Existing prescription medications may be able to stop the chronic inflammation found in people with long COVID, a new study suggests. While researchers didn’t test the drug in people, they uncovered more details about how cells produce inflammation after COVID-19 infection clears up — and suggest the drugs may be able to help.
One such medication is baricitinib (Olumiant), currently used to treat rheumatoid arthritis.
Jie Sun, PhD, a professor at University of Virginia School of Medicine, found that COVID-19 caused changes in immune cells inside lung tissue. The changes led to scarring and inflammation, which makes it hard for people to breathe after the initial infection has passed.
The investigators looked at cell samples from the lower airways of lab mice and humans. In both sets of samples, they found that immune cells known as macrophages and T cells were acting abnormally and interacting harmfully. These cells, which normally help the body fight off the disease, were still fighting. Instead, the macrophages overwhelmed the lungs in abnormal numbers, and promoted tissue scarring. The T cells were producing interferon, a substance that causes inflammation, according to the report published July 17 in Science Translational Medicine.
“Our study identified a root cause of the respiratory complication of long COVID by performing comparative analysis of both clinical samples and a relevant animal model,” Sun said in a statement. “We hope that the identification of the ‘driving’ mechanisms will help to rationally design clinical studies repurposing those Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs for respiratory long COVID soon.”
Chest pain, shortness of breath and chronic lung scarring known as interstitial lung disease are common long COVID symptoms.
The drugs could break the cycle of inflammation and alleviate symptoms, Sun said, adding that more research is needed. He hopes their study leads to new treatments for long COVID.
“We hope our clinical colleagues around the globe could perform clinical trials soon to test the efficacy of baricitinib or other similar drugs targeting the same inflammatory pathway in long COVID,” Sun said. “Our new study has established a foundation for identification of new therapeutic interventions for long COVID by combining rigorous clinical testing and basic scientific research.”
