Spike Protein From SARS-CoV-2 Worsens Stroke Risks

Medical News: A team of researchers from Mercer University and South University in Savannah, Georgia-USA, has uncovered alarming evidence that the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, responsible for COVID-19, may significantly increase the risk of stroke and related neurological issues. This Medical News report delves into how the viral spike protein exacerbates clotting problems, leading to higher chances of stroke, brain inflammation, and cognitive decline. The study used an experimental model involving humanized ACE2 knock-in mice to demonstrate these findings.


Spike Protein From SARS-CoV-2 Worsens Stroke Risks

The research brings to light how the spike protein can increase blood clotting while interfering with the body’s ability to break down clots. These findings add to growing concerns about the long-term impacts of COVID-19 on the brain and its role in causing or worsening stroke.
 
Understanding the Role of the Spike Protein
The spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, which allows the virus to enter human cells, has already been linked to various complications. The study focused on how this protein affects the balance of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), which helps regulate blood pressure and fluid balance in the body.
 
Normally, RAAS plays a crucial role in preventing excessive blood clotting and protecting blood vessels from inflammation. However, when the spike protein disrupts this system, it tips the balance toward clot formation, inflammation, and poor blood flow in the brain. As a result, individuals who have had COVID-19 may face an increased risk of stroke, even after their initial infection has passed.
 
The Research Process: A Closer Look at the Study
To better understand this connection, researchers injected the spike protein into humanized ACE2 knock-in mice, which are engineered to have human-like ACE2 receptors - just like humans, these receptors allow the spike protein to attach and cause damage. The team then induced a stroke in these mice to examine how the spike protein affected the brain’s ability to cope with blood clots and ischemic (lack of blood flow) injuries.
 
Their results were alarming. The spike protein caused an imbalance in RAAS, leading to an increase in clotting and a decrease in the body’s ability to break down clots. This imbalance resulted in reduced blood flow to the brain, greater brain cell death, and cognitive impairments.
 
Key Findings: Spike Protein Increases Stroke Risks
One of the major findings of the study was that the spike protein increased the expression of tissue factor III (TF-III) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1). Both of these proteins play a significant role in clot formation and breakdown. Under normal circumstances, the body carefully controls the balance between clotting and dissolving clots to prevent excessive bleeding or clotting. However, the spike protein disrupted this balance.
 
Tissue Factor III (TF-III): This protein triggers the body’s clotting system. The study showed that the spike protein caused a significant increase in TF-III, which led to a higher risk of clots forming in the brain’s blood vessels.
 
Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 (PAI-1): This inhibitor blocks the body’s ability to break down clots, leading to the persistence of clots in the bloodstream. When combined with the increase in TF-III, the spike protein made it more difficult for the body to clear these dangerous clots, leading to a higher risk of stroke.
 
In addition, the spike protein also caused a significant reduction in cerebral blood flow, a key factor in stroke outcomes. The decreased blood flow increased the amount of brain damage in the mice, which directly translated into poorer cognitive outcomes.
 
Cognitive Decline and the Spike Protein
Another key aspect of the study was its focus on the effects of the spike protein on cognitive function. Even though the mice were able to recover from the initial stroke, those that had been exposed to the spike protein showed much more severe cognitive decline. This included problems with memory and learning, as measured by the novel object recognition test, which assesses how well mice remember new objects compared to familiar ones.
 
These cognitive deficits are particularly concerning given the increasing number of people who have recovered from COVID-19 but continue to experience neurological symptoms such as brain fog, difficulty concentrating, and memory loss. The study suggests that the spike protein may be responsible for these lingering issues by causing damage to the brain’s blood vessels and disrupting blood flow.
 
Treatment Options: Losartan Shows Promise
The study also explored potential treatment options for reducing the harmful effects of the spike protein on the brain. Researchers found that Losartan, a drug commonly used to treat high blood pressure, was able to restore the balance of RAAS and reduce the spike protein’s effects.
 
Losartan works by blocking the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R), which is one of the key drivers of the clotting and inflammatory effects caused by the spike protein. By restoring the balance between angiotensin II and the protective arm of RAAS, Losartan was able to improve blood flow in the brain and reduce the risk of stroke and cognitive decline in the mice.
 
While Losartan is already widely available and used to treat high blood pressure, its potential as a treatment for COVID-19-related complications is still being explored. The results of this study suggest that it may be a promising option for people at high risk of stroke or cognitive decline after recovering from COVID-19.
 
Conclusion: Spike Protein’s Long-Lasting Effects
The findings of this study underscore the importance of understanding the long-term effects of COVID-19, especially on the brain and nervous system. As researchers continue to uncover the ways in which the spike protein affects blood clotting and brain function, it becomes clear that the risks of stroke and cognitive decline may persist long after the initial infection has passed.
 
For those who have recovered from COVID-19, especially those who already have risk factors for stroke, it may be crucial to monitor their health closely and consider treatments like Losartan that can help mitigate these risks. The spike protein’s ability to disrupt the body’s natural clotting mechanisms and cause brain damage highlights the need for ongoing research and treatment strategies.
 
The study’s findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal: Translational Stroke Research.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12975-024-01301-5
 
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