BREAKING! COVID-19 Latest: University Of Manchester Study Shows That SARS-CoV-2 Mutilates Blood Marrow Cells
Source: COVID-19 Latest Sep 23, 2020 4 years, 1 week, 6 days, 2 hours, 24 minutes ago
COVID-19 Latest: Researchers from University of Manchester-UK have made a startling discovery that the SARS-Cov-2 damages blood marrow cells especially the myeloid cells originating from the hematopoietic stem cells of the bone marrow.
The study team found that of the myeloid cells damaged by the novel coronavirus, the monocytes are in particular affected.
The study results were published in the journal
Science Immunology. https://immunology.sciencemag.org/content/5/51/eabd6197
Past research have found that COVID-19 creates an "exaggerated" response from the immune system, and for some patients, this could occur in immune cells found in bone marrow, the study team said.
The study findings "lend support to the idea that therapeutic strategies targeting release of … cells from bone marrow should be considered in this disease," the team said.
The study team carried out the Coronavirus Immune Response and Clinical Outcomes (CIRCO) study at four hospitals in Greater Manchester, UK, which was designed to examine the kinetics of the immune response in COVID-19 patients, as well as to identify early indicators of disease severity.
In total, 73 patients were recruited but only 49 were stratified for maximum disease severity. Six patients were excluded due to: an alternative diagnosis. The overall median age was 61 and 63% were male. The most frequent co-morbidities were diabetes, ischemic heart disease, hypertension, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD. Patient disease severity was defined as mild (less than 28% FiO2), moderate (28-60% FiO2) or severe (above 60% FiO2, or admission to intensive care).
The British researchers team analyzed the immune profiles of 43 hospitalized patients.
They found several shifts in immune signatures, particularly monocytes, which are new immune cells that are released into the bloodstream from bone marrow.
By analyzing fresh blood samples immediately without prior storage the study team outlined unappreciated immune abnormalities present within COVID-19 patients. Assessment of inflammatory mediators within the blood demonstrated these immune properties were most dysregulated in patients with severe COVID-19 prior to admission to intensive care, indicating immune modulating therapies should be considered early after admission.
Furthermore, the study demonstrated profound alterations in the myeloid cells of COVID-19 patients.
The study data demonstrate that monocytes from COVID-19 patients displayed elevated levels of the cell cycle marker Ki-67 but reduced expression of the prostaglandin-generating enzyme COX-2, with both these features being predominant in severe COVID-19 patients. These findings not only identify possible immune biomarkers for patient stratification but potential mechanisms of immune dysfunction contributing to the immunopathology of COVID-19.
Interestingly for most patients with mild COVID-19, abnormal levels shifted back to normal during their hospital stay but what this study findings holds in term of long term health implications is not known
at the moment.
Alarmingly however, in COVID-19 patients with more severe disease, the monocytes didn't function properly.The monocytes were observed to be damaged.
The study team was not sure whether the monocytes were altered before they were released from the bone marrow or whether they were changed after they entered the blood.
However treatments that prevent the monocytes from being released could reduce the exaggerated immune response related to severe COVID-19, the news service reported. Importantly, the immune irregularities were present before patients were admitted to intensive care, the study team said, which could mean that hospitals should begin immune therapies soon after admission.
The team stressed, "Treating patients early after hospitalization is likely to be most beneficial, while … immune functions are disrupted.”
Interestingly, Thailand Medical News covered a French study a few days ago that included the controversial French microbiologists and physician Professor Dr Didier Raoult and researchers from Aix-Marseille University and IHU-Méditerranée Infection that also found that the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus basically causes immunoparalysis in the human host and also infects the myeloid cells such as the monocytes and macrophages without any cytopathic effects.
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/breaking-covid-19-latest-sars-cov-2-induces-immunoparalysis-of-human-host,-infects-monocytes,-macrophages-and-can-cause-fibrosis-in-post-covid-19
However the French researchers warned that one of the long term health implications from the study findings was the possible emergence of fibrosis in recovered patients.
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