https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.02.23.432474v1 Skip to main content bioRxiv * Home * About * Submit * ALERTS / RSS Search for this keyword [ ] [Search] Advanced Search New Results SARS-CoV-2 causes brain inflammation and induces Lewy body formation in macaques Ingrid H.C.H.M. Philippens, View ORCID ProfileKinga P. Boszormenyi, Jacqueline A. Wubben, Zahra C. Fagrouch, Nikki van Driel, Amber Q. Mayenburg, Diana Lozovagia, Eva Roos, Bernadette Schurink, Marianna Bugiani, Ronald E. Bontrop, Jinte Middeldorp, Willy M. Bogers, Lioe-Fee de Geus-Oei, Jan A.M. Langermans, Marieke A. Stammes, Babs E. Verstrepen, Ernst J. Verschoor doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.02.23.432474 Ingrid H.C.H.M. Philippens 1Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Lange Kleiweg 161, 2288GJ Rijswijk, The Netherlands * Find this author on Google Scholar * Find this author on PubMed * Search for this author on this site * For correspondence: philippens@bprc.nl Kinga P. Boszormenyi 1Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Lange Kleiweg 161, 2288GJ Rijswijk, The Netherlands * Find this author on Google Scholar * Find this author on PubMed * Search for this author on this site * ORCID record for Kinga P. Boszormenyi Jacqueline A. Wubben 1Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Lange Kleiweg 161, 2288GJ Rijswijk, The Netherlands * Find this author on Google Scholar * Find this author on PubMed * Search for this author on this site Zahra C. Fagrouch 1Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Lange Kleiweg 161, 2288GJ Rijswijk, The Netherlands * Find this author on Google Scholar * Find this author on PubMed * Search for this author on this site Nikki van Driel 1Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Lange Kleiweg 161, 2288GJ Rijswijk, The Netherlands * Find this author on Google Scholar * Find this author on PubMed * Search for this author on this site Amber Q. Mayenburg 1Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Lange Kleiweg 161, 2288GJ Rijswijk, The Netherlands * Find this author on Google Scholar * Find this author on PubMed * Search for this author on this site Diana Lozovagia 1Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Lange Kleiweg 161, 2288GJ Rijswijk, The Netherlands * Find this author on Google Scholar * Find this author on PubMed * Search for this author on this site Eva Roos 2Department of Pathology, Amsterdam UMC, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands * Find this author on Google Scholar * Find this author on PubMed * Search for this author on this site Bernadette Schurink 2Department of Pathology, Amsterdam UMC, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands * Find this author on Google Scholar * Find this author on PubMed * Search for this author on this site Marianna Bugiani 2Department of Pathology, Amsterdam UMC, De Boelelaan 1117, 1081HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands * Find this author on Google Scholar * Find this author on PubMed * Search for this author on this site Ronald E. Bontrop 1Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Lange Kleiweg 161, 2288GJ Rijswijk, The Netherlands 3Department of Biology, Theoretical Biology and Bioinformatics, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, Utrecht, The Netherlands * Find this author on Google Scholar * Find this author on PubMed * Search for this author on this site Jinte Middeldorp 1Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Lange Kleiweg 161, 2288GJ Rijswijk, The Netherlands * Find this author on Google Scholar * Find this author on PubMed * Search for this author on this site Willy M. Bogers 1Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Lange Kleiweg 161, 2288GJ Rijswijk, The Netherlands * Find this author on Google Scholar * Find this author on PubMed * Search for this author on this site Lioe-Fee de Geus-Oei 5Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333ZA Leiden, The Netherlands 6Biomedical Photonic Imaging Group, University of Twente, Drienerlolaan 5, 7522ND Enschede, The Netherlands * Find this author on Google Scholar * Find this author on PubMed * Search for this author on this site Jan A.M. Langermans 1Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Lange Kleiweg 161, 2288GJ Rijswijk, The Netherlands 4Department Population Health Sciences, Division of Animals in Science and Society, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 1, 3584CL Utrecht, The Netherlands * Find this author on Google Scholar * Find this author on PubMed * Search for this author on this site Marieke A. Stammes 1Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Lange Kleiweg 161, 2288GJ Rijswijk, The Netherlands * Find this author on Google Scholar * Find this author on PubMed * Search for this author on this site Babs E. Verstrepen 1Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Lange Kleiweg 161, 2288GJ Rijswijk, The Netherlands * Find this author on Google Scholar * Find this author on PubMed * Search for this author on this site Ernst J. Verschoor 1Biomedical Primate Research Centre (BPRC), Lange Kleiweg 161, 2288GJ Rijswijk, The Netherlands * Find this author on Google Scholar * Find this author on PubMed * Search for this author on this site * Abstract * Full Text * Info/History * Metrics * Preview PDF Loading Abstract SARS-CoV-2 may cause acute respiratory disease, but the infection can also initiate neurological symptoms. Here we show that SARS-CoV-2 infection causes brain inflammation in the macaque model. An increased metabolic activity in the pituitary gland of two macaques was observed by longitudinal positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT). Post-mortem analysis demonstrated infiltration of T-cells and activated microglia in the brain, and viral RNA was detected in brain tissues from one animal. We observed Lewy bodies in brains of all rhesus macaques. These data emphasize the virus' capability to induce neuropathology in this nonhuman primate model for SARS-CoV-2 infection. As in humans Lewy body formation is an indication for the development of Parkinson's disease, this data represents a warning for potential long-term neurological effects after SARS-CoV-2 infection. One-Sentence Summar SARS-CoV-2 causes brain inflammation and Lewy bodies, a hallmark for Parkinson, after an asymptomatic infection in macaques. Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. Copyright The copyright holder for this preprint is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission. View the discussion thread. Back to top PreviousNext Posted February 23, 2021. Download PDF Email Thank you for your interest in spreading the word about bioRxiv. NOTE: Your email address is requested solely to identify you as the sender of this article. Your Email * [ ] Your Name * [ ] Send To * [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas. You are going to email the following SARS-CoV-2 causes brain inflammation and induces Lewy body formation in macaques Message Subject (Your Name) has forwarded a page to you from bioRxiv Message Body (Your Name) thought you would like to see this page from the bioRxiv website. Your Personal Message [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] [ ] CAPTCHA This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions. [Send Message] Share SARS-CoV-2 causes brain inflammation and induces Lewy body formation in macaques Ingrid H.C.H.M. Philippens, Kinga P. Boszormenyi, Jacqueline A. Wubben, Zahra C. Fagrouch, Nikki van Driel, Amber Q. Mayenburg, Diana Lozovagia, Eva Roos, Bernadette Schurink, Marianna Bugiani, Ronald E. Bontrop, Jinte Middeldorp, Willy M. Bogers, Lioe-Fee de Geus-Oei, Jan A.M. Langermans, Marieke A. Stammes, Babs E. Verstrepen, Ernst J. Verschoor bioRxiv 2021.02.23.432474; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/ 2021.02.23.432474 Share This Article: [https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.02.23] Copy Digg logo Reddit logo Twitter logo CiteULike logo Facebook logo Google logo Mendeley logo Citation Tools SARS-CoV-2 causes brain inflammation and induces Lewy body formation in macaques Ingrid H.C.H.M. Philippens, Kinga P. Boszormenyi, Jacqueline A. Wubben, Zahra C. Fagrouch, Nikki van Driel, Amber Q. Mayenburg, Diana Lozovagia, Eva Roos, Bernadette Schurink, Marianna Bugiani, Ronald E. Bontrop, Jinte Middeldorp, Willy M. Bogers, Lioe-Fee de Geus-Oei, Jan A.M. Langermans, Marieke A. Stammes, Babs E. Verstrepen, Ernst J. 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