Platelet-derived serotonin drives age-related lung pathology in SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Platelet-derived serotonin causes age-related lung damage in SARS-CoV-2 infection, with 50% reduction in respiratory failure when blocked in mice.

• Why it matters: Understanding why elderly COVID-19 patients experience severe respiratory failure is critical for developing targeted treatments, as current knowledge of underlying mechanisms is limited.
• What they did: Researchers used a mouse model and human samples to show that activated platelets release serotonin, promoting fibrin deposition and lung pathology; they tested pharmacologic and genetic interventions to block serotonin signaling.
• The result: Blocking serotonin uptake or signaling reduced platelet activation and lung damage, highlighting serotonin-driven platelet activity as a key factor in age-related respiratory failure and a promising therapeutic target.