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john h abeles md's avatar

( cont)

It goes on to suggest that certain peptides from ezrin could be therapies by interrupting this pathogenic mechanism and lower the inflammatory process

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john h abeles md's avatar

Biologic systems can be and are complex, unfortunately - just look at an immunology systems chart!

The paper, which isn’t looking at fundamental causes of long Covid19, doesn’t at all interfere with the idea that the gut and the biome may be antecedent factors to the mechanism which underlies your theory ( which doesn’t unfortunately explain how and what happens in the gut). Others have invoked the notion that Covid19 causing coronavirus is a bacteriophage thus disrupting the biome

The paper cogently describes a possible/probable mechanism underlying the persistent hyperinflammation found in long Covid - perhaps as you say emanating from the gut - caused by the presence of certain antigens

Condensing to simpler terms, what is said is that TLR4 receptors, which activate monocytes/macrophages/dendritic cells , are stimulated by certain antigens in a self sustaining loop mechanism that obviates homeostatic rectification, and this maintains chronicity

Not really very complex….

It goes on to suggest that certain peptides from ezrin could be therapies by interrupting this pathogenic mechanism and lower the inflammatory process

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Dr Philip McMillan's avatar

Thanks John.

What I meant was that it still cannot explain why this process does not resolve on its own or clarify some of the critical risk factors for the disease.

It is likely to be part of the process, but not primary pathophysiology.

Still looking.

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john h abeles md's avatar

Perhaps the syndrome - likely common to other post viral diseases, like post-flu, ME/CFS, chronic Lyme etc - is as a result of several basic contributors to the ethologies a) gut biome disruption b) perhaps some evocation of other latent viruses eg EBV c) genetic predispositions to autoimmunity …

If all devolve to a chronic inflammatory syndrome then safe, non immunosuppressive therapies, like those mentioned in the article, could be a good part of a clinical intervention, along with others aiming at factors higher up in the pathological chain

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