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New findings from Flinders University demonstrate the molecular link between COVID-19 and serotonergic cells in the gut
COVID-19 presents with a range of symptoms, often including gastrointestinal problems such as diarrhea
Published in Gut, the world's leading gastrointestinal research journal, the new collaborative study involved three Flinders research teams, including ARC DECRA Fellow Dr Alyce Martin and FAME Director of Bioinformatics and Human Microbial Interactions Robert Edwards Professor-led team
"Our research strives to understand whether the gut may be a site for disease transmission, and which genes may be involved in viruses entering the cells of the gut wall," said study senior author and associate director, Gut, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute Professor Damien Keating, head of the Sensory Systems Research Group, said
The researchers looked at gene expression between the different types of cells that line the gut wall, analyzing whole-genome sequences from thousands of individual cells in the gut
Professor Keating said: "Many of the genes associated with COVID-19 were found to be expressed in different types of cells lining the gut wall, but only serotonergic cells expressed all three receptors for the virus
Because the exact location of infection and the main drivers of COVID-19 disease severity are not fully understood, the authors say this study provides important information on the role of the gut in the virus
Professor Keating said: "Our study provides further evidence that COVID-19 is more likely to infect gut cells and increase serotonin levels through direct effects on specific gut cells, which may worsen disease outcomes
It also lends further support to emerging clinical evidence that antidepressants that block serotonin transport in the body may be a beneficial treatment
"As COVID-19 continues to spread, further research is needed to deepen our understanding of the gut's role in this virus and to continue to find treatments that work alongside vaccination
Single-cell gene expression links SARS-CoV-2 infection and gut serotonin
