ABOVE: Influenza A virus particles
WIKIMEDIA CDC/ DR. ERSKINE PALMER
A study of influenza infection shows that glucose metabolism is a driving force underlying the development of the often deadly inflammatory response known as a cytokine storm, according to a report in Science Advances today (April 15). The results, which identify potential drug targets for future treatments, may partly explain why patients with diabetes are at an increased risk of serious complications and death from influenza and other infections. Preliminary data indicate this appears to be the case for COVID-19 as well.
“It’s a nice piece of work building on previous observations from influenza and other viral systems,” says immunologist Paul Thomas of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital who was not a member of the research team. “It really drills down to the molecular mechanism of . . . this metabolic regulation of inflammation and viral replication.”
During an infection, the ...
