Researchers have identified how the COVID-19 virus causes cell death in airway cells, shedding light on disease severity and potential therapeutic targets.
- Researchers at the UNC School of Medicine have identified how the omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 causes cell death in airway epithelial cells.
- Infected cells undergo necroptosis, leading to tissue damage, while uninfected cells experience apoptosis followed by pyroptosis.
- Necroptosis is found to be the primary cause of cell death, making it a potential therapeutic target for COVID-19 treatment.
- The study is the first to show the differences in cell death events between infected and uninfected cells in the airway epithelium during SARS-CoV-2 infection.
- Mouse models infected with the delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 exhibited higher levels of viral replication and cell death compared to those infected with the omicron variant.
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Infectious Diseases,HIV/AIDS,Pulmonary Medicine