A study suggests that severe COVID-19 infections may trigger immune responses that shrink cancer tumors. Research in mice showed that monocytes, a type of white blood cell, produced during severe COVID-19, can transform into cancer-fighting cells. These cells activate natural killer cells to attack tumors, offering a potential new therapeutic approach for advanced cancers. However, clinical trials are needed to confirm these effects in humans.
A study by the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai found that fasting, even for a short period, could negatively affect the immune system and increase the risk of heart disease. The study, which used mouse models, showed that skipping meals triggers a response in the brain that negatively affects immune cells, specifically monocytes. These cells travel through the body and play critical roles in fighting infections, heart disease, and cancer. Fasting causes monocytes to travel back to the bone marrow to hibernate, and production of new cells in the bone marrow diminishes. When food is reintroduced, the cells surge back into the bloodstream, leading to a heightened level of inflammation, making the body less resistant to fighting infection.
Researchers at the University of Manchester have identified immune cells known as monocytes as a probable culprit for long Covid symptoms such as breathlessness. In a study of blood samples from Covid patients, the team found that monocytes with irregularities were linked to long Covid and lung injury. The scientists hypothesized that Covid increased CXCR6 in the monocytes, causing them to travel more readily toward the lungs and contribute to prolonged inflammation or damage. The next step for the scientists will be to try to modulate some of the pathways identified in monocytes using drugs to lower CXCR6 in animal models and seeing if symptoms improve.
Researchers from the University of Manchester have found a link between malfunctioning monocytes and specific symptoms of long COVID, such as fatigue and shortness of breath. This discovery could lead to the development of drug targets for treating long COVID. The study included 71 hospitalised patients with acute COVID-19 and 142 follow-up patients attending outpatient clinics months after hospital discharge. The researchers were able to distinguish long COVID patients with different symptoms from asymptomatic patients. This work provides an important first step towards finding treatments for those suffering from long COVID.
