Can COVID-19 reach the choroid plexus?

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The involvement of COVID-19 (caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus) with the choroid plexus has been an area of investigation. The choroid plexus is a structure in the brain that produces cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and acts as a barrier between the bloodstream and the CSF, playing a role in the central nervous system's immune responses.

There are several reasons to suspect potential interactions between SARS-CoV-2 and the choroid plexus:

  1. ACE2 Expression: The main entry receptor for SARS-CoV-2, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), is expressed in various tissues throughout the body, including the brain. Some studies have shown that the choroid plexus expresses ACE2, which could provide a potential entry route for the virus.

  2. Neurological Symptoms: Some COVID-19 patients exhibit neurological symptoms ranging from mild (like headaches and loss of smell) to more severe (like encephalopathy, strokes, and seizures). Understanding how the virus could access the central nervous system is vital for elucidating the underlying mechanisms of these symptoms.

  3. Post-mortem studies: Limited post-mortem studies have been performed on patients who succumbed to COVID-19. Some studies have found traces of SARS-CoV-2 RNA or proteins in the brain tissue, but the exact location and significance of these findings are still being explored.

While the potential for SARS-CoV-2 to access the choroid plexus and subsequently the central nervous system is a topic of interest, direct evidence of the virus's presence in the choroid plexus or its definitive role in causing neurological symptoms remains to be fully clarified. Further studies are needed to understand the full spectrum of the virus's interaction with the central nervous system and its associated structures.

SARS-CoV-2 Infects the Brain Choroid Plexus and Disrupts the Blood-CSF Barrier in Human Brain Organoids
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7553118/


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