Issue
A new study suggests that blocking a human protein may curtail the potentially deadly inflammatory reactions that many patients have to the novel coronavirus.
Background
The protein is called Factor D, a serine protease that stimulates glucose transport for triglyceride accumulation in fats cells and inhibits lipolysis.
Details
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The protein is known as factor D, and the researchers say there may already be drugs in development for other diseases that can block this protein.
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Scientists already know that spike proteins on the surface of SARS-CoV-2 are the means by which it attaches to cells targeted for infection.
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The spikes first grab hold of a molecule called heparan sulfate, then uses the human protein ACE2 as its doorway into the attacked cell.
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In a series of experiments, researchers in the new study used normal human blood serum and three subunits of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein to discover exactly how the virus hijacks the immune system and endangers normal cells.
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The team found that by blocking factor D, they were able to stop the destructive chain of events triggered by SARS-CoV-2.
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The researchers explained that when SARS-CoV-2 attacks the ACE2 receptors to proliferate and infect more cells in the human body, it also prevents Factor H from using the sugar molecule to bind with cells.
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Factor H’s main function is to regulate the chemical signals that trigger inflammation and keep the immune system from harming healthy cells.