Overview

• University of Virginia researchers have uncovered specific immune biomarkers correlating with the severity of lung damage in Long COVID patients.
• The study integrated peripheral blood profiling with direct lung injury assessments to identify immune signatures linked to lung fibrosis and restrictive lung disease.
• Advanced machine learning revealed key disparities in T cell populations, highlighting immune drivers of severe pulmonary complications.
• Findings from a cohort of 110 previously hospitalized patients emphasize the need for organ-specific and personalized treatment approaches.
• Published in *Nature Immunology*, the research lays the foundation for targeted immunomodulatory therapies aimed at mitigating Long COVID's respiratory impacts.