AUTHOR=Pacheco-Herrero Mar , Soto-Rojas Luis O. , Harrington Charles R. , Flores-Martinez Yazmin M. , Villegas-Rojas Marcos M. , León-Aguilar Alfredo M. , Martínez-Gómez Paola A. , Campa-Córdoba B. Berenice , Apátiga-Pérez Ricardo , Corniel-Taveras Carolin N. , Dominguez-García Jesabelle de J. , Blanco-Alvarez Víctor Manuel , Luna-Muñoz José TITLE=Elucidating the Neuropathologic Mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2 Infection JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neurology VOLUME=12 YEAR=2021 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2021.660087 DOI=10.3389/fneur.2021.660087 ISSN=1664-2295 ABSTRACT=

The current pandemic caused by the new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has become a public health emergency. To date, March 1, 2021, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused about 114 million accumulated cases and 2.53 million deaths worldwide. Previous pieces of evidence suggest that SARS-CoV-2 may affect the central nervous system (CNS) and cause neurological symptoms in COVID-19 patients. It is also known that angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2), the primary receptor for SARS-CoV-2 infection, is expressed in different brain areas and cell types. Thus, it is hypothesized that infection by this virus could generate or exacerbate neuropathological alterations. However, the molecular mechanisms that link COVID-19 disease and nerve damage are unclear. In this review, we describe the routes of SARS-CoV-2 invasion into the central nervous system. We also analyze the neuropathologic mechanisms underlying this viral infection, and their potential relationship with the neurological manifestations described in patients with COVID-19, and the appearance or exacerbation of some neurodegenerative diseases.