First published 2024-10-01 19:36:20
Researchers in Grand Rapids, Michigan, have made significant strides in understanding the long-term effects of COVID-19, particularly in patients requiring lung transplants. According to the United Network for Organ Sharing, approximately 10% of lung transplants nationally are going to COVID-19 patients. Experts from Michigan State University and Corwell Health have linked this trend to a specific gene, ATP12A, which appears overactive in individuals with post-COVID lung fibrosis. Researchers hope that uncovering the role of this gene will lead to better treatments, aiming to reduce lung scarring and improve patient outcomes.
The next step in research is to find out how the gene becomes elevated to find future treatments. This discovery is particularly significant as it opens pathways for potential therapeutic interventions that could mitigate the severity of lung scarring in COVID-19 patients. If successful, these treatments could substantially improve patient outcomes and possibly reduce the need for lung transplants in the long run.
Michigan State University and Corewell Health are not alone in this endeavor. They have collaborated with researchers from the Cleveland Clinic, highlighting the importance of multidisciplinary efforts in tackling complex health issues. The results of their study were recently published in the American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology, marking a critical milestone in the ongoing fight against the long-term effects of COVID-19.
