More evidence inflammasome activation predicts severe COVID-19, and acts as a major driver of disease progression.
They release IL-1β, which summons neutrophils and promotes (highly pro-thrombotic) NETosis, plus IL-18, which prompts IFNγ secretion (very inflammatory, apoptotic).
Certain virally infected or antigen-swamped white blood cells smash their emergency self-destruct button, explode, and release huge amounts of signaling molecules that summon exploding neutrophils and tell other classes of WBCs to order nearby cells to die.
This strongly contributes to the severe lung clotting and often serious broader lung tissue damage that define the state we call "severe COVID-19."
The function of the inflammasome, in the case of pyroptosis, is to invoke a scorched-earth counteroffensive against a virus or other pathogen that can attack core components of the immune system itself. NETs to trap and burn it, apoptosis to deny it replication resources, etc.
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People want ironclad proof for everything. It doesn't exist. It never will. Even the best trials only apply to a certain stage of the disease in a certain set of the population at a certain dose with a certain baseline standard of care.
One must weigh evidence and combine signals in a safe way. That is all.
"First, the only certainty is that there is no certainty. Second, every decision, as a consequence, is a matter of weighing probabilities. Third, despite uncertainty we must decide and we must act."
@Deadly_Statins it's pretty nasty. the systemic inflammatory response is intense and can hit hard and fast. not a cold or flu at all. not like anything I've ever caught before. glad I was able to abort it.
@Deadly_Statins trying very hard not to catch it again. basically just hiding out in my residence as much as possible.
@Deadly_Statins the percentage of people with active infections out in public right now is obscene; it would be apocalyptic if IFR were higher.
unfortunately because there are so many of them, hospitals are turning people away and IFR *is* getting higher, slowly, inexorably.