A Gene That Leads to Lupus Might Also Save You From COVID
Autoimmune disorders cause the body’s own defense system to attack normal, healthy cells. They can also leave people vulnerable to diseases—resulting in more severe and deadly infections. But they may not be all bad news—new research suggests that one autoimmune disease might actually provide protection against COVID-19.
In a paper published November 3 in the journal PLOS Genetics, researchers from King’s College London discovered that a gene linked to lupus, or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), might protect against severe COVID-19 infections. The gene, dubbed TYK2, increases your risk of developing lupus. However, the study’s authors also found that it protects against viral infections like COVID-19.
At the heart of this process are interferons: proteins in the body’s immune system that send signals to other cells to fight viruses. “TYK2 is involved in interferon production, a process that is important in response to viral infection and known to be dysregulated in SLE patients,” the study’s authors told The Daily Beast in a joint statement.
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