain (RBD) stimulates release of TNF-α, IL-18, and S100B via ACE2 signaling. These results provide evidence that SARS-CoV-2 spike protein contributes to neuroinflammation through different mechanisms that may be involved in CNS pathologies associated with long-COVID.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2023

Erschienen:

2023

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:60

Enthalten in:

Molecular neurobiology - 60(2023), 11 vom: 21. Nov., Seite 6704-6714

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Tsilioni, Irene [VerfasserIn]
Theoharides, Theoharis C [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

ACE2
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2
Brain
Corona virus
Cytokines
EC 3.4.17.23
Inflammation
Journal Article
Microglia
Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus
Spike protein
Spike protein, SARS-CoV-2
Toll-like receptors

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 23.10.2023

Date Revised 23.10.2023

published: Print-Electronic

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.1007/s12035-023-03493-7

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM359781225