Natural proteins may offer new way to treat covid-19 and autoimmune disorders

Umeå UniversityDec 2 2024

Some people naturally have higher levels of proteins that protect them from covid-19. New studies at Umeå University of our immune system may pave the way for more personalized treatments of both covid-19 and autoimmune disorders.

In his doctoral research at Umeå University and the Industrial Doctoral School, Ionut Sebastian Mihai has explored how our body's defense system works at the smallest level to find new ways to treat diseases like covid-19 and autoimmune disorders.

One of his findings involves natural proteins, called serpins, that can block the SARS-CoV-2 virus - the virus responsible for covid-19 - from entering human cells. Remarkably, some individuals naturally have higher levels of these proteins.

Think of these proteins as gatekeepers that keep the virus out. This discovery could lead to new treatments that enhance these gatekeeper mechanisms in other people."

Ionut Sebastian Mihai, Umeå University and the Industrial Doctoral School

Serpins work by inhibiting a specific enzyme which the virus uses to enter cells. Individuals with higher levels of serpins in their lung cells may therefore have increased resistance to covid-19. This finding suggests potential avenues for developing treatments that enhance natural defenses against the virus.

Ionut Sebastian Mihai's research has also shed light on other critical components of the immune defense system, which is like a complex army with different types of soldiers, each playing a unique role in protecting us from illnesses. One of these soldiers is a special type of white blood cell that helps coordinate the body's response to threats, called T cells. Ionut Sebastian Mihai has identified important "commanders" within these white blood cells, directing how they grown and respond to infections.

"Understanding these cells at the DNA and RNA levels can help us find ways to develop vaccines and medicines that can boost the immune system when it is weak or calm it down when it is overactive," says Ionut Sebastian Mihai.

The new research results could lead to therapies tailored to each person's unique immune system, making treatments more effective with fewer side effects.

"For people whose immune systems mistakenly attack their own bodies, for example, as seen in autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis or rheumatoid arthritis, this research offers hope for treatments that can correct these mistakes. Same goes for hard to deal infections and certain types of cancer. The secret is in the genes and the environment."

Ionut Sebastian Mihai has also studied how certain viruses spread in the brain and identified signals in the immune system that help these infections progress. These findings could contribute to methods for preventing or treating severe brain diseases caused by viruses.

Ionut Sebastian Mihai's doctoral project has been funded by the Industrial Doctoral School at Umeå University and Sartorius Stedim Data Analytics.