At the same time, even if you are infected with Corona 19, the reason why the symptoms are different came out. Getty Image Bank
There are people who are infected even if they are in the same space with a new coronavirus infection (COVID-19, Corona 19) confirmed person, and there are people who are not. When infected with COVID-19, the symptoms are different for each person. A team of Australian researchers has identified the cause of these differences in relation to COVID-19.
A research team at the Charles Perkins Center at the University of Sydney in Australia found that the receptor protein (LRRC15) found in the lungs that causes Corona 19 prevents SARS-CoV-2, which causes Corona 19, from entering cells. The discovery was published in the international journal ‘Plos Biology’ on February 9 (local time).
Corona 19 penetrates into cells using the spike protein, which is the protruding part of the virus. At this time, the spike protein binds to the ACE-2 receptor of human cells. Lung cells have many ACE-2 receptors, so when infected with Corona 19, symptoms such as pneumonia may appear due to an immune response.
Like the ACE-2 receptor, the LRRC15 receptor discovered by the research team binds to the spike protein of the virus. Unlike the ACE-2 receptor, which helps the virus penetrate, the LRRC15 receptor binds to the virus and then detaches it from the cell, preventing the virus from entering the cell, the study revealed. Lippin Lu, a postdoctoral researcher at the Charles Perkins Center at the University of Sydney in Australia, said, “It acts like a molecular Velcro in that it binds to spike proteins and then detaches them from cells.”
The research team revealed that the presence or absence of the LRRC15 receptor is an important indicator in determining whether or not a person is infected with COVID-19 and how severe it is. “People with fewer LRRC15 receptors suffer from more severe symptoms, and if they have enough receptors, the symptoms won’t be as severe,” said postdoctoral researcher Lu.
The study also confirmed that the number of LRRC15 receptors in the lungs increases when infected with COVID-19. This means that immunity is activated to prevent the virus from entering. Under normal circumstances, LRRC15 receptors are diversely present in lung, skin, tongue, fibroblasts, placenta and lymph nodes.
“The newly discovered LRRC15 receptor creates a barrier that physically separates the virus from lung cells, which are most sensitive to COVID-19 infection,” said postdoctoral researcher Lu. “It is a natural response of our body to prevent infection.”
During the course of the study, it was found that the LRRC15 receptor is also involved in preventing the pulmonary fibrosis found in long Covid patients. Professor Greg Neely of the University of Sydney, Australia, said, “This receptor blocks COVID-19 infection and at the same time activates the body’s antiviral response and suppresses the fibrotic response.” that,” he said.
