COVID-19 neurotropism and implications for therapy

Abstract

The mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in humans is poorly understood, although the cellular receptors which facilitate the virus fusion have been identified. Although the major symptoms of the infection have been identified as acute respiratory distress, pneumonia, and fever, recently, symptoms involving nervous system dysfunctions, including encephalopathy and stroke, have been detected. Herein, we comprehensively review the evidence that SARS-CoV-2 infection involves a neurotropic mechanism including a nose-brain-lung axis suggesting implications in therapy development.