Inflammation is one way the immune system fights infections, and it includes production of a clot-like structure that surrounds and walls off an invading bacteria. Alpha-defensin was known to stimulate this process, and last year the Hadassah researchers found that alpha-defensin can also stimulate clotting of the blood, so it was an interesting connection between the immune system and cardiovascular system.
Blood clotting had been reported as a serious complication of covid (see
A mysterious blood-clotting complication is killing coronavirus patients) and the usual anticoagulants weren’t dissolving them. Those anticoagulants were based on the pathway used in normal blood clotting, as would occur if you scrape your knee or bleed when brushing your teeth. A small clot forms along the inner wall of the blood vessel, sealing it as the body repairs the tear, and then the clot dissolves.
The Hadassah researchers are suggesting that the failure of those anticoagulants to work was because they were targeting a different pathway, and that blocking this alpha-defensin pathway might be more effective.
So on the one hand, yes, it does sound like it could be an important new treatment. On the other hand, yes, it’s typical of institutions in Israel – and everywhere – to publicize things like this to burnish their reputation, even – as in this case – before the results are in.
