Popa Elena, Popa Andrei Emilian, Poroch Mihaela, Poroch Vladimir, Ungureanu Monica Iuliana, Slanina Ana Maria, Bacusca Agnes, Coman Elena Adorata
Faculty of Medicine, "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 Universitatii Str., 700115 Iasi, Romania.
Department of Family Medicine, Preventive Medicine and Interdisciplinary, "Grigore T. Popa" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Universitatii Str. 16, 700115 Iasi, Romania.
Int J Mol Sci. 2025 May 26;26(11):5102. doi: 10.3390/ijms26115102.
Cognitive dysfunction represents one of the most persistent and disabling features of Long COVID, yet its molecular underpinnings remain incompletely understood. This narrative review synthesizes current evidence on the pathophysiological mechanisms linking SARS-CoV-2 infection to long-term neurocognitive sequelae. Key processes include persistent neuroinflammation, blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption, endothelial dysfunction, immune dysregulation, and neuroendocrine imbalance. Microglial activation and cytokine release (e.g., IL-6, TNF-α) promote synaptic dysfunction and neuronal injury, while activation of inflammasomes such as NLRP3 amplifies CNS inflammation. Vascular abnormalities, including microthrombosis and BBB leakage, facilitate the infiltration of peripheral immune cells and neurotoxic mediators. Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis dysfunction and reduced vagal tone further exacerbate systemic inflammation and autonomic imbalance. Biomarkers such as GFAP, NFL, IL-6, and S100B have been associated with both neuroinflammation and cognitive symptoms. Notably, transcriptomic signatures in Long COVID overlap with those observed in Alzheimer's disease, highlighting shared pathways involving dysregulation, oxidative stress, and glial reactivity. Understanding these mechanisms is critical for identifying at-risk individuals and developing targeted therapeutic strategies. This review underscores the need for longitudinal research and integrative biomarker analysis to elucidate the molecular trajectory of cognitive impairment in Long COVID.
认知功能障碍是长期新冠最持久且致残的特征之一,但其分子基础仍未完全明了。这篇叙述性综述综合了当前关于将新冠病毒感染与长期神经认知后遗症联系起来的病理生理机制的证据。关键过程包括持续性神经炎症、血脑屏障(BBB)破坏、内皮功能障碍、免疫失调和神经内分泌失衡。小胶质细胞活化和细胞因子释放(如白细胞介素-6、肿瘤坏死因子-α)会促进突触功能障碍和神经元损伤,而诸如NLRP3等炎性小体的活化会放大中枢神经系统炎症。血管异常,包括微血栓形成和血脑屏障渗漏,会促使外周免疫细胞和神经毒性介质的浸润。下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺轴功能障碍和迷走神经张力降低会进一步加剧全身炎症和自主神经失衡。诸如胶质纤维酸性蛋白(GFAP)、神经丝轻链(NFL)、白细胞介素-6和S100B等生物标志物与神经炎症和认知症状均有关联。值得注意的是,长期新冠的转录组特征与在阿尔茨海默病中观察到的特征重叠,凸显了涉及失调、氧化应激和神经胶质反应性的共同途径。了解这些机制对于识别高危个体和制定有针对性的治疗策略至关重要。这篇综述强调了进行纵向研究和综合生物标志物分析以阐明长期新冠中认知障碍分子轨迹的必要性。
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