Unlocking Dexamethasone's Life Saving Mechanism in COVID 19: Monocytes Hold the Key

Scientists Unravel the Mechanism of Dexamethasone's Life-Saving Effect in COVID-19 Treatment

Date: July 3, 2024

Press Release by Charite Universit?tsmedizin Berlin and German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases DZNE

The cortisone compound dexamethasone has been identified as a crucial drug in managing severe COVID-19 cases. However, its effectiveness varies greatly among patients. Researchers from Charite - Universit?tsmedizin Berlin and DZNE have now unraveled the underlying molecular mechanisms that expln why dexamethasone works efficiently for certn individuals while not providing significant benefits to others. Utilizing single-cell analysis techniques, they discovered that monocytes - a type of white blood cell - are responsible for the differential responses in severe COVID-19 patients to this therapy.

In 2020, scientists found an altered molecular fingerprint monocyte signature specific to individuals with severe COVID-19. Dexamethasone was able to reverse these changes when effective agnst the infection. The study, published in Cell*, revealed that monocytes display a response to dexamethasone only in those patients whose condition improves and ultimately survives the infection.

Dr. Joachim Schultze, Director for Systems Medicine at DZNE and lead author of the research project, highlights the significance of these findings beyond COVID-19: Combining well-designed clinical trials with high-resolution molecular analysis can provide vital insights into drug efficacy. This approach may accelerate drug development and enable personalized treatments early .

Prof. Leif Erik Sander adds that this method could potentially be applied to other diseases where immune cells play a critical role and are accessible through blood samples, including infectious diseases, cancer, or Alzheimer's. Once these key cells are identified using single-cell sequencing, Prof. Sander suggests, simpler laboratory methods can determine the relevant cellular changes.

This research underscores the importance of companion diagnostics in healthcare, which involves simultaneous analysis alongside treatment to optimize outcomes. This novel approach could significantly expedite drug development and pave the way for personalized medicine.

For more information:

• Coronavirus blood samples: Charite Arne Sattler

Contact Information:

Prof. Dr. Florian Kurth

Department of Infectious Diseases and Critical Care Medicine, Charite - Universit?tsmedizin Berlin

Phone: +49 30 450 553 332

For Original Article:

• the link to the original article here

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