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The New York Times reported that the coronaviruses may be able to cause diseases in fat cells and immune cells.
The study was posted to the preprint database bioRxiv on Oct. 25 and looked at fat tissue obtained from bariatric surgeries. They found that adipocytes, the fat cells, could become infections and develop a low level of inflammation. They found that immune cells housed within the fat tissue became infections and kicked off a much more intense inflammatory response.
The team looked at fat tissue from patients who died from COVID-19 infections and found coronaviruses in the fat that surrounds various organs. Several experts told the Times that fat could be used as a storehouse for the virus, similar to how HIV and flu can hide from the immune system.
There have been 20 of the worst epidemics in history.
The new research has not yet been peer-reviewed or published in a scientific journal, but assuming its results stand up to scrutiny, "the bottom line is, 'Oh my god, indeed, the virus caninfecting fat cells directly,'" Philipp Scherer, a scientist who studies fat
Live Science previously reported that people with Obesity have faced a higher risk of developing severe symptoms and dying from COVID-19. There are a number of theories that try to explain why fat increases the risk of bad outcomes.
If people are already struggling to get enough oxygen into their lungs on a good day, they may fare worse against COVID-19. Obese people's blood tends to clot more easily than those with lower fat levels, which is a major problem in the context of COVID-19, which can cause extensive blood clotting.
As fat builds up in the body, fat cells enter the bone marrow and the immune system. This can weaken the immune system by reducing the number of immune cells. Fat cells release inflammatory substances called cytokines and macrophages in an effort to clear dead fat cells from the body, Science reported.
There's new evidence that the virus can affect fat cells, which is a good news for people with Obesity.
The senior author of the paper told the Times that it could be contributing to severe disease. The inflammation in the blood of the sick patients is the same as it is in the fat tissues.
There is a new study in The New York Times.
Live Science published the original article.
