Study confirms greater reduction in telomere length after year of severe Covid-19

An investigation carried out by the National Microbiology Center of the Carlos III Institute of Health (ISCIII) concluded that long stay in the intensive care unit And use of invasive mechanical ventilation accelerate telomere shortening in patients with Covid-19, which is observed a year after recovery.

The work, published in the journal Critical Care, is coordinated by the Division of Viral Infections and Immunity National Center for Microbiology (CNM) ISCIII. The main investigators are Amanda Fernández Rodríguez, Ana Virceda Berdices and Maria A. Jiménez Souza, who also belong to the Infectious Diseases Unit of the Network Biomedical Research Center (CIBERINFEC) of the Institute, in collaboration with the University of Tajo and Infanta Cristina. Hospitals.

Aging caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus

The study, conducted by the ISCIII team, is based on prior knowledge that the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 produces accelerated aginga process in which cells irreversibly interrupt their cell cycle without dying, a process known as “virus-induced senescence”. This form of aging is associated with tissue damage, inflammation And age-related diseases.

The researchers also suggested that there is a connection between shorter telomere length in patients with Covid-19 and increased risk hospitalization, severity of the disease And death. Thus, telomere shortening It is a sign of aging and may be associated with an increased risk of age-related diseases. Despite advances in knowledge, it is still unknown whether aging caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus is reversible and what problems it may cause.

Consequences of Telomere Length Loss

The purpose of the study was to evaluate Dynamics of telomere length in patients with Covid-19 treated in intensive care units (ICU), after a year has passed since their recovery. For this purpose, data from 49 patients hospitalized with Covid-19 between August 2020 and April 2021 were studied, with quantitative assessment relative telomere length in blood using quantitative real-time PCR at the time of hospitalization and one year after discharge.

The study analyzed the relationship between relative telomere length And length of stay in the intensive care unitHe use of invasive mechanical ventilation, need for lying down and the development of pulmonary fibrosis. The average age of patients was 60 years, 71.4% were men. Their median ICU stay was 12 days, 73.5% required invasive mechanical ventilation, and 38.8% required the supine position.

The results show that patients with longer ICU stays and/or those who required invasive mechanical ventilation as well as pronationshowed further shortening of telomere length during observation. Among patients who required invasive mechanical ventilation, there was greater telomere shortening in which pulmonary fibrosis developed one year after recovery from Covid-19, with the difference in relative telomere length becoming significant one year after recovery.

These patients who had telomere shortening may be more likely to develop cellular agingwhich may be accompanied increased risk of respiratory problems And lung diseasesamong others. That’s why they recommend closer attention these patients.