The microglial NLRP3 inflammasome is involved in human SARS-CoV-2 cerebral pathogenicity: A report of three post-mortem cases

J Neuroimmunol. 2021 Dec 15:361:577728. doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2021.577728. Epub 2021 Sep 29.

Abstract

We herein report, by using confocal immunofluorescence, the colocalization of the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid within neurons, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and microglia in three deceased COVID-19 cases, of between 78 and 85 years of age at death. The viral nucleocapsid was detected together with its ACE2 cell entry receptor, as well as the NLRP3 inflammasome in cerebral cortical tissues. It is noteworthy that NLRP3 was colocalized with CD68 + macrophages in the brain and lung of the deceased, suggesting the critical role of this type of inflammasome in SARS-CoV-2 lesions of the nervous system/lungs and supporting its potential role as a therapeutic target.

Keywords: COVID-19; Human brain; Macrophages; NLRP3 inflammasome; SARS-CoV-2.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Astrocytes / virology
  • Autopsy
  • Brain / immunology
  • Brain / pathology
  • Brain / virology*
  • COVID-19 / immunology
  • COVID-19 / pathology
  • COVID-19 / virology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Inflammasomes / immunology*
  • Male
  • Microglia / immunology
  • Microglia / virology*
  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein / immunology*
  • Neurons / virology
  • Nucleocapsid
  • Oligodendroglia / virology
  • SARS-CoV-2 / pathogenicity*

Substances

  • Inflammasomes
  • NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein
  • NLRP3 protein, human