Side effects of COVID-19 may still be present in patients who have recovered from the infection. Due to this the cases of deterioration in health, heart attack, stroke and lung failure, and deaths due to are continuously increasing.
A study published in the journal Nature Communication has revealed the reason behind lung damage in Covid patients. According to this, the lung cells of patients infected with COVID-19 start dying rapidly. Due to this, life-threatening conditions like swelling in the lungs and acute respiratory disorders can arise. Researchers have also reported that by preventing ferroptosis, new methods can be developed to treat lung diseases caused by COVID-19.
What is ferroptosis
Cell death is a natural process, where cells stop functioning. During cell death, the molecules inside the cell break down. This process occurs naturally in humans with disease or aging. But ferroptosis is an unusual form of cell death, in which the cells start dying due to the breakdown of their outer fat layers and the lungs become weak.
Sample taken from dead body
Researchers from America's Columbia University have conducted this study. They analyzed the tissues of patients who lost their lives due to respiratory system failure caused by Covid-19. Additionally, the tissues of hamsters were also analyzed in the study.
Relationship between COVID-19 and ferroptosis
The results of the study show that the amount of ferroptosis in the lungs of patients seriously affected by Covid-19 is much higher than normal. This is the reason why their lungs get damaged so much.
Treatment for COVID-19 can be found
Researchers hope that the development of drugs that inhibit ferroptosis can be of great help in the treatment of COVID-19. This study is still in its early stages and more research is needed on drugs targeting ferroptosis. However, this study shows a new direction for the treatment of Covid-19.
(PC: Freepik)
