Plasma of people with COVID-19 does not alter protective brain barrier
The blood-brain barrier is a filtering mechanism of the capillaries that carry blood to the brain and spinal cord tissue while blocking the passage of certain toxic substances.
In a new study, researchers wanted to know whether blood-brain barrier impairment contributed to the development of neurological problems during COVID-19 progression, and to what extent.
The findings demonstrate that “COVID-19-associated blood plasma inflammatory factors do not affect blood-brain barrier paracellular pathway directly,” the researchers wrote. In addition, the results suggest “pathological remodeling, if any, of the blood-brain barrier during COVID-19 may occur through indirect or yet unknown mechanisms.” The study is published in the journal Function.
