SARS-CoV-2 Alters Blood Formation and Triggers Immune Aging in Stem Cells

Medical News: Scientists Uncover New Risks of SARS-CoV-2 on Blood and Immunity
Researchers from Seoul National University, the National Institutes of Health in the United States, and the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science have uncovered alarming effects of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant on hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). Their study reveals that the virus disrupts blood cell production and accelerates inflammaging - a process associated with aging and chronic inflammation. These findings shed light on a potential long-term consequence of COVID-19 infections beyond the respiratory system.


SARS-CoV-2 Alters Blood Formation and Triggers Immune Aging in Stem Cells

Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells are crucial for maintaining the balance of different blood cells in the body. When these cells are affected, it can lead to serious immune system disruptions. This Medical News report explores the study’s findings and their implications for both COVID-19 survivors and ongoing medical research.
 
How SARS-CoV-2 Pseudovirus Affects Blood Formation
The research team conducted experiments using umbilical cord blood derived HSPCs infected with a pseudovirus that mimics the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant. The scientists found that the infected HSPCs exhibited a significant reduction in their ability to generate various blood cell types, particularly multipotential progenitors responsible for forming granulocytes, erythrocytes, macrophages, and megakaryocytes.
 
One of the key findings was that the infection altered the normal differentiation of HSPCs, leading to a higher production of myeloid cells - white blood cells that play a key role in immune responses. This myeloid bias can have significant consequences for the immune system, potentially leading to an overactive but ineffective immune response.

In addition to changes in cell differentiation, the study found that infected stem cells exhibited high levels of inflammation related genes. Researchers identified increased expression of NLRP3 inflammasome components, which are linked to chronic inflammation and age-related immune dysfunction. This discovery suggests that the virus may contribute to long term immune aging, even in young individuals who recover from COVID-19.
 
Experimental Evidence of Immune Aging
To further investigate the effects of the pseudovirus infection, researchers transplanted infected HSPCs into NOD scid IL2rγnull (NSG) mice, an experimental model used to study human blood cell development. After 12 weeks, the mice exhibited significant changes in their bone marrow composition, including a depletion of long-term hematopoietic stem cells and an increase in myeloid lineage cells. These changes closely resemble the aging process of the immune system.
 
Analysis of the bone marrow from infected mice showed elevated levels of inflammatory markers such as TNF, IL6, and IL1R. The study concluded that SARS-CoV-2 infection may induce an inflammatory environment that disrupts normal blood cell formation, potentially leading to long la sting immune dysfunction. This discovery provides a new perspective on how COVID-19 might contribute to lingering immune system problems in recovered patients.
 
Nanographene Oxide as a Potential Treatment
In an effort to counteract the harmful effects of the infection, the researchers tested nanographene oxide (NGO), a material known for its antiviral properties. When infected stem cells were treated with NGO, they showed a partial reversal of myeloid bias and inflammation. The viral spike RNA levels were also reduced, suggesting that NGO may have the ability to limit the effects of the virus on stem cells.
 
Further testing in mice revealed that NGO treatment helped restore the balance of hematopoietic stem cells and reduce inflammatory markers in the bone marrow. These promising results suggest that NGO could be explored as a potential therapeutic strategy to mitigate the long-term effects of SARS-CoV-2 on the immune system.
 
Broader Implications for COVID-19 Survivors
The study’s findings highlight the need for further research into the long-term consequences of COVID-19 infections. While most studies focus on the respiratory and cardiovascular effects of the virus, this research suggests that blood cell production and immune system function could also be significantly affected. This could have implications for individuals who experience prolonged symptoms, including those diagnosed with post-COVID syndrome or long COVID.
 
The discovery of inflammaging in infected stem cells raises concerns about whether COVID-19 could accelerate age related immune decline, particularly in older adults or those with preexisting conditions. If SARS-CoV-2 infection contributes to immune aging, it may increase vulnerability to other infections and inflammatory diseases in the long run.
 
Future Directions and Medical Considerations
While the findings provide critical insights into the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on the hematopoietic system, more research is needed to confirm these results in human patients. The use of pseudoviruses in laboratory settings allows for safer experimentation, but further studies using clinical samples from COVID-19 patients would help validate these observations.
 
The potential use of nanographene oxide as a therapeutic intervention is also an exciting avenue for future research. Scientists will need to investigate the safety and effectiveness of NGO in clinical trials before it can be considered for widespread medical use. If proven effective, it could offer a new strategy for protecting the immune system from the long-term effects of viral infections.
 
Conclusion
This study provides valuable new insights into how SARS-CoV-2 infection can alter blood formation and trigger immune aging, even after the infection has cleared. The findings emphasize the importance of monitoring blood and immune system changes in COVID-19 survivors and exploring new treatments to counteract these effects. The potential of nanographene oxide as a protective agent opens up new possibilities for future medical applications.
 
As researchers continue to unravel the complexities of COVID-19 and its long-term consequences, studies like this play a crucial role in guiding healthcare strategies and developing new interventions. Understanding the broader impact of the virus is essential for managing the ongoing health challenges posed by the pandemic.
 
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Experimental and Molecular Medicine
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1038/s12276-025-01416-1

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