2. SARS-CoV-2 Neuroinvasiveness and Long COVID
The SARS-CoV-2 infection mechanism involves the spike glycoprotein (S) and the binding with the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor (ACE2). The protein binding, eased by specific proteases such as transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2), makes the virus capable of invading the respiratory and gastrointestinal epithelial cells
[10]. Nevertheless, the S can bind to other receptors, such as Neuropilin-1 (NRP1) and dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4), that facilitate alternative viral entry and transmission in the target cells
[11][12]. Although the ACE2 receptor is mainly expressed in pneumocytes, enterocytes, and vascular endothelial cells, this receptor can also be found on glial cells and neurons in the brainstem, the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS), and the rostral ventrolateral medulla making them a potential target for SARS-CoV-2
[13] with a subsequent CNS infection. Despite many published investigations, the mechanisms of viral infection of the CNS remain unclear and highly debated
[14].
Two main pathways of virus entry into the CNS have been proposed (
Figure 1). In the first instance, sensory or motor nerve endings are infected, along with the subsequent retrograde neuronal transport
[1]. Supporting evidence demonstrates that SARS-CoV-2 can penetrate the brain upon intranasal infection, crossing the neural–mucosal interface in the olfactory mucosa, with a further spreading to defined neuroanatomical areas, including the primary respiratory and cardiovascular control center in the medulla oblongata
[15]. This neuroinvasiveness pathway is supported by the localization of viral RNA or proteins in sites such as olfactory mucosa and olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs)
[16].
Figure 1. Neuroinvasiveness routes of SARS-CoV-2. Once the virus is in the respiratory system, it can reach the central nervous system by two main mechanisms.SARS-CoV-2 makes contact with the olfactory mucosa, reaching the olfactory nerves, and by transport through the nerve endings, it can travel and spread to the CNS. The other pathway is the hematogenous route, where the virus can reach the brain-blood barrier and, by transcytosis, infect the neuroepithelia and then the cells of the CNS. Viral RNA is present in neurons, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and endothelial cells. After the prolongated symptoms, people with long-COVID-19 develop neurologic sequalae. CNS = central nervous system, ACE2 = angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor. Created with BioRender.com.
Moreover, peripheral nervous system (PNS) components such as neuromuscular junctions might participate in the neuroinvasiveness potential of COVID-19
[17]. In addition, the respiratory tract (the central infection and replication site of SARS-CoV-2) and the digestive system are innervated by plenty of cranial nerves; neurological invasion beyond the olfactory route is probably achieved using these cranial nerves
[18].
Another proposed route is the hematogenous route
[1]. SARS-CoV-2 can travel through the circulatory system and reach BBB endothelial cells, promoting BBB leakage and the overexpression of coagulation factors, adhesion molecules, and pro-inflammatory cytokines, as well as the formation of multinucleated syncytia and lysis of the infected endothelial cells
[18][19].
Regardless of the route of neuroinvasion, the virus can infect multiple cell types that express the ACE2 receptor, such as neurons, astrocytes, microglia, pericytes, endothelial cells, and oligodendrocytes promoting long COVID symptomatology
[16][20]. However, CNS damage directly due to the neuroinvasiveness of SARS-CoV-2 does not seem to be the main mechanism in the pathophysiology of neurological symptoms. In this regard, systemic inflammation causes CNS inflammation through chemokines and other mechanisms, probably causing oligodendrocyte dysfunction, neurogenesis failure, axonal damage, and astrocyte changes
[21]. Other mechanisms involved are the development of autoimmunity phenomena, thrombotic and microvascular damage, and reactivation of other infections. Additionally, hypoxic and metabolic issues are also present, especially in cases with severe acute COVID-19.
The broad range of neurological manifestations in acute and chronic stages includes mild and non-life-threatening manifestations such as anosmia, ageusia, headaches, dizziness
[22], and myalgias
[23], as well as severe manifestations, such as febrile seizures, cognitive impairment, convulsions, peripheral neuropathies, encephalitis
[24][25][26], brain edema, and partial neurodegeneration
[27]. These manifestations are more frequently presented in critically ill patients with comorbidities. However, they could be developed after their recovery from the primary infection
[5][6].
According to clinical findings, about 10–30% of patients experience the symptom persistence of acute COVID-19 or experience new symptomatology after COVID-19 resolution
[28]. These symptoms are part of a syndrome defined in 2021 by the WHO as a post-COVID-19 condition, which occurs in individuals with probably or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in the past 3 months as a new onset, following recovery or persists from the initial illness
[7]. Other terms to describe it are long COVID syndrome, persistent post-COVID, or post-acute COVID-19
[6]. In this research, the researchers will refer to it as long COVID.
Although SARS-CoV-2 infection is less severe apparently causing milder symptoms, fewer hospitalization rates, and minor adverse outcomes, and its mortality rate is lower due to vaccines, something to consider is that vaccinated individuals could still be infected with less severe symptomatology
[4]. Moreover, long COVID is not only presented in patients with a severe infection that led to hospitalization or intensive care but also in patients that did not require hospitalization
[29].
In some cases, long COVID includes a broad range of manifestations in the CNS. After 6 months of the COVID-19 infection, significant rates of neurological and neuropsychiatric symptoms have been identified in up to one third of the recovered patients
[30]. These neurological manifestations are difficulty thinking or concentrating (also mentioned as “brain fog”), changes in smell and taste, sleep problems, depression, headaches
[6][9], cognitive impairment, mood changes, anxiety, insomnia, headache, anosmia, and ageusia
[31]. Also, 12 months after COVID-19 infection there is an increased risk of stroke, disorders in cognition and memory, sensory, movement, mental health, musculoskeletal and PNS impairments, and other manifestations including Guillain–Barré syndrome, encephalitis, encephalopathy, and extrapyramidal and episodic disorders
[29]. However, cognitive impairment is one of the most prevalent symptoms
[9][32].
Despite many published investigations, the exact pathologic basis for these neurologic symptoms remains unknown
[8][33]. However, the persistent symptomatology of long COVID-19 could have multiple origins due to the different treatment protocols and intensity of infection of every patient, co-morbidities, or high-risk factors
[8][34][35]. The evidence shows that severely ill patients tend to have a high concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin IL-6, interleukin-1β, CXCL10, IL-2R, TNF-α, and IFN-γ, is associated with cytokine storms (CSs)
[36][37]. CSs appear to be aggravated by IL-6, resulting in the chemotaxis of neutrophils and lymphocyte exhaustion
[36]. Unfortunately, the high level of cytokines also indicates a poor prognosis for COVID-19.
The CNS is susceptible to CSs, which can damage neurons, astrocytes, microglia, pericytes, endothelial cells, and oligodendrocytes, and promote the disruption of the BBB, which in turn could lead to immune cell infiltration, promoting further inflammatory response enhancement, including the overproduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines, astrocyte/microglial activation neuroinflammation, and finally neurodegeneration
[38][39]. Neuroimaging studies have revealed important insights, confirming that cognitive dysfunction in patients with long COVID is associated with structural and functional brain changes
[40][41][42].
The neurological symptoms of long COVID are a growing problem and a call for attention for the healthcare system because they require planning and the development of effective treatments
[29][43], a challenging task given the pathophysiology and the interaction of numerous factors
[44]. In this research, the researchers propose MSC-based therapies as a promising approach to prevent and alleviate these sequelae.
3. Current Landscape of MSC and MSC-Derived Exosomes in Long COVID
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, several authors suggested MSC and their derivates, including conditioned media, extracellular vesicles, and exosomes, as a promising therapy for SARS-CoV2 infection
[45][46]. The hypothesis was that these therapies could induce an immunomodulatory response against CSs along with improved regeneration of damaged tissue and improved lung function, mainly through the secretion of bioactive molecules
[47][48], as well as because of the positive results obtained from preclinical models of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
[49][50], influenza
[51][52], and other respiratory virus infections
[53] in which MSC or its derivates improved animal outcomes and survival rates, mitigated pulmonary and systemic inflammation, and evidenced safety
[53][54].
After the release of the first study of a successfully treated COVID-19 patient with MSC in China
[55], several pilot trials and case reports appeared in which MSC or MSC-derived treatments were administered alone or in addition to the COVID-19 standard treatment
[56]. The preliminary results were favorable in critically ill patients with poor prognoses, showing that these therapies could restore oxygenation levels and lung function, and downregulate CSs.
To date, more than 100 clinical trials registered on the
clinicaltrials.gov website are exploring the effects of MSC and their derivates in COVID-19. The results of the finalized trials are published in the PubMed database and describe the administration of MSC from different origins, as well as MSC-derived exosomes, EVs, and their secretome
[57][58][59][60]. The main endpoint of those trials was to demonstrate safety and tolerability. All trials concluded that these therapies are completely safe, and no severe adverse events were observed. Another secondary endpoint was the efficacy of MSC-based therapies, based on the survival rate, clinical and laboratory improvements, such as the control of CSs. However, these results were not satisfactory
[57][60][61][62][63]. While MSC and MSC-derived therapy administration demonstrated beneficial effects in the trials that recruited severe or critically ill patients, the results of the effect of those therapies in patients with mild-moderate symptoms or with low clinical risk were inconclusive. This was mainly explained due to the small number of subjects enrolled in those trials. Therefore, additional clinical investigation is recommended
[64][65].
In addition to the immunomodulatory activity, MSCs also enhance functional recovery by endogenous neurogenesis and the up-regulation of synaptic plasticity linked to releasing neurotrophic factors such as FGF, VEGF, NGF, NT-3, SDF-1, and BDNF
[66][67][68]. Increasing levels of these neurotrophic factors activate several pathways promoting the survival, proliferation, and differentiation of neural precursor cells
[68]. The co-culture of MSC with neural precursor cells increases the expression of proliferative markers as well as progenitors and neuronal markers. Furthermore, MSCs increase the expression of beta catenin and Ngn1, indicating that MSCs have a role in the commitment of the neuronal fate of neural precursor cells by increasing the Wnt signaling pathway
[69]. Additionally, MSCs have the ability to induce axonal growth
[70][71]. In a recent study, the injection of MSCs overexpressing FGF-21 corrected the abnormal TBI-induced dendritic morphology of immature newborn neurons
[72].
Although the effectiveness of MSC therapy regarding genuine cell replacement remains limited considering the very limited MSC transdifferentiation, several studies support that the neuroprotective potential of MSCs relies on their secretome
[66][73][74], a set of secreted bioactive molecules which are either dissolved in the cell medium or encapsulated within EVs
[75]. This MSC-derived secretome stimulates endogenous self-repair processes, such as the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells, as well as neuron maturation and survival, resulting in positive outcomes
[76][77][78].
In this line, preclinical studies support the use of MSC-derived exosomes in neural regeneration approaches
[79][80][81][82]. Proteomic analysis of MSC-derived exosomes resulted in the identification of more than 900 proteins
[83][84][85], including filamin-A, BDNF, vinculin, NGF, FGF, neuropilin-1, VEGF, neuroplastin, glia-derived nexin, DPYSL2, flotillin-1, ephrins, drebrin, neprilysin, teneurin-4, and stathmin, which induce neurogenesis and myelin formation, promote neurite outgrowth and branching, stimulate axonal growth and regeneration, and provide neuroprotection to injured neurons
[77][86]. Moreover, their broad cytokine repertoire can efficiently inhibit the effector function of the inflammatory M1-like phenotype and induce the generation of the anti-inflammatory M2-like phenotype in microglial cells, as well as contribute to ameliorating cognitive alterations associated with inflammatory states
[87][88]. Moreover, MSC-derived exosomes exhibit properties and cell functions without the controversial long-term fate of MSCs
[89]. For instance, the MSC-derived exosomes exhibit a lower or no risk of mutagenicity, oncogenicity, and very low immunogenicity. For CNS targeting approaches, the main advantage of exosomes is their higher capacity to cross the BBB
[90]. In addition, they have manufacturing advantages such as storage stability and more accessible transportation
[45]. Therefore, the use of stem cell-derived exosomes has also been proposed as a treatment option for long COVID.
On the way to developing and optimizing a cell-based therapy for long COVID, several parameters need to be controlled
[91][92]. Among the most important determinants of the success of MSC-based therapies in neuropathies is deciding on the optimal delivery route to ensure that the treatment will reach the CNS
[93]. In this line, some key factors that will determine the efficacy of the delivery are delivery to the olfactory area as opposed to the respiratory region, the dose volume, the retention time at the nasal mucosal surface, penetration of nasal epithelia, and a reduction of compound metabolism in the nasal cavity. In this context, using nanoparticles, penetration enhancers, and matrices like hydrogels could improve the delivery to the brain via the nose-to-brain route.
4. Administration Routes of MSC and MSC-Derived Exosomes for Neurological Diseases
One of the biggest challenges of developing therapies for the nervous system is the delivery of treatment due to natural barriers. In cell-based therapies, we must customize the delivery route according to the targeted disease and the patient’s circumstances
[94]. If the MSCs need to be in the injury site to exert their effects, the optimized and accurate delivery of cells to the injured tissue is a major determinant of overall success
[93][95][96]. However, when the distal effects of the MSC-derived secretome can relieve the pathology of the disease, it may not be necessary for the cells to be located at the injury site, and we can use systemic routes
[97]. It is important to highlight that delivery route efficacy can vary depending on the disease and target tissue, thus, the amount of MSC derivates necessary in the parenchyma to achieve the expected biological effect must be considered
[96].
Different delivery methods have been used before in clinical trials to reach the nervous system. The most prevalent route for MSCs in clinical trials for COVID-19 is the intravenous route (IV)
[45]. However, these trials were not focused on a specific pathology but on controlling the severity of the disease. An analysis of the MSC clinical trials from 2004 to 2018 showed that the most used administration routes for neurological disorders were IV and intrathecal (IT), followed by intra-muscular (IM), intra-arterial (IA), and intra-osseous (IO), probably because these routes matched with the targeted tissue
[92]. Another work considering 71 clinical trials that used MSC for neurodegenerative diseases found that the most used route was IT, followed by IV. Other methods included administration into the injury site by surgery
[98].
The IT route is the second most popular delivery method for neurological disorders since it administers cells directly into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), covering the entire neuraxis. It infuses the MSCs into the subarachnoid space and allows for higher concentrations of cells to migrate to the lesion site compared with systemic administration
[99]. This safe route does not require brain surgery, avoiding serious complications such as needle tract injury, infection, and bleeding and lowering the medical cost and psychological burden of surgical procedures
[100]. To date, the IT administration of MSCs has shown efficacy for various neurological conditions, including multiple sclerosis, autism, traumatic brain injury, and more, without serious adverse effects, infections, clinical rejection, or tumors
[101].
The Intranasal (IN) route of stem cell administration is an opportunity for the efficient delivery of stem cells directly to the brain parenchyma because it is a non-invasive, rapid absorption method that allows for the penetration of BBB
[102]. It uses the olfactory and respiratory pathways and the nasal vasculature to enter the brain tissue
[103]. Three transport steps are necessary for delivery to the nervous system after IN administration: across epithelial barriers, from the nasal mucosa to brain entry sites, and from those sites to the parenchyma
[104]. IN-administered stem cells appear to cross the olfactory epithelium and enter the subarachnoid space crossing the cribriform plate via the fila olfactoria
[105]. To date, only one clinical trial has proved the feasibility and safety of intranasally administered MSCs
[106]. More studies are needed to better understand this administration route.
Although the correct administration route is critical to reach the CNS, there are other approaches to guarantee the distribution of MSCs and MSC-derived exosomes in a determined zone. In this sense, diverse strategies, including formulation enhancement have been designed to achieve this goal.