Molecular Mechanisms of Proteins — Targets for SARS-CоV-2 (Review)

The rapidly accumulating information about the new coronavirus infection and the ambiguous results obtained by various authors necessitate further research aiming at prevention and treatment of this disease At the moment, there is convincing evidence that the pathogen affects not only the respiratory but also the central nervous system (CNS) The aim of the study is to provide an insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying the damage to the CNS caused by the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 Results By analyzing the literature, we provide evidence that the brain is targeted by this virus SARS-CoV-2 enters the body with the help of the target proteins: angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and associated serine protease TMPRSS2 of the nasal epithelium Brain damage develops before the onset of pulmonary symptoms The virus spreads through the brain tissue into the piriform cortex, basal ganglia, midbrain, and hypothalamus Later, the substantia nigra of the midbrain, amygdala, hippocampus, and cerebellum become affected Massive death of neurons, astrogliosis and activation of microglia develop at the next stage of the disease By day 4, an excessive production of proinflammatory cytokines in the brain, local neuroinflammation, breakdown of the blood-brain barrier, and impaired neuroplasticity are detected These changes imply the involvement of a vascular component driven by excessive activity of matrix metalloproteinases, mediated by CD147 The main players in the pathogenesis of COVID-19 in the brain are products of angiotensin II (AT II) metabolism, largely angiotensin 1-7 (AT 1-7) and angiotensin IV (AT IV) There are conflicting data regarding their role in damage to the CNS in various diseases, including the coronavirus infection The second participant in the pathogenesis of brain damage in COVID-19 is CD147 -- the inducer of extracellular matrix metalloproteinases This molecule is expressed on the endothelial cells of cerebral microvessels, as well as on leukocytes present in the brain during neuroinflammation The CD147 molecule plays a significant role in maintaining the structural and functional integrity of the blood-brain barrier by controlling the basal membrane permeability and by mediating the astrocyte-endothelial interactions Via the above mechanisms, an exposure to SARS-CoV-2 leads to direct damage to the neurovascular unit of the brain [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Medical Technologies in Medicine / Sovremennye Tehnologii v Medicine is the property of Sovremennye Tehnologii v Medicine and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use This abstract may be abridged No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract (Copyright applies to all Abstracts )