CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – University of Virginia School of Medicine scientists have discovered how severe COVID-19 can destroy immune cells’ ability to repair the lungs, helping explain the lingering effects of long COVID. And this discovery reveals a condition that can possibly be treated by an already approved drug. Immunology and infectious disease Professor Jie Sun says COVID, and even flu viruses, can damage the structure in cells that instruct cell repair in the lungs.

There’s an already approved FDA-approved drug Dr. Sun says used for rare urinary infections that shows repair in animal trials, but there needs to be clinical trials to see the effects in humans. He says there’s promise this could repair long COVID respiratory issues, as well as chronic fatigue.
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