Tulane University researchers have discovered a new approach to tackling a lingering health challenge faced by long-term COVID-19 patients: high blood sugar levels. New research published in nature communications The results of a study conducted at the Tulane National Primate Research Center show that even when the vaccine is administered days after infection, it can be used to address the metabolic complications experienced by long-term infected individuals (sometimes called long haulers). This suggests that a new coronavirus vaccine could be used therapeutically.
Many people who have recovered from COVID-19 continue to suffer from a variety of long-term health problems, collectively known as long-coronavirus infections. One of the most concerning issues is persistently high blood sugar levels, which can lead to serious health complications such as diabetes and heart disease. Understanding and addressing this issue poses a major challenge for researchers and healthcare providers.
To better understand and address these long-term effects, researchers at Tulane National Primate Research Center turned to a long-standing non-human primate model of the novel coronavirus, which could lead to new The company judged that it would also be suitable for research into hyperglycemia and diabetes caused by coronavirus infection.
The study found that administering a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine four days after infection had a significant positive effect on blood sugar levels that was long-lasting. The findings suggest that the vaccine could be used not only for prevention but also as a treatment to manage the long-term metabolic complications of COVID-19 infection.
Researchers also identified specific inflammatory molecules in the bloodstream that are associated with high blood sugar levels. Even if the virus is no longer present in the liver or pancreas, the increase in blood sugar levels appears to be caused by changes in the way the liver stores glucose. These findings suggest that diabetes may develop through a new mechanism involving viral infection and inflammation.
“This study breaks new ground in the fight against COVID-19,” said Dr. Clovis Palmer, one of the study's lead authors. “Showing that the vaccine has therapeutic efficacy even after infection will help protect people suffering from long-term COVID-19 infections, especially those with symptoms such as chronic fatigue that may be associated with metabolic dysfunction. We can explore new strategies to help.”
Co-corresponding author Jay Rappaport, Ph.D., director of the Tulane National Primate Research Center, said: “The discovery that the new coronavirus can induce diabetes in animal models is an important step in our understanding of the long-term effects of the new coronavirus. The fact that COVID-19 vaccines given after infection are protective highlights the importance of innovative research in meeting the ongoing challenges of the pandemic.”
This research was supported by resources from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), and the National Institutes of Health's Tulane National Primate Research Center Fundamental Grant (P51 OD011104).
