Key Highlights :
COVID-19 virus protein can mislead the immune system into targeting healthy cells, worsening the disease.
Enoxaparin has the potential to bring this process short and salvage connected tissue damage.
Key Background :
The research finds a novel mechanism by which SARS-CoV-2 causes damage without direct viral infection. The nucleocapsid protein, after being released from infected cells, can bind to the surface of intact epithelial cells. The surface of these cells contains heparan sulfate proteoglycans onto which the NP protein attaches. Normal cells then appear infected to the immune system, leading to misguided attacks.
This immune response employs the classical pathway of complement, a part of the immune system used to clear pathogens. Activated inappropriately, it is recognized to cause inflammation and tissue damage, worsening the course of COVID-19 and possibly leading to persistent symptoms in patients. The study gives vital insight into why some individuals develop severe disease or prolonged complications.
To overcome this unintended stimulation of the immune system, researchers tested enoxaparin, a low-molecular-weight heparin drug. They found that it inhibited the attachment of the NP protein to healthy cells through its mimicry of the binding sites. This prevented the NP from aggregating on cell surfaces and effectively shielded them from immune system attack. This would mean that drugs already in the market like enoxaparin might be used to prevent patients from developing immune-mediated complications.
Furthermore, the emergence of the NB.1.8.1 Omicron subvariant has been global in scope. Initially identified in January 2025, it has then been detected across countries like India, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, China, the Maldives, and Egypt,”. Although not classified as a variant of concern, its rapid spread encouraged health authorities to classify it as a “variant under monitoring.” This speaks about the ongoing significance of vigilance in monitoring viral evolution and the impact on public health.
