フィンランドの研究チームは、ロングコビット（新型コロナウイルス感染症の長期症状）患者において、広範な脳の炎症を示す証拠は見つからなかったと発表した。一方で、より重い症状は、感情や記憶に関与する脳領域の活動亢進に関連していることが明らかになった。
トゥルク大学の研究チームは、14人のロングコビット患者を対象に、PET（陽電子放出断層撮影）およびMRI検査を実施した。その結果を、健康なボランティア11人と多発性硬化症患者13人のスキャン結果と比較した。ロングコビット群と健康な対照群との間で、脳の炎症マーカーに有意な差は見られなかった。また、ロングコビット患者の白質の炎症は、多発性硬化症群と比較して大幅に少ないことが確認された。
AIによるレポート AIによって生成された画像 事実確認済み
Researchers analyzing immune cells from people with long COVID have identified a distinct molecular state in CD14+ monocytes—labeled “LC-Mo”—that was more prevalent among patients whose initial COVID-19 illness was mild to moderate and that tracked with reported fatigue and respiratory symptoms, along with higher levels of inflammatory signaling molecules in blood plasma.
New research indicates that severe cases of COVID-19 or influenza can alter lung immune cells, potentially increasing cancer risk months or years afterward. The study, conducted by scientists at the University of Virginia, highlights the role of chronic inflammation in this process and emphasizes vaccination as a preventive measure. Findings suggest closer monitoring for affected patients to enable early detection.
AIによるレポート
Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco have identified how aging lungs contribute to severe flu and COVID-19 outcomes in older adults. Their study shows that lung fibroblasts trigger excessive inflammation, forming damaging clusters of immune cells. The findings, published in Immunity on March 27, suggest potential new treatments.
Scientists at the University of Southern California have found experimental compounds that may reduce harmful brain inflammation associated with Alzheimer’s disease. The work focuses on the enzyme cPLA2 and people who carry the high-risk APOE4 gene.
AIによるレポート 事実確認済み
A study of 440 participants from the Women’s Interagency HIV Study found that accelerated epigenetic aging in monocytes—an immune cell type—tracked more closely with emotional and cognitive depression symptoms such as hopelessness and loss of pleasure than with physical symptoms like fatigue. The work, published in The Journals of Gerontology: Series A, adds evidence that cell-type-specific aging measures could contribute to future biological tools to complement symptom-based depression screening, though researchers say more validation is needed before clinical use.