Neurofilament light chain (NfL) is a specific biomarker of neuro-axonal damage. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are zinc-dependent enzymes involved in blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity. We explored neuro-axonal damage, alteration of BBB integrity and SARS-CoV-2 RNA presence in COVID-19 patients with severe neurological symptoms (neuro-COVID) as well as neuro-axonal damage in COVID-19 patients without severe neurological symptoms according to disease severity and after recovery, comparing the obtained findings with healthy donors (HD). Overall, COVID-19 patients (n = 55) showed higher plasma NfL levels compared to HD (n = 31) (p < 0.0001), especially those who developed ARDS (n = 28) (p = 0.0005). After recovery, plasma NfL levels were still higher in ARDS patients compared to HD (p = 0.0037). In neuro-COVID patients (n = 12), higher CSF and plasma NfL, and CSF MMP-2 levels in ARDS than non-ARDS group were observed (p = 0.0357, p = 0.0346 and p = 0.0303, respectively). SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in four CSF and two plasma samples. SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection was not associated to increased CSF NfL and MMP levels. During COVID-19, ARDS could be associated to CNS damage and alteration of BBB integrity in the absence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection in CSF or blood. CNS damage was still detectable after discharge in blood of COVID-19 patients who developed ARDS during hospitalization.

Antonella Zingaropoli, M., Iannetta, M., Piermatteo, L., Pasculli, P., Latronico, T., Mazzuti, L., et al. (2022). Neuro-Axonal Damage and Alteration of Blood–Brain Barrier Integrity in COVID-19 Patients. CELLS, 11(16), 2480 [10.3390/cells11162480].

Neuro-Axonal Damage and Alteration of Blood–Brain Barrier Integrity in COVID-19 Patients

Marco Iannetta;Lorenzo Piermatteo;Massimo Andreoni;Loredana Sarmati;Francesca Ceccherini-Silberstein;
2022-01-01

Abstract

Neurofilament light chain (NfL) is a specific biomarker of neuro-axonal damage. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are zinc-dependent enzymes involved in blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity. We explored neuro-axonal damage, alteration of BBB integrity and SARS-CoV-2 RNA presence in COVID-19 patients with severe neurological symptoms (neuro-COVID) as well as neuro-axonal damage in COVID-19 patients without severe neurological symptoms according to disease severity and after recovery, comparing the obtained findings with healthy donors (HD). Overall, COVID-19 patients (n = 55) showed higher plasma NfL levels compared to HD (n = 31) (p < 0.0001), especially those who developed ARDS (n = 28) (p = 0.0005). After recovery, plasma NfL levels were still higher in ARDS patients compared to HD (p = 0.0037). In neuro-COVID patients (n = 12), higher CSF and plasma NfL, and CSF MMP-2 levels in ARDS than non-ARDS group were observed (p = 0.0357, p = 0.0346 and p = 0.0303, respectively). SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in four CSF and two plasma samples. SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection was not associated to increased CSF NfL and MMP levels. During COVID-19, ARDS could be associated to CNS damage and alteration of BBB integrity in the absence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection in CSF or blood. CNS damage was still detectable after discharge in blood of COVID-19 patients who developed ARDS during hospitalization.
2022
Pubblicato
Rilevanza internazionale
Articolo
Esperti anonimi
Settore MED/17 - MALATTIE INFETTIVE
English
MMPs
NfL
ddPCR
long-COVID
matrix metalloproteinases
neuro-COVID
neurofilament light chain
zymography
Axons
Humans
RNA, Viral
SARS-CoV-2
Blood-Brain Barrier
COVID-19
Antonella Zingaropoli, M., Iannetta, M., Piermatteo, L., Pasculli, P., Latronico, T., Mazzuti, L., et al. (2022). Neuro-Axonal Damage and Alteration of Blood–Brain Barrier Integrity in COVID-19 Patients. CELLS, 11(16), 2480 [10.3390/cells11162480].
Antonella Zingaropoli, M; Iannetta, M; Piermatteo, L; Pasculli, P; Latronico, T; Mazzuti, L; Campogiani, L; Duca, L; Ferraguti, G; De Michele, M; Galardo, G; Pugliese, F; Antonelli, G; Andreoni, M; Sarmati, L; Lichtner, M; Turriziani, O; CECCHERINI SILBERSTEIN, F; Maria Liuzzi, G; Maria Mastroianni, C; Rosa Ciardi, M
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2108/305418
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