Experimental strategies in the context of COVID-19-induced anosmia: is neurodegeneration involved?

Abstract

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is causing the saturation of health systems worldwide mainly due to the severity of some respiratory symptoms induced by the course of the disease in some patients. However, the report of patients about the occurrence of anosmia in course of pathology has opened questions about the participation of a neural and, perhaps neurodegenerative, component of SARS-COV-2-induced pathophysiological changes. In addition to be a symptom of respiratory viral infections, anosmia has also been reported to be an early symptom of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer´s and Parkinson´s disease and multiple sclerosis. The olfactory epithelium- olfactory bulb pathway is a neurogenic niche in the adult brain which retain regenerative capacity that participates not only in sensory inputs process but also in the control of emotions and cognition. Therefore, the present study aims to study, using in vitro and in vivo strategies, the COVID-19 neuroinvasive mechanisms in the sensory olfactory system. In addition, we will characterize possible therapeutic targets and behavioral consequences of the COVID-19 infection in neural tissue. (AU)