A new study from the John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaii showed persistently high levels of monocytes are present in people who recovered from COVID-19 and those with Long COVID.
Monocytes are white blood cells involved in fighting viral infections. In the presence of microbes and foreign substances, the monocytes become activated to become macrophages.
Macrophages “eat” and digest pathogens, such as cancer cells, microbes, cellular debris, and foreign substances. They produce cytokines to signal other immune cells to coordinate their fight against germs.
The CDC defines Long-COVID or Post-acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) as long-term symptoms that might be experienced weeks to months after primary infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
The study compared the plasma cytokine and monocyte levels among the three groups.
- Long COVID group – those who reported symptoms beyond 30 days after COVID-19 infection. They have pulmonary symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue, and cough.
- Fully recovered from SARS-CoV2 with no residual symptoms
- Negative SARS-CoV-2 group
Results
The circulating monocytes were significantly higher in the Long COVID and Recovered groups for several months compared to the Negative group.
The high monocyte levels are present in all who recovered, even those with resolved COVID-19 symptoms.
Higher levels of the activated form of monocytes called CD169+ are also found in the recovered and Long COVID group.
CD169+ monocytes and macrophages are essential in the inflammatory response to infections and autoimmune diseases. Bedin et al. found that elevated levels of CD169+ are one of the biomarkers of early COVID-19.
High CD169+ monocytes and lung function in Long COVID
The persistence of large numbers of monocytes can explain the respiratory symptoms of those with Long COVID.
The study found that the higher the CD169+ monocytes, the lower the Diffusing Capacity of the Lungs in those with Long COVID.
The Diffusing Capacity of the Lungs measures how easy it is for oxygen and carbon dioxide to pass thru the lung cells. In the study, Long COVID sufferers with high monocytes have more difficulty getting oxygen in their bloodstream.
Pro-inflammatory Cytokines
High CD169+ monocytes positively correlated with pro-inflammatory cytokines like the Interleukin -1 alpha, Interleukin-1 βeta, Macrophage Inflammatory Protein-1 alpha, Eotaxin, and Interferon-gamma.
These cytokines are associated with “cytokine storms” in severe COVID-19 (IL-1α, IL-1β) and Eotaxin.
The research findings are consistent with the work of Utreco-Rico and colleagues, who found that persistent levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines are present up to six months after COVID-19 recovery.[3]
The authors summarized their report,
COVID-19 convalescents exhibit activated monocyte phenotypes, denoted by CD169 expression, and this activated phenotype is associated with poor lung function and increased proinflammatory cytokines.
The enduring high levels of monocytes among those with Long COVID and who had COVID can be depressing to many. After all, how many people out there had been infected with the SARS-CoV-2?
Can anything be done to lower the monocytes?
Intermittent fasting
A study published in Cell found that 19 hours of fasting in 12 men significantly reduced circulating monocytes.
In individuals with low baseline monocyte numbers, fasting did not decrease monocyte numbers below the normal range.
I talked about the other benefits of fasting for Long COVID in another article – Intermittent fasting for Post COVID Vaccine Syndrome: Autophagy.
Patients receiving cancer chemotherapy may profit from Intermittent fasting results in new and stress-resistant blood cells.
The Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance includes intermittent fasting in their protocol for Long COVID. You can read about it at this LINK.
Fasting is also included in their Post-Vaccine Treatment Protocol. You can read more about that in The I-RECOVER Post-Vaccine Treatment Protocol.
Fasting reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases like strokes, heart attacks, and atrial fibrillation. It can even reduce your requirement for diabetes medications, including insulin. I refer you to the related articles below.
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- Intermittent fasting for Post COVID Vaccine Syndrome: Autophagy
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- Autophagy – How to Recycle Yourself
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References:
- Utrero-Rico A, et al. Alterations in Circulating Monocytes Predict COVID-19 Severity and Include Chromatin Modifications Still Detectable Six Months after Recovery. Biomedicines. 2021; 9(9):1253. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines9091253
- Jordan et al. Dietary Intake Regulate the Circulating Inflammatory Monocyte Pool. Cell. VOLUME 178, ISSUE 5, P1102-1114.E17, AUGUST 22, 2019
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