Chronic viral infections drain the body like aging

To understand how chronic viruses affect the body, the authors of a new study compared immune viruses

reactions of older adults and people with HIV or hepatitis C receiving long-term antiviral therapy.

As a result, it turned out that, despitethe effectiveness of antiviral drugs, even after complete cure, the authors recorded in patients general changes in the immune system characteristic of aging people - an increase in memory T cells, activation of intracellular signaling pathways of inflammation and a decrease in sensitivity to cytokines in lymphocytes and myeloid cells.

The body is strongly influenced by:

  • HIV,
  • hepatitis C,
  • herpes viruses,
  • chickenpox
  • zona
  • mononucleosis
  • cytomegalovirus infection.

Chronic inflammation caused by immune system dysfunction has been linked to many diseases of aging and viral infections.At this point, it is clear that both aging and chronic viral infections leaveA deep and indelible mark on the immune system. 

David Fuhrman, first author of this article

The authors note that further research is needed to determine whether the functional response is programmedof the immune system only on the chronic nature of specific infections, or our body suffers as welltemporary but severe illnesses such as COVID-19. 

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