Mechanisms of sex differences in acute and long COVID sequelae in mice.

ABSTRACT: While males are more likely to suffer severe outcomes during acute COVID-19, a greater proportion of females develop post-acute sequalae of COVID-19 (PASC) despite similar rates of infection. To identify mechanisms of PASC, mice were infected with SARS-CoV-2 and viral, inflammatory, and behavioral outcomes were evaluated through 84 days post infection. Sex differences were not observed in virus replication or persistence of viral RNA in pulmonary or extrapulmonary tissues in acute or PASC phases. Following recovery from infection, female mice exhibited persistent neurocognitive and behavioral impairments, along with greater frequencies of inflammatory myeloid subsets, neuroinflammation, and dysregulated T cell subsets, including Tregs. Sex differences in inflammation and cognitive phenotyp

SUBMITTER: Liu JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12632761 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature