The microglial NLRP3 inflammasome is involved in human SARS-CoV-2 cerebral pathogenicity: A report of three post-mortem cases

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2021.577728
• Publication Date: 2021-09-29T15:37:11Z
• Authors: Viviana Falcón Cama; Javier Marín-Prida; Nelson Acosta-Rivero; Emilio F. Acosta; Leonardo Oramas Díaz; Ana V. Casadesús; Briandy Fernández...; Nathalie Gilva-Ro...; Daina Cremata-García; Majel Cervantes-L...; Beatriz Piniella-...; Daisy Sánchez; Leticia del Rosar...; Israel Borrajero; Angelina Díaz; Yorexis González; Eduardo Pentón-Arias; Teresita Montero-...; Gerardo Guillen-N...; Giselle Pentón-Rol
• Keywords: Aged, 80 and over; Male; Neurons; 0301 basic medicine; Inflammasomes; SARS-CoV-2; Short Communication; Brain; COVID-19; 3. Good health; Oligodendroglia; 03 medical and health sciences; Astrocytes; NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein; Humans; Female; Autopsy; Microglia; Nucleocapsid; Aged

We herein report, by using confocal immunofluorescence, the colocalization of the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid within neurons, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and microglia in three deceased COVID-19 cases, of between 78 and 85 years of age at death. The viral nucleocapsid was detected together with its ACE2 cell entry receptor, as well as the NLRP3 inflammasome in cerebral cortical tissues. It is noteworthy that NLRP3 was colocalized with CD68 + macrophages in the brain and lung of the deceased, suggesting the critical role of this type of inflammasome in SARS-CoV-2 lesions of the nervous system/lungs and supporting its potential role as a therapeutic target.