Covid-related Happy Hypoxia is a silent killer
The biggest mystery surrounding COVID-19 is the varied and unpredictable outcomes among the infected. Therefore, why the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus infects in varying degrees continues to remain an important question. Now, a study by scientists from Hokkaido University reports the discovery of a novel immune defense response against the virus that could be the answer.
According to the study, the expression of RIG-I, a biological molecule that can detect RNA viruses, suppresses the replication of the novel coronavirus in the lung cells. These findings may help not only in the prediction of outcomes in COVID-19 patients but also help bolster immune response in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).