Long COVID - a critical disruption of cholinergic neurotransmission?

ABSTRACT:

Background

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, there are many chronically ill Long COVID (LC) patients with different symptoms of varying degrees of severity. The pathological pathways of LC remain unclear until recently and make identification of path mechanisms and exploration of therapeutic options an urgent challenge. There is an apparent relationship between LC symptoms and impaired cholinergic neurotransmission.

Methods

This paper reviews the current literature on the effects of blocked nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) on the main affected organ and cell systems and contrasts this with the unblocking effects of the alkaloid nicotine. In addition, mechanisms are presented that could explain the previously unexplained phenomenon of post-vaccination syndrome (PVS).

SUBMITTER: Leitzke M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11866872 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature