Warmer ambient air temperatures reduce nasal turbinate and brain infection, but increase lung inflammation in the K18-hACE2 mouse model of COVID-19.
Sci Total Environ
; 859(Pt 1): 160163, 2022 Nov 14.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2229633
ABSTRACT
Warmer climatic conditions have been associated with fewer COVID-19 cases. Herein we infected K18-hACE2 mice housed at the standard animal house temperature of â¼22 °C, or at â¼31 °C, which is considered to be thermoneutral for mice. On day 2 post infection, RNA-Seq analyses showed no significant differential gene expression lung in lungs of mice housed at the two temperatures, with almost identical viral loads and type I interferon responses. There was also no significant difference in viral loads in lungs on day 5, but RNA-Seq and histology analyses showed clearly elevated inflammatory signatures and infiltrates. Thermoneutrality thus promoted lung inflammation. On day 2 post infection mice housed at 31 °C showed reduced viral loads in nasal turbinates, consistent with increased mucociliary clearance at the warmer ambient temperature. These mice also had reduced virus levels in the brain, and an ensuing amelioration of weight loss and a delay in mortality. Warmer air temperatures may thus reduce infection of the upper respiratory track and the olfactory epithelium, resulting in reduced brain infection. Potential relevance for anosmia and neurological sequelae in COVID-19 patients is discussed.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Topics:
Long Covid
Language:
English
Journal:
Sci Total Environ
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
J.scitotenv.2022.160163
Similar
MEDLINE
...
LILACS
LIS