COVID-19 PATIENTS WITH NEUROLOGICAL SYMPTOMS PRESENT BROAD CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM MOLECULAR AND STRUCTURAL ALTERATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH SYSTEMIC INFLAMMATION AND DISEASE SEVERITY

ABSTRACT: Background. COVID-19-induced neurological disease is a growing concern. Here we provide a comprehensive clinical, molecular, and neuroimaging investigation of patients presenting neurological symptoms to investigate underlying processes. Methods. We performed a detailed systematized clinical, laboratory, and neuroimaging (CT/MRI) data analysis from 35 mild to severe Brazilian COVID-19 hospitalised patients with clinical indications for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) exam. In patients' CSF, we measured interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and the Alzheimer's disease-associated biomarkers amyloid-beta (Aβ)1-40, Aβ1-42, Tau and pTau181 levels (n=31-35). In addition, CSF proteomics and the search for SARS-CoV-2 spike protein presence using shotgun and targeted multiple reaction monitoring liquid-chromatography/mass-spectrometry were performed (n=16). We further evaluated a 29-cytokine panel in patients’ blood (n=16). An electronic questionnaire was conducted one-year post-hospitalisation (n=19, 63.3%). Findings. COVID-19 patients presented heterogeneous clinical and neurological features, including encephalopathy, encephalitis, and neuromuscular syndromes, despite low pulmonary burden. Patients showed increased circulating cytokines and CSF IL-6 and TNF-α levels compared to controls. Alzheimer’s disease-related biomarkers were unaltered compared to controls. COVID-19 altered CSF proteomic pathways associated to complement and coagulation cascades, immune-inflammatory, metabolism and amyloidosis. We found no traces of spike protein in patients’ CSF. Severe patients presented more pronounced neuroimaging alterations, altered CSF levels of IL-6, Tau, and Aβ-species compared to mild patients. Peripheral inflammation markers correlated with CSF IL-6 and Tau-species levels. Finally, in a one-year post-COVID survey, survivors were not recovered entirely (12/19) and reported confusion or memory/attention deficits (13/19). Interpretation. COVID-19 induces a broad spectrum of neurological presentations associated with changes in central nervous system (CNS) inflammatory and neurodegenerative molecular and structural biomarkers that correlate with systemic inflammation and disease severity. Given that neurological symptoms persist up to one-year post-COVID, our results urge us to investigate whether systemic, and CNS molecular changes are permanent or alleviated so that COVID-19 patients with lingering symptoms are adequately treated.

INSTRUMENT(S): Synapt MS

ORGANISM(S): Homo Sapiens (human)

TISSUE(S): Cerebrospinal Fluid

DISEASE(S): Covid-19

SUBMITTER: Victor Corasolla Carregari  

LAB HEAD: Daniel Martins-de-Souza

PROVIDER: PXD033979 | Pride | 2024-08-09

REPOSITORIES: Pride