Calcitonin gene-related peptide: A biomarker for stroke in SARS-CoV-2 infection?

Yassamine Ouerdane; Yahia Khlidj; Mohamed S Attia; Rafik Korissi

doi:10.1016/j.mehy.2022.110807

Calcitonin gene-related peptide: A biomarker for stroke in SARS-CoV-2 infection?

Med Hypotheses. 2022 May:162:110807. doi: 10.1016/j.mehy.2022.110807. Epub 2022 Feb 23.

Authors

Yassamine Ouerdane¹, Yahia Khlidj², Mohamed S Attia³, Rafik Korissi²

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Medicine, Saad Dahlab University, Blida, Algeria.
² Faculty of Medicine, University of Algiers Benyoucef Benkhedda, Algiers, Algeria.
³ Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt.

Abstract

COVID-19 infection was mainly associated with respiratory symptoms, but lately, ischemic stroke (IS) has been reported in several cases. The incidence of IS in SARS-CoV-2 infection is increasing, and its mechanism is still not fully understood. Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) -the abundantly expressed protein in the peripheral and central nervous system- showed low expression in SARS-CoV-2 patients. This peptide is strongly implicated in regulating cerebral blood flow (CBF) and improving neurological deficits after cerebral arterial occlusion. We assume that a possible interplay between the low circulating levels of CGRP may affect CBF, thus worsening the symptoms of IS in SARS-CoV-2 patients.

Keywords: CBF; CBF, Cerebral blood flow; CGRP; CGRP, Calcitonin gene-related peptide; COVID-19; Ischemic stroke.