UPSC Articles
Blocking Factor D Protein may reduce inflammatory reactions associated with Covid-19
Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Biotechnology
In news
- A new study by Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers suggests that blocking a human protein factor D may reduce the deadly inflammatory reactions that many patients have due to COVID-19.
Key takeaways
- Team focused on two proteins, factor H and factor D.
- These are known as “complement” proteins.
- They help the immune system clear pathogens from the body.
- The researchers discovered that Covid-19’s spike protein causes factor D to overstimulate the immune response, which in turn prevents factor H from mediating that response.
- When SARS-CoV-2 attacks the ACE2 receptors to proliferate and infect more cells in the human body, it also prevents Factor H from using the sugar molecule to bind with cells.
- The team found that by blocking factor D, they were able to stop the destructive chain of events triggered by SARS-CoV-2.
