Failure of neuron network coherence induced by SARS-CoV-2-infected astrocytes

TL;DR

This paper presents a mathematical model showing how SARS-CoV-2 infection of astrocytes can disrupt brain network coherence and rhythmic activity, potentially explaining post-COVID neurological symptoms.

Contribution

It introduces a novel neural-astrocyte model demonstrating how astrocyte infection impairs neural rhythmicity and network synchronization.

Findings

Astrocyte infection depresses glutamate release.

Network coherence can intermittently fail or disappear.

Model predicts disrupted brain rhythms post-COVID.

Abstract

Coherent activations of brain neuron networks underlay many physiological functions associated with various behavioral states. These synchronous fluctuations in the electrical activity of the brain are also referred to as brain rhythms. At the cellular level, the rhythmicity can be induced by various mechanisms of intrinsic oscillations in neurons or network circulation of excitation between synaptically coupled neurons. One of the specific mechanisms concerns the activity of brain astrocytes that accompany neurons and can coherently modulate synaptic contacts of neighboring neurons, synchronizing their activity. Recent studies have shown that coronavirus infection (Covid-19), entering the central nervous system and infecting astrocytes, causes various metabolic disorders. Specifically, Covid-19 can depress the synthesis of astrocytic glutamate and GABA. It is also known that in the postcovid state, patients may suffer from symptoms of anxiety and impaired cognitive functions, which may be a consequence of disturbed brain rhythms. We propose a mathematical model of a spiking neural network accompanied by astrocytes capable to generate quasi-synchronous rhythmic bursting discharges. The model predicts that if the astrocytes are infected, and the release of glutamate is depressed, then normal burst rhythmicity suffers dramatically. Interestingly, in some cases, the failure of network coherence may be intermittent with intervals of normal rhythmicity, or the synchronization can completely disappears.