The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has generated a lot of stress and anxiety among not only infected patients but also the general population across the globe, which disturbs cerebral immune homeostasis and potentially exacerbates the SARS-CoV-2 virus-induced neuroinflammation, especially among people susceptible to neuropsychiatric disorders. Here, we used a chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) mouse model to study its effects on glia-mediated neuroinflammation and expression of SARS-CoV2 viral receptors. We observed that female mice showed depressive-like behavior after CUMS, whereas male mice showed enhanced anxiety and social withdrawal. Interestingly, CUMS led to increased amounts of total and MHCII + microglia in the hippocampi of female mice but not male mice. mRNA levels of SARS-CoV-2 viral receptors angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 ( Ace2 ) and basigin ( Bsg ) were also upregulated in the prefrontal cortices of stressed female mice but not male mice. Similarly, sex-specific changes in SARS-CoV-2 viral receptors FURIN and neuropilin-1 ( NRP1 ) were also observed in monocytes of human caregivers enduring chronic stress. Our findings provided evidence on detrimental effects of chronic stress on the brain and behavior and implied potential sex-dependent susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection after chronic stress.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Neuroinflammation, neuropsychiatric disorders, glial cells, chronic unpredictable mild stress, 【초록키워드】 coronavirus disease, SARS-CoV2, pandemic, Anxiety, Stress, SARS-COV-2 infection, susceptibility, Withdrawal, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, Brain, monocyte, mice, male, female, Immune homeostasis, Neuropsychiatric, Mild, NRP1, receptors, receptor, General population, microglia, expression, Evidence, disorders, MHCII, mRNA level, Effect, susceptible, SARS-CoV-2 viral, globe, provided, changes in, infected patient, upregulated, exacerbate, detrimental effect, the SARS-CoV-2, 【제목키워드】 chronic, induced,