Choroid plexus defects in Down syndrome brain organoids enhance neurotropism of SARS-CoV-2

Sci Adv. 2024 Jun 7;10(23):eadj4735. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adj4735. Epub 2024 Jun 5.

Abstract

Why individuals with Down syndrome (DS) are more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2-induced neuropathology remains elusive. Choroid plexus (ChP) plays critical roles in barrier function and immune response modulation and expresses the ACE2 receptor and the chromosome 21-encoded TMPRSS2 protease, suggesting its substantial role in establishing SARS-CoV-2 infection in the brain. To explore this, we established brain organoids from DS and isogenic euploid iPSC that consist of a core of functional cortical neurons surrounded by a functional ChP-like epithelium (ChPCOs). DS-ChPCOs recapitulated abnormal DS cortical development and revealed defects in ciliogenesis and epithelial cell polarity in ChP-like epithelium. We then demonstrated that the ChP-like epithelium facilitates infection and replication of SARS-CoV-2 in cortical neurons and that this is increased in DS. Inhibiting TMPRSS2 and furin activity reduced viral replication in DS-ChPCOs to euploid levels. This model enables dissection of the role of ChP in neurotropic virus infection and euploid forebrain development and permits screening of therapeutics for SARS-CoV-2-induced neuropathogenesis.

MeSH terms

  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 / genetics
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 / metabolism
  • Brain* / metabolism
  • Brain* / pathology
  • Brain* / virology
  • COVID-19* / metabolism
  • COVID-19* / pathology
  • COVID-19* / virology
  • Choroid Plexus* / metabolism
  • Choroid Plexus* / pathology
  • Choroid Plexus* / virology
  • Down Syndrome* / genetics
  • Down Syndrome* / metabolism
  • Down Syndrome* / pathology
  • Furin / genetics
  • Furin / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / virology
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Neurons / pathology
  • Neurons / virology
  • Organoids* / metabolism
  • Organoids* / pathology
  • Organoids* / virology
  • SARS-CoV-2* / physiology
  • Serine Endopeptidases* / genetics
  • Serine Endopeptidases* / metabolism
  • Viral Tropism
  • Virus Replication

Substances

  • Serine Endopeptidases
  • TMPRSS2 protein, human
  • Furin
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2
  • ACE2 protein, human