Researchers found elevated levels of high CD47 protein in severe cases of Covid-19.
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA — Researchers from the Faculty of Biosciences at the University of Kent and the Institute of Medical Virology at Goethe-University, Frankfurt am Main, have identified a type of protein that can critically contribute to the severe form of Covid 19. Researchers have found that cell infection with SARS-CoV-2 resulted in increased levels of a protein called CD47 on the cell surface.
CD47 is a type of protein that seems to give a signal to the body ‘don’t eat me’ to defend its immune system from being destroyed. Virus-induced CD47 on the surface of infected cells is likely to protect them from immune system recognition. This also allows the production of the virus in greater numbers, and results in more severe disease.
“This is exciting. We may have identified the main factors associated with severe Covid 19. This is a major step in the fight against the disease and we can now look forward to further advances in therapeutic design,” said Professor Martin Michaelis from the University of Kent as quoted from the page. Eurasia Review, Sunday (26/9).
Risk factors associated with severe COVID-19, such as older age and diabetes, were associated with higher CD47 levels. High CD47 levels also contribute to high blood pressure. It is also a big risk factor for complications of Covid 19, such as heart attack, stroke and kidney disease.
The data suggest that age and virus-induced high CD47 levels contribute to severe COVID-19. Viruses are able to prevent an effective immune response and increase tissue damage to organs associated with disease. As therapies targeting CD47 are under development, this discovery could lead to better Covid-19 therapies.
Professor Jindrich Cinatl from Goethe-University Frankfurt, said this additional insight into the disease process underlying Covid-19 could help them design better therapies. “Through this path, we have achieved a major breakthrough and demonstrated that the fight against disease continues,” Cinatl said.
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