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Fig. 1 | Translational Neurodegeneration

Fig. 1

From: The COVID-19 pandemic and Alzheimer’s disease: mutual risks and mechanisms

Fig. 1

SARS-CoV-2 invades the CNS through the olfactory nerve. Once SARS-CoV-2 enters the nasal cavity, it contacts with olfactory epithelial cells, which express ACE2 and NRP-1 receptors at high levels, rendering the epithelium vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection. The infected olfactory epithelial cells potentially transmit the virus to the surrounding cells, such as horizontal basal cells as well as immature and mature olfactory neurons. The infected horizontal basal cells also mature into olfactory sensory neurons. These neuronal cells extend to the apex, contact the air, and form small nerve bundles at the base before passing through the ethmoid plate and forming the olfactory nerve. Infected olfactory neurons are connected to neurons in the olfactory bulb through synapses, which allows the virus to spread from the olfactory nerve to the olfactory bulb via retrograde transport along axons. The olfactory bulb makes many connections throughout the brain, allowing the virus to spread quickly to other structures in the brain

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