The result of a partnership between Unicamp, USP and Instituto D'Or, results of the study were published in the August edition of PNAS
A study developed with the participation of Unicamp's Neuroproteomics Laboratory (LNP) suggests that the mechanism of action of SARS-CoV-2 may involve physical damage to important structures of the brain, such as the region responsible for memory and learning. Designed to understand how the virus that causes Covid acts in the brains of patients with mild cases of the disease, the research had its results published in the August edition of the magazine PNAS, one of the scientific journals with the greatest impact in the world. The findings should help prevent and treat neurological sequelae in infected people.
Multidisciplinary and with the participation of almost 90 scientists, the research is the result of a partnership between Unicamp and the University of São Paulo (USP) and the D'Or Institute for Research and Education. At Unicamp, the project is led by Biochemistry professor, Daniel Martins-de-Souza, from the Biology Institute (IB) at Unicamp.
The work was based on three types of analyzes that aimed, together, to elucidate the behavior of the virus in the central nervous system and understand possible consequences left by it in patients with different levels of the disease. Among the results, the researchers found metabolic changes in cells that act as an energy source for neurons: astrocytes. “By infecting astrocytes, the virus causes a change in the cell's entire energy production mechanism, which can harm survival and the support function it performs for neurons,” highlighted Victor Corasolla, LNP researcher at Unicamp and one of the main authors of the study.
Initially, led by neurologist Clarissa Yasuda, from the Faculty of Medical Sciences (FCM) at Unicamp, the scientists examined high-resolution images of the brains of patients who had experienced mild cases of the disease. “Interestingly, even asymptomatic people showed changes in the imaging study, which raises an alert for possible consequences even in a silent infection”, highlighted Corasolla. At the same time, researcher Thiago Cunha, from the Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto (USP), led the analysis of brain tissue samples from people who died as a result of Covid-19, as well as isolated cells exposed to the virus. “We identified that SARS-CoV-2 has the ability to cross the body's protective barriers and reach the cells of the central nervous system”, added Corasolla.
The results of the work also include a description of some of the molecular mechanisms that can be altered by the virus during infection of the nervous system. In the long term, this data can contribute to combating and preventing the disease through collaboration with the medical and pharmaceutical industry. “With this information, medications can be created that act directly on this interaction between the virus and the gateway to nerve cells, blocking its entry and preventing infection,” said Corasolla. “We can also direct treatments to minimize the damage caused by the infection and avoid possible sequelae, such as cognitive impairment”, concluded the researcher.
