All articles tagged with #monocytes
A single-cell multiomics study of Long COVID patients found a distinct molecular state in CD14+ monocytes (LC-Mo), especially common in those who had mild-to-moderate initial infection. LC-Mo correlates with fatigue and respiratory symptoms and is linked to elevated cytokine levels, offering a new lead for personalized treatment and deeper understanding of Long COVID.
New research combining mouse experiments with human vehicle‑crash data suggests that pain after injury lasts longer in women because monocytes produce less IL-10, a molecule that both reduces inflammation and directly dampens pain signals; testosterone boosts IL-10 production in male monocytes, helping men recover faster. This shifts the view of the immune system from solely driving pain to also helping resolve it, pointing to therapies that enhance the body's natural pain‑resolution pathways to prevent chronic pain.
A new Science Immunology study links IL-10–producing monocytes to an immune brake that dampens pain after injury. In mice, males had more IL-10–producing cells and recovered faster, with pain lasting longer when IL-10 or its receptor was blocked. Human data from the AURORA trauma study showed higher IL-10 levels at injury in men and lower subsequent pain, suggesting a biological basis for women’s longer-lasting pain. While not the sole pathway for all chronic pain, the findings point to immune signaling as a potential target, with ideas like skin-applied testosterone to modulate IL-10–positive monocytes under exploration (noting more research is needed).
New research in mice and humans suggests that immune cells produce IL-10 to help resolve pain, and sex differences in this response—shaped by testosterone—may explain why women often recover more slowly from injury and have a higher risk of chronic pain. These findings point to therapies that boost the body's natural pain-resolution system rather than only blocking pain signals.
A Michigan State University study shows IL-10–producing monocytes actively resolve inflammatory pain; higher testosterone in males boosts these cells, leading to faster pain relief, while females’ monocytes are less active and pain persists longer. This immune-driven mechanism suggests non-opioid treatments that enhance IL-10 signaling could prevent chronic pain.
A human study finds that fat-derived epoxy-oxylipins act as natural brakes on inflammation by preventing the buildup of intermediate monocytes. Blocking the enzyme soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) raises epoxy-oxylipin levels, speeding inflammation resolution and reducing harmful immune cell expansion, with the mechanism involving suppression of the p38 MAPK pathway. This points to safer, targeted therapies for chronic inflammatory diseases like arthritis and cardiovascular conditions.
A study suggests that severe COVID-19 infections may trigger immune responses that shrink cancer tumors. Research in mice showed that monocytes, a type of white blood cell, produced during severe COVID-19, can transform into cancer-fighting cells. These cells activate natural killer cells to attack tumors, offering a potential new therapeutic approach for advanced cancers. However, clinical trials are needed to confirm these effects in humans.
A study by the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai found that fasting, even for a short period, could negatively affect the immune system and increase the risk of heart disease. The study, which used mouse models, showed that skipping meals triggers a response in the brain that negatively affects immune cells, specifically monocytes. These cells travel through the body and play critical roles in fighting infections, heart disease, and cancer. Fasting causes monocytes to travel back to the bone marrow to hibernate, and production of new cells in the bone marrow diminishes. When food is reintroduced, the cells surge back into the bloodstream, leading to a heightened level of inflammation, making the body less resistant to fighting infection.
Researchers at the University of Manchester have identified immune cells known as monocytes as a probable culprit for long Covid symptoms such as breathlessness. In a study of blood samples from Covid patients, the team found that monocytes with irregularities were linked to long Covid and lung injury. The scientists hypothesized that Covid increased CXCR6 in the monocytes, causing them to travel more readily toward the lungs and contribute to prolonged inflammation or damage. The next step for the scientists will be to try to modulate some of the pathways identified in monocytes using drugs to lower CXCR6 in animal models and seeing if symptoms improve.
Researchers from the University of Manchester have found a link between malfunctioning monocytes and specific symptoms of long COVID, such as fatigue and shortness of breath. This discovery could lead to the development of drug targets for treating long COVID. The study included 71 hospitalised patients with acute COVID-19 and 142 follow-up patients attending outpatient clinics months after hospital discharge. The researchers were able to distinguish long COVID patients with different symptoms from asymptomatic patients. This work provides an important first step towards finding treatments for those suffering from long COVID.