Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent cell death mechanism, is identified as a key factor in severe COVID-19 lung disease, suggesting potential new therapeutic targets.
By Dr. Priyom Bose, Ph.D.May 22 2024Reviewed by Benedette Cuffari, M.Sc. The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 , the pathogen responsible for the coronavirus disease 2019 , has been associated with the manifestation of adverse pulmonary conditions, such as pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome . A recent Nature Communications study identifies ferroptosis as a major cell death mechanism underlying COVID-19 lung disease .
Lung histology of patients with ARDS has indicated acute lung injury , particularly diffuse alveolar damage . The early stage of ARDS has been characterized by edema, hyaline membranes, and fibrosis. Non-acute lung injury of COVID-19 patients includes microthrombi and pulmonary vascular congestion with hemangiomatosis-like changes.
In addition to protease inhibitors, immunomodulatory drugs, such as interleukin 6 receptor inhibitors and corticosteroids, have improved survival rates among severely infected patients. Although many studies on COVID-19 have been conducted, additional studies are needed to improve our understanding of the pathogenesis of this disease and ultimately develop targeted and more effective therapeutic strategies.
About the study The current study involved the analysis of autopsy samples obtained from patients who died from respiratory failure caused by severe SARS-CoV-2 infection with both ALI and non-ALI pathologies. Mild COVID-19 lung explants were also collected from patients who recovered from the infection.
Study findings Post-mortem COVID-19 lung autopsy samples indicated an elevated level of ferroptosis markers, as well as increased iron dysregulation, lipid peroxidation, and lysophospholipids, as well as depletion in PL-PUFAs. Mechanistically, ferric ammonium citrate activates lipid peroxidation in primary lung epithelial cells, which was suppressed by ferroptosis inhibitors, ferrostatin-1 and liproxstatin-1.
Cell Death Coronavirus Disease COVID-19 Ferroptosis Blood Coronavirus Edema Fibrosis Histology Lipidomics Lung Disease Lungs Mortality Pathogen Pathology Pneumonia Respiratory SARS SARS-Cov-2 Severe Acute Respiratory Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Syndrome Vascular
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Research shows that ferroptosis, a form of cell death, occurs in severe COVID-19 patient lungsIn some severe cases of COVID-19, the lungs undergo extreme damage, resulting in a range of life-threatening conditions like pneumonia, inflammation, and acute respiratory distress syndrome. The root cause of those wide-ranging reactions in the lungs has until now remained unclear.
Read more »
Columbia researchers link ferroptosis to COVID-19 lung diseaseIn some severe cases of COVID-19, the lungs undergo extreme damage, resulting in a range of life-threatening conditions like pneumonia, inflammation, and acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Read more »
Study discovers hidden mechanism behind rapid COVID variantsThe SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID has the unsettling ability of often generating variants of itself.
Read more »
Study finds suicidal behaviors increased by over 50% in Catalonia, Spain after the COVID-19 pandemicThe COVID-19 pandemic has sparked extensive discussions about its effect on mental health. While global suicide rates remained stable during the pandemic, the specific impact on non-lethal suicidal behaviors, namely, ideation or suicide attempts that are survived, during and after the pandemic had not been explored.
Read more »
Global study reveals mismatch in COVID-19 treatment guidelines with WHO standardsStudy assesses global discrepancies in COVID-19 management guidelines across WHO member states, revealing that many national guidelines do not fully align with WHO recommendations, especially in lower-resource countries.
Read more »
COVID-19 pandemic alters view that doctors are obligated to provide care: StudyThe unique circumstances arising from the COVID-19 pandemic altered a long-held convention that doctors provide care regardless of personal risk.
Read more »