Gene

Cell biology

Hyperphosphorylation

Neuroscience

Biology

Neuropathology

Endocrinology

Neuroinflammation

Signal transduction

Biochemistry

Endoplasmic reticulum

Phosphorylation

Ryanodine receptor

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Immunology

Genetics

Ryanodine receptor 2

Oxidative stress

Inflammation

Infectious disease (medical specialty)

Internal medicine

Medicine

Calcium signaling

Disease

Immunoprecipitation

Antibody

Phenotype

Alzheimer s & Dementia

The mechanisms that lead to cognitive impairment associated with COVID-19 are not well understood.Brain lysates from control and COVID-19 patients were analyzed for oxidative stress and inflammatory signaling pathway markers, and measurements of Alzheimer's disease (AD)-linked signaling biochemistry. Post-translational modifications of the ryanodine receptor/calcium (Ca2+ ) release channels (RyR) on the endoplasmic reticuli (ER), known to be linked to AD, were also measured by co-immunoprecipitation/immunoblotting of the brain lysates.We provide evidence linking SARS-CoV-2 infection to activation of TGF-β signaling and oxidative overload. The neuropathological pathways causing tau hyperphosphorylation typically associated with AD were also shown to be activated in COVID-19 patients. RyR2 in COVID-19 brains demonstrated a "leaky" phenotype, which can promote cognitive and behavioral defects.COVID-19 neuropathology includes AD-like features and leaky RyR2 channels could be a therapeutic target for amelioration of some cognitive defects associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection and long COVID.

Alzheimer's‐like signaling in brains of COVID‐19 patients