According to her work in the journal “Nature”, this so-called “senescence” also plays an important role in the dreaded extreme inflammatory reaction (cytokine storm) in severe Covid-19 diseases. With active ingredients that target such senescent cells, it may be possible to counteract this at an early stage in the future. At the end of a severe Covid-19 course, there is often an excessive reaction of the immune system. In the process, high concentrations of certain proteins are formed, which cause massive inflammatory reactions.
The scientists from the Berlin Charité, from the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the German Helmholtz Association (MDC), the University of Linz (JKU) and the Linz University Hospital have now shown that senescence is involved.
Promising approach
In hamsters and mice, four known active ingredients, in various combinations or on their own, turned out to be a way of containing the inflammatory storm and lessening the damage to the lungs. One of these so-called senolytics is also very promising for use in humans.
For Clemens Schmitt, Head of the University Clinic for Hematology and Internal Oncology at the Kepler University Clinic, the new results are “very encouraging”. For the use of the active ingredients “further clinical studies are necessary, some of which various institutions around the world have already set up,” said Schmitt.
Jane Stock is a technology author, who has written for 24 Hours World. She writes about the latest in technology news and trends, and is always on the lookout for new and innovative ways to improve his audience’s experience.
