Researchers from the United States have shown that the increased risk of severe coronavirus infection in people with a second-type diabetes is associated with a reduced content of the SETDB2 enzyme. Article researchers Published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences magazine.
Scientists from the University of Michigan found that in the macrophages infected with coronavirus mice, the SETDB2 level was reduced, which led to a cytokine storm – a large-scale emission of these signaling substances into the blood, leading to the attack of immunity to cells and tissues of its own organism. The researchers also observed the same effect in the blood cells in the blood of diabetics with severe coronavirus, explained in the study.
They also lowered the level of interferon, which participates in the fight against cytokine viruses. It was previously shown that this substance increases the level of SETDB2 when healing the wounds. In addition, researchers managed to identify the JAK1 / STAT3 signaling path, which regulates the level of the enzyme in the macrophages during the flow of infection.
Introduction of interferon-beta mice increased the level of the enzyme in their blood and lowered the level of inflammatory cytokines – in particular, IL-1B, TNFALPHA and IL-6, the content of which is rising when coronavirus. Researchers hope that their discovery will help in the clinical trials of Interferon as a means of combating coronavirus infection.