Neurological Symptoms of COVID-19: The Zonulin Hypothesis

• Main Authors: Sílvia Llorens, Eduardo Nava, Mónica Muñoz-López, Álvaro Sánchez-Larsen, Tomás Segura
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2021-04-01
• Series: Frontiers in Immunology
• Subjects: zonulin; Toll-like receptor4; tight junctions; blood-brain barrier; neurological symptoms; gastrointestinal symptoms
• Online Access: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2021.665300/full

The irruption of SARS-CoV-2 during 2020 has been of pandemic proportions due to its rapid spread and virulence. COVID-19 patients experience respiratory, digestive and neurological symptoms. Distinctive symptom as anosmia, suggests a potential neurotropism of this virus. Amongst the several pathways of entry to the nervous system, we propose an alternative pathway from the infection of the gut, involving Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), zonulin, protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) and zonulin brain receptor. Possible use of zonulin antagonists could be investigated to attenuate neurological manifestations caused by SARS-CoV-19 infection.