{"id":11314,"date":"2025-01-17T18:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-01-17T23:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cov19longhaulfoundation.org\/?p=11314"},"modified":"2025-01-15T10:36:33","modified_gmt":"2025-01-15T15:36:33","slug":"long-covid-breakthrough-spike-proteins-persist-in-brain-for-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cov19longhaulfoundation.org\/?p=11314","title":{"rendered":"Long COVID Breakthrough: Spike Proteins Persist in Brain for Years"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By\u00a0Helmholtz Zentrum M\u00fcnchen, <\/strong>Facebook<\/a> Twitter<\/a> Pinterest<\/a> Telegram<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Researchers have discovered that the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein persists in the brain and skull bone marrow for years after infection, potentially leading to chronic inflammation and neurodegenerative diseases.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Researchers from Helmholtz Munich and Ludwig-Maximilians-Universit\u00e4t (LMU) have uncovered a possible explanation for the neurological symptoms associated with Long COVID. Their study reveals that the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein can persist in the brain\u2019s protective layers (the meninges) and the skull\u2019s bone marrow for up to four years after infection. This lingering spike protein may drive chronic inflammation and heighten the risk of neurodegenerative diseases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Led by Prof. Ali Ert\u00fcrk, Director of the Institute for Intelligent Biotechnologies at Helmholtz Munich, the research also found that mRNA COVID-19 vaccines significantly reduce spike protein buildup in the brain. Despite this reduction, spike proteins that remain in the skull and meninges after infection could be targeted by new therapeutic approaches to mitigate long-term effects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spike Protein Accumulates in the Brain<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

A novel AI-powered imaging technique developed by Prof. Ali Ert\u00fcrk\u2019s team provides new insights into how the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein affects the brain. The method renders organs and tissue samples transparent, enabling the three-dimensional visualization of cellular structures, metabolites, and, in this case, viral proteins. Using this technology, the researchers uncovered previously undetectable distributions of spike protein in tissue samples from COVID-19 patients and mice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The study, published in the journal Cell Host & Microbe<\/em>, revealed significantly elevated concentrations of spike protein in the skull\u2019s bone marrow and meninges, even years after infection. The spike protein binds to so-called ACE2 receptors, which are particularly abundant in these regions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis may make these tissues especially vulnerable to the long-term accumulation of spike protein,\u201d explains Dr. Zhouyi Rong, the study\u2019s first author. Ert\u00fcrk adds, \u201cOur data also suggest that persistent spike protein at the brain\u2019s borders may contribute to the long-term neurological effects of COVID-19 and Long COVID. This includes accelerated brain aging, potentially leading to a loss of five to ten years of healthy brain function in affected individuals.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Impact of Vaccination on Spike Protein Levels<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The Ert\u00fcrk team discovered that the BioNTech\/Pfizer mRNA COVID-19 vaccine significantly reduces the accumulation of spike protein in the brain. Other mRNA vaccines or vaccine types, such as vector- or protein-based vaccines, were not investigated. Mice vaccinated with the mRNA vaccine showed lower levels of spike protein in both brain tissue and the skull\u2019s bone marrow compared to unvaccinated mice. However, the reduction was only around 50%, leaving residual spike protein that continues to pose a toxic risk to the brain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis reduction is an important step,\u201d says Prof. Ert\u00fcrk. \u201cOur results, while derived from mouse models and only partially transferable to humans, point to the need for additional therapies and interventions to fully address the long-term burdens caused by SARS-CoV-2 infections.\u201d Furthermore, additional studies are needed to evaluate the relevance of these findings for Long COVID patients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Challenges and Advances in Long COVID Treatment<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Globally, 50 to 60 percent of the population has been infected with COVID-19, with five to ten percent experiencing Long COVID. This sums up to approximately 400 million individuals who may carry significant amounts of spike protein<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is not just an individual health issue \u2013 it is a societal challenge,\u201d says Prof. Ert\u00fcrk. \u201cOur study shows that mRNA vaccines significantly reduce the risk of long-term neurological consequences and offer crucial protection. However, infections can still occur post-vaccination, leading to persistent spike proteins in the body. These can result in chronic brain inflammation and an increased risk of strokes and other brain injuries, which could have substantial implications for global public health and healthcare systems worldwide.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Diagnosing and Treating Long COVID<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur findings open new possibilities for diagnosing and treating the long-term neurological effects of COVID-19,\u201d says Ert\u00fcrk. Unlike brain tissue, the skull\u2019s bone marrow and meninges \u2013 areas prone to spike protein accumulation \u2013 are more accessible for medical examinations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Combined with protein panels \u2013 tests designed to detect specific proteins in tissue samples \u2013 this could allow for the identification of spike proteins or inflammatory markers in blood plasma or cerebrospinal fluid. \u201cSuch markers are critical for the early diagnosis of COVID-19-related neurological complications,\u201d Ert\u00fcrk explains. \u201cAdditionally, characterizing these proteins may support the development of targeted therapies and biomarkers to better treat or even prevent neurological impairments caused by COVID-19.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Highlighting the broader impact of the study, leading Helmholtz Munich and Technical University of Munich virologist Prof. Ulrike Protzer adds: \u201cGiven the ongoing global impact of COVID-19 and the increasing focus on long-term effects, this study, which sheds light on brain invasion pathways and unexpected long-term host involvement, is timely. These critical insights are not only scientifically significant but also of great interest to society.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By\u00a0Helmholtz Zentrum M\u00fcnchen, Facebook Twitter Pinterest Telegram Researchers have discovered that the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein persists in the brain and skull bone marrow for years after infection, potentially leading to chronic inflammation […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":11316,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[674,770,252,289,311,337,541,607],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11314","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-altered-mental-state","category-covid-spike-proteins","category-inflammation","category-long-haul-disease","category-mental-health","category-mrna","category-spike-protein","category-vaccine-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cov19longhaulfoundation.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11314","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cov19longhaulfoundation.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cov19longhaulfoundation.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cov19longhaulfoundation.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cov19longhaulfoundation.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=11314"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cov19longhaulfoundation.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11314\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11315,"href":"https:\/\/cov19longhaulfoundation.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11314\/revisions\/11315"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cov19longhaulfoundation.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/11316"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cov19longhaulfoundation.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=11314"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cov19longhaulfoundation.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=11314"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cov19longhaulfoundation.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=11314"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}