The SARS-CoV-2 main protease M^pro causes microvascular brain pathology by cleaving NEMO in brain endothelial cells.

ABSTRACT: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can damage cerebral small vessels and cause neurological symptoms. Here we describe structural changes in cerebral small vessels of patients with COVID-19 and elucidate potential mechanisms underlying the vascular pathology. In brains of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-infected individuals and animal models, we found an increased number of empty basement membrane tubes, so-called string vessels representing remnants of lost capillaries. We obtained evidence that brain endothelial cells are infected and that the main protease of SARS-CoV-2 (M^pro) cleaves NEMO, the essential modulator of nuclear factor-κB. By ablating NEMO, M^pro induces the death of human brain endothelial cells and the occurrence of strin

SUBMITTER: Wenzel J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8553622 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature