Yale researchers have identified a particular immune response pathway that leads to severe illness and death in people infected by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
The study was published April 28 in the journal Nature.
Researchers have known that once the COVID-19 virus infects the lungs it can trigger what has been called a “cytokine storm,” or an overactive immune response that leads to deadly inflammation in the lungs. For the new study, a Yale team led by postdoctoral fellow Esen Sefik, who is part of the lab of senior author Richard Flavell, studied the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection in mice engineered to have a human immune system.
To their surprise, they found that immune cells themselves, not just epithelial cells lining the lung, can harbor the virus. When the body detects the virus in these cells, inflammasomes, part of the immune system’s early warning system, produce and release cytokines which prompt these immune cells to commit suicide in an attempt to abort infection. However, the cytokines also recruit even more inflammatory cells to the lungs from the blood, which drives a vicious cycle that leads to pneumonia.
“It’s like a broadcast system, but in this case the message is lethal,” said Flavell, Sterling Professor of Immunobiology and investigator for the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
In the mouse model of COVID-19, researchers were able to rescue infected mice from pneumonia by blocking the NLPR3 inflammasome pathway. With the inflammasome pathway blocked, immune system cells were still infected. But they were no longer inflammatory and therefore could not contribute to damaging levels of inflammation, researchers found.
One byproduct of this rescue, however, is that the cells no longer die and as a consequence release more virus. Nonetheless, blockade of the inflammasome pathway along with antiviral treatment could provide a way to treat COVID-19 pneumonia and prevent severe cases of COVID -19, researchers say.
Although there are no approved drugs that block the NLPR3 pathway, several pharmaceutical and biotech companies are developing them, Flavell said.
More information:
Esen Sefik et al, Inflammasome activation in infected macrophages drives COVID-19 pathology, Nature (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-04802-1
Citation:
Immune system culprit in severe COVID cases found (2022, April 28)
retrieved 2 May 2022
from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2022-04-immune-culprit-severe-covid-cases-1.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no
part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.
Note: This article have been indexed to our site. We do not claim legitimacy, ownership or copyright of any of the content above. To see the article at original source Click Here
VTSGN Portable Karaoke Machine for Adults, Bluetooth Speaker with 2 Wireless Microphones, 7-Color LED Lights, PA System, TWS, TF/USB/AUX Inputs, Ideal for Indoor and Outdoor Events
$59.99 (as of December 21, 2024 19:05 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Stanley IceFlow Stainless Steel Tumbler - Vacuum Insulated Water Bottle for Home, Office or Car Reusable Cup with Straw Leak Resistant Flip Cold for 12 Hours or Iced for 2 Days, Black 2.0, 30oz
$35.00 (as of December 21, 2024 19:33 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Cold Press Juicer, 400w Slow Juicer Machines with 5.4" Wide Feed Chute, Masticating Juicer with High Juice Yield for Whole Vegetables & Fruits
$139.99 (as of December 21, 2024 19:05 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Stanley Quencher H2.0 FlowState Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Tumbler with Lid and Straw for Water, Iced Tea or Coffee, Smoothie and More, Rose Quartz 2.0, 30 OZ / 0.89 L
$35.00 (as of December 21, 2024 19:33 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
