COVID-19 IN THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM: ROUTES OF ENTRY AND INFLUENCE ON GLIOMAGENESIS

Introduction. The pathogenesis of infection of the central nervous system (CNS) with SARS-CoV2 and nervourological complications are still poorly understood, as well as the link of viral infection with the risk and the course of gliomas. The aim. Evaluating of the possible involvement of Basigin, NRP1, Cathepsin L and transmembrane proteases TMPRSS2 and TMPRSS4 in coronavirus infection of neurons and gliomagenesis. Мaterial and methods. histological and immunohistochemical researches with antibodies to Cathepsin L, TMPRSS2, TMPRSS4, NRP1, Vasidin, SARS-CoV-2 of the brain of 6 patients with COVID-19, 3 patients of the «precovid period» (control group) and gliomas of 7 patients operated in 2024. The results of the research demonstraded that the expression of Basigin and TMPRSS2 was significantly higher in the group of patients with gliomas compared with the other groups (for Basigin pgliomas / COVID-19 = 0.006; pgliomas / control group = 0.038; for TMPRSS2 pgliomas / COVID-19 = 0.040; pgliomas / control group = 0.006). In the group of patients with COVID-19, a negative correlation was found between the prevalence of Cathepsin L and SARS-CoV-2 expression (rs = -0.37, p = 0.009), and Basigin was expressed in 5–25% of glial cells. Cathepsin L and TMPRSS4 demonstrated moderate negative associations in the groups of patients with COVID-19 and gliomas. Conclusion: Basigin, NRP1, Cathepsin L, TMPRSS2 and TMPRSS4 cannot be used as alternative pathways for more effective penetration of SARS-CoV-2 into neurons. The expression of Basigin and TMPRSS2 was the highest in gliomas significantly. Probably, the coexpression of the virus with Basigin weakens the immunosuppression of tumors; it mays to increase the incidence or recurrence of tumors in patients with COVID-19.