2023-11-02 06:19:15
A more active immune system in the respiratory tract offers protection against severe disease, according to researchers from Germany and the USA. In a recent study conducted by scientists at the German Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg (DKFZ), it was found that children have a significantly more active immune system in their upper respiratory tract compared to adults. This heightened immune response allows children to better fight off the COVID-19 virus.
During the pandemic, it was observed that children often experienced mild symptoms or were asymptomatic when infected with the virus. In contrast, older adults had a higher risk of developing severe illness or even dying from COVID-19. The DKFZ reported that less than 0.001 percent of infected school children died from the virus, while the mortality rate for older adults was over ten percent.
The DKFZ study revealed that the nasal mucosa of children is populated by more immune cells compared to adults. Additionally, these individual immune cells in children produce more inflammatory messenger substances, or cytokines, even in the absence of infection. This allows children’s mucous membrane cells to react quickly to SARS-CoV-2 infection. These findings suggest that children have an innate protective mechanism against respiratory infections, which may also be effective against other viruses.
The significance of these findings extends beyond COVID-19. The researchers believe that understanding the cellular composition of children’s mucosal tissue could lead to the development of prophylactic treatments for respiratory infections. By mimicking the immune response observed in children, it may be possible to protect adults from severe respiratory illnesses.
Furthermore, another study conducted by researchers at the University of California San Francisco suggests that certain genetic factors may contribute to why some adults remain asymptomatic despite infection. The study focused on human leukocyte antigens (HLA), which encode proteins that play a crucial role in defending against pathogens. The researchers found that a particular variant of the HLA protein (HLA-B*15:01) was present in 20 percent of asymptomatic individuals, compared to only nine percent of symptomatic individuals.
It was also discovered that individuals with the protective HLA variant had killer T cells that were effectively directed against SARS-CoV-2 before the pandemic began. This suggests that previous exposure to corona cold viruses may help develop an immunological memory that recognizes and fights off SARS-CoV-2 during subsequent infections. However, the researchers believe that other genetic and non-genetic factors may also contribute to the development of asymptomatic cases.
These studies provide valuable insights into the immune response to COVID-19 and highlight the importance of further research into preventative measures and treatments. Understanding how different age groups and genetic factors influence the severity of the disease can help inform public health strategies and improve patient outcomes.]
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