A study in the United States has found that people infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus may experience changes in genome structure that could explain their immunity-related symptoms and risk of long COVID. The study revealed that COVID-19 infection could comprehensively characterise the chromatin architecture in human cells. SARS-CoV-2 altered the A/B compartments, which can be compared to the yin and yang portions of our chromatin. The yin and yang portions of the chromatin lost their normal shapes and began to mix together. Such mixing may be the reason for changes in some key genes, including the inflammation gene interleukin-6, which can cause cytokine storms in severe COVID-19 patients. The study also discovered that chemical modifications on chromatin were altered by SARS-CoV-2. Chemical modifications of chromatin were known to have long-term effects on gene expression and phenotypes. The researchers hope that these findings will pave the way for further research to understand the long-term impacts of the virus.
COVID-19 Infection Alters Human Genome Structure, Study Shows
A recent study in the United States has found that individuals infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus may experience alterations in the structure of their genome. These changes may explain immunity-related symptoms and the risk of long COVID. Chromatin, which stores genetic material in our cells, can be hijacked or changed by viruses from other categories to successfully reproduce in our cells. However, it was unclear whether and how SARS-CoV-2 could affect our chromatin.
The study, published in the journal Nature Microbiology, revealed that COVID-19 infection could comprehensively characterise the chromatin architecture in human cells. Wenbo Li, a senior author and associate professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, USA, said, “We found that many well-formed chromatin architectures of a normal cell become de-organised after infection.”
The study found that SARS-CoV-2 altered the A/B compartments, which can be compared to the yin and yang portions of our chromatin. The yin and yang portions of the chromatin lost their normal shapes and began to mix together. Such mixing may be the reason for changes in some key genes, including the inflammation gene interleukin-6, which can cause cytokine storms in severe COVID-19 patients.
A cytokine storm is a severe immune reaction that occurs when the body releases too many cytokines into the blood too quickly. Although cytokines play an important role in normal immune responses, having a large amount of them released in the body all at once can be harmful.
The study also discovered that chemical modifications on chromatin were altered by SARS-CoV-2. Chemical modifications of chromatin were known to have long-term effects on gene expression and phenotypes. Xiaoyi Yuan, who contributed to the research, said, “Therefore, our finding may provide an unrealised new perspective to understand the viral impacts on host chromatin that can associate with long COVID.”
The researchers hope that these findings will pave the way for further research to understand the long-term impacts of the virus.
SARS-CoV-2 Can Alter Our Chromatin to Cause COVID-19 Symptoms, Study Shows
A study has shown that SARS-CoV-2 can uniquely alter our chromatin to cause COVID-19 symptoms. Further research will focus on understanding the mechanisms of how SARS-CoV-2 can achieve this, according to Wenbo Li, a senior author on the study.
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