A recent study published in the journal Nature Microbiology found that Covid-19 infection can alter the structure of chromatin in human cells, potentially leading to long Covid and immunity-related symptoms. The A/B compartments of chromatin architecture, which regulate gene expression, lose their normal shapes and mix together after SARS-CoV-2 infection. This mixing could lead to changes in some key genes, including interleukin-6, a crucial inflammation gene that can cause a cytokine storm in severe Covid-19 patients. Chemical modifications on chromatin were also altered by the virus, which could exert long-term effects on gene expression and phenotypes. The research hopes to pave the way for further understanding of the long-term impacts of the virus. The most important keywords from the content are “chromatin architecture”, “SARS-CoV-2”, “COVID-19”, “gene expression”, and “cytokine storm”.
Study Shows Covid-19 Can Alter Chromatin Architecture and Gene Expression
A recent study published in the journal Nature Microbiology suggests that Covid-19 infection can affect the structure of chromatin, the genetic material in our cells, and potentially lead to long Covid and immunity-related symptoms. According to Wenbo Li, senior author on the study and associate professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, US, “We found that many well-formed chromatin architectures of a normal cell become de-organised after infection.”
Chromatin architecture is crucial for the correct regulation of gene expression, and some viruses can hijack or change our chromatin so they can reproduce in our cells. However, it was not known whether SARS-CoV-2 affects chromatin architecture. The latest study comprehensively characterised chromatin architecture in human cells after a Covid-19 infection.
The study found that after a Covid-19 infection, the A/B compartments of chromatin architecture, which can be likened to the yin and yang portions of our chromatin, lose their normal shapes and start to mix together. This mixing could lead to changes in some key genes, including interleukin-6, a crucial inflammation gene that can cause a cytokine storm in severe Covid-19 patients. Cytokines play an essential role in normal immune responses, but having too many released into the body at once can be harmful.
The research also found that chemical modifications on chromatin were altered by SARS-CoV-2, and these modifications were known to exert long-term effects on gene expression and phenotypes. This study highlights the importance of understanding the underlying mechanisms of Covid-19 and its potential impact on gene expression and long-term health.
Study Shows SARS-CoV-2 Virus Can Alter Chromatin to Cause COVID-19 Symptoms
A recent study published in the journal Nature Microbiology suggests that the SARS-CoV-2 virus can uniquely alter our chromatin, causing COVID-19 symptoms. Chemical modifications on chromatin were also altered by the virus, which could exert long-term effects on gene expression and phenotypes. The research hopes to pave the way for further understanding of the long-term impacts of the virus.
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