Thread by @outbreakupdates

SARS-CoV-2 Rewrites the body’s molecular rules 🧵

PACS is not a simple extension of the initial viral attack.

It's a deep-seated, systemic disorder affecting numerous biological pathways and networks, challenging the body's ability to return to its pre-COVID state.

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Proteomic analysis shows a staggering dysregulation of 200 proteins, crucial for functions like hemostasis and metabolism, with most in a state of overactivity.

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The complexity of Post-acute COVID-19 Syndrome (PACS) goes far beyond the prolongation of initial COVID-19 symptoms.

It represents a profound and systemic upheaval, deeply rooted in the body's fundamental biochemistry.

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This is not just about lingering coughs or fatigue; it's a multi-layered crisis affecting the body at a molecular level.

Proteomic analysis, which studies the full set of proteins involved, reveals about 200 proteins thrown off balance.

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These proteins are not just any proteins; they are critical cogs in the machinery that governs vital processes like hemostasis, which controls blood clotting, and metabolism, which is central to energy production and cellular health.

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Additionally, there's an alarming overreaction of the immune system, as evidenced by heightened levels of cytokines and chemokines.

These are not just markers of inflammation.

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They are messengers and mobilizers of the immune response, and their excessive presence suggests a state of persistent immune activation, far beyond the normal healing process.

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Moreover, the disturbance in sphingolipid levels - key components in cell membranes - signals a breakdown in cellular communication and integrity.

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This isn't a single pathway gone awry.

It's a web of interconnected systems, from blood flow to immune response to cellular health, all veering off course.

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nature.com/articles/s4159…