The results of a study conducted by scientists from the University of Michigan (USA), published in the journal Jci insight.
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In severe COVID-19, viral pneumonia is accompanied by the so-called “cytokine storm”, when the immune system, in an attempt to overcome the infection, comes into an over-excited state and begins to attack not only foci affected by the virus, but healthy lung cells. This leads to acute respiratory distress syndrome, in which there is not only respiratory failure, but also the formation of blood clots (blood clots) in the small vessels of the lungs and other organs, which together dramatically increases the risk of death.
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Researchers analyzed blood samples from 50 patients with COVID-19. The samples showed signs of netosis – the mass death of neutrophils (blood cells that protect the body from infections). Netosis is accompanied by the release into the blood of the so-called neutrophilic extracellular traps (NETs) – network-like structures consisting of proteins and DNA strand fragments, with the help of which pathogenic microorganisms that did not manage to penetrate into the cells are destroyed. Especially a lot of NETs were in the blood of patients in serious condition who needed to be connected to a ventilator.
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Previous studies have shown that NETs contribute to an increased inflammatory response and blood clots. The authors of the study suggest that it is the high level of NETs that can underlie the cascade of life-threatening complications that are observed in many patients with severe COVID-19. To confirm this hypothesis and determine the safe level of NETs in the blood, more extensive and lengthy studies are needed. However, scientists do not exclude that the development of a method to reduce the concentration of NETs may in the future become the means that will save lives in severe coronavirus infection.
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