Scientists find arthritis drug can treat long-term Covid inflammation
Scientists have identified a new cause of long Covid in the lungs, suggesting that treating rheumatoid arthritis could prevent its chronic inflammation.
In short
- Long Covid affects 65 million people worldwide, with symptoms lasting from several weeks to years
- Researchers find abnormal immune cell interactions in lung tissue of patients with long-haul Covid
- Baricitinib, an anti-inflammatory arthritis drug, may show promise in treating long Covid
Scientists have discovered a new cause of long Covid in the lungs. Their study, published in Science Translational Medicine, suggests that a treatment previously used for rheumatoid arthritis may be effective in preventing the chronic inflammation associated with long Covid.
Long Covid or post-Covid-19 syndrome affects about 65 million people worldwide. Symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain and brain fog can last from several weeks to years.
These symptoms can range from mild discomfort to severe pain that affects daily functioning.
Despite various theories on the causes of long Covid, the reason why it persists in some individuals is unclear. Current treatments focus on managing the symptoms rather than curing the condition.
Previous research has mainly examined blood samples, but the immune status in the tissues of the affected organ has been less studied.
Animal models have been used for investigation, but it is uncertain whether they accurately represent the human condition, requiring comparative analysis of human and animal samples.
Researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine analyzed single-cell RNA sequencing data from the lower airways of human patients with and without long COVID and animal models infected with SARS-CoV-2.
They found significant changes in immune cells within the lung tissue in both groups.
Abnormal interactions were observed between macrophages and T cells, which normally help fight infection.
In the Long Covid samples, these cells remained active even after the initial infection had passed, leading to long-term inflammation.
High levels of macrophages in the lungs caused scarring and inflammation. Also, T cells produced a protein called interferon-y, which played a key role in the immune system problems seen in Long Covid patients.
Baricitinib and other anti-inflammatory drugs have received emergency authorization from the US FDA (Food and Drug Administration) to treat severe Covid-19 inflammation. Research suggests that these drugs, traditionally used for rheumatoid arthritis, could be used to treat long-haul Covid.
Dr. Ji Sun, lead author of the study, hopes the findings will guide the design of clinical studies to repurpose FDA-approved drugs for respiratory long COVID.
The author and his team have called for global clinical trials to test the efficacy of baricitinib or similar drugs that target the same inflammatory pathway in long Covid.
