The inflammatory process is considered one of the causes of the worsening of Covid-19. Although inflammation is a natural mechanism of the body, when exacerbated, it can damage the body’s own cells, causing damage to different organs.
Researchers from the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz Minas) developed a study that shows how this inflammatory process is triggered and developed in the body. The answer may lie in the induction of a specific type of antibody, called afucosylated. The findings were published in the journal Nature.
By invading the human body, the new coronavirus starts a viral replication process, generating several copies of itself. At this stage of the infection, the immune system is triggered and starts producing the fucosylated antibody, which is able to neutralize the virus and prevent it from entering human tissue cells.
However, the researchers found that the antibody also causes a process of capture and digestion (called phagocytosis) by monocytes, which are the body’s defense cells. In the process of phagocytosis, these cells of the immune system activate protein complexes (inflammasomes), which cause the death of infected monocytes (a condition known as pyroptosis).
The study points out that it is precisely this process that lights up the body’s warning signal, which then begins to produce new defense cells, triggering an inflammatory cascade.
Researcher Caroline Junqueira, coordinator of the study, explains that dead cells cause a storm of cytokines, proteins involved in regulating the immune response, generating more inflammation.
“The monocytes in pyroptosis burst and release components that give danger signals to the organism. With this, the defense system recruits other cells and, the more it recruits, the more inflammation occurs. That is, monocytes are able to act abortively, in order to prevent the replication of the virus, but this occurs through the process of pyroptosis, which causes immunopathology, which is when the defense is harmful to the host organism”, says Caroline, in a statement. .
Antibody associated with infection
Fiocruz researchers point out that none of the vaccines against Covid-19 induces the production of the afucosylated antibody, produced only by the infection. For the study coordinator, the results open perspectives for treatments of Covid-19 and reinforce the importance of immunization.
“Many people think it’s good to catch Covid-19 to become immune. The point is that, in this case, the person will run the risk of having systemic inflammation. With the vaccine, there is no such possibility. Our research found that the Plasma from a vaccinated individual does not induce the production of afucosylated antibody“, highlights the researcher.
The findings provide new evidence for the search for drug candidates focused on inhibiting inflammatory cell death mechanisms. To carry out the study, the researchers performed different analyzes on blood samples from patients with Covid-19 and also from healthy vaccinated individuals, in order to compare the results.
The next steps include further research aimed at correlating the severity of the disease with the amount of afucosylated antibodies produced.
“In other research that will be published soon, we have already found that, in humanized mouse models, when eliminating the virus, inflammation remains. Further studies to be carried out may further detail this inflammatory process and its consequences”, he says.
inflammation control
Baricitinib, the first drug for the treatment of Covid-19 incorporated into the Unified Health System (SUS), acts in the regulation of the body’s inflammation process.
This happens from a mechanism of inhibition of enzymes called Janus kinase that, among several biological functions, also act in the activation of inflammation in immune system cells.
The drug will be made available for the treatment of hospitalized adult patients who require oxygen by mask or nasal catheter. The drug is already registered in Brazil for the treatment of moderate to severe cases of rheumatoid arthritis and atopic dermatitis.
In January, baricitinib was added to the list of drugs recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the treatment of Covid-19. According to the WHO, the drug can be used in patients with severe or critical conditions in association with other resources, such as corticosteroids.
From the control of inflammation, it is possible to reverse the worsening of the disease and reduce the need for artificial ventilation. According to the WHO, the use of the drug did not lead to an increase in adverse effects.
Source: CNN Brasil
