Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 25, 2026
A Laser-induced Mouse Model of Chronic Ocular Hypertension to Characterize Visual Defects
Published on: August 14, 2013
Chronic neuroinflammation after acute SARS-Cov-2 infection induces retinal damage in the hACE2 transgenic mouse model
Hyemin Seong1, Seon-Hee Kim2, Bina Lee3
1Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University and Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju 52727, Republic of Korea.
Background:
A number of patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) show a wide range of systemic complications. Previous studies have shown that acute SARS-CoV-2 infection can be accompanied by conjunctivitis, various forms of ocular inflammation and retinal vasculitis. However, long-term changes of the retina after SARS-CoV-2 infection have not been examined. In this study, we investigated neuroinflammation in the retina and optic nerve.
Methods:
hACE2 Tg mice, serologically negative for SARS-CoV-2, were infected via intranasal installation with SARS-CoV-2. Protein expression was confirmed by immunofluorescence and western blotting. The activation of microglia and astrocytes was confirmed using quantitative real-time PCR.
Results:
SARS-CoV-2 infection induced a decrease in inner retinal thickness and an increase in RGC death after 60 days. Activation of microglia and astrocytes was observed in the retina. Expression of the inflammatory cytokines Il-1β and TNF-α increased in the optic nerve, whereas microglial and astrocyte expression decreased.
Conclusion:
Our findings suggest that chronic neuroinflammation in the retina post SARS-CoV-2 infection contributes to retinal degeneration, potentially resulting in long-term visual disturbance.
