SARS-CoV-2 infection triggers sustained senescence-like inflammatory response

Reports of "post-acute COVID-19 syndrome," in which the inflammatory response persists or is delayed even after SARS-CoV-2 has disappeared, are increasing. Therefore, the underlying mechanisms of post-acute COVID-19 syndrome must be elucidated, for the development of preventive measures. Here we performed RNA sequence analysis of hamster lung 7 and 14 days after SARS-CoV-2 infection. These data revealed SARS-CoV-2 infection triggers a senescence-associated inflammatory response that persists even after SARS-CoV-2 has disappeared.