The quality of having a special affinity for nervous tissue.

[[SARS-CoV-2]], which causes the [[Coronavirus Disease 2019]] ([[COVID-19]]) pandemic, has a brain neurotropism through binding to the [[Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor]] expressed by [[neuron]]es and [[glia]]l cells, including [[astrocyte]]s and [[microglia]]. Systemic infection which accompanies severe cases of COVID-19 also triggers substantial increase in circulating levels of [[chemokine]]s and [[interleukin]]s that compromise the [[blood-brain barrier]], enter the [[brain parenchyma]] and affect its defensive systems, [[astrocyte]]s and [[microglia]]. Brain areas devoid of a [[blood-brain barrier]] such as the circumventricular organs are particularly vulnerable to circulating inflammatory mediators. The performance of astrocytes and [[microglia]], as well as of immune cells required for brain health, is considered critical in defining the neurological damage and neurological outcome of COVID-19. In a review, they discussed the [[neurotropism]] of SARS-CoV-2, the implication of [[neuroinflammation]], adaptive and innate immunity, autoimmunity, as well as astrocytic and microglial immune and homeostatic functions in the neurological and psychiatric aspects of COVID-19
((Tremblay ME, Madore C, Bordeleau M, Tian L, Verkhratsky A. Neuropathobiology of COVID-19: The Role for Glia. Front Cell Neurosci. 2020 Nov 11;14:592214. doi: 10.3389/fncel.2020.592214. PMID: 33304243; PMCID: PMC7693550.))