Systemic Inflammation and Astrocyte Reactivity in the Neuropsychiatric Sequelae of COVID-19: Focus on Autism Spectrum Disorders

Valenza, Marta; Steardo, Luca; Verkhratsky, Alexei; Scuderi, Caterina

doi:10.3389/fncel.2021.748136

Cited by 10 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 98 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…However, glia changes are not always restored in a timely manner thus causing brain damage. At the beginning of 2021, we hypothesized that the neuropsychiatric consequences of COVID-19 are maladaptive glial recovery to blame [ 1 , 2 ]. This hypothesis is now reinforced by growing evidence which is summarized in the following paragraphs.…”

Section: The Role Of Astrocytes In the Brain: May The Homeostatic Cel...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Astrocytes and the Psychiatric Sequelae of COVID-19: What We Learned from the Pandemic

Steardo

Scuderi

2022

Neurochem Res

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

COVID-19, initially regarded as specific lung disease, exhibits an extremely broad spectrum of symptoms. Extrapulmonary manifestations of the disease also include important neuropsychiatric symptoms with atypical characteristics. Are these disturbances linked to stress accompanying every systemic infection, or are due to specific neurobiological changes associated with COVID-19? Evidence accumulated so far indicates that the pathophysiology of COVID-19 is characterized by systemic inflammation, hypoxia resulting from respiratory failure, and neuroinflammation (either due to viral neurotropism or in response to cytokine storm), all affecting the brain. It is reasonable to hypothesize that all these events may initiate or worsen psychiatric and cognitive disorders. Damage to the brain triggers a specific type of reactive response mounted by neuroglia cells, in particular by astrocytes which are the homeostatic cell par excellence. Astrocytes undergo complex morphological, biochemical, and functional remodeling aimed at mobilizing the regenerative potential of the central nervous system. If the brain is not directly damaged, resolution of systemic pathology usually results in restoration of the physiological homeostatic status of neuroglial cells. The completeness and dynamics of this process in pathological conditions remain largely unknown. In a subset of patients, glial cells could fail to recover after infection thus promoting the onset and progression of COVID-19-related neuropsychiatric diseases. There is evidence from post-mortem examinations of the brains of COVID-19 patients of alterations in both astrocytes and microglia. In conclusion, COVID-19 activates a huge reactive response of glial cells, that physiologically act as the main controller of the inflammatory, protective and regenerative events. However, in some patients the restoration of glial physiological state does not occur, thus compromising glial function and ultimately resulting in homeostatic failure underlying a set of specific neuropsychiatric symptoms related to COVID-19.

show abstract

Section: The Role Of Astrocytes In the Brain: May The Homeostatic Cel...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Astrocytes and the Psychiatric Sequelae of COVID-19: What We Learned from the Pandemic

Steardo

Scuderi

2022

Neurochem Res

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…As astrocytes are critical for maintaining brain homeostasis [ 50 ], they promptly react to any CNS insult or damage by undergoing morphofunctional changes that are context-, time-, and disease-specific [ 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 ]. Astrocyte reactivity could have either beneficial or detrimental consequences for myelination, and the difference seems to be related to the severity of astrogliosis [ 70 ].…”

Section: The Role Of the Astrocyte-oligodendrocyte Cross-talk In Myel...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Palmitoylethanolamide and White Matter Lesions: Evidence for Therapeutic Implications

et al. 2022

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), the naturally occurring amide of ethanolamine and palmitic acid, is an endogenous lipid compound endowed with a plethora of pharmacological functions, including analgesic, neuroprotective, immune-modulating, and anti-inflammatory effects. Although the properties of PEA were first characterized nearly 65 years ago, the identity of the receptor mediating these actions has long remained elusive, causing a period of research stasis. In the last two decades, a renewal of interest in PEA occurred, and a series of interesting studies have demonstrated the pharmacological properties of PEA and clarified its mechanisms of action. Recent findings showed the ability of formulations containing PEA in promoting oligodendrocyte differentiation, which represents the first step for the proper formation of myelin. This evidence opens new and promising research opportunities. White matter defects have been detected in a vast and heterogeneous group of diseases, including age-related neurodegenerative disorders. Here, we summarize the history and pharmacology of PEA and discuss its therapeutic potential in restoring white matter defects.

show abstract

“…Among infectious agents, major concerns relate to the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. In fact, while the transplacental transmission of this virus is unlikely to occur [ 85 ], maternal infections may impact fetal neurodevelopment through the MIA. Placentas from infected women are more likely to show aspects of maternal and/or fetal malperfusion as compared to healthy controls; fibrin deposition and intense recruitment of inflammatory infiltrates are the most common findings [ 86 ].…”

Section: The Biological Basis Of Autism Spectrum Disordersmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dynamic and Systemic Perspective in Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Change of Gaze in Research Opens to A New Landscape of Needs and Solutions

Panisi¹,

Marini

2022

Brain Sciences

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The first step for a harmonious bio-psycho-social framework in approaching autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is overcoming the conflict between the biological and the psychosocial perspective. Biological research can provide clues for a correct approach to clinical practice, assuming that it would lead to the conceptualization of a pathogenetic paradigm able to account for epidemiologic and clinical findings. The upward trajectory in ASD prevalence and the systemic involvement of other organs besides the brain suggest that the epigenetic paradigm is the most plausible one. The embryo-fetal period is the crucial window of opportunity for keeping neurodevelopment on the right tracks, suggesting that women’s health in pregnancy should be a priority. Maladaptive molecular pathways beginning in utero, in particular, a vicious circle between the immune response, oxidative stress/mitochondrial dysfunction, and dysbiosis-impact neurodevelopment and brain functioning across the lifespan and are the basis for progressive multisystemic disorders that account for the substantial health loss and the increased mortality in ASD. Therefore, the biological complexity of ASD and its implications for health requires the enhancement of clinical skills on these topics, to achieve an effective multi-disciplinary healthcare model. Well-balanced training courses could be a promising starting point to make a change.

show abstract

Systemic Inflammation and Astrocyte Reactivity in the Neuropsychiatric Sequelae of COVID-19: Focus on Autism Spectrum Disorders

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic world map presented in Figure 1 was taken from the World Health Organization dashboard website (https://covid19.who.int/) and reported with the permission of the Organization. The Figure was created using Biorender.com that granted permission to publish it.

Cited by 10 publications

References 98 publications

Astrocytes and the Psychiatric Sequelae of COVID-19: What We Learned from the Pandemic

Astrocytes and the Psychiatric Sequelae of COVID-19: What We Learned from the Pandemic

Palmitoylethanolamide and White Matter Lesions: Evidence for Therapeutic Implications

Dynamic and Systemic Perspective in Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Change of Gaze in Research Opens to A New Landscape of Needs and Solutions

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About