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396 Brain pathophysiology in SARS-CoV-2 disease

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 April 2022

Branka Milicic Stanic
Affiliation:
Center for the Study of Sex Differences in Health, Aging and Disease, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia
Aline M.A. de Souza
Affiliation:
Center for the Study of Sex Differences in Health, Aging and Disease, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia
Hong Ji
Affiliation:
Center for the Study of Sex Differences in Health, Aging and Disease, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia
Xie Wu
Affiliation:
Center for the Study of Sex Differences in Health, Aging and Disease, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia
Robert C. Speth
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, School of Medicine, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia
Nisha K. Duggal
Affiliation:
Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, United States
Carolyn A. Ecelbarger
Affiliation:
Center for the Study of Sex Differences in Health, Aging and Disease, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia
Juan M. Saavedra
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Neuroprotection, Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia
Dexter L. Lee
Affiliation:
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Howard University College of Medicine, Washington, District of Columbia
Kathryn Sandberg
Affiliation:
Center for the Study of Sex Differences in Health, Aging and Disease, Georgetown University, Washington, District of Columbia
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Abstract

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OBJECTIVES/GOALS: The SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome CoronaVirus-2), which underlies the current COVID-19 pandemic, among other tissues, also targets the central nervous system (CNS). The goal of this study is to investigate mechanisms of neuroinflammation in Lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-treated mouse model and SARS-CoV-2-infected hamsters. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: In this research I will assay vascular reactivity of cerebral vessels to assess vascular dysfunction within the microcirculation. I will determine expression of proinflammatory cytokines, coagulation factors and AT1 receptors (AT1R) in isolated microvessels from the circle of Willis to assess inflammation, thrombosis and RAS activity in the microvasculature. LPS and SARS-CoV-2, are both associated with coagulopathies and because of that I will measure concentration of PAI-1, von Willebrand Factor, thrombin and D-dimer to assess the thrombotic pathway in the circulation. Histology and immunohistochemistry will assess immune cell type infiltration into the brain parenchyma, microglia activation and severity of neuroinflammation and neural injury. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: We hypothesize that under conditions of reduced ACE2 (e.g., SARS-CoV-2 infection), AT1R activity is upregulated in the microvasculature. In the presence of an inflammatory insult, these AT1Rs promote endothelialitis and immunothrombosis through pro-thrombotic pathways and pro-inflammatory cytokine production leading to endothelial dysfunction in the microvasculature, blood brain barrier (BBB) injury, deficits in cognition and increased anxiety. We will test this hypothesis through 2 aims: Aim 1: Determine the role of the pro-injury arm of the RAS in the pathophysiology of the brain in animal models of neuroinflammation and COVID-19. Aim 1: Determine the role of the protective arm of the RAS in the pathophysiology of the brain in animal models of neuroinflammation and COVID-19. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: This study will provide insights that will complement on-going clinical trials on angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1R) blockers (ARBs) in COVID-19. This research is a necessary first step in understanding mechanisms of brain pathogenesis that can set the groundwork for future studies of more complex models of disease.

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Creative Commons
Creative Common License - CCCreative Common License - BYCreative Common License - NCCreative Common License - ND
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is unaltered and is properly cited. The written permission of Cambridge University Press must be obtained for commercial re-use or in order to create a derivative work.
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. The Association for Clinical and Translational Science