Some cases of long COVID-19 may be caused by an abnormally suppressed immune system (Not an overactive one)

Medical Xpress / University of California, Los Angeles / Clinical Infectious Diseases ^ | Apr. 22, 2022 | Dr. Otto Yang et al

[ConservativeMind]

Rsearchers studying the effect of the monoclonal antibody Leronlimab on long COVID-19 may have found a surprising clue to the baffling syndrome, one that contradicts their initial hypothesis. An abnormally suppressed immune system may be to blame, not a persistently hyperactive one as they had suspected.

COVID-19 is known to be caused by hyperactive immune responses against SARS-CoV-2 resulting in damage to lungs and other organs, and sometimes what is known as a "cytokine storm" that overwhelms the individual, which could lead to severe illness and death.

In a subset of persons who recover from the initial illness, various symptoms persist, such as fatigue, mental haziness, and shortness of breath, which can be debilitating and last for months. This is generally classified as long COVID.

Many scientists have suggested that persistence of immune hyperactivity after COVID-19 is a major contributor. Researchers conducted a small trial of Leronlimab—an antibody that attaches to an immune receptor called CCR5 that is involved in inflammation.

The researchers originally thought that blocking CCR5 with the antibody would dampen the activity of an overactive immune system after COVID-19 infection.

"But we found just the opposite," Yang said. "Patients who improved were those who started with low CCR5 on their T cells, suggesting their immune system was less active than normal, and levels of CCR5 actually increased in people who improved. This leads to the new hypothesis that long COVID in some persons is related to the immune system being suppressed and not hyperactive, and that while blocking its activity, the antibody can stabilize CCR5 expression on the cell surface leading to upregulation of other immune receptors or functions."

[ConservativeMind]

They tested on those with lingering smell and taste issues, and seemingly, they improved, too.

[ConservativeMind]

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[ifinnegan]

Yes. Same as “long flu” or “long cold”.

[dadfly]

humm. doesn’t comport at all my experience with the wuflu. this research sounds simplistic: one site, one antibody? it’s very tough to do this kind of research on something as infinitely complex as our natural immune system. all the parts are moving and all of them work together as a whole.

i’m skeptical until i see more research. there’s a lot of data supporting the hyperactive theory as well as clinical practice experience from our good doctors and nurses. i’m sticking with the hyperactive immune system theory for persistence of some symptoms.

[ConservativeMind]

Hyperactive for some long-termers, perhaps, but a legitimate target was tested and helped to make this finding.