LONDON: Inflammation and blood clotting seen in very severe cases Covid-19 can be caused by antibodies sent to fight diseases that trigger unnecessary platelet activities in the lungs, according to a study published on Wednesday.
Researchers, including those of the London Imperial College in the UK, also found that it is possible to reduce or stop platelets from responding in this way by treating blood with the active ingredients of drugs that are known to inhibit the function of platelets or immune.
This study, published in Blood Journal, shows how antibodies produced by our body to protect against Covid-19 are activating the increase in platelet functions, which may cause fatal blood clots in patients with severe illness.
Thanks are small cells found in the blood that form lumps to stop or prevent bleeding, but abnormal platelet functions can cause serious health problems such as strokes and heart attacks.
“Until now, we only have assumptions about why the platelets involved in freezing are being activated during Covid-19 infection,” said Professor Jon Gibbins, from the University of Reading in England.
“Antibodies produced to stop Covid-19 from the spread of triggering infected cells to induce platelet activities that cause freezing even though there are no wounds that need healing,” Gibbins said.
In the latest studies, the researchers took antibodies produced against the protein surge in Coronavirus, from people with severe Covid-19 infections, and cloned them in the laboratory.
Surge protein helps the SARS-COV-2 virus to infect and enter human cells.
The researchers found that small sugar found on the surface of this antibody was different from antibodies from healthy individuals.
When they introduce cloned antibodies in the laboratory for blood cells taken from healthy donors, there is an increase in platelet activity observed.
This study shows that it is possible for drugs that are currently used to treat the problem of immune systems to reduce or stop cells develop excessive platelet response.
Experiments led by Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust have tested these drugs in clinical trials with patients on hospital sites throughout the UK to see if they will reduce serious freezing for covid-19 patients who are treated at home Sick, the researchers said, said the researchers.
The platelet study in the laboratory establishes an important mechanism that explains how and why dangerous blood clots can occur in Covid-19 patients who are seriously ill, and importantly, also provide instructions on how this can be prevented, he added.