In the most severe COVID-19 cases, the virus's harm goes beyond direct infection of airway cells. A new report describes how a single viral protein can hijack immune cells, turning the body's defenders into drivers of runaway inflammation.
Normally, immune cells would help clear the infection. But when SARS-CoV-2 infects them, they stop fighting the virus and instead produce high levels of inflammatory signals. This sets off a cycle of hyperinflammation that can make the disease much worse.
Understanding this hijacking mechanism may help explain why some patients develop extreme immune reactions. The findings point to a potential target for therapies aimed at breaking the cycle, though no specific treatments are mentioned in the report.