Weill Cornell Medicine researchers in collaboration with the Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research and the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons have made a groundbreaking discovery regarding the impact of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, on the human brain.
A recent study published in Cell Stem Cell has found that SARS-CoV-2 not only infects the lungs but can also affect the brain. Specifically, researchers focused on the virus’s impact on dopamine neurons, which are responsible for dopamine secretion in the midbrain. The deterioration or loss of these neurons often signifies neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease.
The study revealed that unlike lung cells, which may ultimately die after infection, dopamine neurons experience accelerated aging. This age-related deterioration, known as senescence, was an unexpected outcome, as stated by Prof. Shuibing Chen, one of the study’s authors.
Traditionally, COVID-19’s impact has been primarily associated with its effects on lung cells, as well as cells in the gut and liver. However, this research sheds light on an unexplored area by investigating the virus’s impact on the brain’s dopamine system. This new understanding of how SARS-CoV-2 affects dopamine neurons is crucial in comprehending the virus’s long-term effects on neurodegeneration and senescence.
Studying the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on dopamine neurons presented its own set of challenges, primarily due to the safety precautions required when working with the virus. Since SARS-CoV-2 is classified as a Biosafety Level 3 virus, it can only be handled in specialized laboratories equipped to deal with such high-risk specimens. Cornell, lacking a BSL-3 facility, collaborated with Columbia’s BSL-3 facility, which enabled the researchers to carry out their investigation successfully.
While this research provides important insights into the relationship between COVID-19 and the brain’s dopamine system, there is still much to learn. Specifically, there is a lack of knowledge regarding the long-term consequences of COVID-19 on neural senescence. According to Prof. Chen, understanding the specific cells affected by viral infections is essential in furthering research on the impacts of viruses like SARS-CoV-2 on different organs.
Ultimately, this study serves as a starting point for future investigations on the effects of viruses on various parts of the human body, including SARS-CoV-2 and its impact on the brain.
As this research unfolds, it highlights the importance of collaboration and the sharing of resources between institutions. Maintaining open communication and working together allowed researchers from different institutions to pool their expertise and achieve this significant breakthrough.
While this study provides us with valuable information, it also serves as a reminder that there is still much to learn about the complex interactions between COVID-19 and the human body. The implications of this research extend beyond the immediate crisis, emphasizing the importance of ongoing scientific exploration and understanding viruses’ broader impact on our health.
In conclusion, this collaborative research conducted by Weill Cornell Medicine, the Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, and the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons has uncovered crucial insights into how SARS-CoV-2 affects dopamine neurons in the brain. These findings contribute to our overall understanding of COVID-19’s impact on the human body and serve as a starting point for future investigations in this field.
