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2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

Elucidation of the mechanism of taste dysfunction caused by SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)

Research Project

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Project/Area Number 21K21036
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Research Activity Start-up

Allocation TypeMulti-year Fund
Review Section 0907:Oral science and related fields
Research InstitutionNiigata University

Principal Investigator

Yamamoto Toru  新潟大学, 医歯学総合病院, 助教 (20707335)

Project Period (FY) 2021-08-30 – 2023-03-31
Keywords新型コロナウイルス / COVID-19 / SARS-CoV-2 / 味覚障害
Outline of Final Research Achievements

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections can cause loss or alteration of taste and smell as early symptoms or sequelae, but the detailed mechanism behind this phenomenon remains unclear. Here, we investigated whether the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein induces taste cell apoptosis and expression of the apoptosis-related cytokine TNF-α in male Sprague-Dawley rats. TUNEL assay results revealed a significantly higher apoptosis index for taste cells in the SARS-CoV-2 group than for those in the control group. An immunohistochemistry analysis indicated significantly more TNF-α-positive cells in the SARS-CoV-2 group compared with the control group. These data suggest that the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein promotes taste cell apoptosis and the release of apoptosis-related cytokine TNF-α, implicating its contribution to the taste malfunction caused by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Free Research Field

麻酔科学、神経科学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究はCOVID-19 による味覚異常の機序の一端を明らかすること、COVID-19 に関する知見を蓄積することで有効な感染症対策に資することを目指しました。
本研究結果から、SARS-CoV-2タンパク質により惹起される感染・炎症応答と免疫細胞動員などの機序により味蕾細胞のアポトーシス(細胞死)ならびに味蕾構造の退行性変化が生じることが、COVID-19感染後の味覚障害の一因として関与している可能性が考えられました。
将来の新興感染症によるパンデミック発生時における味覚障害へ対応するための基礎的知見を集積できた点で大きな社会的意義を有すると考えられます。

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Published: 2024-01-30  

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