U.S. NIH Study Warns of Lingering Damage to Immune and Metabolic Systems, And Increased Cancer Risk After COVID-19 Infection!
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Apr 22, 2025 5 hours, 2 minutes ago
Medical News:
US Researchers Uncover Alarming Long-Term Immune Damage in COVID-19 Survivors
A groundbreaking study by scientists from the U.S. National Institutes of Health and the University of California San Francisco has revealed that COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc on the body long after the virus is gone. Even four months after infection, many individuals—especially those with Long COVID—show serious disruptions to their immune and metabolic systems.
U.S. NIH Study Warns of Lingering Damage to Immune and Metabolic Systems, And
Increased Cancer Risk After COVID-19 Infection!
This
Medical News report highlights how the lingering effects of SARS-CoV-2 are far more complex and damaging than previously believed. Researchers observed immune system chaos, oxidative stress, and unusual activity in cells linked to aging, inflammation, and even cancer risk.
Widespread Damage Even in Those Who Felt Recovered
The study included 96 people previously infected with SARS-CoV-2, divided into two groups: 58 individuals with Long COVID symptoms and 38 who felt fully recovered. Their results were compared to 30 people who had never been infected.
Alarmingly, even those who believed they had fully recovered showed ongoing signs of immune system damage. However, those with Long COVID symptoms exhibited even more severe issues. Among them were increased levels of mitochondrial oxidative stress in immune cells, reduced levels of the amino acid tryptophan, elevated inflammatory molecules like IL-1β, and signs of “immunosenescence”—a type of immune system aging that impairs the body’s ability to respond to threats.
Monocytes and T-Cells Show Troubling Patterns
A key finding centered on monocytes—white blood cells crucial to immune defense. COVID survivors had a shift in these cells, with fewer classical monocytes and more immature, dysfunctional versions. These immature cells produced excessive reactive oxygen species, which can harm tissues and organs.
Even more concerning was the presence of senescent T-cells, particularly in those with Long COVID. These exhausted immune cells showed reduced ability to respond to infections and higher expression of aging markers like p16INK4a. This combination of chronic inflammation and immune exhaustion may explain why many Long COVID patients struggle with fatigue, brain fog, and other long-lasting symptoms.
Inflammatory Markers and Lipid Imbalance
The team also found elevated levels of inflammatory markers like sCD14, sCD163, and IP-10 in the blood of those previously infected. One molecule, suPAR—linked to chronic inflammation and immune system aging—was significantly higher in Long COVID patients, suggesting persistent low-grade inflammation.
On the metabolic front, the researchers uncovered a troubling imbalance in lipid m
olecules. Individuals with a history of COVID had more inflammatory lipids like arachidonic acid and 5-HETE, but less of anti-inflammatory lipids like AEA and DHEA. These lipid shifts indicate a body trapped in a state of inflammation, potentially contributing to both physical and neurological symptoms seen in Long COVID.
Single-Cell Sequencing Reveals Genetic Rewiring
Using advanced single-cell RNA sequencing, researchers detected unusual gene activity in immune cells of Long COVID patients. Their T-cells showed upregulated genes linked to inflammation, cell adhesion, and cell death. Meanwhile, their monocytes appeared genetically “muted,” with reduced activity in key pathways like cytokine signaling and myeloid activation.
This contrast suggests an immune system that is simultaneously overactive in some areas and underactive in others—a dangerous imbalance that could leave the body vulnerable to further damage.
DNA Methylation Patterns Suggest Cancer Risk
Another alarming discovery involved DNA methylation—a chemical process that controls gene expression. Researchers found significant differences in methylation patterns in COVID survivors, especially in genes related to metabolism, inflammation, and cancer development. Some genes that usually help suppress tumors were less methylated, potentially increasing the risk of cancer in the long run.
This raises the possibility that COVID-19 may not only disrupt the immune system but could also lead to genomic instability that lasts for months, possibly years.
Therapeutic Implications and Urgent Need for Trials
The findings strongly support the need for therapies that can rebalance the immune and metabolic systems after COVID-19. Potential interventions include antioxidants to combat oxidative stress, immune modulators like mTOR inhibitors to reduce inflammation and prevent senescence, and possibly even dietary supplements such as omega-3 fatty acids.
The researchers emphasize that targeting these disruptions could help prevent or treat Long COVID and reduce the risk of further health complications. They also suggest that persistent viral antigens or reactivation of viruses like Epstein-Barr could be fueling this ongoing damage—making antiviral therapies another avenue worth exploring.
Conclusions
This study provides some of the most comprehensive evidence to date that SARS-CoV-2 causes long-lasting damage well beyond the respiratory system. Months after the initial infection, many patients—especially those with Long COVID—show signs of immune exhaustion, inflammation, metabolic disturbances, and even potential cancer risks due to genetic rewiring. These discoveries underscore the urgent need for new treatments and preventive strategies to address the hidden aftermath of COVID-19. Understanding and correcting this complex post-viral damage could be the key to healing millions who continue to suffer in silence.
The study findings were published on a preprint server and are currently being peer reviewed.
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.04.16.25325949v1
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Read Also:
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/how-viral-rna-triggers-immune-overdrive-and-suppressed-antiviral-defenses
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/alarming-changes-in-transitional-b-cells-reveal-hidden-immune-dysregulation-in-long-covid-sufferers
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/persistent-immune-chaos-lingers-one-year-after-covid-19-infection-and-fuels-long-covid-and-lung-damage
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/coronavirus
https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/long-covid
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