Archive · 27 May 2025
Study: Why Some COVID Cases Turn Severe
Scientists are trying to figure out why some people get really sick from COVID-19.
They found that the virus might trick the body's immune system into fighting itself.
COVID-19 can change certain white blood cells, called neutrophils, so they stop helping and instead, prevent other cells, like T cells, from working correctly.
In the lab, they saw the same thing happen.
The altered cells are called PMN-MDSCs.
This might explain why some people get very sick.
Researchers also tried a cancer drug that might help.
It blocked the signal that stops the T cells, helping them to fight the virus better.
This could lead to new treatments to help people with severe COVID-19.
A study suggests the SARS-CoV-2 virus can alter neutrophils, weakening the immune response.
Researchers found that in severe COVID-19 patients, neutrophils transform into PMN-MDSCs, suppressing T cells.
Healthy neutrophils exposed to the virus in the lab showed the same transformation.
The H1N1 influenza virus did not cause this transformation in neutrophils.
PD-L1-blocking antibodies may counteract the effect, potentially aiding severe COVID-19 treatment.
- Who
- Researchers from Johns Hopkins University, the US National Institutes of Health, and COVID-19 patients
- What
- A study on how the SARS-CoV-2 virus alters neutrophils and weakens the immune response in severe COVID-19 cases.
- When
- Published on May 27, 2025
- Where
- Research conducted in a lab and at Johns Hopkins University
- Why
- To understand why some COVID-19 cases are severe and explore potential treatments.
- Researchers
- Johns Hopkins University
- Published In
- Science Translational Medicine
- Hospitalized Patients Sampled
- 39
- Key Finding
- PMN-MDSCs suppress T cells
- Published On
- May 27, 2025
- Potential Treatment
- Antibodies to block PD-L1
- Severe COVID-19 Definition
- Hospitalization, ICU admission, or death