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Dopamine is a messenger substance that contributes to positive feelings such as zest for life and courage. It promotes inner drive and is also related to coordination and fine motor skills. Dopamine is mainly produced in the midbrain. The region is therefore considered one of the happiness centers of the brain. A team led by Liuliu Yang of the Center for Genomic Health in New York has now discovered that corona can infect nerve cells that produce dopamine.
The researchers found that infected neurons stopped producing dopamine and sent out chemical signals that cause inflammation. According to their research, published in the journal ‘Cell Stem Cell’, an infection of the dopamine-producing nerve cells with corona leads to so-called aging. The cells lose their ability to grow and divide.
Only five percent of the dopamine neurons were infected
Brain fog, lack of concentration, lethargy and even depression. It is known that such complaints can occur as long-term consequences of a corona infection. The study’s findings could now provide an important clue for further research into dopamine-associated Long Covid symptoms. In particular, they could show ways to develop therapies.
For their research, the team examined autopsy samples from patients infected with Corona. It also confirmed the observations using cells grown in the laboratory. The study found that only five percent of dopamine neurons exposed to Sars-Cov-2 were infected.
“Potentially serious consequences”
The scientists also investigated the effects of corona infection on other human cells. Co-author Shuibing Chen said: “The infection rate of dopamine neurons is not as high as that of lung cells, the main target of the virus, but even a small group of infected cells can have potentially serious consequences.”
The project set out to find out how different cell types in different organs would respond to a Sars-Cov-2 infection. “We tested lung, heart and pancreatic cells, but the senescence pathway is only activated in dopamine neurons,” Chen explains. “That was a completely unexpected result.” According to the scientist, other neuronal cell types have proven to be resistant to Corona.
Open questions
It is unknown how widespread the aging of dopamine neurons is in coronavirus patients and how many people suffer from its clinical effects. The neurological symptoms associated with Long Covid can be influenced by many factors simultaneously. According to the researchers, the course of the disease and the patient’s genetic predisposition also play a role.
Using a special automated testing procedure called high-throughput screening, the researchers identified three existing drugs that could be useful in protecting dopamine neurons from aging. This concerns riluzole, a drug against the nerve disease ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), the diabetes drug metformin and the chemotherapy drug imatinib. Further research into these drugs will now show how aging can be stopped in the dopamine-producing nerve cells.
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
